Recently in Los Angeles County Category

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 ....

It seems everyone's got an opinion on the state budget these days -- our local pols included.

Here are some quotes from conversations I had last week with mayors in three local cities:

"I'm pleased that it has passed, which will help free up some of the cash flow that has been held back by the state controller. However, I'm not happy about the tax increases and the fact that taxes are being raised in the middle of one of the worst recessions we have had in decades."
-- Joe Vinatieri, Whittier mayor

"I think there are going to be serious repercussions. Without a doubt, solving the budget by increasing taxes is not the way to go and I'm very disappointed."
-- Frank Venti, Monterey Park mayor

"I'm cautiously optimistic about the future. I know California still has a tremendous deficit. We have a lot of problems pending. We have the clouds of recession hanging over us. Passing the budget is the necessary first step on the path to a brighter future, economically speaking. But we still have a lot of work ahead of us."
-- Louie Lujan, La Puente mayor

Lujan went on to question the two-thirds majority needed to pass California's budget. Ever since the drawn-out process to get the state's budget approved began, lawmakers have been mulling the requirement, and whether its time for voters to dump it.

In fact the Associated Press had this story today about the issue:

"We have to do something," said Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael. "I think anybody who's watched this slow-motion train wreck over the last three months ought to agree that this system no longer works, if it ever did."

California is one of only a handful of states that require more than a simple majority to pass budget bills. Rhode Island, like California, requires a two-thirds vote. Arkansas requires three-fourths votes to pass most appropriation bills and simple majorities to approve a separate bill that sets the state's spending priorities.

Lujan said he didn't know what the solution was, but "something less than two-thirds has to seriously be considered."

He also said he found it out odd that among Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado's demands in exchange for his "yes" vote, Maldonado asked for ballot measures that would create an open primary system.

"Maldonado's proposal in changing the California elections code has nothing to do with budgetary process," Lujan said. "It surprises me ... it's an odd forum to discuss (that)."

On the Los Angeles County supervisor front, Michael Antonovich released this statement last week about his thoughts on the state budget:

"What was missing was a comprehensive package of structural reforms including eliminating or consolidating overlapping departments and high-paying political commissions ... Imposing one of the highest tax rates in the nation is a tax-and-spend orgy that further drives businesses, individuals and jobs out of state."

Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor James Whitmore -- who was also the father of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore -- died Friday at his Malibu home.

Whitmore appeared in many films, including "The Asphalt Jungle," "Planet of the Apes" and "The Shawshank Redemption" (one of my most favorite movies).

He was 87.

Steve Whitmore was quoted in an Associated Press article that moved late Friday night:

"My father was a great man and it gives me great joy to speak about a father that always had my back," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"He always said the most important thing in life was family. He loved his work, but he always saw it as a way to provide for the most important thing, and that's family."

Whittier reporter Ruby Gonzales has a story running in tomorrow's paper about a former Los Angeles County public works employee who pleaded no contest in January to stealing gas from county maintenance yards.

Between July 2 and Sept. 3, 2008, officials say Ralph Soto used a co-worker's account number to siphon off an estimated 1,000 gallons of gas at yards in Alhambra and East Los Angeles.

He also filled cans with gasoline, which he then sold.

Apparently, he was doing this at night and on weekends. He hasn't been an employee with the county since early December.

Soto will $5,087 in restitution to the county and serve 120 days in county jail.

Look for the full story tomorrow.

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.......

I'm heading to Downtown L.A. later this afternoon for a press conference about the county placing the ratings of area nursing homes on its Web site.

County Supervisor Michael Antonovich -- who also pushed for the county's restaurant grading system -- is the man behind the idea. So if you're looking for a nursing home, not only can you find the information on the county's Web site, but you can now also see how they fared in the federal government's five-star rating system.

This comes days after state regulators announced they would be fining Casa Bonita Convalescent Hospital in San Dimas $121,000 after the death of one of their patients.

Here's the county's Web site...

Like many of my compatriots in the journalism biz, I am a bit of a news junkie. And with the formation of the Internet (thanks Al Gore) I am often cruising the net for interesting tidbits and news.

