Portantino Disaster Bill Passes | Hand Grenade | Monrovia Fitness | Rose Tournament Gives to Monrovia Charity

~ A bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, to improve emergency and disaster preparedness was approved today in the State Assembly. AB 1650 requires public utilities "to hold comprehensive disaster preparedness meetings every two years with the counties and cities they service in order to improve readiness and better prepare for natural disasters. In addition, the California Public Utilities Commission will help set standards for each utility to meet." Source: Portantino press release.

~ Hand grenade in unincorporated Monrovia area. http://goo.gl/SMhvA

~ Fitness places in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/iqCyR

~ The Tournament of Roses Foundation is donating to the Academy of Music for the Blind in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/kfdwo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Prolacta Donates to Make-A-Wish | Tanner EDA Partners with Australian Company

~ Prolacta Bioscience, of Monrovia, has made an additional donation to Make-A-Wish, bringing its donation total to just over $18,000 in six months. The contributions are made on behalf of mothers who donate excess breast milk to the Milk for Wishes Milk Bank, operated by Prolacta, which uses the milk to make nutritional products to benefit critically ill, premature infants. http://goo.gl/SDbLA

~ Tanner EDA of Monrovia, and Australian Semiconductor Technology Co. have concluded an agreement to deliver "analog/mixed signal IP and custom ASIC design services." http://goo.gl/vdV7m

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Loses to Palm Desert 0-3 :-(

Monrovia baseball falls to Palm Desert High. http://goo.gl/PiJgf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator Says His Student-Protection Amendment Killed

Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, says that an amendment he proposed to "provided greater protection for students abused by bad teachers" was killed in the State Senate. Video: http://goo.gl/tzU9L , Written statement: http://goo.gl/BwLye

Monrovia Assemblyman: 'Just Voted No On...'

I don't intend this to be a regular feature, but I think the items below give an interesting glimpse into the thinking of Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents part of Monrovia.

On his Facebook page Donnelly posts his vote on many - if not all - the issues that come before the Assembly. Most of his reports begin with, "Just voted no on..." or even, "I was the only no vote on..." Here are today's:

~ Just voted no on AB 2134 (Chesbro) which mandates that a county that elects to provide assisted outpatient treatment (involuntary mental health treatment by court order) must include in their program crisis intervention teams, mobile crisis teams or psychiatric emergency response teams, and an emphasis on peer support, all of which, however admirable, would make the implementation of an effective program unnecessarily more expensive. The bill passed 42-26

~ Just voted no on AB 2609 (Hueso) which seeks to punish Dan Richards, the head fish and game commissioner, after he legally shot and killed a mountain lion in Idaho. Although not directly attacking Richards, this bill attacks the position of president of the board. The bill passed 55-22.

~ I was the only no vote on AB 2590 (Blumenfield) which requires investor-owned electric utilities to post on their web site any report required by a revision to the Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) Electric Rule 21, if that revision is adopted after Jan. 1, 2012. . This bill is unnecessary because it duplicates the PUC's ongoing effort to improve distribution level interconnection rules and regulations. It passed 67-1.

~ Just voted no on AJR 35 (Williams) which seeks to deny the export of coal to other countries if they don’t follow California’s green agenda. It passed 43-25.

~ Just voted no on AB 1534 (Wieckowski) which forces car dealers to post the fair market price on the window of a car they are trying to sell. If they try to sell the car for any more than the "bluebook" price, there will be two price tags on the car. The bill passed 41-31.

~ Just voted no on AB 1461 (Monning) which prematurely implements the Obamacare and alters California's health insurance market for individual purchasers. The bill passed 42-26.

~ Just voted no on AB 1447 (Feuer) which will impose mandates on certain car dealers. These mandates include forcing dealers to offer warranties on "high risk" cars. If a person wants to enter into a "bad" contract with a dealer and buy a "high risk" car, then that is between them. The state should have nothing to do with it. The bill passed 44-25.

~ Just voted no on AB 2350 (Monning), which is another attempt to implement Obamacare in California by requiring health plans and health insurers, commencing March 31, 2013, to annually provide specified information regarding their plan contracts or policies to the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) or the California Department of Insurance (CDI). With this entire obsession over Obamacare, it would at least be prudent to wait until the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of it. The bill passed 45-25.

~ Just voted yes on AB 1929 (Gorell) which authorizes military and civilian overseas voters to use a ballot marking machine to allow them to select their choices on a screen, and then print-out a completed ballot for return to election officials. This will make it easier for our servicemen and women to vote in elections back home. The bill passed 68-0.

~ Just voted no on AB 1831 (Dickinson) which prohibits a local agency from inquiring into or considering the criminal history of an applicant, or including any inquiry about criminal history on any initial employment application, until after the employee has been screened and otherwise meets the minimum employment requirements. The measure passed 42-34.

