Opinion: What Will People Push Monrovia to Ban Next?

In watching the discussion about banning plastic carry-out grocery bags, I heard so many ban advocates indicate that banning the bags is "just a start," which leads me to think that now that Monrovia has prohibited the bags (starting Jan. 1) that we will soon see attempts to ban other things.

Like what?

Well, based on comments I've heard at various City Council meetings, I'd guess that there will be pressure for the city to go after smoking in multi-unit dwellings - or in public parks, or both - so if you smoke, not only do you get to die young, but you may also get to be harassed in your own home.

Second-hand smoke is bad, and I support bans on smoking in confined places that the public can freely enter (businesses, government offices, etc.) and smoking near the doors of such buildings, but in the great outdoors every additional foot of distance between me and a smoker dilutes the smoke, and at some not-very-great distance the smoke becomes barely a smell. And at that point, I think we should stop harassing these poor people.

And, no, I don't smoke.

- Brad Haugaard

No Home Fireworks in Monrovia

The City wants to remind everybody - no home fireworks in Monrovia ( http://goo.gl/zQ4YpH ). There is a great fireworks show at Library Park, however: http://goo.gl/ZmNSE1

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Sued - Charged With Limiting Free Speech

A student is suing Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, for limiting free speech to "a small 'free speech area' on the campus quad." http://goo.gl/uhfNwc

- Brad Haugaard

Proposed New Building for Monrovia BMW Dealership

The BMW dealership at 1425 S. Mountain Ave. may get a new building. The Monrovia Design Review Committee recommended accepting a proposed three-story, 208,783 square feet structure. http://goo.gl/zRM2qG

- Brad Haugaard

Will Your Home Be Made Part of a National Recreation Area?

A section of the boundary of the proposed National Recreation Area (the yellow line). The area includes parts of Monrovia - including homes. For a full interactive map (zoom in to see Monrovia): http://goo.gl/WPHmHm

Former State Senator Dick Mountjoy, a Monrovia resident, thanked the City Council for opposing the National Recreation Area proposed by Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents the top edge of Monrovia. He said the boundary for the proposed federal area cuts through his property and that of his neighbors. He asked that the city write a letter to Congress opposing the NRA.

Councilman Tom Adams added that Congresswoman Chu has not responded to the city's request to be excluded from the federal area and asked for a staff report on how to proceed when a congresswoman "ignores a city request."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Plastic Bag Ban Finalized

The Monrovia City Council tonight approved the second reading of the plastic grocery carry-out bag ban, which means the ban will go into effect on January 1, 2015.

Councilmembers Larry Spicer and Alexander Blackburn did not make the same mistake of missing the council meeting. Last time there was a second reading on the ban, they failed to show up and the bag ban was reversed. Blackburn then reintroduce the ban and it was approved tonight. Councilmembers Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin again voted against the ban.

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Craftsman House | Fourth of July Event

~ Craftsman style house being built at the corner of Foothill and Canyon. Picture: http://goo.gl/IEFJaH

~ Details about Fourth of July concert and fireworks show at Library Park. The band Stone Soul playing from 7-8:30 p.m. A 20-minute fireworks show beginning at 9 p.m. http://goo.gl/ZmNSE1

- Brad Haugaard

Three Law Firms Say They Will Investigate Monrovia Company

At least three law firms have announced they will be investigating Monrovia's Staar Surgical in connection with the warning letter the company received from the Food and Drug Administration ( http://goo.gl/E6lxdY ). These are: The Rosen Law Firm ( http://goo.gl/CT0HRX ), the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith ( http://goo.gl/nmlB96 ), and Harwood Feffer LLP ( http://goo.gl/6Y1plj ).

- Brad Haugaard

Jewish Federation Moving to Monrovia

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys is excited to announce that it has just signed a lease to move to its new offices in Monrovia. The Jewish Federation will be temporary located at Temple Beth David in Temple City while its new offices are being built out. With this move, the Jewish Federation is moving closer to the center of our community – an area from Glendale to Rancho Cucamonga.

The Jewish Federation had been located in Arcadia at the former Congregation Shaarei Torah building on Second Avenue since September 2010, after over 30 years in Covina. During its tenure there, the Jewish Federation was able to expand its programming and the services it offered. With the many events and performances that took place here (An Evening with the Consul General of Israel, plays and musicals, concerts and lectures), our Arcadia location become a center for Jewish life in the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. As one community member put it, “We now have a place for all Jews from across our community, to come together and feel connected.”

The new facility will allow the Jewish Federation to continue its valuable work it does for and on behalf of the local Jewish community, as well as have a multipurpose room for small meetings and gatherings, along with a rehearsal space for Kol HaEmek (the community’s Jewish community choir), the Jewish Youth Orchestra, and upcoming plays and musicals.