Today, while reading about the downfall of this industry in a story from Slate.com, I came across an interesting site called Everyblock.

This site is a news delivery internet site that breaks down news delivery to a block by block system. It doesn't cover San Gabriel cities (yet) but this type of news delivery could be part of all online newspapers in the future (according to me). While it won't replace the news reporting you are used to, it could be a welcomed accessory to newspapers new online world.

What do you think of the site? Check it out, look around and let me know.

Six are competiting for two seats on the Temple City Council amid accusations that two council members solicited bribes. Read more.

Walnut prepares for legal battle against city of Industry for the proposed NFL stadium. Read more.

West Covina community activists move forward in effort to get council districts in city. Read more. Read more.

La Puente files claim against county for missing $500,000. Read more.

Leftovers from City Hall column.

 "Who throws a shoe? Honestly."

Stimulus package may benefit local infrastructure projects. Read more.

Hopefully as business-friendly as La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs, which are finalists in the Most Business Friendly City competition in Los Angeles County, Whittier Daily News reporter Sandra Molina reports.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. annually designates a city most business friendly in two categories based on population.

This is the first year in the three-year history of the award that there is a distinction between cities with populations of 50,000 and above or under, LAEDC officials said.

The winner will be announced Nov. 17.

Here are the top SGV stories today:

The county budget is taking a $128 million hit now that the Governor approved the state's budget. Here's the story.

The Walnut City Council opposed to the NFL stadium. This is the first city to oppose it. Monterey Park and West Covina city councils both passed ordinances approving the stadium, Bethania Markus-Palma reports.

The state Department of Public Health faulted Citrus Valley Health Partners in connection with its employees' use of fake CPR cards, Tania Chatila reports.

AQMD hearings continue regarding El-Monte based Gregg Industries, Rebecca Kimitch reports.

Here's what Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina, according to a press release, has to say about a judge's decision that will allow taco trucks to continue to park and serve.

"I am very disappointed with Judge Aichroth's ruling in this case and, frankly, I do not understand the basis for his decision--especially since he provided no explanation at all.

Other municipalities--from Montebello to Los Angeles to Beverly Hills--have similar or more stringent laws regulating catering trucks. It seems that only in East Los Angeles is regulation on this issue problematic.

"I will continue to stand up for quality-of-life issues in East Los Angeles and elsewhere in the First Supervisorial District. As the residents I represent have continually made clear to me, catering truck regulation remains a top priority--and I will not be deterred by Judge Aichroth's ruling.

Quality-of-life issues, ranging from graffiti abatement to code enforcement to catering truck regulation, are all important to the residents of East Los Angeles--and I will continue to fight for them."

Open Forum: Should council members go on conferences out of state if their cities are facing deficits?

Killer bees in Covina, an alleged gang member kidnapped a customer in Alhambra and ended up with $3,000 and a few bottles of tequila, and, literally, a strong-arm robbery in Walnut.

One thing that caught my eye was a display of old gas pumps.

First, it was interesting because the gas prices are so low! (Yes, that says 28 cents a gallon!)

Secondly, one of the pumps resembled the pumps spotted at an abdandoned gas station on Shamrock in Monrovia. Any one know anything about that abandoned station?

A graffiti program brought about after the deaths of several residents, including Pico Rivera resident Maria Hicks , who was shot and killed when she caught taggers in her neighborhood, will allow the county to recover costs for graffiti clean-up.

The county approved the program today, and it will become effective Sept. 18.

The new ordinance allows the county to declare itself a "graffiti victim" and recover costs for graffiti abatement -- including enforcement, removal and damages.

The County can recoup unpaid costs through liens or special assessments against the property of the graffiti offender or guardian of offending minor.

Adult graffiti offenders are subject to a civil citation issued by the Sheriff for fines up to $1,000.

The new Ordinance expands Supervisor Gloria Molina's graffiti enforcement program which resulted in 168 arrests.

But tagging related deaths continue. On July 23, Joshua Rodriguez was shot dead in South Whittier at Mulberry Drive and Ruoff Avenue.

WHITTIER - Homicide detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying and tracking down three men involved in a July 23 shooting that left a La Mirada man dead.

