Monrovia Assemblymember: Boycott Florida

Press release from Monrovia's Assemblymember:

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) - with the backing of the California Legislative Black Caucus - said he would introduce a resolution calling for a repeal of Florida's "stand-your-ground" law and urging a boycott of Florida in the wake of the not guilty verdict in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

"When I heard the verdict last weekend, I was disappointed and saddened. Another young black child is dead and nobody is being held accountable," said Assemblymember Holden. "It is a true nightmare scenario for every black parent in America, and a sad commentary on racial injustice in this country.

While sitting in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse waiting to be called for jury duty earlier this week, I thought 'What do we do now'? I urge the Department of Justice to investigate civil-rights charges against Zimmerman and it is my sincere hope that the tragic death of Trayvon Martin compels legislators in Florida and other states to put an end to stand-your-ground laws. I keep asking myself - didn't Trayvon Martin have a right to also stand his ground? What were Trayvon Martin's rights?

Until then, I plan to plan to introduce a Resolution on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus urging a boycott of Florida, and encouraging all organizations, businesses, and families who would normally do business with or travel to Florida to consider patronizing other states; it's just not safe to travel in Florida until the law is changed.

The death of Trayvon Martin is a tragedy that will reverberate across the country. My heart is heavy, but I continue to believe that a peaceful, lawful solution is the only answer. By boycotting Florida tourism, conventions, and conferences we send a clear message that the death of an unarmed black teenager cannot be tolerated."

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

AeroVironment's Stock Jumps Way Up

At this writing, stock in Monrovia's AeroVironment has jumped 13.8 percent ( http://goo.gl/HBe8N ) on news that the investment firm, Engaged Capital, owns a 5.1 percent chunk of the company. http://goo.gl/0cDtm

- Brad Haugaard

Your Car Lights Are On - Thanks Monrovia PD!

Getting a call at 1:45 in the morning from the police is usually the last thing you want to happen, but it happened to us last night, and I'm glad it did. The Monrovia Police called around that time to tell us that a car in our driveway had the inside light on, thereby saving us from a dead battery this morning.

Thanks Monrovia Police Department! It is not for nothing that Monrovia is sometimes compared to Mayberry. In a good way, I mean ... like Andy, not Barney.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reads Little Library | Singing

~ Fire Department volunteers installed the first of Monrovia Reads' Little Libraries outside the residence 149 E. Fig Avenue, a block north of the freeway and a bit east of Myrtle.

~ If you have a singing voice, Monrovia's San Gabriel Valley Choral Company is having auditions at First Presbyterian Church August 18 -September 24. Details: http://goo.gl/V60Je

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Pastor on Zimmerman/Martin Case

On Twitter, Pastor Albert Tate of Fellowship Monrovia, writes: "What if Zimmermans n Martins went 2 the same church? The Gospel must b lived out n Kingdm Contxt We ned MultiEthnic Gospel Centerd Churches"

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: More Thefts from Vehicles; Using Children as Shields; Gang Shooting? Alcohol Incidents

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 11–14. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested

July 11 at 9:39 a.m., while on routine patrol, officers observed a subject loitering in the 300 block of West Huntington. A no-trespassing order had been signed due to this subject repeatedly loitering at the location. The suspect was arrested for trespassing.

Petty Theft – Suspect Arrested

July 11 at 11:02 a.m., a female suspect entered a business in the 900 block of West Foothill and took three bottles of liquor and left the store without paying. The business called the police, and the suspect was located and arrested.

Thefts From Unlocked Vehicles / Vehicle Burglaries – One Suspect Arrested

On July 12, police received numerous reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles and two vehicle burglary reports. Police are continuing to see a sudden increase in thefts from vehicles and vehicle burglaries throughout the City. In most of the incidents, the vehicles have been left unlocked. Suspect(s) are entering the vehicles during the late evening and morning hours and taking any items of value in the vehicles. It is unknown if the thefts are related.
On July 13, a suspicious subject was seen jumping over fences and running through backyards shortly after an in-progress theft from a vehicle was reported. Police responded and detained the subject. The investigation led to the recovery of some stolen property and the suspect was arrested. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle

July 12 at 10:48 p.m., officers responded to a restaurant parking lot in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a theft from a vehicle. The victims parked their car at 9:45 p.m. and went in to eat. When they came out at 10:40 p.m., they found their vehicle had been ransacked. Their Bluetooth device and cell phone had been taken. The vehicle was left unlocked. Investigation continuing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 2:10 a.m., an officer stopped a female subject who was driving in the 200 block of East Huntington at a high rate of speed. Through investigation, she was determined to be intoxicated and she was arrested for driving under the influence.

