Thursday, October 3, 2013
L.A. City Council Moves to Restrict Participation in Neighborhood Councils
The Los Angeles City Council instructed its attorneys on Tuesday to draft rules setting limits on who can participate in neighborhood council elections.
Neighborhood councils are community-based bodies that receive taxpayer money to spend on parades, festivals and other projects. They also offer suggestions to the City Council on a range of issues affecting neighborhoods.
The City Council voted 15-0 in favor of a motion introduced by City Councilman Jose Huizar that calls for doing away with the "factual basis stakeholder" category of voters and candidates in neighborhood council elections.
A new category called "community interest stakeholders," which covers people who can prove "substantial and ongoing" ties to a neighborhood, would be added instead.
Under the city charter, neighborhood council elections are open to people who live, work and own property in the defined area.
Many neighborhood councils, however, allow "factual basis stakeholders," such as merchants, to participate. But Huizar said the "factual basis" category has even allowed people who can show a receipt from an area Starbucks or other local business to cast votes or run in elections.
Huizar initially proposed the idea last October when 300 people who fit the "factual basis stakeholder" category cast votes in the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council election, rivaling the 500 votes cast by people who actually live, work or own property in Eagle Rock.
Medical marijuana shops were a hotly debated topic among the candidates in the Eagle Rock neighborhood council election and critics of the dispensaries complained that outside supporters of medical marijuana shops were encouraged to participate in the election.
The previous election in Eagle Rock drew less than 100 people, according to Huizar spokesman Rick Coca.
Huizar said his proposals were based on feedback from neighborhood council representatives.
By City News Service
The following news release is courtesy of Cal Poly Pomona.
As the runners approached the finish line on a crisp October morning, a crowd of volunteers and supporters stood on the sidelines cheering them on. Moments later, students from all walks of life took the stage to accept a scholarship, presented in honor of the late Matthew Myers.
For the university and local community, Matt’s Run is a campus tradition that celebrates the life of Matthew Myers and raises money for student scholarships. Myers, a communications student, died in 2005 after a car struck him on campus. After his death, his family decided to sponsor an event that would honor his passion for serving others and inspire future students to do the same.
The 8th annual 5k run/walk will be held at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Early registration is $20 for students and $35 for adults and students. Registration on the day of the event is an additional $5. The USA Track and Field Certified course takes participants through the university’s scenic landscape, from the residence halls, citrus groves, animal pastures and ending at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center.
The scholarship endowment has provided 48 awards since its conception in 2006 and will add to that number this year. Individual donors have given to the endowment, as well as organizations. This year, the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation and RCI Technologies in San Dimas are the two major sponsors.
Students, faculty and staff are active participants in Matt’s Run, and each has a special reason for why they participate.
“A Great Event for So Many Reasons”
Megan Stang, executive director of University Housing Services, signed up for the first Matt’s Run in 2006 and runs the 5k every year. Stang had just started running as a hobby and decided to participate as a way to commemorate Myers.
“It kicked off what is now a pretty big part of my life,” she says.
The run is now a family event. Her husband, Mike, again plans to push a jogging stroller with their 5-year-old-daughter, who has participated in the race every year since she was born.
“It’s a great event for so many reasons. It is fun to see everyone come out for the event – faculty, staff and students,” she says. “The students who receive the scholarships are so excited! Although the course has its challenges, where else can you run and have pigs snort at you and horses gallop next to you? It is great way to see everyone involved and energized.”
For more event information and to sign up, visit www.mattsrun.org.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Senior Lunch Program
Join us for a healthy and delicious lunch! Seniors 60+ and spouse of any age. Suggested Donation: $1.75 For further information call (909) 620-2324
October 2013 Menu
The Pomona Police Department invites residents to join us at the next Area Commander Community Meeting. The meeting for the month of
October will cover the Northeast area of the city, however, ALL residents are encouraged to attend.
Flyers have been provided in English and Spanish.
The meeting will be on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at the Lincoln Avenue Community Church located at 1511 Lincoln Avenue
between 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Come and see what is going on in your city and meet your Area Commander.
between 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Come and see what is going on in your city and meet your Area Commander.
Man Convicted of Murder in Death of Woman Shoved From Vehicle
A 31-year-old man was convicted Tuesday of fatally shooting a co-worker whose body he shoved from a vehicle as he led Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies on a chase that culminated in a barricade and surrender in Hawthorne
The jury at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Compton found Juan Diego Valencia guilty of second-degree murder for the Sept. 6, 2012, killing of Selene Mayoral, along with one count of felony evading.
Jurors found true a sentence-enhancing gun allegation against Valencia, but rejected a gang allegation.
Authorities said Valencia pushed the 24-year-old woman's body from a green Mercury Cougar at the intersection of Josephine Street and Harris Avenue in Lynwood after sheriff's deputies tried to stop him for a traffic violation.
Mayoral -- who had been shot once in the head -- died at the scene.
Valencia was arrested early the next morning after barricading himself inside an apartment complex in the 14000 block of Chadron Avenue in Hawthorne, authorities said.
Valencia is facing 47 years to life in state prison, with sentencing set for Oct. 30, according to Deputy District Attorney Tony Aguilar.