~ Just voted no on AB 2459 (Torres) which requires the 911 Emergency Communications Office to inform the public of the "proper use of 911". This is something that is common sense and the government shouldn’t have to waste taxpayer money on. The bill passed 47-18.

~ Just voted yes on AB 1922 (Lara) which will delete an obsolete test, the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program, that trucks have to pass. There are other requirements that trucks have to meet which are more stringent than this one. Deleting this requirement is just one less burden for truckers. The bill passed 69-0.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Hood Flies Open on Getaway Car, Escaping on Foot on the Freeway, Etc

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 24-27. – Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

Burglary / Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspects Arrested

May 24 at 4:12 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain reported three suspicious subjects, two males and a female, inside the business that have stolen merchandise from several of their store locations. An officer responded and detained one male subject, who consented to a pat-down search. The suspect had wire cutters and a magnetic decoder to remove security tabs on his person, along with items of store merchandise he had taken without paying. As the female suspect exited the business, she was detained and was also found to be in possession of a magnetic decoder. The third male suspect exited, but did not have any items on him. The first suspect admitted he had gone into the store to steal, but claimed the other two did not know. He and the female were arrested and taken into custody. The other male subject was identified and released.

Gang Injunction / Warrant Arrest – Suspects Arrested

May 25 at 1:52 a.m., officers were conducting extra patrol behind a business in the 1100 block of South Magnolia when they saw an opening in the perimeter gate. While checking the area, three subjects were found sleeping in some abandoned apartments. One subject was arrested for the gang injunction, one subject was arrested for a warrant, and the third subject was identified and given a warning to stay out of the location.

Fight in Progress – Suspects Identified

May 25 at 6:22 p.m., a caller reported four subjects fighting in the street at Myrtle and Pomona. As officers were responding, dispatch advised the suspect vehicle was attempting to flee, but the engine hood flew open. This caused enough delay for officers to locate the vehicle as it drove onto the westbound 210 Freeway. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Santa Anita, just north of the freeway, and detained three male subjects and one female. Officers attempted to locate the victim, but he was not found. The suspects were identified and released.

Petty Theft

May 25 at 9:34 p.m., a petty theft was reported at a park in the 300 block of South Myrtle. Three male juveniles were approached by a 16-year-old, male subject who asked to use one of their cell phones to call his mom. The victim handed the suspect his phone; the suspect took the phone and fled the location. He was last seen running west on Palm towards Primrose. He is described as a male Hispanic, 16 years old, brown hair, brown eyes, thin build, approximately 5 foot 11 inches tall. Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

May 26 at 12:11 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Fifth and Huntington when he saw a suspicious vehicle occupied by two male subjects abruptly pull into a business parking lot in an erratic manner. The officer followed behind the vehicle and saw both occupants walk into a business. A DMV computer check revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen from Baldwin Park. The suspects ran out the backdoor of the business and onto the freeway. CHP received several calls from drivers that the suspects were running on the freeway. A witness saw the suspects exit the north side of the freeway. Containment of the area was established, but the suspects were not located.

The suspects are described as being in their 30's. One had tattoos on the left side of his neck. One suspect was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jean shorts and a fedora type hat. The other was wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. The vehicle was recovered and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

May 27 at 9:10 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of West Lemon. The victim parked and locked their Chevy Tahoe in their assigned parking space. When they returned to the vehicle, they noticed the doors ajar and the two back leather seats were missing. The suspect(s) most likely used a Slim Jim to gain entry into the vehicle. Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

May 27 at 10:03 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of South Myrtle. A gardener had his tools stolen from his truck. The tools have his initials etched on them. He had been working around the grounds in the area, and when he returned to his truck for additional tools, he found someone had broken into his truck. Investigation continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle

May 28 at 12:39 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 800 block of West Olive. The victim parked his vehicle in his carport, but did not lock the driver's door. When he returned to his car the next day in the afternoon, he found his property was missing from the vehicle. The items taken were an Ipod, the vehicle radio, and a DVD player.

Domestic Violence / Warrant – Suspect Arrested

May 28 at 2:22 a.m., officers responded to a location in the 900 block of South Fifth regarding a disturbance. They spoke to a female subject, who said she was involved in an altercation with the father of her children. She sustained visible injuries, so the male suspect was arrested. It was later discovered that he also had an outstanding warrant, which was added to his charges.

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity

Assault Investigation / Gang Injunction Served

On May 25, the Special Enforcement Team worked DAMAGE (Duarte and Monrovia Anti-Gang Enforcement) with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and Parole. The team assisted patrol with an assault investigation at Myrtle and Pomona. DAMAGE members located the suspect vehicle on the 210 Freeway, traveling westbound, and conducted a high-risk stop on Santa Anita, north of the 210 Freeway. They detained three known gang members. Two were served with the gang injunction.