Drunk in Public

July 13 at 4:00 a.m., an officer located a female passed out in her vehicle parked in the 100 block of North Highland. She was unresponsive in the passenger seat. Paramedics were called and she was taken to a nearby hospital.

Child Endangerment / Human Shielding – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 5:15 a.m., officers responded to the report of a female subject in the 100 block of Norumbega screaming for help. When they arrived, they heard what sounded like a person being hit and a male and female yelling at each other. They made contact with the female at the front door. She said she had not been hit or injured and she was yelling at her boyfriend, who was in his bedroom with their two children, a three and four year old. She said he had no weapons. The house was in disarray with feces on the walls, floors and on the children's bed.

The male subject refused to open his locked bedroom door and was yelling profanities at the officers to leave. The officers entered the bedroom to check on the welfare of the children and the male subject, since a domestic fight had just occurred. Upon entry, the intoxicated male grabbed the two children and used them as a shield to avoid being arrested. The children were secured and the subject was arrested without injury. The Department of Children and Family Services was notified and will be checking on the condition of the home.

Vehicle Burglary in Progress – Suspect Arrested

July 13 at 6:27 a.m., a female subject returned to her car and found a male subject sitting inside it. The suspect fled and she contacted the police. An area search was conducted and the suspect was spotted in the area. He fled from police and an extensive search was conducted, but the suspect was not found.

At 9:10 a.m., a resident reported seeing two juveniles jumping fences in the 400 block of Meadow Lane. One of the juveniles matched the description of the burglary suspect that ran from police earlier that morning. An area search was conducted and the two juveniles were located and detained, along with two other subjects that were with them.

The subject eventually admitted that he was, in fact, the person who ran from police earlier. He showed the officers where he hid the stolen merchandise, which was under a cactus plant in a ravine. Two additional victims surfaced later in the morning. The suspect had entered two other unlocked vehicles, and in both incidents had taken iPods that were left in the vehicles.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

July 14 at 2:18 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for vehicle code violations. The driver showed symptoms of intoxication. After an investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon

On Sunday, July 14, 2013, at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the morning, a shooting victim arrived at the Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Hospital staff contacted the Monrovia Police Department. An officer arrived and handled the investigation.

The victim told the officer that he was driving in the area of Mountain and Royal Oaks when a subject pulled up in a vehicle next to him, asked him "where are you from" then shot at him, striking him in the shoulder. He drove to a nearby friend's house, and the friend drove him to the emergency room. Police personnel arrived in the area and located evidence that confirmed the shooting.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned male black in his mid-to-late 20's with short black hair, driving an older-model blue Lexus or Toyota, with aftermarket halogen headlamps.

The victim had a non-life-threatening wound and was released within hours of the incident. The victim is not a gang member and is not affiliated with any gang. The investigation will be assigned to the Detective Bureau and is currently ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Monrovia Police Department Detective Bureau.

Residential Burglary

July 14 at 6:51 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of North Canyon regarding a burglary. The victim came home after being away for the weekend and discovered someone had broken into their home. The investigation is continuing.

Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer / Drunk in Public – One Suspect Arrested

July 14 at 11:07 p.m., an officer was in the area of Shamrock and Monrovista when he observed a vehicle code violation and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle pulled over and the driver and two passengers immediately fled on foot. The officer detained two additional passengers in the vehicle, while responding officers searched for the three outstanding suspects. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter responded to help in the search. The subjects were not found.

