Contributions in Monrovia City Council Race

Here is the latest list of campaign contributions in the Monrovia city council race. All contributions are from Monrovia unless a different city is noted. Note: I am a bit dubious about the figures for Mr. Austin's campaign; although I checked the dates of the contributions it appears that some of them may be duplicate entries. My apologies if there are errors. Let me know of any problems and I'll correct them.

Becky Shevlin
Alec Jimenez $175
April Soash $200
Becky Rivanis (non-monetary gift – pastries, beverages for event) $330.46
Becky Shevlin (loan) $100
Betty Sandford $250
Chris Kidd (non-monetary gift – room for event) $500
Chris Shevlin (loan) $5,000
Christopher Shevlin $5,000 (Becky says there was only the $5,000 loan)
Glenn Cox, Jr. $100
Hal Leavens $100
Jacen Crehan $100
Janet Cerswell (Alta Loma, CA) $100
Jeanne Miles $300
Joane Spring $200
Judy Schaeffler $100
Pam Barkus $100
Pamela Fitzpatrick $200
Paul Lawrence $150
Pokrajac Corporation (San Jacinto, CA) $500
Rudy Castrellon $300
Susan Hirsch $100

Chris Ziegler
Chris Ziegler (loan) $4,000

Clifford DeCosta
Clifford DeCosta $1,000
Clifford DeCosta $1,000

Gloria Crudgington
Arlene Dunson $150
Ford Printing & Mailing (Irwindale. Non-monetary gift – discount) $150
George Forbes $100
Gwendolyn Jones $100
Judith Pace Twomey $100
Lisa Magno $100
Marie Metsker $100
Marilyn C. Serotko $100
Myrtle Court Apartments $5,000
Samuel J. LaSala, Jr. $100

Jordan Kittleston
Donna Jiminez (Chino Hills), $50
Jordan K. Kittleston, $100
Nipa & John Dunn, $100
Committee to Re-Elect John Valdiria (San Bernardino), $150
Adam Sands (Redlands), $75
Jerry Chambers (Upland), $25
Asja Thomas, $5
Robyn Gordon (Upland), $100
Diamond King, $50
Bianca Slagle (Indianapolis, IN), $50
Jordan K. Kittleston, $20
Jordan K. Kittleston, $25
Eva Baeza (Fontana), $100
Renford R Reese (Pomona), $200
Earl DeVries (Ontario), $25

Robert Parry
Brian Yamaguchi $100
Bruce Merwin $200
Chris Ziegler $100
Danie Oullette $100
Dennis Geary $1,000
Gwendolyn Jones $100
John Jackson (Wildomar, CA) $100
Kevin Kothlow (Laguna Beach, CA) $250
Loresly Dowling $300
RC Stamps $200
Richard Mountjoy $250
Robert Parry $1,500

Scott Austin (corrections from Mr. Austin)
Alhambra Firefighters Political Action Committee (Alhambra) $2,500
California Professional Firefighters Political Action Committee (Sacramento, non-monetary gift for printing lawn signs – 02/05/2015) $1,210.61
duplicate of above California Professional Firefighters Political Action Committee (Sacramento – 02/10/2015) $1,210.61
Daniel Haro (Alta Loma, CA) $100
David Brinker (Akron, OH) $200
Debbie Austin $28.52
Debbie Austin (loan) $3,000
Debbie Austin $1,000
Donna Baker $200
Firefighters for Better Government Political Action Committee (Camarillo, CA) $2,500
Joe & Paula Costantino (DPO, AE) $200
Karen Suarez $200
Mary Ann & Cory Lutz $250
Michael Cacciotti (South Pasadena) $100
Monrovia Firefighters Issues Committee (02/02/2015) $3,000
not a valid PAC and not received Monrovia Firefighters Association Local 2415 (02/06/2015) $3,000
Natalie Park (South Pasadena) $100
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 01/17/15) $1,000
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 02/26/2015) $2,000
duplicate of above Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 02/28/2015) $2,000
Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 (Sacramento – 03/05/2015) $2,000
Samuel LaSala $100
Thomas Alan Suess $100
Thomas Fouser $100
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 Political Action Committee (LA) $500
Victor Castellanos $500

