October 2009 Archives

I wrote a story about a week ago about construction starting on a 2.2-mile stretch of the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park, where Caltrans is building a carpool lane on either side of the highway.

This construction -- between the 605 interchange and Puente Avenue -- is actually part of a larger, three-phase project aimed at creating carpool lanes on each side of the interstate from Los Angeles to the San Bernardino County line.

Baldwin Park officials were pretty excited about the start of construction, because they say that portion of the freeway is heavily traveled and often bottlenecks.

But it seems they're not the only ones who have been looking forward to the expansion. Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, Assemblyman Mike Eng, and several other dignitaries from Baldwin Park, the CHP and MTA will be meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday -- yup, Election Day -- for a groundbreaking ceremony.

Don't fret, it won't be on the freeway. It'll be near it, in the parking lot area of Guadalajara Grill Restaurant, 14610 Garvey Ave. in Baldwin Park.

An article I wrote that ran in today's paper:

LA PUENTE -- Officials are considering cutting a break for local sports leagues who pay to use the city's fields.

The City Council voted 3-0 Thursday to have staff members look into restructuring the city's parks fee schedule, so leagues with less than 60 percent of members who live in La Puente can pay cheaper rates.

Mayor Louie Lujan and Councilwoman Nadia Mendoza did not attend the meeting.

Several years ago, the city approved a two-tiered fee schedule for sports organizations who use the parks. Leagues with at least 60 percent of La Puente residents as members pay a resident rate. Leagues that don't meet that threshold pay a more expensive non-resident rate.

At Thursday's special meeting, officials cited tough economic times in the proposal to bump that threshold to 51 percent.

The issue still needs to come back before the council for a final approval.

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The council's decision was prompted by concerns from the La Puente Junior All-American Football league. Organization officials said their usage rates recently jumped from $3,100 to $9,400 per season because they failed to meet the 60 percent standard.

This was a pretty heated issue at the special City Council meeting that was called last week. I'm told a lot of residents and supporters of the football league showed up, many of whom spoke on the league's behalf.

It seems the city originally was just considering scaling back the fees for that one particular league, based on their concerns. But now it sounds like they're considering a cutback across the board for all sports organizations.

We'll see if it gets final approval.

I know it's not local but what do you guys think --- a step towards more open government, or a ploy to make it appear that way?

I wonder what our local cities would come up with if they published something similar ...

West Covina's gone and done it again.

For the second year in a row, the city has scheduled a council meeting on the night of an election -- last year it was the presidential election, this year, it's the local municipal election.

There's only one item on the agenda for Tuesday night, an update on a senior housing project.

Mayor Roger Hernandez told reporter Amanda Baumfeld he's been asking to discuss this before the council for months -- but he didn't want to do it on election night.

Hernandez said even though he is opposed to meetings on election night, he can't cancel the meeting without a majority of the council agreeing to it.

Councilman Mike Touhey said Hernandez can cancel the meeting, and accused him of setting a double standard.

Based on one of her campaign mailers, it feels like La Puente City Council candidate Renee Chavez is running for higher office.

Chavez recently sent out a flier promising she would fight for "free healthcare."

Last time I checked, the healthcare debate was between Congress and the White House.

I'm not sure what Chavez could do locally to provide free healthcare to residents in La Puente, but if she's elected, maybe she'll tell us.

Dana Sykes left me a message earlier this week informing their had been "numerous errors" on the campaign finance reports filed for the Concerned Citizens for a better West Covina.

Sykes is the treasurer for the group, which is supporting Measure D -- a controversial proposal to divide the city into five council districts

But Sykes is also the wife of Fred Sykes, who is running for City Council in the Nov. 3 election.

As a result, Dana Sykes said she hasn't been involved in the record-keeping for the Concerned Citizens group, and it recently came to her attention that there were errors on the reports filed Oct. 22. She blamed the mistakes on an assistant who didn't know the group had to file its expenditures ---- the heart of campaign finance reporting.

