Special Permission to Demolish Old Buildings? Sculpture Installation Today, Retired FD Captain Dies; Gas Bill; Sewer Work; Tree Lights; Tutors

In his latest weekly report ( http://goo.gl/w5Oo9g ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ The Planning Commission has recommended regulations that would require getting city permission to tear down a building more than 49 years old, to ensure it has no historical value. Here is the full staff report: http://goo.gl/e0GT26

~ The bronze sculpture by Daniel Stern will be installed on Myrtle Avenue today, August 17, on the east side of Myrtle near the Krikorian Theatre. It features an old fashioned movie director, a free standing movie camera, and a tall director's chair you can sit in.

~ Retired Fire Captain John Rooks died unexpectedly last week while at home. He retired in November 2015 after serving the Monrovia community with distinction for 29 years.

~ If you get a high bill for natural gas, it may be because SoCalGas had a problem with some of its advanced gas meters and under-billed customers. It guesstimates about 11,000 customers (probably not many in Monrovia) have been affected.

~ Sewer work on Monterey Avenue just south of Huntington Drive (across from the Toys 'R' Us and Panda Express parking lot) will begin on Monday, August 22. Should last 5-7 business days. Working hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

~ The city has changed the lights on the trees in Old Town to be "more consistent in their height and installation layout," which "should create a more uniform and elegant display throughout Old Town." Now the lights go up and down the trees rather than round and round.

~ Real-live, free tutors for homework help at the Monrovia Library website, daily from 1 to 10 p.m., all ages welcome. Help with math, English, science, social studies, and test prep. Plus a writing lab, where students can submit essays for feedback from teachers around the country. Also, lesson plans, and a flashcard builder. You need a library card. Start here ( https://goo.gl/xnpB5f ), enter your library card number and PIN (your full 10-digit phone number) and click on Brainfuse HelpNow link. Questions? Ask librarian or call 256-8274.

- Brad Haugaard

Remembering 9/11 - Patriotic Concert at First Presbyterian

Patriot Day Concert at First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia (corner of Myrtle and Foothill). Remembering 9/11 on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. with somber and celebratory music celebrating America by the San Gabriel Valley Musical Artists. Music: Jubilee Overture, American Salute, 9/11 We Stand for Freedom, Lincoln Speaks of Liberty, New World Symphony, Stars and Stripes Forever. Suggested donation $7 per person. Instrumentalists wanted. Details: http://goo.gl/A1rPhU or call 358-5939.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Movie Making Companies

A bit of interesting history about Monrovia-based movie companies. Did you know that the Monrovia Feature Film Company filmed "The Argonauts of California - 1849" in Gold Hills in 1916? http://goo.gl/YD3xEq

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: DUI With Children; Sleeping at the Wheel

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

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Driving Under the Influence / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
August 11 at 10:44 a.m., staff at a middle school in the 300 block of E. Foothill called police to report an intoxicated parent that was leaving the school in a vehicle. Officers responded and located the vehicle at Ivy and Foothill. A traffic stop was conducted and, through investigation, the officers determined the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle safely. The vehicle was occupied by the driver and her 12-year-old son. The female driver was arrested for driving under the influence and child endangerment. The child was released to family members and the Department of Children and Family Services was notified.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 14 at 11:05 p.m., an officer was dispatched on the report of a vehicle stopped in the roadway with a male subject slumped over and asleep behind the wheel. The investigation determined the driver was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle; he was arrested for driving under the influence and taken into custody. He was held for a sobering period.

Crime Up 29% in Monrovia Because of Changes in Law, Chief Reports

Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt reports that crime in Monrovia is up 29 percent, according to Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams.

Adams said Assembly Bill 109 and Proposition 47 "have all put more criminals on the streets. The state didn't plan well enough to have a jobs program waiting for them." Also, he said, "The Governor just vetoed a bill approved by all members of the state legislature except one. That bill would have made gun theft a felony, now, if the gun is worth less than $950 you get a citation."

- Brad Haugaard

New Condo Project Opening On Duarte Road

Lotus Court, a new condominium project at 430-438 Duarte Rd. will hold its grand opening on Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building has 13 units, a private community grounds, and echoes Spanish architecture throughout. Units are 1,558-1,722 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3-3.5 bathrooms and start at about $560,000.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Wins Olympic Medal for Six Olympics in a Row

Monrovian Kim Rhode has won the bronze medal in skeet shooting at the Rio Olympics. It's her sixth Olympic medal in six consecutive Olympic games, a record for a female athlete. http://goo.gl/xNnyXj

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia City Council Meets With Legal Counsel Over Legal Threat

the Monrovia City Council will hold a special closed meeting on Aug. 16 to confer with its attorney about a legal threat from MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund) if the city does not switch over from city-wide elections to district elections. http://goo.gl/L0EZMy

Comment: As one of the people who commented on this story wrote on MonroviaNow, it would be interesting to know if there has been "any pattern of Latino candidates running, but not obtaining office." Indeed. It seems to me that if Latino candidates run and don't win that is one question, but if they don't run and don't win, that is another question entirely.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Red Lobster

Dinner last night at Red Lobster on Huntington. Got a small order of Atlantic Salmon for $16.99 (market price, I think) and an iced tea for $2.85. It came with a nice salad, which I ate before taking this picture. I was trying to be good so I got broccoli and zucchini as sides when I really wanted potatoes, But surprise! They were great, as was the fish. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Temperature to Reach 103 in Monrovia

Yikes. The temperature in Monrovia is predicted to reach 102 on Sunday and 103 on Monday and Tuesday. Have a batch of iced tea prepared! https://goo.gl/0qMTb8

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Will Hold Special Meeting to Consider MALDEF Demand for District Elections

The City of Monrovia has been issued a demand letter from MALDEF requesting that our current at-large based system for electing City Council members be converted into a district-based electoral system.  In the letter, MALDEF cites as the basis for their demand both the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 and the purported lack of Latino representation on the City Council.  Furthermore, MALDEF’s correspondence states their intention to seek judicial relief if they do not receive a satisfactory response from the City by August 24, 2016.