Stephen Grollnek
No contributions listed

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Office Depot Closing

Robert Parry reports seeing a sign going up over the Office Depot on Huntington saying the store will be closing on May 16.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Gold Line Maintenance Yard Gets Its First Rail Cars

Habib Balian, in charge of Gold Line construction, reports:

"Yesterday, the first light rail vehicles arrived to the nearly completed $265 million, 24-acre Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia. The full-service, state-of-the-art facility will be completed and turned over to Metro in early June, ahead of the previous delivery schedule of September... Over the next several weeks, final preparations and live wire testing will be underway throughout the campus."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Trader Joe's Recalls Walnuts

Monrovia-based Trader Joe's is recalling walnuts for possible salmonella contamination. http://goo.gl/T3ov2H

 

- Brad Haugaard

Contributions in Monrovia Mayoral Race

Here are the latest campaign contributions in the Monrovia mayoral race. Note, I have not included information about Mr. Leonard Holen as he did not report any contributions. All contributions are from Monrovia unless a different city is noted:

Tom Adams
Blaine Fetter, $1,500
Linda Fetter, $1,500
Reid Samuelson (LA), $1,500
Jack Samuelson (LA), $1,500
Eric Mozilo, $2,000
Gurdev Singh Anand (Glendora), $1,000
Fred Bowden, $1,000
George Forbes, $1,500
Warren Lukesh (Sunland), $1,500
John Bonholtzer, $500
Charles Pollard, $100
J. Harrington Construction (Pasadena), $100
Paul Kalemkiarian, $250
Alice Mah, $100
Roger Dickey, $200
Peter Sylchak, $100
Dan Whoolery (Arcadia), $100
Barbara Radford, $200
G Arakelian, $200
John Radford, Jr., $500
Larry Moore, $100
Joseph Leonard, $250
Danny Crandel, $100
Hal Leavens, $100
Robert Wight (Azusa), $100
Karen Taylor, $100
Donald Eldridge (Glendora), $200
Kurt Anderson, $200
Edward Rigazzi (Covina), $100
Gwendolyn Jones, $100
Judy Schaeffler, $100
Michele Thompkins (Astoria, OR), $100
Richard Mountjoy, $250
Gage Freeman (Northridge), $500
Joseph Leonard (I know; listed twice), $250
Kirsten Jardino (Arcadia), $100
 
Mary Ann Lutz  
Fortune Dynamic (City of Industry), $1,000
Chateau Capital (Arcadia), $1,200
Gloria Huss (Monrovia Floral – balloons, flowers), $171
Hal Dash (Valencia), $200
Kathy Stone, $100
John Wayne Carlson, $1,000
Dick and Jan Singer, $250
Denis & Diana Bertone (San Dimas), $250
Peter & Toni Hoffman (Sierra Autocars), $999
Gary & Karen Sutherland, $100
Hans Liang (Monterey Park), $100
Mike & Cheryl Antos, $100
Frances & David Cash, $100
Brian Ulm, $100
Gloria & Steven Rassmusen, $100
Andre Quintero (El Monte), $100
Jim & Joanne Spring, $200
Felix Villaneva, $100
Janet Wall, $500
Mike & Marilee Mohajer (San Dimas), $100
Michael Cacciotti (South Pasadena), $150
Janet & Norm Cerswell (Alta Loma, CA), $100
Ferne Petrie, $500
Corey & Mary Ann Lutz, $5,000
Anthony Portantino Campaign Account, $250
Gordon & Louise Robertson, $100
Paul and Amy Lawrence, $500

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Driving Drunk With Four-Year-Old; Bike vs Bike

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 16-18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 441 service events, resulting in 82 investigations. 

Commercial Burglary
March 17 at 6:54 a.m., police responded to a business in the 400 block of West Foothill regarding a window that had been smashed at the location. An officer arrived and found the front window had been smashed and the suspect(s) stole the cash register, which contained a small amount of cash, and 6 packages of cigarettes. The investigation is continuing. 

Weapon Offense – Suspect Arrested
March 17 at 6:06 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 900 block of Norumbega regarding a complaint of subjects smoking inside a vehicle in a fire zone. An officer arrived and contacted the driver. A check of the vehicle revealed the registration was expired and the vehicle was impounded. A search of the vehicle prior to impound revealed a pair of brass knuckles, which the driver said belonged to him. The driver was arrested for possession of brass knuckles. 

