- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Jersey Mike's
- Brad Haugaard
Profile of CEO of Monrovia-Based Green Dot | 'Not Guilty' Plea in Stabbing | New Lawyer for McFarland
~ A Fortune Magazine profile of the CEO of Monrovia-based Green Dot. http://goo.gl/DizV1
~ Suspect pleads not guilty in stabbing of Monrovian on Gold Line. http://goo.gl/hMnoC
~ Monrovian Kelvin McFarland, who runs a "boot camp" in Pasadena and has been charged with kidnapping, will have to switch lawyers. http://goo.gl/u459c
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Faces Impasse With Employees; Will Consider Imposing Its Final Offer
Facing a labor negotiations impasse with city employees, the Monrovia City Council will decide (among other things) whether to unilaterally impose its final offer. http://goo.gl/TrUW3
According to the staff report: "Unfortunately, no agreement was reached. MMEA employees took a vote on August 11, 2011, wherein they elected not to accept the City's last and best and final offer."
With that, the City Council will decide at its September 6 meeting whether to unilaterally implement the city's "last, best and final offer to the Monrovia Municipal Employees Association."
However, just before the regular council meeting will be a closed session which includes "Conference with Labor Negotiator." Perhaps a last-minute attempt at an agreement.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Senator Gets Laws Passed | AIDS Seminar | Unity Center Dinner | Kingdom of Monrovia
~ Monrovia's state senator, Bob Huff, has gotten two items through the legislature and to the governor for (hopefully) his signature: 1) a bill to allow people to assist epileptic students, and 2) | a bill to allow door-to-door collection of hazardous waste. http://goo.gl/KRvaj Opinion: Sigh. I approve, but why should we need a law to allow people to collect hazardous waste? I'd have never thought it would be illegal in the first place.
~ HIV/AIDS education event, with Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, Sept. 21, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City of Hope. To register, 626 577-9944.
~ Honoring those who have helped Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center. Cocktails, dinner, auction and music, Sept. 22, 6 to 9 p.m. at Santa Anita Park. Honorees include Monrovians Bob Bartlett and Monrovian Family Restaurant. $75 per person. Register by September 16. For information, call Gerald, (626) 358-3486.
~ The Kingdom of Monrovia. Who knew? http://goo.gl/wCiYi
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia PD: Meth and Much More, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for August 25-31 – Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 517 service events, resulting in 98 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:
Disturbing Subjects / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
On August 26 at 8:47 p.m., officers responded to the area of Magnolia and Duarte regarding a female subject following a male subject who allegedly took something of hers while at the street fair. Officers located both parties and determined that no theft had occurred. The subjects are boyfriend/girlfriend and were arguing over drugs. Both subjects were patted down and checked for warrants. The male subject was found to be in possession of cocaine and was arrested.
Attempt Robbery – Suspect Arrested
On August 27 at 1:58 a.m., a suspect in the 300 block of West Lemon reportedly simulated a gun under his shirt and demanded money from a male victim. The victim did not believe the suspect had a gun and fought with the suspect. The suspect fled south on Alta Vista empty handed. Officers arrived and met with the victim and a witness, and also began an area check for the suspect. A male subject matching the suspects description was seen running south on Magnolia and was detained. The victim positively identified the suspect and he was arrested and taken into custody.
Hit & Run Incident – Suspect Arrested
On August 28 at 2:20 p.m., a male subject driving his vehicle east on Primrose drove through the cones blocking the roadway at Lime for the Sunday Farmer’s Market event. The coordinator for the event stopped the vehicle inside the event and told the driver the street was closed to vehicle traffic. The male subject became angry and yelled that he lived that way, pointing east. He was told one more time that the street was closed. The driver proceeded through, striking the event coordinator and running over his foot. He sustained a broken ankle. A witness followed the suspect into a parking lot nearby, where officers apprehended him. He was arrested without further incident.
Domestic Violence / Reckless Driving / Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Child Endangerment – Suspects Arrested
On August 29 at 5:04 p.m., a caller reported a male subject battering a female subject inside a vehicle in the area of Colorado and Alta Vista. The caller followed the suspect vehicle as it drove away wrecklessly on the wrong side of the road, nearly colliding into numerous vehicles along the way. As an officer drove up behind the suspect vehicle, the driver looked back and discarded a small bag into the roadway and continued driving. The suspect then stopped for the officers a distance away from the area where he discarded the bag. The officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and detained the male subject without further incident.
The female did not have any injuries and denied being a victim of domestic violence. The subjects are husband and wife, and they had their two small children, ages one and two, in the backseat of the vehicle. The female was under the influence of a controlled substance and there was drug paraphernalia concealed where she had been sitting inside the vehicle. She was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and child endangerment.