This news comes days after West Covina resident Lloyd Johnson sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office questioning the legality of three campaign mailers the group sent to residents supporting Measure D.

In Johnson's letter, he accused the Concerned Citizens for sending out the flyers but not reporting the postage and printing costs of the three mailer.

We haven't hadn't a chance to look for ourselves, but Sykes said she has filed amended forms with the West Covina City Clerk.

Apparently, Huy Fong Foods Inc. - which produces and distributes the ever popular Sriracha sauce - is getting a little too hot for Rosemead.

The company is in negotiations with Irwindale to move its entire operation to a 22.9-acre site on Azusa Canyon Road. Talks have been ongoing for nearly nine months, and Irwindale City Manager Robert Griego said he hopes to put a cap on it by December.

The owner of Huy Fong declined to comment on the plans Wednesday. But officials in Rosemead and Irwindale said the company is simply getting too big for its own facilities.

"It looks like we're close to finalizing the actual transaction," Griego said. "It's really exciting because their plans are to actually double in size over a period of time."

Huy Fong is currenlty housed at a 68,000-square-foot plant in Rosemead. But the company has grown since first opening shop in 1986.

"When you have places like Irwindale, which may be to offer a cheaper place to do business ... I don't blame a business for wanting to jump on that," said Councilman Steven Ly.

Upon learning of the negotiations, Rosemead officials at City Hall Wednesday morning were trying to schedule a meeting with the company's owner -- an 11th-hour bid to persuade Huy Fong to stay put.

"We just want to speak with them to find out if there's anything we can do to entice them," Rosemead City Manager Jeff Allred said. "But we also understand they are very much a booming business and they have expansion needs."

If they move to the Irwindale, Huy Fong plans to increase its operating facilities by nearly 10 times -- constructing a 626,186-square-foot building with offices, a warehouse and a manufacturing plant, said Ray Hamada, Irwindale's director of planning and community development.

It would probably take a year and half to two years to complete the move, Griego said.

Officials have not named a price on the land, at 4702 Azusa Canyon Road, just yet, but the property is appraised at about $20 million, Hamada said.

Here is a link to latest video of the Montebello Hills courtesy of Cookhill Properties:

'The Montebello Hills Specific Plan - A new community. A better future.'

Cook Hill Properties LLC submitted the Montebello Hills Specific Plan on December 2007 to build 1,200 residential homes, a series of trails and a public park on a portion of 480 acres of open space.

Cook Hill is a development consultant for Plains Exploration & Production Co., which owns the property.

- Elderly residents trapped on top floor of retirement home in West Covina

- After 19 years of trying, a man returns "war flag" to family of Japanese soldier:

- Gerrymandering hurts the SGV, according to this expert

Baldwin Park businessman Greg Tuttle is apparently back in the running for Baldwin Park mayor.

Tuttle's candidate filing was initially rejected a few months back by the City Clerk because he was not a registered voter in Baldwin Park when he pulled his candidate forms on July 22.

But he's since qualified as a write-in candidate with the county Registrar-Recorder.

So you won't see him on ballot information mailed to voters, but he will be eligible to run as a write-in candidate come Nov. 3

A lot of questions have been brought up about whether Tuttle really lives in Baldwin Park.

The owner of Tuttle's Parts Exchange on Ramona Boulevard used to live in Pomona and said he's now renting a room in a house across the street from Mayor Manuel Lozano's home.

Tuttle's not ready to show anyone his humble abode just yet, but he says if he wins the race for mayor, he'll buy a whole house just for himself in Baldwin Park.

We'll see if he gets that far.

It's a little bit out of our area, but interesting nonetheless:

Norwalk City Councilman Rick Ramirez was arrested late Friday on suspicion of making criminal threats against his wife, authorities said.

Ramirez, 41, was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and released after posting $50,000 bail, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. John Gannon said.