City Manager Oliver Chi responded by saying, “We certainly do take the demand letter issued by MALDEF seriously, especially given that Monrovia has had such a rich history of electing individuals that represent a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives to serve on the City Council.”

“Given the issues that MALDEF has raised and the manner in which those matters have been articulated, we are working to schedule a special meeting next week for the City Council to discuss this particular issue,” continued Mr. Chi.  “We would note, however, that prior to receiving their letter on August 10, 2016, the City had not been contacted by any representatives from MALDEF, nor have we received any complaints about the City’s current at-large system for electing City Council members.”

Source: City of Monrovia press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Assault With Pepper Spray; Dating Gone Bad; Etc.

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

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 393 service events, resulting in 65 investigations.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
August 9 at 1:36 a.m., officers responded to the area of Huntington and Cypress regarding a rollover traffic collision. When officers arrived, they found an intoxicated 18-year-old, male subject standing outside of his crashed vehicle on the center divider. The driver told the officers he had been drinking beer. He was driving west on Huntington when he hit the center divider and rolled his vehicle approximately four times. The driver claimed no injuries, but Monrovia Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and checked out the subject. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Trespassing – Suspect Arrested
August 9 at 7:52 a.m., citizen patrol officers were conducting extra patrol of an uninhabited residence in the 1100 block of Sesmas. They discovered an open door to the rear of the location and requested an officer to assist. An officer arrived and conducted a search of the residence, locating a male adult inside. The suspect was arrested for trespassing on the property.

Graffiti Vandalism
August 9 at 8:12 a.m., the owner of a business in the 1800 block of California called police to report graffiti vandalism from taggers on the side of his business. The investigation is continuing.

Assault
August 9 at 6:16 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 200 block of East Cypress on the report of an assault that occurred in the parking lot. The victim was involved in a vehicle dispute in the parking lot with the suspect. The suspect then cut off the victim with his vehicle, ran up to the victim's window and pepper sprayed the victim through the open window. The victim drove to his residence and called the police. The suspect was not located and the investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
August 10 at 1:28 a.m., an incident of domestic violence that occurred in the 900 block of E. Huntington was reported to police. Sherriff’s deputies contacted a male and female subject in a business parking lot in Duarte. The female told the deputies that she was assaulted by the male in Monrovia. Monrovia officers were requested to investigate. Through investigation, it was learned that the subjects work together and are in a dating relationship. They were involved in an argument outside of work that escalated and the male assaulted the female. The female victim ran across Huntington to a business in Duarte and was followed by the male suspect. The female called police on her cell phone and both subjects were at the location when the deputies arrived. The male suspect was arrested for domestic violence and taken into custody. Paramedics arrived and treated the female for her injury.

Graffiti Vandalism
August 10 at 11:30 a.m., an incident of graffiti vandalism was reported at a park in the 700 block of E. Lemon. Graffiti was spray painted all over the tennis courts at the park. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
August 10 at 9:44 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a possible burglary at a residence in the 100 block of Poinsettia. The caller reported that the door to the home was open. Officers arrived and searched the residence, which had been ransacked. A bottle of prescription medication had been taken. The investigation is continuing.

MALDEF Threatens Monrovia With Legal Action if City Doesn't Switch to District Elections

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has written a letter to the Monrovia City Council threatening legal action if the city does not divide the city into districts for electing council members rather than having each candidate be elected by the entire city electorate, as is currently done.

MALDEF writes: "The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF demands that the City convert to a by-district election system."

The organization says it is giving the city until August 24, 2016, and "if the response is unsatisfactory, MALDEF and its clients will seek a judicial order changing the election system from at-large to by-district, along with other relief provided for in the CVRA, including the collection of costs and attorneys' fees."

Source: http://goo.gl/DsvHDx

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Bills on Tobacco Meds, Drones, and College for Undocumented Students Go to Senate Floor

Three bills by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, cleared the California State Senate Appropriations Committee today.

- AB 1696 requires tobacco cessation medications, counseling, and assessments be covered for Medi-Cal patients.

- AB 2148 gives the National Resources Agency the ability to develop regulations regarding drone use on publicly-managed lands.

- AB 2364 gives undocumented high school students equal access to higher education.

All three bills now head to the Senate Floor.

- Brad Haugaard

Navy Deploys Drone Made By Monrovia-Based AeroVironment in Persian Gulf

Monrovia's AeroVironment has announced ( https://goo.gl/oRIrcM ) that the United States Navy is deploying AeroVironment's hand-launched RQ-20B AeroVironment Puma AE in the Persian Gulf. It gives a good overview for those ships that don't have a helicopter. Here's the Navy's report: http://goo.gl/bh52R9

- Brad Haugaard