Recently in Industry Category

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis was in town Tuesday morning, visiting the Los Angeles Electrical Training Institute, a union center in Commerce that teaches electrical skills, and talking green jobs.
So we asked Solis - the former U.S. representative for El Monte, West Covina and Baldwin Park - what she thought of the plan to build a $800-million, 75,000-seat "green" NFL stadium in Industry.
Solis punted the question, saying she was "not really aware of it."
When asked if she had any thoughts, she replied: "Not really because I'm here mostly to talk about what our investments are."
Solis was referring to the federal grants and contributions made to California to promote green jobs.
Maybe Solis was caught off guard by the question but the NFL stadium issue has been a hot topic for the region and state, given Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval of the stadium plan.
Labor unions heavily backed the stadium plan as billionaire developer Ed Roski and his Majestic Realty Co. touted the project as a way to create 18,000 jobs and create $760 million in yearly economic output.

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.

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

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

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.

It's almost official -- almost.

With the larger of two legal challenges against an NFL Stadium in Industry settled, officials are saying that the hope of pro football returning to LA are "that close."

The Industry City Council approved a $9 million settlement agreement with Walnut on Thursday. That leaves only one legal challenge left -- a lawsuit filed by a citizens group in Walnut.

It appears talks to settle that suit have broken down, though I'm sure billionaire developer Ed Roski Jr.'s people aren't giving up that easy.

In the meantime, take our online poll (just scroll down the homepage) to vote for which NFL team you would like to see in LA.

Forgive us.

Thanks to a mishap, we didn't post a copy of a letter pertaining to a story we wrote. Last week, the company hoping to build a National Football League stadium complex in the City of Industry presented this letter to the Walnut City Council, which has sued the developer. The letter refuted, among other things, claims made against the company, Majestic Realty, and its project.

An issue emerged the day following Wednesday's city council meeting. After this newspaper filed a public records request for a copy of the letter Thursday, Walnut said it was consulting its attorney concerning the release of the letter, which included a confidential attachment, because of its pending litigation. (The attachment, according to the letter, documented Walnut's settlement items in the now-terminated negotiations with Majestic.)

Majestic, however, provided this newspaper with a copy. And now, so do you. (See the text of the letter after the jump.)

Walnut has ten days from the public records request to make a decision of the release. So, we'll see what emerges. But here are two facts to consider: The letter was presented at a public meeting and the first page of it was read publicly.

Round one was tons of backlash from Walnut officials to the proposed NFL stadium project in Industry.

Round two is this:

WALNUT - The City Council on Wednesday night directed its special attorney to move forward with a lawsuit against neighboring Industry over an environmental report for a proposed NFL stadium.

In a closed session, city officials directed attorney Jan Chatten-Brown to move forward with litigation, officials said. The city has taken a formal stance against the project and demanded Industry prepare a new environmental report for the project.

Developers want to build a 75,000-seat National Football League stadium on 600 acres northwest of the 57/60 freeway intersection. The project also includes a huge retail component similar to the Universal CityWalk.

A few months after the stadium was proposed, some in Walnut publicly expressed concern about the project's impact on the quiet, affluent community.

Reporter Bethania Palma is working on a story for tomorrow's paper.

After more than 20 years of serving Hacienda Heights, Industry, Valinda, La Puente, Bassett, Avocado Heights and north and south Whittier, KCAT Channel 3 is signing off.

The television station's board of directors voted about two weeks ago to shut the operation down.

As the local television access station in the area, KCAT covered a variety of events in the San Gabriel Valley including the Hacienda Heights 4th of July Parade, Concerts in the Park and the Industry Pro Rodeo.

We sent out a photographer Saturday night to shoot the last taping of Marty's Corner, one of many community-based programs taped at the station's Hacienda Heights location.

I haven't gotten the full scoop as to why the station is shutting its doors yet, but I suspect a slipping economy and little money for public broadcasting likely has something to do with it.

Look for a full story in next weekend's paper. In the meantime, here's some video from the show. One of the Tribune's reporters, Michelle Mills in the clip too:

Now that Barack Obama's stimulus plan has been signed into law, we may be seeing more and more cities signing on -- or reinstating -- contracts with lobbyists.

La Puente is one example: they recently approved a contract with Joe A. Gonsalves and Son for lobbying services through the end of the fiscal year at $3,000 a month. Officials say the service will help ensure La Puente's stake in stimulus money.

Joe A. Gonsalves and Son is one of the biggest lobbying firms in California, with a long list of San Gabriel Valley clients including, Irwindale, Industry, Diamond Bar, Glendora, Arcadia, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the San Gabriel Valley Water Association. They also represent the Willdan Group of Companies, parent company of Willdan Financial Services -- of which La Puente interim city manager Frank Tripepi is CEO and president.

This story I wrote for Tuesday's paper basically breaks down the debate on lobbyists: some argue they are a waste of money, while others argue lobbyists do work that local legislators can't always do.

Obviously, some SGV cities see the need because their paying big bucks for the service. For example, in 2005, state records show Industry paid $52,000 to Joe A. Gonsalves and Son, and Irwindale paid $57,200.

Industry officials closed escrow this morning on a $4 million, 40,000-square-foot warehouse they intend to lease long-term to the county for a $1 a year so the Industry sheriff's station can expand.

The vacant warehouse -- which is located across the street from the station -- has about 6,000 square feet of office space.