He was arrested about 11:30 p.m. at a home in the 11000 block of Pluton Street, he said.
Ramirez's wife made the initial call to the sheriff's department, Gannon said.

Few details were available about the incident Saturday afternoon, Gannon said, but the crime Ramirez was suspected of involves making a threat involving "death or great bodily injury."

Ramirez is due in Bellflower Superior Court for arraignment on Nov. 20.

Ramirez attended Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier and graduated from the University of La Verne with a bachelor's in Organizational Management, according to his bio on the city of Norwalk's Web site.

Check out the rest of his bio for yourself.

You know it's election time when the district attorney's office starts getting ethics complaints about campaign literature.

West Covina resident Lloyd Johnson sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Friday questioning the legality of three campaign mailers sent to residents about Measure D.

The measure -- which has been under debate for months -- proposes dividing the city into five council districts.

The mailers support the measure, and one features West Covina Mayor Roger Hernandez superimposed over a chalkboard.

In Johnson's letter, he accuses the Concerned Citizens for a better West Covina of sending out the flyers but not reporting the postage and printing costs of the three mailers in their Oct. 22 campaign finance reports.

Those reports show a total of $3620,18 in expenditures, including $2,575 for posters and $1045.18 for flyers.

"We ask the District Attorney's office for swift action with regards to this falsification and illegality in the current election," Johnson writes in the letter addressed to Dave Demerjian, head of the district attorney's Public Integrity division. "The residents have a right to know who is funding the Yes on Measure D campaign."

Johnson also takes issue with the committee's treasurer Dana Sykescq, who is West Covina Council candidate Fred Sykes' wife. Fred Sykes is largely behind the push for Measure D and council districts.

Dana Sykes said this is a political ploy by the opposition to Measure D.

"I was a member of the group prior to (my husband's bid for candidacy)," she said. "When it comes to doing the books, I really don't do the books, someone else does them because right now I am helping with my husband's campaign."

Johnson, a Vietnam veteran, said he is against Measure D, but that has nothing to do with his stance on the issue.

Demerjian could not be reached for comment Friday, but officials in his office confirmed they did receive a faxed letter about the issue.

Sounds like someone maybe dropped the ball on this one:

By Daniel Tedford
Staff Writer
WEST COVINA -- Wheelchair bound elderly residents of a Holt Avenue retirement home have been stuck in their rooms for seven weeks while an elevator has been out of commission, residents said.

The Bridgecreek Retirement Home in West Covina has about 88 residents. While the first and second floors have an elevator, 28 residents on the third and fourth floors haven't had a functioning elevator for nearly two months -- and some have been stuck up there ever since, residents said.

Owners of the facility had been waiting for a final inspection approval from the city before reopening the elevator. That approval came today and City Council members plan to visit residents today as well.

According to Tedford, the owners of the facility said since this isn't a nursing home, its the residents' responsibility to take care of themselves.

But some believe they still have a responsibility to its residents.

96-year-old Phyllis Beekman was one of the residents "trapped" upstairs. She missed a doctor's appointment two weeks ago because she couldn't get down stairs.

Looks like the MTA finally buckled under a little pressure from San Gabriel Valley officials ...

In case you missed it, the gubernator himself was in Industry Thursday morning for a ceremonial signing of Assembly Bill 3X81 -- which essentially paves the way for the construction of an NFL stadium in Industry.

The bill exempts the stadium/complex project from the state's environmental laws, and throws out a pending lawsuit by a citizens group in Walnut challenging the project's environmental impact report.

You know something's gotta be real big -- or be supported by some really big people -- for the Ah-nold himself to make a trip out for a staged ceremony like this one.

I spoke with state Sen. Bob Huff Wednesday, who was less than pleased over allegations he had a conflict of interest when casting a vote in the Senate last week.