While authorities said the incident was triggered by a fight between rival tagging crews the day before, 20-year-old Joshua Rodriguez wasn't a tagger.

Sheriff's Lt. Dan Rosenberg said they don't know why Rodriguez was involved in the fight.

What detectives know is that on July 22 there was a clash near a local wash between the tagging crews, My Squad Murder Krew and Potheads. Rosenberg said the groups agreed to meet the next day at Mulberry Drive and Ruoff Avenue in South Whittier.

"Our victim, Rodriguez, got in a fight with somebody. He was actually winning," Rosenberg said.

But he said two friends of the man fighting with Rodriguez approached. One of them shot him several times

Authorities said that Rodriguez wasn't a tagger. I shot these photos of Rodriguez's shrine, which included writing comments with a Sharpie on the sidewalk.

If all the tax measures pass, including a one-cent sales tax hike that the Governor is allegedly suggesting, cities such as Pico Rivera will be paying as much as 10.75 percent in sales tax.

Here are the proposed city and county tax measures appearing on the November ballot affecting San Gabriel Valley voters:

El Monte
What: A half-cent sales tax for a period of five years
Expected revenue: $4.4 million a year
Reason: To preserve funding for public safety, street and storm drain maintenance, rebuild reserve funds, plug a $400,000 deficit

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
What: A half-cent sales tax increase for 30 years
Expected revenue: $30 - $40 billion
Reason: To improve traffic flow, expand public transportation, extend light rail with airport connections and provide clean-fuel buses

Pico Rivera
What: A one-cent sales tax increase
Expected revenue: $6 million
Reasons: To preserve public safety, community programs, plug a $4.8 million deficit, and maintain city infrastrcuture

Pomona
What: An increase of the utility users tax to 10 percent from 9 percent for 2 years and 2 months
Expected revenue: $1.8 million
Reasons: Maintain city services and capital improvement projects

San Gabriel
What: An increase in the utility users tax to 8 percent from 6 percent
Expected revenue: $1.2 million
Reasons: Improve police protection and investigations that reduce crime, preserve fire and paramedic emergency response times, plug a $600,000 deficit, and perform capital improvement projects.

My apologies for not updating the blog earlier today. Because today will be a late night -- I got in at 2 p.m. to cover the El Monte meeting -- I am just now getting into the daily grove.

For the reader concerned about our Gregg Industries coverage: It is my understanding that a reporter has been covering that and is still at the hearing. We will have an update when she returns.

And yes, chasing down dead ducks and chickens does cut into blogging and reporting time.

Where is your money going? Well, today, the County Board of Supervisors approved more than $3 million in four settlements.

$850,000 settlement, plus assumption of $56,294 Medi-Cal lien, proposed for medical negligence lawsuit arising from injuries sustained by patient at Dollarhide Health Center in Compton. (Item 58) APPROVED

$850,000 settlement proposed for wrongful death lawsuit concerning allegation of excessive force by sheriff's deputies during a vehicle pursuit and attempted apprehension. (Item 59) APPROVED

$762,500 settlement, plus assumption of $226,237 Medi-Cal lien, recommended for medical negligence lawsuit arising from treatment received by LAC+USC Medical Center patient. (Item 60) APPROVED

$595,000 settlement proposed for wrongful death lawsuit arising from medical treatment provided at the Los Angeles County Jail and LAC+USC Medical Center. (Item 61) APPROVED

My story today goes into the half-percent sales-tax hike proposal that will appear on the November ballot in El Monte.

The tax is among several that voters in nearby cities and county will see, including a 1 percent sales-tax increase in Pico Rivera and a half-cent sales tax measure that the MTA board approved yesterday. (Check out Pasadena reporter Dan Abendschein's blog Under the Dome for more MTA info. He was blogging from the MTA meeting yesterday.) 

With such tough economic times, it will be difficult getting the voters on board, said Dean Baldassare, president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. But then again, Southgate voters approved a 1 percent increase by nearly 74 percent.

Are you going to be voting for more taxes come November?

It's the weekend! So here's something to think about:

Would you ever consider running for the City Council? Why or why not?