--City News Service
City Goes to Court to Try to Block Health Department Initiative
A ballot measure calling for the creation of a Los Angeles city health department would endanger public health and waste taxpayers money, the City Attorney's Office argue in a complaint filed in Superior Court today.
The city lodged the legal challenge in an effort to block the measure from being on the June ballot.
If the initiative passes, the city would be required to end its contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and be given 120 days set up its own public health department.
The city contends the measure would "disrupt critical health services and threaten health and safety in the city," as well as "waste approximately $4.6 million in public resources to conduct an election that is invalid as a matter of law."
They argue the initiative is invalid because it is "unlawfully vague," conflicts with state "laws and regulations governing the protection of public health," and "unlawfully encroaches on the administrative functions of a city."
Ged Kenslea, spokesman for measure sponsor AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said the initiative legally qualified for the ballot and they "fully intend to bring the measure before voters."
Kenslea added they "would not disagree" with some of the city's criticisms against the initiative, including the 120-day time frame for creating the city health department.
"Allowances can and should be made" to address issues that "may be a legitimate concern -- that doesn't mean the item should not go before voters," Kenslea said.
The city of Los Angeles disbanded its health department in 1964 and has since relied on the county to monitor infectious diseases, manage restaurant and retail food safety and operate public health clinics, among other health and safety services.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation -- which successfully supported a 2012 measure to require condoms be used in porn film shoots -- and other sponsors gathered the necessary signatures in May to qualify the measure for the ballot.
The Los Angeles City Council, in June, signed off on placing the measure on the June 2014 ballot, but vowed to challenge the measure's legality, saying a separate, public health department would burden the city with more than $260 million in set-up and annual operation costs.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this month also officially opposed the initiative, with Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky accusing the nonprofit organization of carrying out a "vendetta" against the county because of a series of audits they conducted on the nonprofit.
Foundation officials have countered they began collecting signatures for the initiative before the audits and said they are being retaliated against for speaking up about the county's handling of public health issues.
Kenslea said the county Department of Public Health is bogged down in bureaucracy and is to blame for a rise in syphilis cases and recent outbreaks of tuberculosis on Skid Row and in El Monte schools.
The county department is "too big to serve" the public well, Kenslea said.
"We believe there can be both savings and increased health outcomes by operating a smaller public health department that really services the needs of city residents," Kenslea said.
By City News Service
How the Government Shutdown Is Impacting Southern California
"Congress needs to put the politics aside and focus on the people's business," L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said. "Washington's dysfunction is hurting our economy."
A federal government shutdown sparked by a dispute over Obamacare raised the ire of some area politicians Tuesday, although the local impacts were relatively minor so far.
Federal courts in the Central District of California -- which has responsibility for all federal litigation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties -- will remain open at this stage of the government shutdown, according to District Court Executive Terry Nafisi.
While some scheduled courtroom proceedings in individual matters may be affected by the shutdown, attorneys and litigants in such cases will be notified directly by court staff, she said.
The Justice Department has said its prosecutors would attempt to postpone non-critical civil matters and proceed with essential criminal matters only while the government remains shuttered.
Veterans Administration facilities remained open, and while the federal building in Westwood was emptier than usual, the passport office was operating normally.
National Parks across the country were shut down, along with National Archive facilities, including the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda. Portions of the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley were also closed, although the outdoor grounds and Air Force One Pavilion were open.
Metro officials said that since the shutdown means mass furloughs in the Federal Transit Administration, a protracted stalemate in Washington could mean delays in processing grant applications for local rail projects.
According to the state Employment Development Department, Los Angeles County was home to about 48,100 federal workers in 2012.
"Congress needs to put the politics aside and focus on the people's business," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. "Washington's dysfunction is hurting our economy."
The city's Housing and Community Investment Department and the Economic and Workforce Investment Department, both of which depend on federal funds, asked for extra funding to tide them over through October prior to the shutdown, according to Assistant City Administrative Officer Patty Huber.
Huber said the city "will continue to monitor" those departments and others that may be affected.
Los Angeles County CEO Bill Fujioka said the county was operating normally, noting on his Twitter page that the "federal (government) shutdown will not have significant fiscal or program impact on the county."
-- City News Service
SaMo Airport Reopens Following Crash, Probe On Hold Due to Federal Shutdown
The Santa Monica Airport reopened Tuesday following the death of at least four people in a plane crash, but the investigation into the cause of the accident was on hold because of the government shutdown.
The airport reopened to business at 1 p.m. Tuesday after an inspection was complete, according to KPCC.
NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel told the Associated Press investigators would gather evidence and then stop working. The NTSB could not be reached for comment because its offices were closed.
The reopening of the airport follows the crash of a twin-engine Cessna Citation, which veered off the right side of the runway on Sunday night. It was arriving from Hailey, Idaho.
Earlier today, investigators said the bodies of two women and two men were found in the wreckage of the crash. Their dental records will be used to help with the identification. The remains of two cats and a dog were also recovered.
It is believed that Mark Benjamin, CEO of Santa Monica-based Morley Construction, and his son Luke, were on board. Mark Benjamin lives in Malibu and also had a home in Ketchum, Idaho. He often flew between Idaho and Southern California, according to the AP.
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