The vote in questions was a procedural one to help move an environmental bill to the Senate floor. Problem is, that environmental bill -- which passed -- will exempt a proposed NFL stadium in Industry from state environmental laws.

Members of the Citizens for Community Preservation Inc., which has a lawsuit filed against the stadium, said the vote was unethical because of Huff and his wife's involvement with Industry and the stadium's developer, Majestic Realty.

Huff called the allegations "about as bogus as the lawsuit," and said he consulted with legal counsel, who told him there was, in fact, no conflict.

Huff said he originally was not going to participate in the vote at all. But then he was asked to step in, and even the Senate President -- along with others -- told him there was no legal conflict.

He didn't vote when the bill finally hit the Senate floor.

The Governator himself is making a special trip to the San Gabriel Valley Thursday to ceremoniously sign a bill that would essentially pave the way for Ed Roski Jr.'s $800 million stadium project.

The ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the site that will hold the 600-acre stadium, near the interchange of the 57 and 60 freeways.

In addition to Arnold Schwarzenegger, I'm sure a whole host of other local dignitaries will be there.

This comes a week after the Senate approved a bill that exempts the stadium project from state environmental laws.

This also means that the last standing lawsuit against the stadium -- filed by eight Walnut residents -- is essentially no more.

This tale comes from reporter James Wagner:

There's a difference between reporting politics locally and covering it in Sacramento.

On the Senate floor, to get a legislator's attention, you hand the guards your business card and they pass it along to whom you're hoping to talk to.

So last week, while covering a bill that would essentially allow the proposed NFL stadium in Industry to proceed, I asked to speak to a local Senator who co-authored the bill, Ron Calderon, D-Montebello.

Calderon came to the back of the Senate chamber to speak to me with my card in hand.

But after a few minutes of questioning, as we stood quietly while I jotted down his comments, he took my card, stuffed it into my jacket's front pocket and walked away.

I guess he thought I was done asking my questions. I wasn't.

Retired sheriff's deputy Joseph Dyer, who is accused of embezzling half a million dollars from the city of La Puente, has been ordered to return to court in December for a pre-trial conference in December.

Joseph Dyer and his wife, Lydia Dyer, appeared in Los Angeles Superior court before Judge David Wesley on Monday. Dyer, 53, was indicted last month on charges of grand theft, embezzlement, crimes by a public officer and five counts of filing false tax returns in connection with allegations he stole $501,747.91 in tow fees from La Puente between 2001 to 2007.

Dyer's wife, Lydia, was also indicted on five counts of filing false tax returns, based on allegations she knew about the false money but failed to report on their joint tax returns.

The couple was scheduled to set a trial date -- postponed from an August court appearance. But the matter was held over again, to Dec. 8. This happens pretty frequently with cases like this. It'll be probably be well into next year until we see any action in the case.

I walked into a bookshop in Venice Beach a week ago and what was the first thing I saw?

A very familiar looking book cover about a strange but financially lucrative town right here in the San Gabriel Valley. I guess we're not the only ones who would be interested in reading about a city that's on its way to building an NFL stadium.

On another note, the Los Angeles Times wrote a piece today essentially putting all the puzzle pieces together about Industry, Dave Perez and the monopoly that runs the city.  

you can listen to reporter James Wagner talk all about it here

With a prostitution arrest looming over his head, I guess Jim Mussenden, or at least some of the people around him, don't think its the best idea he remain a Boy Scout commissioner.

Mussenden was commissioner of the Trails of the Valley District of the San Gabriel Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Officials said Monday he stepped down, "effective immediately."

This news comes just days after Mussenden resigned as the El Monte city manager following his Thursday night arrest during a prostitution sting operation in Pomona.

I wonder what he'll be doing about his positions with the Boys and Girls Clubs and El Monte Kiwanis.

El Monte City Manager Jim Mussenden tendered his letter of resignation Saturday following his arrest during a prostitution sting in Pomona last week.

