Growing up in the Bay Area and being a reporter for the Bay Area newspapers, I was fascinated with its history, whether it was the ghost story of the White Witch in Niles Canyon, the once thriving and colorful community that lived in the salt marshes in Fremont, or the cult-like history out of Holy City in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

But yesterday, as I was reading "Thirst for Growth," a book that looks at the hisotry of water agencies in Southern California, it hit me: I know nothing about the San Gabriel Valley's past.

I report on the daily murders, crimes and local political upheavels, but I don't know what makes the San Gabriel Valley the way it is today. What are its legends? Are there ghost stories? How has the SGV changed over the years? What did your parents used to tell you about the area? What are the historical landmarks in the area that anyone who has lived here for more than 50 years should know about?

Its been almost two years since I moved here. I guess it's about time that I call it home.

(The photo is a picture of the SGV in 1900, taken from this Web site.)

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The documents I received about Mariscos Uruapan were not obtained through the traditional method. Usually, I go to the city, ask for the documents, and they are given to me within - normally - a 10 day period. No, I got my hands on these documents because the easy way: they were given to me.

But as we recently were reminded in the LA Times fiasco, just becasue the documents look the part doesn't mean they are legit. So, with that in mind, I headed over to the Irwindale Police Department and Irwindale City Hall, and called ABC to confirm the documents were legit. They were.

Each agency was helpful, but I couldn't help but bite my tongue when a Irwindale City employee seemed especially annoyed that I asked her to verify the validity of the documents.

I came walking in with seven pages that I asked her to verify. She greeted me with eight pages in her hands. The information, except for the extra page she had, was exactly, word for word, the same information.

"So these are the same documents," I told her rhetorically.

"Well, they are not the same. Your copies are darker," she told me.

"But, these are legitimate documents issued and or obtained by the city of Irwindale, right?" I told her. It was obvious that they were, but for some reason I felt that I needed her to agree. Now I realize I didn't.

And then she told me: "You know, there are proper ways to obtain public records."

She's right. But this way is a whole lot easier ... and faster.

And the moral of my story: If you have ever a story that you want the paper to look into, if you have the documents, and if it is a good story, it speeds up the process.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Running is the only way I can cope with the demands of my editors, the mistakes I make on the job and the angry calls and confrontations I have to deal with on a daily basis.

But I'm getting a little bored of my regular outdoor run at the Sante Fe Dam in Irwindale. Any recommendations out there of safe and free parks that are good for an evening jog?

(If you can find me, this is proof that I really do run! I ran this 5K in Pasadena a few weekends ago). >>>>

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Cruz Bustamante, former Lt. Governor and possible consultant for the city of Irwindale, lost his throne today as the "King of the Highest FPPC Fine" to Sen. Carole Migden, the Sacramento Bee reported. Bustamante was fined $263,000 in April 2004 for a variety of FPPC violations

Commission approves Migden fine
By Aurelio Rojas - arojas@sacbee.com
Thursday, March 20, 2008

California's political watchdog agency today approved an agreement under which state Sen. Carole Migden will pay a record $350,000 fine for 89 campaign spending and disclosure violations, including illegal personal use of campaign funds.

The fine is the largest against a single state official in the Fair Political Practices Commission's three decades of existence and comes as the San Francisco Democrat is battling to retain her seat in a June primary election against Assemblyman Mark Leno and former Assemblyman Joe Nation.

Migden was campaigning in the Bay Area today and did not attend the FPPC hearing.

But her attorney, James Harrison, told reporters the violations occurred because of inadequate record keeping by Migden's former campaign treasurer and his assistant.

Harrison said the senator delegated authority because she was battling cancer at the time and her energy was focused on her duties as an officeholder.

"She's not pointing the finger at anyone," Harrison said. "At the end of the day, she's the candidate and she's responsible."

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Congresswoman Hilda Solis sent out a mailer, which was "prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense," detailing the money that she has secured for communities in the SGV. Here's how its broken down:

South El Monte: Secured $47,000 to teach at-risk youth computer and other skills through Project Amiaga's Transistional Life Skills for At-Risk Youth Project.
-Secured $73,000 to upgrade computer techonology in the Valle Lindo School District.

Rosemead: Secured $98,700 for graffiti and vandalism responses.

Irwindale: Secured $225,600 for updated communications equipment for the police department.
-Secured $28,200 for the city to expand after school activities and weekend youth programs.

Baldwin Park: Secured $400,000 to replace older transit buses with clean enery buses.

West Covina: Secured $517,000 to update its emergency communications system.

Azusa: Secured $477,000 to provide dental services at the Azusa Health Center
-Secured $150,000 to renovate the National Guard Armory.

She also lists regional projects:
-$3 million for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund
-$235,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates Volunteer Program
-$282,000 for the Tune Up Tune In program at Rio Hondo College and ELAC

She also says that she is a "strong supporter of federal assistance for Foothill Tranist, the Alameda Corridor-East and extension of Metro Gold Liune through Azusa, Irwindale and Duarte." But since no money is listed, I am assuming she didn't help secure any funding for those projects.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)