Gang Injunction Served / Gang Injunction Violation / Warrant Arrest

On May 27, Special Enforcement Team officers worked a large church fiesta in the 700 block of South Shamrock for gang suppression. The team assisted patrol with a fight in the 600 block of Royal Oaks, near the location. Two gang members were served with the gang injunction, and another gang member was arrested for violation of the gang injunction. A fourth gang member was also served with the gang injunction at the police department when he was arrested and taken in for an outstanding warrant.

Bear in Pool | Police vs Firefighters | Legal Seminar | Partial Freeway Closures | Hiring | New Dentist

~ Video of bear in Monrovia pool. http://goo.gl/KKuP3

~ Police vs. Firefighters in "Battle of the Badges" basketball game to benefit American Cancer Society. June 1, 6:30 p.m. at Monrovia High gym. $5 entry fee. Kids 12 and under free.

~ Free "Stay Out of Court" seminar at the Library, June 2, 1-3 p.m. 256-8274 to reserve a spot. Divorce, credit card debt, medical debt, neighbor and workplace issues, landlord or tenant problems. http://goo.gl/8Evsy

~ Potential closure of up to three east AND westbound lanes for Gold Line bridge construction through June 9. Closures will begin no earlier than 10 p.m. and end no later than 1 p.m. the following day.

~ Urbane Beauty Care is hiring front desk person. http://goo.gl/OougA

~ New Monrovia dental office. http://goo.gl/2LMNi

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Budget Study Session

The Monrovia City Council will hold a study session on the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget on Wednesday, May 30 at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

- Brad Haugaard

Opinion: Monrovia's Congressional Haircut

Google map showing Monrovia Congressional split.

Let's say you are discussing the upcoming primaries with someone who lives on the opposite side of Hillcrest in north Monrovia, and as each of you is discussing a different set of candidates you begin to fear that perhaps your neighbor is a doofus.

Well, fear not for your neighbor.

In its wisdom, the state redistricting folks chopped the top part of Monrovia off and placed it in the 27th Congressional District (which also includes Bradbury, Arcadia, Pasadena and points west), and everything south of the Hillcrest-Greystone line in the 32nd Congressional District (which includes Covina, West Covina and points east).

If you want to see for yourself, take a half hour or so to figure out this poorly-labeled web site: http://goo.gl/t96wn

UPDATE: Alex Zucco provides an easier-to-use website: http://goo.gl/XmtVt (Thanks Alex!)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Company to Help Provide In-Vehicle Entertainment

Parasoft Corporation, of Monrovia, which makes tools to "deliver defect-free software," has joined the non-profit, GENIVI Alliance. "Parasoft will be contributing its more than 25 years of research and development in Automated Software Defect Prevention to assist in the alliance's evolution of the open source In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) development platform." http://goo.gl/5jq2e

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Pitching Staff | Primary Recommendations

~ Monrovia High's powerful pitching staff at the semifinals: http://goo.gl/EeIu0

~ In the primaries, for the Monrovia area, the Star-News recommends Grace Napolitano (Democrat) and David Miller (Republican) for the 32nd Congressional District and Judy Chu (Democrat) and Jack Orswell (Republican) for the 27th Congressional District (Monrovia has been split into two congressional districts); Carol Liu (Democrat) and Gilbert Gonzales (Republican) for 25th State Senate District; and Victoria Rusnak (Democrat) and Donna Lowe (Republican) for the 41st Assembly District. http://goo.gl/cBuLx

- Brad Haugaard

Memorial Day | Monrovia Teen Program | Relay for Life

~ Happy Memorial Day! Mayor Mary Ann Lutz writes on her Facebook page: "God Bless our fallen Service men & woman! Thank you for your sacrifice!"

~ There will be a supervised teen program each Friday night until late August at Library Park.

~ Relay for Life will be held June 2 and 3 in Recreation Park to raise awareness of cancer.

- Brad Haugaard

The Governor's May Revision: Impact on Monrovia Schools

Comment by Linda Wagner, Superintendent of Monrovia Schools

The Governor's May Revision is out, and the buzz that surrounds it indicates there is additional money for schools. This is absolutely not the case. If the Governor's Tax Initiative passes, schools receive no additional revenue. If the Governor's tax initiative fails, however, Monrovia Schools will face a $441 reduction per student attending public school.