His decision to step down was announced following an emergency closed-session meeting of the City Council this morning. The council was slated to consider his discipline/dismissal.

Mussenden, 59, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of soliciting to engage in prostituting during a six-hour undercover sting operation by Pomona Police Department's Vice Unit.

He was one of 30 people picked up in the bust, and was cited and released following the arrest.

Mussenden was not present during Saturday's meeting. He's declined to comment and we've yet to hear from his attorney, Ira Seltzer.

His resignation was dated effective the day of his arrest.

Here are some parting words from the council:

"It was better that he did (resign)," said Councilman Juventino "J" Gomez. "I could not tolerate that from our city manager, any city manager. He's performed very well ... worked diligently. But the city has to come first."

"I think it was the best thing he did for himself," said Councilwoman Emily Ishigaki of the resignation. "Jim's already apologized to us. He's very remorseful."

Deputy City Manager for Community Development Rene Bobadilla has been appointed interim city manager, effective immediately. He'll be on the job for 90 days.

A permanent replacement will be selected by the council after the Nov. 3 election, officials said.

Jim Mussenden's Thursday night arrest for allegedly trying to pick up a prostitute doesn't seem to be sitting well with those in City Hall and the El Monte Police Department.

The City Council is holding a special meeting Saturday at 12:30 at City Hall to discuss:

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE
Consideration in closed session of performance evaluation of City Manager James W. Mussenden and consideration of employee discipline/dismissal/release

Afterward, they'll be discussing:

CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF CITY MANAGER

Looks like officials are wasting no time separating themselves from this. Even El Monte Police Chief Tom Armstrong had something to say about the whole matter:

"It is my expectation that it will be dealt with swiftly and immediately. I don't speak on behalf of the City Council, but I fully expect them to take action as swiftly as possible. I don't think they will find this tolerable," Armstrong said.

El Monte's top executive is in some serious legal trouble this morning after getting busted in a prostitution ring in Pomona last night.

Jim Mussenden, 59, is one of 30 people who were arrested by Pomona Police Department's Vice Unit during an undercover sting operation. He was arrested on suspicion of soliciting to engage in prostitution.

Reporter Rebecca Kimitch called Mussenden this morning to give him a chance to comment on the arrest. He declined.

She's making her rounds calling the rest of the council now.

This on the heels of a sexual harassment lawsuit that's been filed against the El Monte Police Department by a female police officer who claims she was harassed by her sergeant. We got wind of that this morning.

Looks like its going to be a tough next couple of days for El Monte.

There seems to be some confusion over Sen. Bob Huff's involvement in a Senate vote on Wednesday.

Huff participated in a procedural vote that helped move an environmental bill to the Senate floor. Problem is, that environmental bill -- which passed 22-14 -- will exempt a proposed NFL stadium in Industry from state environmental laws.

Members of the Citizens for Community Preservation Inc., which has a lawsuit filed against the stadium, said the vote was unethical because of Huff and his wife's involvement with Industry and the stadium's developer.

"(Legislators) didn't have enough votes to move the vote to the floor for, so Huff voted to get it to there," said Howard Wang, first vice president of the citizens group.

"He said he's not going to vote because of his personal interest with the stadium and his relations with Industry. Second of all, his wife is an executive of Pacific Palms Resort.

Obviously, there is a direct conflict of interest. Our view is he should not get involved in voting of any kind."

Pacific Palms is master-leased by Majestic, its CEO Roski and the company's Vice President John Semcken under a partnership called Majestic Industry Hills, LLC.

Wang said the citizens group was consulting with officials at the state's Fair Political Practices Commission to determine if there is a potential conflict of interest.

The group is mulling filling a complaint against Huff.

Baldwin Park is keeping up its fight against a proposed trash sorting facility on the Irwindale border.

A draft environmental report was recently completed for the project -- a material recovery facility planned for a 17-acre site at Live Oak Avenue and Arrow Highway in Irwindale.

