Rubber Mold for Freeway Bridge | Monrovia Business Showcase | Huff on Money for Schools

~ Gold Line construction crews install rubber form liner along the inside walls of the bridge structure. These will result in the texture along the outside of the superstructure once the concrete is poured. http://goo.gl/RNk1u

~ At the street fair tonight stop by and see the Business Showcase, more than 30 local businesses. http://goo.gl/hKquw

~ Video: Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, laments the death of his ads-on-school-buses measure and the setbacks reforming the legislature. http://goo.gl/0ZhWC

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at China Express

Lunch at China Express, right next to the Rite Aid at Huntington and Magnolia. Very clean and nice inside. Got the lunch special with chow mein and drink for $4.99 including tax. Generous portion and quality fairly good.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Ghosts?

Ghosts in Monrovia? Hmm. Some stories. http://goo.gl/i7XrH

 
- Brad Haugaard

Cinco De Mayo This Sunday in Monrovia

This Sunday, April 29, noon to 9 p.m., the second annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Old Town, at Myrtle and Colorado. Local artists and musicians. Entertainers include the Delgado Brothers, Ballet Folklorico and the headliner, Hector Dominguez Mariachi. http://goo.gl/bSOAy

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Spelling 'Zom-Bee'

Monrovia Spelling Bee May 19 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center. Students in grades 6-12 (public, private, or home study) are eligible. Email mayflowerdes@gmail.com with name, grade, school and T-shirt size. Get back spelling bee rules and word list. This year's theme: "Spelling Zom-Bees."

Monrovia's Green Dot: Good Earnings | Water Into Mortgages

~ Monrovia's Green Dot Corporation today reported an 18% year-over-year increase in non-GAAP total operating revenues1 to $145.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. http://goo.gl/rTBl5

 

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, comments on Facebook that he voted against a bill (SB 900) that "originally dealt with water quality control boards when it entered the chamber and now it is dealing with mortgages after the vote. We literally had 30 seconds to read the new version of the bill. The bill passed 43-24."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Audit-the-Legislature Bill Voted Down

According to a press release from Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, his bill to audit legislative books "was killed this morning in the Assembly Rules Committee. The vote fell along party lines with 4 Republicans in favor, 4 Democrats opposed on the recommendation of Nancy Skinner, Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee."

AB 1887 would have asked the State Controller to take over and conduct an annual audit of the legislature's books for two years. After that, the Joint Rules Committee would take over the audit process. The bill also would have required the Senate and Assembly Operating Funds to return any unused funds to the General Fund.  Portantino said the Assembly is violating its own rules by not conducting a Performance Audit. 

In his testimony Portantino quoted the San Francisco Chronicle, "The Assembly leadership has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to give anything resembling a forthright accounting of how these politicians are spending our money. It's time for an independent audit of the Assembly's books."

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Million Dollar Warrant, Bad Checks, Overdose, Arrest of Molester, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 23-25. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 482 service events, resulting in 87 investigations.

 

Burglary / Forgery - Suspect Arrested

April 23 at 12:08 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a bank in the 500 block of South Myrtle.  A male subject attempted to pass a forged/stolen check.  A bank employee called police and upon arrival, the suspect was detained and subsequently arrested.  Investigation continuing.

 

Medical Assist

April 23 at 2:14 p.m., a 17-year-old male subject was found unresponsive at a park in the 700 block of East Lemon.  Paramedics took the young man to a hospital for possible overdose.

 

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Recovered

April 25 at 6:04 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of West Walnut.  The vehicle is a black, 1996 Honda Civic.  Officers checked the area and located the vehicle on Monterey.  Investigation continuing.

 

Grand Theft Auto / Vehicle Recovered 

April 25 at 8:04 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the front of a residence in the 1400 block of Monterey.  The vehicle is a silver Honda CRV.  The vehicle was recovered later that day at 1:00 p.m. in the City of Fontana.  Investigation continuing.