“While the physical space of our new location will have a distinctly different look and feel,” Jason Moss, Executive Director explains, “the Jewish Federation’s Board of Governors and Staff are completely committed to continue providing the services and our current programs that so many people have come to count on.”

Jewish Federation’s new address is 116 W. Lime Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016. The tentative move in date will be August 1, unless the build-out is completed in a shorter period of time.

For more information about the Jewish Federation’s move, or upcoming plans, please contact the Jewish Federation at 626.445.0810 or by email at federation@jewishsgpv.org.

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys provides programs and services that meet the needs of the local Jewish community – from Glendale to Rancho Cucamonga and south to Whittier – and provides the Jewish voice and leadership in addressing issues that affect the Jewish community as a whole.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

FDA Warns Monrovia's Staar Surgical

Monrovia's Staar Surgical, which makes replacement lenses for the human eye, has received a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration. It appears to be mostly about record keeping. http://goo.gl/E6lxdY

- Brad Haugaard

Old Style Tiles Needed to Restore Destroyed Monrovia Fountain

The historic fountain structure at the corner of Lime and Myrtle that was destroyed by a car accident is about to be rebuilt, and while much of the stonework and timbers were saved and can be reused, many old roof tiles, like these, were broken. If you happen to have a lead on where these may be obtained, contact Monrovia Historic Preservation Group President Jim Wigton, at 599-8187.

Source: Monrovia Historic Preservation Group newsletter

- Brad Haugaard

Swap Produce at Monrovia's Library Park

Picture caption: June's Collard Greens

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If you are interested in sharing locally grown food, then come check out the next Produce in the Park meet-up this Saturday, July 5, from 9 AM - 11 AM by the Mark Twain bench in Library Park (on the corner of Lime & Myrtle)! To find out more about us, visit our blog ( http://goo.gl/BDxL1U ) and join emailing list ( produceinthepark@gmail.com ). See you there!

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Curb Abuse; Men and Women Fighting; Hiker Safe; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 26-29. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Found Elderly Couple
On June 28 at 10:53 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of North Mountain regarding an elderly couple inside a truck continuously hitting and running over the curb with their vehicle for approximately 2 hours. Officers arrived and found an 87 and 85 year old married couple. The female believed she was in Oakland and the male did not know where he was. Their son was eventually located in Apple Valley however, could not drive to Monrovia to pick-up his parents. An officer drove the couple home and Adult Protective Services were notified.

Warrant – Suspect Arrest
On June 29 at 1:56 a.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Royal Oaks, where a male was reportedly hitting a female in the complex's parking lot. When officers arrived they determined the two were cousins and had only been yelling at each other. A computer check revealed the male subject had an outstanding warrant. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
On June 29 at 2:28 a.m., officers responded to the rear parking lot located in the 300 block of South Myrtle regarding a male and female possibly fighting. When officers arrived, they found a male, who was so intoxicated he could hardly stand up. After investigating whether they had been fighting or not, it was determined they had not been. The male was arrested for being drunk in public.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
On June 29 at 4:45 a.m., a silver car was stopped at Maple and Primrose for a traffic violation. The officer approached the driver and could smell alcohol on the driver's breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted and it was determined the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested.

Outside Assist /Missing Person - Located
On June 29 at 7:20 a.m., dispatch received a call regarding a missing 32 year old female who resides in Pasadena. The missing person told her family she was going hiking Saturday, June 28 at 8:00 a.m., in Monrovia with a co-worker. The family made a missing persons report with Pasadena Police Department when she didn’t return home and she wasn’t answering her cell phone. The missing person left home in her dark grey, Honda Accord. Monrovia Park Rangers were notified and a thorough search was conducted for the Honda, but it was not found. At 1:50 p.m. we received a call from the family stating the missing hiker was located, she was spending time with a friend and had left her cell phone in her vehicle.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up: Robbery – Suspect Sentenced
A twenty year old male who has been arrested numerous times for theft and other narcotics offenses was sentenced to five years in state prison this past week for a robbery he committed in May at the Pavilions market. This was a culmination of the collaborative effort of the patrol officers, loss prevention officers and the work of Detectives to finally get a habitual offender off the streets.

Wizard of Oz at Monrovia's Taylor Performing Arts Center

Professional performance of The Wizard Of Oz at the Taylor Performing Arts Center, a.k.a. Monrovia High auditorium, on July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20. Details:http://goo.gl/FmQlfF 

- Brad Haugaard

New Newspaper Being Distributed on Monrovia

The Los Angeles Register, an offshoot of the Orange County Register, has begun distributing in Monrovia. Well, maybe other people have received it before now, but today they began throwing it on my front yard as a free intro. Has anyone else received it before now?

 

Rather bold to be starting a paper newspaper in a day when newspapers are fading, but interesting. It's "Local" section is, perhaps, local to LA County, but not particularly local to Monrovia. Also it's editorial page is more conservative than the Star-News or Los Angeles Times.

 

Brad Haugaard