The officer was able to determine the identity of the driver and he will be charged with resisting and delaying a peace officer. One of the detained occupants was intoxicated and was arrested for public intoxication. The vehicle's registration was expired for over one year and it was stored. The investigation is continuing.

Former Assemblymember Representing Monrovia Launches Talk Show

"The Question Is," a current events program with Anthony Portantino, who formerly represented Monrovia in the state Assembly, premiered this month on the Charter Communications' California Channel 101.

Two shows have been completed. The first dealt with HIV and AIDS and the second will be a discussion of AB 109, the controversial prison realignment plan implemented for California. Was it good public policy? Is it working? And how is the system dealing with the reentry of so many former inmates?

"Before I go back into politics," Portantino said, "I want to share as much information on hot topics as I can. ... 'The Question Is' will endeavor to ask and answer questions about issues that the public should hear about and that no one else is digging into. I'm not shy and the questions will be tough on policy and opinion makers on The Question Is."

The show will air on California Chanel 101 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 pm.

Here is the first show on YouTube: http://goo.gl/JTxd9

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's State Senator Liu Announces Money for Energy Improvements at Local Schools

Senator Carol Liu (who represents Monrovia) announced that roughly $47 million is being made available by the state to fund energy efficiency and clean energy projects for schools in the 25th Senate District, which includes Monrovia.

Also, nearly $50 million will be provided to fund energy projects at California's 112 community colleges. These projects provide a triple benefit by reducing energy bills, improving school conditions and providing jobs to help employ the 400,000 plus unemployed construction workers in the state.

As a main recipient of funds from the Proposition 39, public schools will benefit from long-term energy savings. Clean energy projects will help reduce energy and utility bills due to inefficient lighting, heating, insulation, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Each school district will be provided a funding allotment based on the average daily attendance and weighted for poverty.

Source: Liu press release

- Brad Haugaard

Is Sam's Kabob Getting a New Owner?

Sam's Mediterranean Kabob Room on Myrtle, recently featured on Kitchen Nightmares, may be changing hands. http://goo.gl/NaSta

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia TV Host: Zimmerman's Acquittal 'Heart-Wrenching'

Monrovia KGEM cable-television host, Ralph Walker, said it is "heart-wrenching" that Floridian George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin. He compared the case to one in 1955 in which a black 14-year old was killed and two white suspects were found not guilty by a white jury. http://goo.gl/IOhSy

- Brad Haugaard

Electronic Waste Roundup in Monrovia

If you can prove you are a California resident, you can get rid of old electronics (but not batteries or light bulbs) Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28 at the corner of Myrtle and Pomona (a block south of the freeway). Details: http://goo.gl/shmBy

- Brad Haugaard

Marilyn Monrovia for President! | McFarland Pleads No Contest | Salsa Sunday

~ Marilyn Monrovia is running for the presidency of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). Just thought you'd want to know. http://goo.gl/gE9nY

~ Boot camp leader, Kelvin Bernard McFarland, of Monrovia, has pleaded no contest in molestation, kidnapping cases. http://goo.gl/nQ4PT

~ "Salsa Steel," Calypso music, tomorrow, Sunday, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Library Park band shell. http://goo.gl/OpLDU

- Brad Haugaard

World Vision Staff Members Killed | Shop for Unity Center

~ Two staff members of Monrovia-based World Vision were killed in South Darfur. http://goo.gl/m5RtT

~ You can support Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center by shopping at Acts Thrift Store in Pasadena for its third anniversary tomorrow, Saturday 9 to 6. The Center writes on Facebook that there will be live music by Rich Kasten Band and International Superstars of Rock, Pie N' Burger Food Truck, raffle drawings and more. ACTS gives Unity Center store vouchers for our clients in exchange for items our friends donate on behalf of the Center. Acts is at 1382 Locust, just west of Hill and north of Walnut. And here's a coupon for the store: http://goo.gl/RxHWD

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Troy Donut and Burger

Lunch this week at Troy Donut and Burger on Myrtle just south of Duarte Rd. Got the Pastrami Sandwich Combo for $6.89, plus tax. It was fine.