 

Burglary / Warrant - Suspects Arrested

April 25 at 2:31 p.m., police responded to a burglary at a business in the 700 block of East Huntington.  A male and female subject entered and took numerous bottles of liquor.  They exited the store and fled in a waiting vehicle driven by a third suspect.  The vehicle was located by an officer and a traffic stop was conducted in the City of Duarte.  The driver was found to have a million dollar warrant.  All three suspects were arrested for burglary.  

 

Theft From a Vehicle

April 25 at 7:16 p.m., a theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred at a residence in the 700 block of West Foothill.  A stereo faceplate was stolen from the dashboard of the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.

 

Shots Heard

April 26 at 2:25 a.m., police received a call reporting shots heard in the area of Foothill and Grand.  Officers responded and searched the area, but were unable to locate any evidence of gunfire, witnesses or victims.  Investigation continuing.   

 

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

On April 19, detectives went to an apartment complex in the City of El Monte and arrested a child molester who was recently released from jail and had reestablished a relationship with the victim he abused.  The victim is now an adult, but the suspect has been ordered by the judge to stay away from the victim, regardless of the victim's age.  The suspect was taken into custody without altercation.  The suspect has a preliminary hearing on Friday, April 27, 2012.

Senate Committee Votes Down Monrovia Senator's Ads-on-Buses Bill

Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, said Democrats who control the Senate Committee on Education rejected a measure today that would have allowed school districts to sell ad space on the exterior of their buses would have given them full authority over how to spend the resulting revenue. Source: http://goo.gl/HzhHg

And here's Huff's comments on video: http://goo.gl/uTtLh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Summer School Choices | Music Dinner | Cupcake Contest | Scholarships

~ Full set of summer school choices at Monrovia schools. http://goo.gl/xZYX4

 

~ Monrovia Music Dinner. Five bands, four orchestras, four choirs, one drum line. May 16. Details: http://goo.gl/xeaXb

 

~ Monrovia Kiwanis Club Cupcake contest on May 19. http://goo.gl/Ai8Pv

 

~ Monrovia Rotary Club giving out $22,700 in scholarships. http://goo.gl/VVWcm

 

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Gym | First Place in Baseball

~ New gymnastics club coming to Monrovia. http://goo.gl/np7cn

 

~ Monrovia baseball in first place. http://goo.gl/Q03hd

 

- Brad Haugaard

Local Legislators Want Clarification on Gold Line's Use of Funds

State Senators Ed Hernandez and Bob Huff, speaking for legislators representing the San Gabriel Valley, have written to the Metro Gold Line board asking exactly how it would use the extra money the line would get if the Measure R sales tax is extended beyond its expiration date. They were also bothered by a $764 million funding gap to get the line to Claremont, and bugged that recent talk has been of the line going from Pasadena to Azusa rather than Pasadena to Claremont.

Source: Press release from Gold Line

- Brad Haugaard

Robber Bridegroom Performances at Monrovia High | Canned Food for Cinco de Mayo | Barbecue for Babies

~ The MHS Drama Program will perform its the first musical in the new Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High. This American Fairy Tale, The Robber Bridegroom will play from May 2-5, starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 at the door and all are welcome. "This is your final chance to see a production under Mr. Segal's direction." http://goo.gl/NsfVF

 

~ Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz requests on her Facebook page that if you bring canned goods if you attend the Monrovia Cinco de Mayo Festival Celebration this Sunday April 29, 2012 from 12pm to 9pm on Myrtle Avenue. All food donations will go to Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center.

 

~ Mark your calendar. Monrovia Chamber of Commerce wants you to know there will be a Barbecue for Babies (to benefit children with cleft lips in Guatemala) May 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Recreation Park (Olive and Shamrock). http://goo.gl/Fl5Ak

 

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Bill Would Require Politicians to Reveal More About their Finances

A bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino to update financial reporting for politicians and public officials has been approved in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Portantino says the Form 700, Statement of Economic Interest, gives the public a way to keep tabs on the outside financial interests of officeholders and other officials to ensure that they avoid conflicts of interest, but hasn't been updated in more than 35 years. Currently there are four ranges for investments, property and income. This bill would revise the dollar amounts associated with these ranges to 8 levels for investments and real estate and 10 levels for income ranges. Currently, he said, "the forms are so general with such wide reporting ranges it's almost impossible to figure out just how much outside money politicians are making."