Industry Mayor Dave Perez said city officials will likely go down to the county next week to draw up an agreement. The plan is to have the county do some minor renovations inside, and then the Industry sheriff's can incrementally move over units from their older facility to the warehouse.

Apparently, conditions are so cramped at the Industry station that deputies are changing into their uniforms in the parking lot, Perez said.

I hope they're hiding behind their patrol cars.......

Is equestrian life fading into the sunset? Well, that's what an LA Times article concludes. Among the equestrian centers referenced is one out of the city of Industry.

In December, a collection of ramshackle stalls near the city of Industry abruptly shut down, forcing out a small group of Mexican immigrants who had boarded their horses there at low cost.

The stables had been a gathering place for vaqueros from Zacatecas and Guerrero, and the closure prompted some of the families to give up their horses altogether. The loss follows the disappearance of many other stables along the San Gabriel River watershed.

For the horse lovers out there, where do you ride?

You're weekly fix:

It seems like every week now there's something new in the race for Rep. Hilda Solis' seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The latest round of politicians to announce their interest in the Congressional seat -- which will be empty if Solis is confirmed as President Barack Obama's labor secretary -- are Blanca Rubio and Ed Chavez.

Rubio, president of the Baldwin Park Unified School District Board of Education, said she's definitely running and thinks her experience would allow her to successfully serve the people.

Chavez, on the other hand, still is tossing the idea around. The recently elected Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District board member has formed an "exploratory committee to gauge the level of support" for his candidacy."

Chavez lately has been taking some heat in the political community from residents and colleagues questioning why, months after getting elected to the water board, he would consider running for higher office.

According to a recent press release he sent out, Chavez said he wants to "fight for the people and not for the greedy corporate giants."

If he runs Chavez (and Rubio) will square off against Board of Equalization Chariwoman Judy Chu, who recently was endorsed by two of the most powerful labor unions in the region -- the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and Service Employees International Union.

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What a week in Industry.

First, 60 voters approved a $500 million bond for infrastructure improvements, about a third of which will go toward improvements around developer Ed Roski's National Football League stadium slated for Industry.

Then, the City Council essentially paved the way for the stadium's construction by approving its environmental impact report.

Of course not everyone is happy, including representatives from Walnut and Diamond Bar. Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim has said Walnut would explore legal options if the EIR was approved.

Lim said he understands the NFL project could bring benefits to the region, but wished politicians would try to look at the project from Walnut's point of view.

"I have always avoided saying anything about other cities," Lim said. "But I wish some of the other leaders would put themselves in our shoes."

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It's official. After a few flubs and two swearing-in ceremonies, Barack Obama is our 44th president.

Residents and politicos alike spent Inauguration Day last week hosting parties and barbecues to watch the historic ceremonies that come with the official swearing-in of the president.

Locally, the Democrats of the San Gabriel Valley hosted their own shindig at Taste of Texas, a barbecue restaurant in Covina. The co-hosts were La Puente Mayor Louie Lujan, West Covina Mayor Roger Hernandez, Board of Equalization Chairwoman Judy Chu and Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, who was there in spirit because he actually was in Washington, D.C.

As a side note, organizers said the venue had nothing to do with Texas-native George Bush. The restaurant was chosen because it's in the middle of the 57th District.

What a week in Industry. First, 60 voters approve a $500 million bond, then on Thursday, the City Council paves the way for the NFL stadium by approving a environmental report.

Let's see how Walnut responds. Earlier, Joaquin Lim said that the city would explore legal options if the EIR was approved, and now it looks like other cities and agencies could be following suit. The countdown begins...

It looks like Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim is getting a little tired of out-of-the-area cities throwing in their two cents about the stadium project.

This from Ben Baeder, who attended an Industry City Council meeting this morning:

Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim said he understands that the NFL project could bring benefits to the region, but he wished politicians could try to look at the project from Walnut's point of view.

"I have always avoided saying anything about other cities," he said. "But I wish some of the other leaders would put themselves in our shoes."

Not only do many of his constituents hate the idea of having a stadium nearby, traffic and air pollution from the project will affect the entire region, he said. "We're all in this together."

The Industry City Council on Thursday approved an environmental report regarding the stadium.

At the council meeting, Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti, La Puente Councilman Dan Holloway and Claremont Councilman Sam Pedroza all spoke in favor of the project.

SGV city hall news wrap-ups:

 -- Industry voters -- all 82 of them -- will go to the polls today to vote on allowing the city to borrow $500 million for infrastructure improvements. And could these improvements help improve roads needed for the proposed NFL stadium? Of course. Read more. (And here's the LA Times story.)

-- The West Covina City Council is meeting tonight to talk about districts, but a memorandum released to the council members tells them that it is a violation of election code to vote on the issue since the petition hasn't been submitted or approve.

-- The Police Officers Association of Los Angeles County is going to recognize Covina Police Chief Kim Rainey tonight at the Covina City Council meeting. Rainey led the department in dealing with one of the most horrific massacres in the region.

-- Vulcan Materials is going to open access to Fish Canyon Trail in Duarte through its Azusa Rock Quarry site on Saturday.

Here it is, your weekly dosage of Leftovers:

Foul odors, traffic, noise, pollution and declining property values are among a handful of concerns Baldwin Park residents have about a proposed trash-sorting facility bordering Irwindale at Live Oak and Arrow Highway.

Apparently, "passionate pleas" from residents -- who reminded council members of the upcoming March election -- swayed their final decision.