This letter, written by South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa, ran today in our paper. I wonder if this is foreshadowing any redevelopment efforts by the city of trailer parks, as has been done in Monterey Park. There are also talks on the table of developing former trailer park land in Rosemead.

Keep up trailer parks

It is unfortunate how some of our mobile home/trailer property owners treat renters, not only in South El Monte but in other surrounding cities.

First of all, the upkeep is deplorable and can sometimes be a health and safety issue. These owners make enough off of these people, most of which are on a fixed income, usually seniors or single parents.

Many of these homes are too old to move, so relocation is out of the question. Simply by paving the area where these homes are located, adding sufficient lighting and adding shrubs and plants can help an area look a thousand times better. People have the right to live in a nice, upkept place that they call home.

I want to thank all other owners who have pride and respect for their renters. Others can learn from you. Your places are very nicely kept up.

Blanca M. Figueroa
Mayor
South EL Monte

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Don Cook, president of DC Corporation, requested that South El Monte waive $150,324 worth of fees for the senior and affordable housing project, according to an inter-office memo dated March 10. The item is scheduled to appear before the council  in the near future, possibly at Tuesday's council meeting. Here is an exceprt from the memo, written to City Manager Anthony Ybarra by Cook:

"It has already been determined by the Improvement District and Staff that this project could not be built without assistance from the Improvement District, which the District Board has provided. It is inconsistent for the District Board to provide gap financing for the project in order to make the project viable and then have the City require tens of thousands of dollars in fees. I oder to avoid this "Peter to pay Paul" scenarios we request the aboive listed fees be waived by the City. Not only is this logical on its face, it ic consistent with how other cities in the Valley participate in the development of senior and affordable housing," wrote Cook.

Cook continues, writing that this project has continued to be delayed. In a Triibune article in 2005, DC Corp. unveilved its project plans:

Another mixed-use project on the horizon by developer DC Corp. at Michael Hunt Drive and Peck Road will feature senior housing as well as retail, which includes a drugstore and beauty shop, said Don Cook , vice president of the corporation.

"This is something we're doing in part with the city, but the city won't be giving any money,' Cook said.

DC Corp has also developed homes in Baldwin Park, West Covina and Perris. The South El Monte planning commission first denied the proposed project, claiming that it was too dense, according to a Tribune article.

SOUTH EL MONTE -- A town hall meeting Monday night to showcase plans for a retail and housing development turned into a confrontation between the developer and residents.

West Covina-based DCCorporation is looking for City Council approval to build 14 homes, 60 apartment units and 20,000 square feet of retail at 1570 Durfee Ave., behind the 7-Eleven store on Peck Road.

"The project is a superior project," said DC Corp. employee Don Cook .

But the Planning Commission voted against the project, calling it too dense. DC Corp. is appealing the decision to the City Council, which is set to vote on the matter at its June 28 meeting.

About 60 people attended the meeting at the Senior Center. None of them spoke in favor of the DC Corp. project, with most saying it is too dense for the area.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Don Cook, president of DC Corporation, requested that South El Monte waive $150,324 worth of fees for the senior and affordable housing project, according to an inter-office memo dated March 10. The item is scheduled to appear before the council  in the near future, possibly at Tuesday's council meeting. Here is an exceprt from the memo, written to City Manager Anthony Ybarra by Cook:

"It has already been determined by the Improvement District and Staff that this project could not be built without assistance from the Improvement District, which the District Board has provided. It is inconsistent for the District Board to provide gap financing for the project in order to make the project viable and then have the City require tens of thousands of dollars in fees. I oder to avoid this "Peter to pay Paul" scenarios we request the aboive listed fees be waived by the City. Not only is this logical on its face, it ic consistent with how other cities in the Valley participate in the development of senior and affordable housing," wrote Cook.

Cook continues, writing that this project has continued to be delayed. In a Triibune article in 2005, DC Corp. unveilved its project plans:

Another mixed-use project on the horizon by developer DC Corp. at Michael Hunt Drive and Peck Road will feature senior housing as well as retail, which includes a drugstore and beauty shop, said Don Cook , vice president of the corporation.

"This is something we're doing in part with the city, but the city won't be giving any money,' Cook said.

DC Corp has also developed homes in Baldwin Park, West Covina and Perris. The South El Monte planning commission first denied the proposed project, claiming that it was too dense, according to a Tribune article.

SOUTH EL MONTE -- A town hall meeting Monday night to showcase plans for a retail and housing development turned into a confrontation between the developer and residents.

West Covina-based DCCorporation is looking for City Council approval to build 14 homes, 60 apartment units and 20,000 square feet of retail at 1570 Durfee Ave., behind the 7-Eleven store on Peck Road.

"The project is a superior project," said DC Corp. employee Don Cook .

But the Planning Commission voted against the project, calling it too dense. DC Corp. is appealing the decision to the City Council, which is set to vote on the matter at its June 28 meeting.

About 60 people attended the meeting at the Senior Center. None of them spoke in favor of the DC Corp. project, with most saying it is too dense for the area.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)

South El Monte's Councilwoman Angelica Garcia is proposing that the city establish an ordinace to put more of the city's public information online. Here's how it reads on the agenda:

"Look into establishing an ordinance to incorporate 'paperless' agendas for City Council meetings in order to reduce the city's carbon footprint."

The city already puts the agendas online, so I wonder if she is talking about putting the staff reports online.

Garcia also wanted to establish a recycling program for all recycling materials at City Hall.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)