The bag discarded by the male suspect was recovered and found to contain methamphetamine and a drug smoking pipe. He was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic battery, child endangerment, and wreckless driving. He was later found to have lied about his identity and was found to be on parole; a parole hold was obtained.
The two small children were not harmed during the incident and were taken into protective custody. They were later released to a grandparent after being interviewed by the Department of Child and Family Services.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
On August 31 at 4:51 p.m., a fast food restaurant in the 100 block of West Duarte Road reported a female in their drive-thru that was driving drunk. Officers responded and detained the female. An investigation was conducted and the female was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.
Strong-Arm Robbery – Suspect Arrested
On August 31 at 5:07 p.m., a business in the 300 block of West Huntington reported a female subject had just taken merchandise out of the store without paying for it. An employee attempted to stop the female, and the female fought with the employee to try and get away with the merchandise. Officers responded quickly and apprehended the suspect. She was arrested for strong-arm robbery and taken into custody.
Burglary
On August 31 at 9:33 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. The victim reported that he locked his garage the night before at about 5:30 p.m. and went in for the evening. When he walked out to the garage in the morning at 8:20 a.m., he saw one of the two doors open. He checked his garage and discovered a miter saw and some of his tools were missing. The garage doors had been secured with padlocks. It appears the suspect(s) cut the locks and took them, as they were not located at the scene. Investigation continuing.
- Brad Haugaard
Living in Bearville | Monrovia's Guided Bomb | Senate Helps Gold Line | Monrovian Arrested in Fake ID Scheme
~ The Monrovia Police Department is hosting a community meeting about bears at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W Palm Avenue. Speaking and answering questions will be Dept. of Fish and Game biologist Rebecca Rebossa. A bear-resistant trash can will be available for inspection, along with information on how to obtain one. Animal Control Officer David Andrew will also be on hand to answer questions about other animal related issues. Call (626) 256-8000 for information. (From City Website - Couldn't have said it better myself.) http://goo.gl/oI5CA
~ U.S. Army has awarded Monrovia's AeroVironment $4.9 million Contract for Switchblade, a backpack-size, flying, guided bomb. http://goo.gl/JG2b7
~ State Senate committee passes legislation to allow the Gold Line board to continue being made up of city officials along the route. (This had been challenged in court, so, presumably, this solves that challenge.) http://goo.gl/uz0Le
~ Monrovian arrested in fake ID scheme. http://goo.gl/G2eeR
- Brad Haugaard
Shaw's Seat on Monrovia City Council | API Scores | City Beat | 9-11 Memorial
~ Discussion of Clarence Shaw's empty seat on the Monrovia City Council. http://goo.gl/blSqT
~ API scores show Monrovia schools doing a bit better. http://goo.gl/0Todb
~ The latest City Beat cable program features Sena (a new pub) and Candy Connection on Myrtle and information about the Police Department's "Drive 25" program. http://goo.gl/2NanJ
~ 9-11 memorial. Just a reminder, there will be a memorial at Fire Station 101, 141 E. Lemon Ave., at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 11. It will begin with a presentation of the colors, the national anthem, then Mayor Mary Ann Lutz will give a presentation and the city's Youth Commission will present a tribute poem, and a bronze statue will be unveiled. http://goo.gl/VxsDd
- Brad Haugaard
Old Car Show in Monrovia | Financial Aid | Green Dot
~ Saturday, Sept. 10, there will be an old car show along Myrtle, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce.
~ A student financial-aid simplification bill by Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been approved by the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor for his signature. A Portantino press release says it would "end a needlessly duplicative process and get more students to participate in state and federal aid programs."
~ Monrovia's Green Dot will give a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Financial Technology Conference. http://goo.gl/DVOlM
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy on Cover of Local Sports Magazine
If you are a high school football fan, you probably ought to pick up a paper copy of the Star-News today. It comes with a nice insert magazine - prepXtra - with Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy on the cover and profiles of all the local teams (it ranks Monrovia #1).
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Senator: Budget and Economy Bad, Epilepsy Bill Progresses
Senator Bob Hufff, who represent Monrovia in the State Senate, paints a bleak picture of the California budget and economy in his latest newsletter ( http://goo.gl/JRDor ), but on the bright side, he says his bill to authorize school employee volunteers to provide emergency medical assistance to pupils with epilepsy who suffer a seizure is making progress: http://goo.gl/pFQzz
Huf writes that "there's no question that the budget is in trouble." He says it depends on "overly optimistic" tax estimates which are not coming true, plus the State Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to the state's plan to kill redevelopment [and thus collect more tax revenue].