- Brad Haugaard

Framing Goes Up for Monrovia Restaurant Building | Obamacare and Your Business | Spying on Sheep

~ Framing goes up for the replacement restaurant building where Acapulco used to be.

~ How Obamacare will affect your business, a seminar at the Libary, August 7, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Speaker, George N. Papacalos, Regional Sales Executive for Kaiser Permanente. http://goo.gl/gXfda

~ Drones made by Monrovia's AeroVironment to spy on big horn sheep in Nevada. http://goo.gl/aKeRM

- Brad Haugaard

New Mediterranean Restaurant Coming to Myrtle | Blood Drive

~ The Monrovia Planning Commission has approved a conditional use permit for a new restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant called Meridian at 343 S. Myrtle, to serve beer and wine. The restaurant will also serve kabobs, fattoush, hummus, gyros and other stuff. http://goo.gl/eZXaZ

~ There will be a blood drive sponsored by Family Festival Productions and City of Hope. A bloodmobile will be parked at the corner of Colorado and Myrtle on Friday, July 26, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Cars - Goodie Boxes for Thieves, Busted for Breakers,Grand Theft of Sister's Car

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for July 8-10. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 571 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.

Theft From Vehicles

July 9, four thefts from vehicles were reported throughout the day to police. The thefts occurred overnight and were not discovered by the victims until the morning hours. The thefts occurred in the 600 block of West Foothill, 700 block of Oakglade, 900 block of West Hillcrest and 800 block of Ridgeside. In three of the incidents, the vehicles were left unlocked and items left in the vehicles were taken. The investigation is continuing.

Family Dispute / Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested

July 9 at 10:52 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of East Royal Oaks regarding a family dispute at a residence. The suspect was angry and he was yelling at his family members. He asked family members to give him a gun. He took his sister's purse from her bedroom, which had her car keys inside, and then took her car and drove to a convenience store in Duarte to meet his fiancé to talk.

Officers went to the location and found the suspect with three other male subjects, who were friends of his fiancé. The subjects appeared to be in fighting stance; all four subjects were detained. The three subjects are witnesses to a criminal threats incident involving the suspect that is being investigated by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The suspect was arrested for grand theft auto and the victim desires prosecution.

Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested

June 10 at 5:00 p.m., two male subjects entered a business in 1600 block of South Mountain, took over 600 dollars worth of electrical breakers and then ran out of the store. They were apprehended by the store's loss prevention and the police were called. The subjects had no means on their person to pay for the items. They were arrested and charged with burglary.

Schamadan Slams Monrovia Board of Education

As part of her column in The Weekly Star newspaper (supplement to the Star-News), Monrovia columnist Charlotte Schamadan slammed the Monrovia Board of Education. From the tone of her column, it appeared she would have preferred the board to select Dr. Debby Collins as the next superintendent of schools. Collins had served the district for 27 years and was the interim supervisor. Shamadan said the board did not express a word of thanks. She writes, "Even the newly hired superintendent briefly expressed her thanks to Debby, but the board members sat silent on the subject."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Helping Old Town, Energy Program, Police and Fire Unions, Helping the Chamber

At the Monrovia City Council's July 16 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/dCmga ) the council will ...

- Hear a report about Old Town. Among other things, the city wants to recruit national retailers for the area, "specifically those in the categories of nationally recognized bookstores, specialty gourmet food stores, retail wine stores, and gaming stores." Here's the report (It's pretty interesting): http://goo.gl/qydzB

- Consider a California program allowing residential, multifamily, and commercial property owners to participate in a clean energy program. Advantages to homeowner: cheap loans, lower energy costs, etc. http://goo.gl/bakC1

- Have more private discussion about a deal with the police union and firefighters union. http://goo.gl/5o4uq

- Consider a one-year "Support Services Agreement" with Monrovia Chamber of Commerce for $43,819.

- Brad Haugaard

73rd Wedding Anniversary for Monrovia Couple | Gourmet Dogs

~ Monrovia couple celebrates 73rd anniversary. http://goo.gl/aPAfD

~ S'Links hot dogs opens in Monrovia this August. http://goo.gl/qpRdl

- Brad Haugaard