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

Could AeroVironment Drones Provide Emergency Communications? | Monrovia's IZZE Celebrates 10 Years | Verizon Store Hiring | Monrovia-Bishop Amat Game

~ Monrovia's AeroVironment believes that by tricking them out its hand-launched drone airplanes with onboard communications equipment, they could be used to re-establish communications following a disaster that renders communications networks unusable. AeroVironment will be demonstrating its drones' capabilities to the FCC. http://goo.gl/iba7Z

~ IZZE Beverage Co. of Monrovia is celebrating ten years of delivering all-natural sparkling juice beverages. (Never even knew it was in town, but it's headquarters is on S. Mayflower) http://goo.gl/F7FsQ

~ The Verizon store next to Daphne's is hiring. http://goo.gl/MjQsl

~ Reflections on the Monrovia-Bishop Amat baseball game. http://goo.gl/EuWIj

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia PD Gas Tips

In light of a recent gas leak emergency, Monrovia PD hands along these
gas tips from The Gas Company:

Leaking gas from any damaged pipeline or gas meter could cause a fire,
explosion, property damage and serious bodily injury.

Follow these guidelines if you encounter a leaking gas pipe or meter:

REMAIN calm.

DON'T light a match, candle or cigarette.

DON'T turn electrical devices on or off, including light switches.

DON'T start an engine or use any device, including a telephone, which
could cause a spark.

IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area, and from a safe location, call SoCalGas
at 1-800-427-2200 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CALL 911 promptly after evacuating the area if the damage results in a
natural gas leak that may endanger life or cause bodily harm or
property damage.

DO NOT attempt to control the leak or repair the damaged pipe or
meter. Do not use or turn off any equipment that could cause a spark.
Motorized or electrically powered equipment or vehicles may create an
ignition source if a gas leak is present. Safely abandon any motorized
or powered equipment or vehicles. Gas leaking from a plastic pipe can
create static electricity that can ignite the gas.

- Brad Haugaard