Driving Under the Influence / Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:21 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of West Huntington when he stopped a vehicle for almost crashing into the center divider. The driver was intoxicated and had her four year old child in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and child endangerment. The child was released to a relative. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 5:08 a.m., an officer responded to a business parking lot in the 700 block of South Shamrock regarding a female passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. The subject was determined to be extremely intoxicated. She was arrested and taken into custody for sobering. 

Bicycle Collision With Injuries
March 18 at 1:50 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a bicycle accident at Canyon and Almond. Two juvenile bicyclists were riding on Canyon when one rider hit the other and went down, breaking his arm. The parents were notified and the child was taken to the hospital for treatment. 

Why Does Monrovia Elect Its Mayor Separately?

I got to wondering about why Monrovia elects its mayor separately from the city council, since so many similar-size cities in the area just elect council members, who then elect the mayor among themselves. So I asked City Clerk Alice Atkins, who said the at-large mayor issue was on the city ballot in March 1976. She said it passed with just over 69% of the votes. Here is the voter guide argument that apparently persuaded Monrovians to adopt the change (no argument was filed against the measure):

The complexity of societal problems has forced citizens to re-evaluate their rules in the democratic process.

Today, more than ever, governmental decisions affect the daily lives of all of our citizens. In such an environment it becomes necessary for society to take steps to insure that their elected officials exert greater leadership and become responsive to the majority will. The Mayor, as the titular head of the community, is in the best position to reflect majority opinion, although the powers and general duties of an elected mayor and councilmen are the same, his responsibilities and opportunities for exerting leadership are greater by virtue of the position he occupies. In this light, many neighboring have gone to an elected mayoral system so that citizens may be able too insure that their Mayor has the necessary abilities, time, energy and leadership qualities for such an important office. Responsiveness is also mandated by the people, for the Mayor will have to answer to those who directly elected him.

Our present system, council selection of Mayor, does not adequately provide for Mayor responsiveness, nor does it insure us that such an important position will be filled by a person possessing all of the desirable qualities. Without proper democratic controls, citizens cannot be certain that a council selected Mayor will truly represent the wishes of the people.

The election of Mayor will not cause a change in our present council manager form of government, but it will provide our citizens with a meaningful choice and not leave such an important selection open to chance. An elected Mayor will become directly responsive and responsible to the people. Only by this method can we be certain to gain the community leadership needed in a complex society.

VOTE YES

R.L. DICK MOUNTJOY


- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Relief Agency Begins Vanuatu Aid

Monrovia Christian relief organization, World Vision, reports that it has begun the distribution of emergency supplies after a Category 5 cyclone slammed into Vanuatu in the Pacific earlier this week.

Mike Wolfe, World Vision's national director in Vanuatu reported: "Just severe devastation everywhere you looked. The trees were stripped bare, broken branches everywhere, and many of the homes we saw were completely destroyed." http://www.worldvision.org/press-release/world-vision-reaches-remote-island-vanuatu-finds-utter-devastation

- Brad Haugaard

Boys & Girls Club Youth To Be Honored

On Friday, March 20, the 2015 Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills "Youth of the Year" will be recognized at the annual awards celebration. Presented by DoubleTree by Hilton - Monrovia and chaired by Donna Baker, the ceremony will take place from 5:30-7:00 pm, in the ballroom of the DoubleTree at 924 W. Huntington Drive. The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are required.

The event honors club members who, with the help of their club, have met obstacles head-on and, despite the odds, have given back to their club and community. Youth of the Year winners demonstrate service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability. Local Youth of the Year winners receive a $500 scholarship and then go on to compete at the county, state and national levels.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD Helps Rescue Woman Held in Mexico | Champion and Giggle | Montgomery Honored

In his weekly report City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ Monrovia Police worked with the State Department and Mexican government to free a US citizen held against her will in Mexico.

~ With Champion Cable's Monrovia operations being shut down, if all the company's customers switched to satellite television, "the City would stand to lose somewhere around $60k-$70k / year in franchise fees, while KGEM would lose around $30k / year." The city is talking with Champion successor Giggle Fiber.