But a consultant hired by Baldwin Park to review the document believes the report, prepared by Irwindale, is inadequate and should be re-written and redistributed.

"It doesn't reveal all of the likely environmental impacts of the project, or it understates them," said Dan Sicular, a senior managing associate with the San Francisco-based environmental consulting firm ESA.

Irwindale officials are currently preparing responses to Baldwin Park's comments, and are also in negotiations with trash hauler Athens Services for a development agreement.

Athens wants to sort recyclables from garbage at the site, before sending the remaining trash to a landfill. They claim state-of-the-art facilities will mitigate any potential health risks to both MRF employees and nearby residents.

It should be pointed out Athens isn't the only one interested in the Irwindale site. Valley County Water District wants to purchase just under 2 acres of the land to build two water storage tanks.

The tanks -- which would hold an estimated 3 million gallons of water each -- would be built above ground on the land's southwest corner, said Brian Dickinson, the district's general manager.

He wouldn't comment on ongoing negotiations with Irwindale.

There's a rumor going around in La Puente that Councilwoman Lola Storing is dropping out of the City Council race because she's tired of "drama" in City Hall.

Storing said there's "absolutely no truth" to any of it, and she plans on putting up a tough fight to defend her seat.

"I have no idea who it could be (spreading the rumor) and there's no reason why they should even do that," Storing said. "I'm working hard. I've got more signs than anybody else up in town ... I want to continue representing the city."

Storing said she first heard the rumor a few days ago from her council opponent David Argudo. He questioned whether or not she was throwing in the towel.

Argudo said he heard the rumor from another constituent, who heard it from someone else ... and the list goes on.

Sounds like typical politicking during an election.

Jobs are hard to come by these days, and residents are being laid off left and right.

But at least you can rest assured that your L.A. County Supervisors and County Sheriff won't starve in this flatlining economy.

Take a look ....

Now that Xavier Alvarez has been sentenced to five years in state prison for defrauding the Three Valleys Municipal Water District -- and been forced to resign his seat on the board -- his colleagues have to figure out what to do about a replacement.

The board is meeting Monday morning at its district offices, 1021 E. Miramar Ave. to decide whether to hold a special election or appoint a replacement for Alvarez, who represented south Pomona.

Alvarez was convicted of knowingly registering his ex-wife, Juanita Ruiz, for health benefits with the district from Jan. 24 to Oct. 31, 2007.

He has has to pay restitution of more than $4,100 to the water district and other court fees.

That's not the only legal troubles that Alvarez has faced recently though. He also was fined and sentenced to probation in July 2008 for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal to falsely claim military valor. Alvarez had previously told stories about how he received the Medal of Honor.

Looks like Tim Jochem's time managing Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is over.

Jochem has tendered his resignation and his last day on the job was Wednesday, according to reporter Rebecca Kimitch.

Of course his departure is not without controversy -- some say Jochem, 53, was ousted from his post.

"Tim was planning to retire in two years. I find the board's decision during these tough economic times egregious ... I can't imagine our constituents being happy about that, especially when he was doing his job," board member Tony Fellow said in a written statement.

Apparently the district is now going to be stuck with paying some $400,000 on the remainder of Jochem's contract as well as the salary for an interim.

Jochem told Kimitch he had "absolutely no" problem with his dismissal.

Board President Al Contreras said the decision to remove Jochem was because they want his replacement to work "cradle to grave" on a water recycling project the district is starting.

Contreras' predecessor, Leon Garcia, wasn't buying the explanation.

"If that was the case ... under prudent planning and governance, they would have found someone to replace him before they fired him," Garcia said.

So what does Jochem -- who by the way, said he has no hard feelings about the removal -- plan to do now?

He's thinking about going to Indonesia on a post-earthquake aid mission, and he also wants to join the Peace Corps and serve in South America.

"There are thousands of kids in South America who are dying from an inadequate water supply, from water-borne diseases that we eradicated years ago," Jochem said.