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblymember's Rape Kit Bill Approved by Committee

A bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino to extend the time law enforcement has to analyze rape kits from two to five years was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Public Safety Committee. Portantino represents part of Monrovia. He said, "Not all rape kits are being tested in a timely manner and many languish past the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crime. It's frustrating to know a rapist could be walking the streets because a vital piece of evidence went untested and the statute of limitations ran out."

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Concerned About Its Internet Provider | Portantino vs. 710 | Students for Counselor

~ Monrovia School District concerned about its relationship with its Internet and telephone service provider, which is run by the former Superintendent's husband. http://goo.gl/Xz5tH

 

~ On his Facebook page, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, writes: ‎"710 freeway would be disaster for our region. Make your voice heard!" He links to this story about a freeway meeting - http://goo.gl/ehCRA . Opinion: Sorry, I'd love to see that freeway completed.

 

~ Students trying to save Monrovia High counselor's job. http://goo.gl/MPEF9

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Relief Organization Warns of Hunger in Africa

Monrovia's World Vision relief organization warns that a "huge gap" in funding for aid projects threatens to leave millions of people in the Sahel hungry in the coming months. (The Sahel is the area along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.) http://goo.gl/Z86ze

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia in Playoffs? | Postal Food | Tuition for Military | Surgery for Gordo | Former Monrovia Police Officer Promoted

~ Sportswriter Miguel Melendez thinks Monrovia High baseball looks good for the playoffs. http://goo.gl/vNz2o

~ May 12 is Letter Carriers Food Drive. Locally, this will support Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center. Leave food by your mail box, the letter carrier brings it to the post office, and Unity will have volunteers transporting and warehousing the food. On its Facebook page, the Center writes: "We usually receive over 100,000 pounds of food on that day."

~ Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia, writes on Facebook that, "Today, I proudly spoke in favor of AB 2250, a bill I am co-authoring, which will give Military service members and their spouses in state tuition for college."

~ Help Gordo the dog get needed surgery after being abused. http://goo.gl/XCIGm

~ Former Monrovia Police officer, Joe Allen, promoted to commander at Atascadero PD. http://goo.gl/y6MBi

- Brad Haugaard

Assembly Committee Kills Monrovia Assemblyman's Whistleblower Bill

For the second time this year, a California Assembly Committee has killed Assemblymember Anthony Portantino's bill to provide legislative employees with protection from retaliation in whistleblower cases, according to a press release from Portantino's office. Portantino represents part of Monrovia. The press release continues:

 

"I am deeply disappointed that once again an Assembly Committee chose to kill Whistleblower Protection for capitol employees," said Assemblymember Portantino. "For more than 35 years, the Whistleblower Protection Act has covered employees of every other state agency or department except the Legislature.  It makes no sense that legislators would kill this bill; what do they have to hide? If we truly want to root out fraud and waste in state government, we have to provide protection for those who come forward with claims so they can be candid without fear of reprisal."
 
AB 2256 would have established the California Legislature Whistleblower Protection Act and would have given legislative employees legal protections from reprisals for reporting government wrongdoing such as waste, fraud and abuse. The measure would have required the Rules Committees of both the Assembly and Senate to receive written complaints and forward them on to the California Fair Practices Committee (FPPC) to investigate.  Penalties for retaliation would have included a $10,000 fine.
 
By maintaining a self-serving exemption we are communicating a self-serving message instead of focusing on common core values.  We should be fostering and encouraging folks to report waste, fraud and abuse, not stifling those reports," said Portantino.  "I am extremely disappointed that a committee which unanimously passed a similar bill in January would kill one today.  It begs the question, what is the Assembly hiding?"

 

- Brad Haugaard

Freeway Bridge Mold

Here you can see the mold taking shape into which the concrete will be poured for the Gold Line 210 Freeway bridge.

And here is a six-minute video of construction progress and what to expect. Very cool time lapse.

- Brad Haugaard