The Governor's May Revise authorizes 15 furlough days over two years (which, in one scenario could be taken at the rate of 7.5 per year). Districts have the option to take these days over the next two years on top of the allowable days presently an option for schools. In Monrovia, we already have 6 furlough days per year. These six current furlough days plus the additional new 7.5 days would reduce the school year by a possible total of 13.5 days per year. This is just under 3 weeks of a student's school month. This further reduction of school days would also impose an additional 3% salary reduction for employees, on top of their current reduction of 3%.  This change to the school year and concommitant salary reduction is negotiable in every school District.  Other school districts may or may not decide to reduce the school year.  This "flexibility" has the potential of inequities if district offerings in the San Gabriel Valley and even in the entire state.


Even if we were to take all allowable days (to the detriment of our students) we would only be half way to solving the budget nightmare we face if the tax initiative does not pass.

The shadow schools find themselves in is large. We are required by those who provide fiscal oversight to plan for the worst. Having experienced cuts year after year, public schools have cut to the bone, increased class sizes and significantly reduced programs. Now faced with an additional cut in the range of ten percent, we have run out of things to cut.

You may have heard that schools were guaranteed minimum funding under Proposition 98. While it is true that some form of protection theoretically exists, Proposition 98 is subject to such manipulation at the State level as to not be a guarantee of funding at all. Items from the State budget are shifted in and out of the Proposition 98 calculation as is convenient to make State budgets work in Sacramento; often to the detriment of schools.

Deferrals continue in the May Revision. A deferral is a late payment from the State. If money is due to in May, for example, schools might not receive it until October. We learned recently that deferrals will result in schools not receiving the monthly apportionment dollars in June, July or August, despite financial obligations districts face. This forces districts to borrow in order to make payroll, and to buy basic school supplies. Schools also must pay the fees associated with borrowing.

Public education faces its most difficult year in a series of very challenging economic years. We urge you to pay close attention to these challenges and advocate for students and their educations
whenever possible.

Fiesta Pictures from Monrovia's Immaculate Conception Church

Great pictures of the Fiesta at Immaculate Conception Church. http://goo.gl/7KowM

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Baseball to Semifinals | Summer Art Show | Huff on Budget

Evaristo's Horchata Stand, at summer art show.

 

~ Monrovia High to baseball semifinals after victory over Jurupa Valley. http://goo.gl/2rNRW

 

~ Segil Fine Arts Summer Show, "The Farmer's Market - from Field to Farm, Market to Table," June 23 through August 18. 

 

~ More by Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, on the Governor's budget. "It isn't half cuts," Huff said, "It doesn't even come close." He said the cuts are mostly transfering money from various state accounts for special purposes (the "cuts") into the general fund. http://goo.gl/8REAO 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's License Plate Bill Passes

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino's bill requiring lawmakers who have legislative vanity plates on their personal cars to pay the same fees paid by the general public, has been overwhelmingly approved by the state Assembly. AB 2068 passed the Assembly today on a vote of 63 to 0. Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Restaurant Devon,

Lunch at Restaurant Devon, on Lemon just off Myrtle. Got tomato basil soup and fish of the day (ahi tuna). Elegant place. Nice art on the walls. White tablecloths. Hot fresh bread with butter. Soup (not in picture 'cause I ate it) was excellent. Ahi was good, too. About $23, so sort of a once-in-a-while place.

- Brad Haugaard

Removing Old Track for Gold Line | Activist to Lead Democracy Writing Workshop at Monrovia Library

~ Foothill Transit Constructors has begun removing the old, freight rail track, starting in Arcadia, as shown here. http://goo.gl/il8p3

~ Free writing workshop led by Traci Kato-Kiriyama ("activist, community leader and performance artist"), 6:30-8:30 p.m. on May 30 at the Library. Reserve a spot by calling 256-8274. Participants will use "Farewell to Manzanar" to write on "what democracy means today and where it may be headed tomorrow." http://goo.gl/ezj9J

Opinion: This reminds me, Library. If you want a local Japanese-American writer to speak or lead a workshop, may I suggest Naomi Hirahara. I read her award-winning "Summer of the Big Bachi" and several other of her mysteries, which - unlikely though it sounds - feature as the detective an elderly Japanese gardener named Mas Arai, and somehow they really work. Great books and lots of local (Pasadena/LA-area) color. http://www.naomihirahara.com

- Brad Haugaard

KNX to Broadcast from Monrovia | Softball Defeat :(

~ KNX 1070 AM will be broadcasting from Monrovia Coffee Company throughout the day on June 1. http://goo.gl/FprrC

~ Beaumont over Monrovia in softball. http://goo.gl/7o7LK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Tough Budget

Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile reports that the city budget "has
been adversely affected by the loss of our redevelopment agency and
other declining revenues." She says "it's particularly frustrating
that municipal agencies—cities, school districts, and other agencies
that provide specialized local services—continue to be financially
pressed by the sluggish economy and competing state and federal
government priorities." http://goo.gl/emr5P

- Brad Haugaard