Curious about campaign finance in Santa Fe Springs?

Reporter Sandra Molina breaks down the dollars and cents in the campaign coffers of City Council candidates.

Mayor Louie Gonzalez, who is running for re-election in November, is leading with $20,223 raised.

Councilwoman Betty Putnam was second with $13,644, followed by Lillian Carrillo Puentes with $6,355; Mike Madrigal with $5,500; Juanita Trujillo with $4,157; A.J. Hayes with $3,312; and Jose Angel Zamora with $2,800.

Gonzalez has loaned $3,500 to Puentes and $1,000 to Madrigal.

His biggest contributor, with $5,000 was Ecology Auto Parts of Cerritos.

The same company also donated $2,500 to Madrigal.

Vernola's Tow Service, of Norwalk, and Villages at Heritage Springs, of Manhattan Beach, each gave $2,500.

Putnam's campaign received the most -- $2,000 -- from Serv-Wel Disposal and Recycling, of Montebello.

CR & R Incorporated, of Stanton, and Marquart Land Co., of Cerritos, each donated $1,000.
The Santa Fe Springs Firefighters Local 3507 gave $2,000 to Trujillo, a pharmacy manager.

Like many other counties and cities in the state, Los Angeles County is struggling.

The county's unemployment rate is at 12.3 percent.

Sales-tax receipts were down 19.54 percent for the months of April, May and June compared to the same time in 2008.

And courtrooms were closed and trials delayed early this summer when the county superior court system began monthly employee furloughs.

But at least the county has enough Benjamins in the bank -- nearly half a million to be exact -- to splurge on the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration in December.

The county Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the three-hour holiday party on Tuesday.
It's a 50-year county tradition and is free to the public, county spokeswoman Judy Hammond said.

"It's a thing they've done forever and they have all of these community arts groups that come in and perform," she said. "The public can come and go as they want."

Supervisor Gloria Molina, who represents parts of the San Gabriel Valley, hasn't made a decision yet on how she is going to vote, but is leaning toward approval, her spokeswoman Roxane Marquez said.

Despite hard times, Marquez said the party is an arts programs that is looked forward to by the public.

"It may be difficult for some of the more affluent families in L.A. County to believe, but free concerts like this for the holidays are sometimes the only such activity that our less affluent residents get to enjoy," Marquez said.

Cable franchise fees are footing the $449,000 bill. The money was previously allocated in the county Art's Commission's budget for 2009-10, according to staff reports.

And that half a million dollars is $100,000 less than in previous years, Hammond said.

Hey, it is a recession year.

Former La Puente Mayor Lou Perez is getting back into the political game.

The 72-year-old La Puente resident is facing four challengers -- including two incumbents -- in the race for the La Puente Valley County Water District board.

Perez said he just happened to be down at the County Registrar's office picking up paperwork for his wife's school board candidacy when he decided to file paper's for his own water board candidacy.

"It's a simple job," Perez said, going on to say although he has no water board experience, "it's not a job that's impossible to do.

He'll face Board President Charlie Aguirre, Vice President John Escalera, La Puente Planning Commissioner Henry Hernandez, and Elizabeth Bermejo for the board's three open seats.

It appears West Covina City Council candidates Fred Sykes and Colleen Rozatti have been using the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder County Seal on their campaign literature.

Both candidates were sent letters dated Sept. 29 by the County Registrar office demanding them to ceast and desist use of the seal.

"Such use is likely to cause confusion and mislead the public into mistakenly believing the statements have been made sponsored, endorsed or are otherwise affiliated with the Registrar," the letter states.

Skyes said the seal is included on every candidate's campaign filing statement.

"Instead of transferring that on a different paper, made a copy of it and used it to campaign in the city," Sykes said. "I wasn't trying to mislead anyone."

He plans to make new campaign statements.

Rozatti could not be reached for comment.