~ Assembly Member Roger Hernandez has announced his selection of Joanne Montgomery as Women of the Year for Monrovia. Montgomery is Monrovia's representative on the Citrus College board.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drugs, Stealing Copper, Stealing Cell Phones, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 12-15. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events. 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 5:53 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Shamrock and East Colorado, when he observed a known male subject standing in a park, clenching his fists open and closed, repeatedly, acting very nervous, and scanning the park. The officers contacted the subject and detained him. A second officer responded to assist. When he thought the officers were not looking, the subject attempted to toss a small bindle, which was later found to contain methamphetamine. Through investigation, the subject was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and taken into custody. Upon searching the suspect, another bindle of methamphetamine was located on his person. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 6:26 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a park in the 300 block of North Grand Avenue on the report of possible drug activity. The officer located a male adult subject in the area and detained him. A computer check revealed the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested for the warrant. 

Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 8:42 p.m., an officer on patrol contacted a suspicious female in the area of Foothill & Madison. A subsequent investigation revealed the female to be in possession of methamphetamine and a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine. She also had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The subject was arrested for the above listed charges. 

Receiving Stolen Property / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Conspiracy to Commit Theft / Identity Theft – Suspect Arrested
March 13 at 9:22 a.m., an officer was following up on search warrants he had written regarding a commercial burglary. His search led him to a hotel in Baldwin Park, where he located a female subject. During the contact, there was drug paraphernalia and items which were very likely stolen, in plain view. After a consent search, items were found indicating that the female at the location was an accomplice to the suspect in the case. The female was arrested and evidence was collected. 

Miscellaneous Theft From Metro Rail
March 13 at 10:03 a.m., unknown suspects stole 20 feet of negative return copper wire by cutting it from the ground near the Metro tracks and Mayflower sometime between March 12 at 3:30 p.m. and March 13 at 7:00 a.m. The suspects left behind a saw blade, box cutter and a work glove. The investigation is continuing. 

Theft of Cell Phones – Suspects Arrested
March 13 at 3:24 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the High School in the 800 block of West Colorado regarding stolen cell phones. Two female students left class with permission. They went to a locker room and located two backpacks that did not belong to them. They looked in the backpacks and removed two cell phones, one each. Other students observed them leaving the area, just prior to the victims returning. School staff located the two females and they still had the stolen phones in their possession. The suspects were arrested, taken into custody and later released on citation to their parents. 

Violation of a Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
March 13 at 7:42 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 300 block of South Myrtle and saw a subject he knew had a restraining order on file which prohibits him from being within 100 yards of the location he was at. The officer confirmed the restraining order and arrested the subject. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 1:29 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of South Myrtle and observed a motorist swerving on the roadway and failing to signal while making a turn. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and determined the driver to be driving under the influence. The driver was arrested. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 2:12 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of Wildrose and observed a motorist swerving in the roadway and failing to signal while making a turn. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered the driver to be under the influence. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence. 

Felony Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 4:12 a.m., officers were sent to the 800 block of West Walnut regarding a traffic collision involving injuries. The investigation revealed an intoxicated driver was attempting to drive away from the location and his friend was trying to prevent him from leaving. The friend was standing between the open driver’s door and the vehicle, when the driver suddenly accelerated and crashed into two unoccupied, parked vehicles. The friend was knocked to the ground and sustained head injuries. The driver sustained lacerations to his head and mouth. Both subjects were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The driver was arrested for DUI. 

Family Disturbance / Battery – Suspect Arrested
March 14 at 9:56 p.m., officers were called to a residence in the 1000 block of South Mountain regarding a family disturbance. The investigation revealed that a battery to a dependant adult had occurred. The victim's adult son was arrested and Adult Protective Services was contacted. 

Disturbing Subjects / Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested
March 14 at 11:02 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of East Colorado on the report of two subjects fighting. Investigation revealed the subjects were not fighting, but were both extremely intoxicated. The subjects were arrested for being drunk in public and held for a sobering period. 

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 2:32 a.m., a vehicle was stopped for a vehicle code violation at Mountain and Evergreen. The investigation revealed the driver was driving under the influence and she was arrested and taken into custody. 

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 9:36 p.m., officers were called to the 200 block of East Evergreen regarding an intoxicated subject passed out in the grass. The officer determined that the subject was unable to care for himself. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for sobering. 