Also, he writes that "the California unemployment rate edged up to 12%. It’s the first increase in the jobless rate since September 2010. California’s unemployment rate is now 30% higher than the national average. This isn’t good news."
- Brad Haugaard
210 Bridge Foundation About to be Drilled
Mr. Crane being assembled to drill foundations.
The foundation for the 210 bridge over the eastbound lanes near Santa Anita will be drilled over the next four weeks, according to a press release from Gold Line Spokesman Habib Balian.
In the image you can see a large drill rig and crane are being assembled on the south side of the freeway. This is the location of the first of three 110 foot deep, 11 foot in diameter foundations. The other two are located in the center median of the freeway.
"Each foundation will take approximately six days to drill and cast. We anticipate drilling the first foundation next week, followed by the installation of the reinforcing steel cage, concrete placement and testing the following week. This schedule is dependent on receiving final approval from Caltrans this week. During these activities, partial and full eastbound lane closures are planned (full closures occur late at night to minimize traffic delays)."
- Brad Haugaard
Indian Restaurant for Myrtle Ave.
an "upscale" Indian restaurant will replace Teri & Yaki near Foothill and Myrtle. http://goo.gl/1XwIj - Brad Haugaard
Paintings at Segil Fine Art
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's AeroVironment Introduces New Drone
AeroVironment introduces Shrike "quadcopter" vertical take-off drone. http://goo.gl/pHs8G
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Green Dot Hires General Manager
Green Dot Corporation, a Monrovia-based prepaid financial services company, has hired marketing and branding expert Eric Duehring as general manager of the Green Dot-branded card business unit. http://goo.gl/Qf3JN
- Brad Haugaard
Comment Time for Monrovia Hillsides | Welcoming Baby Monrovians | Happy Birthday
~ Monrovia seeks comment on Hillside plan. http://goo.gl/Pz8aq ~ City Council welcomes the newest Monrovians. http://goo.gl/TF47I ~ MonroviaNow.com is a bit over a year old. Here's a link to our first posting, on July 31, 2010. On bears. What else. http://goo.gl/8cPbN - Brad Haugaard
Stanford Report: Numbers Used Against Portantino 'Suspicious'
A Stanford University non-profit research group, California Common Sense (CACS), says Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, is not the top spender in the Assembly - he's 18th - and that the figures released by the Assembly that show him to be the top spender are "suspicious."
From the CACS press release: "Given everything we know right now, it appears that the Rules Committee under-reported other Assemblymembers’ spending on staff and over-reported Portantino’s spending on staff. If this turns out to be the case, it is a sad day for California. It is a problem if elected officials such as Portantino who seek more transparent and accountable governance are being punished."
In his own press release, Portantino writes that the Stanford researchers "have completely exposed the clumsy attempt to falsely portray me in a bad light and exposed petty politics at its worst. The actions of the Assembly leaders not only undermine the public’s trust, they raise serious constitutional questions."
He adds: "I am asking the legislature to join me in requesting a complete and thorough audit of the State Assembly’s budget and expenditures."
Sources: CACS press release ( http://goo.gl/hKhWG ), CACS executive summary ( http://goo.gl/hjk1X ), CACS Policymaker Report ( http://goo.gl/G0XR5 )
UPDATE: Commenting on the Portantino affair, the Star-News accuses Assembly Speaker John Perez of "cooking" the Assembly's books and says he should resign. http://goo.gl/W8gh9
- Brad Haugaard
Back to School, Monrovia! | Profile of Ellis McCarthy
~ Back to school day. Drive carefully! And here's a picture: http://goo.gl/jhz0I ~ LA Times column on Monrovia football player, lineman Ellis McCarthy: http://goo.gl/BPV52 - Brad Haugaard
Hurray for the Frugal Ones!
Opinion: It is disappointing to find Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been spending more than any other Assembly member on office staff ($213,263.28) so far this year -- unless, of course, as Portantino maintains, that this isn't the full picture.
Still, I very much appreciate him forcing this information out into the open. But anyway what REALLY strikes me is the following five Assembly members, who all managed to squeak by spending less than $100 grand on their office staffs: Jose Solorio (D), $98,134.27Mariko Yamada (D), $96,990.86
Mike Morrell (R), $86,610.09
Bob Blumenfield (D), $81,036.50
Mary Hayashi (D), $62,457.60 I don't know how they vote on the bigger issues of spending, but good for them for keeping their office expenses under control. Maybe the rest of the Assembly could take lessons.
- Brad Haugaard
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