Sacramento Acts Against Possible Gold Line Lawsuit

The Gold Line is getting support from Sacramento in its battle with a Monrovia property owner, with legislators introducing legislation to permit local city council members to sit on the Gold Line board, and also by appealing to the state Attorney General not to allow the property owner's lawsuit to proceed. Habib Balian, of the Gold Line, writes:

"As many of you know, legislators representing the corridor are supporting legislation in Sacramento to respond to technical challenges being made by a local property owner trying to slow down or stop the project. The allegations he makes relate to the issue of 'incompatible offices,'  suggesting that local officials have a conflict of interest by serving on the Gold Line Board. However, as Assemblywoman Torres  points out in the article 'The best qualified folks to sit on these types of boards are the ones who sit on local city councils.' This LA Times article outlines the issue and the work led by Assemblywoman Norma Torres and Senators Hernandez and Huff."

- Brad Haugaard

Henry's to Become Sprouts

Henry's Farmers Market, on Huntington, is switching its name to Sprouts Farmers Market, as part of a merger between Henry's and Sprouts. http://goo.gl/FrmZv

- Brad Haugaard

Ramirez in Monrovia Football Lineup

De'Shawn Ramirez back in lineup for Wildcats football. http://goo.gl/4bDcL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia FD Uses Jaws of Life | Have a Home Escape Plan

~ Monrovia Fire Department responded to 95 emergency calls from 8 a.m. August 9 to 8 a.m. August 16, 2011, including an early Sunday morning collision in which firefighters used the Jaws of Life to rescue a female from a vehicle. She suffered a broken leg and was transported to a trauma center in stable condition. http://goo.gl/4EBty 

~ Also, the Monrovia FD recommends creating a home escape plan. Scroll down a bit to see the instructions on making one: http://goo.gl/4EBty 

 

- Brad Haugaard

Mayor on How Monrovia is Helping Air Quality

Video of Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz being interviewed by the Air Quality Management District's "On the Air" program, discussing how Monrovia is helping improve local air quality. http://goo.gl/pBr8g

- Brad Haugaard

Popular Pastor to Start Church in Monrovia

Albert Tate, a popular pastor at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, is starting a new church in Monrovia that will hold its first service Jan. 15, 2012. Tate is dividing his time between serving at Lake Avenue Church (the large church at Lake Avenue and the 210 Freeway) and this new venture. He is looking for a building in Monrovia and will spend several months in New York, where he will study how to start churches.

Tate is known for his humorous and congregation-involving style. A sermon clip ( http://goo.gl/bT7UO ) and a one-on-one chat ( http://goo.gl/HEP34 ).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Killed

Monrovian killed in North Hollywood shooting. http://goo.gl/FsQ56

UPDATE: Police searching for gunmen. http://goo.gl/1Wy2w

- Brad Haugaard

Star-News Editorial Page

For the second Saturday in a row, the paper Star-News (which covers Monrovia) has not had an editorial page. Last Saturday I thought maybe it was just an emergency problem fitting it in to the paper - though I had never seen it missing in decades - but now, twice in a row, I think maybe it is going away on Saturdays. Too bad.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Construction at Old Spire's Site

Construction appears to have begun on what I've heard will be a Chase Bank at Huntington and Monterey. At the old Spire's restaurant site.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Chili's

Got the Bacon Ranch Chicken Quesadilla with a bowl of chili. $7. Very good. Been to Chili's many times and they've never disappointed me.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Quarterback | More Portantino | And Now Donnelly, Too

~ Monrovia High quarterback: http://goo.gl/IqWpj

~ Portantino vs. Perez - columnist says it's about Congress: http://goo.gl/0gFgZ

~ And now Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (who also represents part of Monrovia) and two other Republicans have released their full office budgets in defiance of Assembly leadership and in support of Democrat Portantino. [How about that - bipartisanship.] Donnelly said voters would be angry if they knew how the legislature spends its money. http://goo.gl/qxW58

- Brad Haugaard

Redistricting the County | Should Monrovia Football Worry?

~ Three plans for redistricting for the County Board of Supervisors. http://goo.gl/5nk4p

~ Should Monrovia High football be worried about West Covina? http://goo.gl/06Ity

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Art

If you are interested in public art at the Gold Line stations, here are two videos produced by the Gold Line folks that talk about it: http://goo.gl/e4bxu and http://goo.gl/qbhSD .

 

The first of these video says that the Gold Line spends half a percent of its $810 million budget on public art, or, a little over $4 million.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Foundations About to be Built for 210 Bridge

Work will soon begin on the foundations for the Gold Line bridge over the 210 near the eastbound Santa Anita Avenue offramp, including three 110-foot deep foundations, according to a press release from the Gold Line, which adds ...

 

"Over the coming months, intermittent partial and/or full freeway closures of the eastbound I-210 lanes will continue to occur, mostly from Midnight to 5:00 a.m.  Traffic will be detoured along Foothill Boulevard.

 

"Avoid Traffic Delays: Register to receive construction alerts to your cell phone or e-mail at www.foothillextension.org."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD Gets Money to Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems

The Monrovia Police Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $20,000 by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Representatives from the department attended an ABC training conference in Sacramento earlier this month.

 

The grant will allow the Monrovia Police Department to focus on providing education to ABC licensed establishments in their responsibilities as licensees. The department will also focus on enforcement of alcohol related offenses related to the licensed establishments. The police department will be conducting inspections of licensed establishments, as well as conducting enforcement operations to ensure the establishments are operating within the law.

 

The Monrovia Police Department has not received a grant from ABC in the past. The Monrovia Police Department hopes to establish lasting relationships with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and with the licensed locations within the city.

 

Receiving an ABC grant for a city the size of Monrovia is significant because it will allow the Monrovia Police Department to focus on alcohol related offenses before they occur with a goal of reducing the number of alcohol related calls for service.

 

- Brad Haugaard (from Police Department press release)