Mental Evaluation
March 16 at 12:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to a location in the 400 block of Hurstview regarding a subject breaking out windows. The subject has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and was acting violent toward his parents and causing damage to the home. The subject was taken to a hospital and held for a 72-hour mental evaluation. 

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 1:06 a.m., an officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation at Madison and Foothill. The female occupant in the vehicle was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was arrested. 

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 3:27 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 500 block of West Huntington noticed a suspicious subject behind a stack of used tires. He stopped and contacted the subject. A computer check of the subject revealed an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A search of the subject’s vehicle uncovered over 200 gift cards that are being held for observation to determine if they are fraudulent or stolen. 

Monrovia Band Fundraiser | Orpheus Play

~ The MHS band will hold a fundraiser yard sale Saturday, March 21 at 608 W. Palm Drive. Finds will go to fix and purchase instruments, new uniforms, music scores, and to hire sectional and colorguard instructors.

~ Opera Animata will present a semi-staged production of Christoph Willibald Gluck's three-act Orfeo e Eurydice - based on the myth of Orpheus - with chamber orchestra on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 South California Avenue at Foothill. Tickets at operaanimata.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Many Staff of Monrovia Relief Agency Unaccounted for Following Cyclone

The Christian relief organization, World Vision, which is partly based in Monrovia, reports that it has only been able to contact 26 of its 80 staff on the island of Vaniatu following Cyclone Pam severely damaging the island. http://goo.gl/ccxUXG

- Brad Haugaard

Bad Water Update

At its next meeting the Monrovia City Council (agenda: http://goo.gl/cZ7eqw ) will, among other things, get an update on the draining of dirty water into the ground at a city water well site.

- Brad Haugaard

What Will Happen to Monrovia's Cable Channel KGEM?

Robert Parry posts on Facebook that he has received a letter from Champion Broadband saying it is shutting down its Monrovia service. And he asks, "How do we preserve KGEM?" 

Brian Johnson adds: "KGEM is supported by the fees the cable companies pay to the city as part of their licensing.  I don't think the satellite companies pay those fees.  So, no cable, no KGEM."

UPDATE: Mayor Mary Ann Lutz writes, "I asked the City Manager to invite Mark Haverkate from Giggle to our next Council meeting. He has accepted and will be at the City Council Meeting on March 17."

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Wang's Place

Dinner recently at Wang's Place, on the south side of Lemon a half block east of Myrtle. Got the Lemon Chicken for $12 and a beer for $5. Nice.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Water Leaks | Mayoral Forum | Drones to Ukraine

~ City reports number of water leaks rising. http://goo.gl/NGcuNJ

~ Report on the mayoral forum. http://goo.gl/DYFdgO

~ Drones made by Monrovia's AeroVironment part of package Obama sending to Ukraine.

- Brad Haugaard

BB Breaks Window; Drunk Shoplifting; Etc.

During the last seven-day period, March 9-11, the Police Department handled 400 service events, resulting in 85 investigations.

Vandalism

March 9 at 7:34 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 400 block of Monrovista on the report of a vandalism. A second story window of an apartment unit was shattered with a metal BB or similar type object sometime during the day. No one was home when the vandalism occurred.

Petty Theft / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested

March 11 at 8:40 a.m., a business in the 200 block of East Huntington called police to report a theft of liquor. A female suspect ran from the store with a stolen bottle of gin. She was quickly located by officers and arrested for shoplifting and being drunk in public.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested

March 12 at 2:09 a.m., police received a call reporting a male subject in the 200 block of East Lemon that was yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and located the subject. He was determined to be intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was arrested for being drunk in public and held for sobering. 

Filharmonic Performing at Monrovia High School | CODA Gets CEO

~ The Filharmonic will be performing at the Renaissance Foundation in Monrovia on Friday, April 10, at the high school. http://goo.gl/K2w5yp

~ Monrovia's CODA Energy Names Paul Detering as first CEO. http://goo.gl/o0uj8u

- Brad Haugaard

Warm Weekend in Monrovia

Should be getting up to an unseasonable 90 degrees this weekend. http://goo.gl/Tz07kW

- Brad Haugaard