Category Archives: San Gabriel Valley

City of Industry: Industry Football Stadium In Limbo

Los Angeles football stadium

Architect’s model of the proposed NFL stadium in the City of Industry. (Photo Courtesy: http://www.losangelesfootballstadium.com)

By GLENN FREEMAN

City of Industry – Nearly six years after first being proposed in early 2008, it appears the NFL stadium in the City of Industry is still in limbo.

News reports last October quoted city officials as saying the first real groundwork on the site could start as early as this month (January 2014). The expected work would include basic infrastructure required by the City in its deal with Majestic Realty Co., developer of the proposed stadium. However, no physical work appears to have started yet, and city officials stress that any potential work – if and when it commences – does not necessarily signal that an actual stadium is being built.

When asked about the infrastructure in October, Industry City Engineer, John Ballas, told the Los Angeles Daily News that the city “has an obligation to rough grade the site and install the infrastructure, and that’s independent of what they (Majestic) choose to build up there,” referring to the fact that both a stadium and industrial-commercial center have been approved, with the infrastructure complying with both uses.

City officials have said the recent dissolution of redevelopment agencies in California has complicated the process, delaying initial work at the site owned by the city and leased to Majestic. However, recent clarification from the state referred to the $172 million development agreement between Industry and Majestic as being “an enforceable obligation.” Thus, the city, as the successor entity to the former redevelopment agency, is likely obligated to make site improvements.

Ed Roski, Jr., the billionaire head of Majestic, announced his plans for the $800 million, 75,000 seat stadium off Grand Avenue near the interchange of the 60 and 57 freeways, in April 2008. The location has been touted for its central location to 15.5 million people across four counties including, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Roski’s plan to bring an NFL team back to greater Los Angeles was contingent upon receiving necessary approvals, including the NFL’s. But after nearly 20 years without a team, the NFL appears no closer to landing back in Los Angeles except saying that they do want to return, as stated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during October’s Fall League Meeting. At the time, Goodell said the NFL has no preference for a stadium, referring to the various proposals for Los Angeles, including Farmers Field in downtown L.A.

“It’s imperative that we do it successfully if we do,” Goodell told the media. “We don’t have that solution right now,” said Goodell. “The stadium is a key component of that. It’s a foundation for that, and we haven’t found the right solution for it yet.”

In other signs the Industry stadium plan remains dormant, the official website for the project (www.losangelesfootballstadium.com) has not been updated with any news since April 2011. And its related Facebook page was last updated in February 2013.

When contacted for an update on whether work at the site had begun, staff at the Industry City Manager’s office referred us to Majestic Realty, which did not respond to an email inquiry.

So, don’t plan any local tailgating festivities just yet, as it’s looking like it will still be several more years before greater Los Angeles will again have an NFL team to call its own.

Walnut Valley: Governor Declares Statewide Drought

California Governor Jerry Brown

Gov. Jerry Brown declares statewide drought conditions during a Jan. 17 Press Conference in San Francisco. (Photo Courtesy: CA.Gov)

BY GLENN FREEMAN

Walnut Valley – On the heels of the driest recorded year in state history, Gov. Jerry Brown declared drought conditions in California. The statement came during a Jan. 17, 2014 Press Conference in San Francisco, where the Governor issued a State of Emergency, asking residents to conserve water.

“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” said Gov. Brown in a press release. “I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”

State water officials reported that snowpack conditions are about 20 percent of normal average for this time of year, with river and reservoirs below their record lows, particularly in the State’s northern and central regions. The proclamation gives state water officials more flexibility to manage supply throughout California.
The Governor directed State agencies to use less water and hire more firefighters. He also expanded a public awareness campaign on water conservation at http://www.saveourh2o.org.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which provides water to nearly 19 million people in Southern California via 26 cities and water districts, released a statement supporting Gov. Brown’s declaration, asking users to take conservations measures.

“Lowering water demand in Southern California is a big reason why this region has sufficient supplies short term, but this drought is a wakeup call … to conserve every possible drop,” said Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

MWD has conservation tips available at its website, at http://www.bewaterwise.com.

Locally, the Walnut Valley Water District says water use is down in recent years.

“We’re supportive of the call for reduction in water usage and have always been about water efficiency. We’re buying 15% less water now than in 2006,” said general manager Mike Holmes.

Holmes also says the district encourages customers to visit their website (www.wvwd.com) for water conservation tips, as well as a program for getting up to 25 sprinkler nozzles for free.

The district serves approximately 100,000 customers in six San Gabriel Valley communities.

Three Men Charged in Colby Fire

STAFF REPORTS

Glendora – Three men were recently charged in the United States District Court with illegally setting a campfire above Glendora that erupted into a destructive wildfire, known as the Colby Fire, perpetuated by the Santa Ana wind conditions.
Federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint that charges the three men with unlawfully setting timber afire, a felony offense that carries a possible five-year prison term. Clifford Eugene Henry, Jr., 22, of Glendora, Steven Robert Aguirre, 21, a transient, and Jonathan Carl Jarrell, 24, also a transient, were taken into custody by local officials last Thursday after the fire started and turned over to federal authorities.
The Colby Fire started on the morning of January 16. By that evening, the fire had consumed more than 1,700 acres of federal, state, local and private lands. The fire had also destroyed five residences, damaged 17 additional structures, and resulted in injuries to one civilian and two firefighters.
Henry, Aguirre and Jarrell were detained by Glendora Police Officers after they were seen escaping the fire. During interviews with Glendora Police and personnel with the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Arson Investigations Unit, all three defendants admitted to playing a role in the starting of a campfire that started the Colby Fire after wind blew burning paper into the brush in the hills above Glendora, according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.
A United States Forest Service fire investigator has determined that the origin of the Colby Fire was at a point near a fire ring built by Henry, Aguirre and Jarrell; the cause of the fire was embers from the campfire that set dry grass adjacent to the campfire ring afire. Both the campfire ring and the origin of the fire are clearly located on Federal lands within the Angeles National Forest.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Forest Service, the Glendora Police Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Pomona: National Public Conference Against Human Trafficking

The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation (NWCAVE) will be hosting the Southwest Conference Against Trafficking (SWCAT) in Pomona this weekend. SWCAT 2014 will bring three conferences together for one powerful, educational and inspirational weekend January 17-19, 2014 at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, CA.

Attendees and the public, whether attending the conference or not, are asked to bring new or gently used bras to help survivors of sex trafficking. Anyone wanting to donate bras are asked to come to the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, CA Friday, January 17th between 7 a.m. -5 p.m. to drop off their contribution and/or to meet the woman behind this awesome organization, Kimba Langas.

The conference will offer breakout sessions, networking receptions, keynote speakers, resources, a film screening and author book signings. Speakers and experts are from San Diego, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley and throughout the United States and Canada.

The Jane Velez-Mitchell Journalism Award will be presented on Saturday evening at the conference to Denver’s ABC 7 Investigative Reporter Keli Rabon for exposing the truth behind untested rape kits in Denver that resulted in a national change in legislation. “Fighting the ‘war on women’ must become a priority in our society…this can be accomplished only by making it a priority in our national dialogue and this conference opens up that conversation,” said Jane Velez-Mitchell, HLN.

About Free the Girls: Free The Girls is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides job opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking. They collect gently used bras and donate them to the women as starting inventory for their own business selling the bras. Free the Girls is a coalition partner of the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation. Learn more http://www.freethegirls.org.

To register or more information visit http://www.SWCAT.org

This information is courtesy of NWCAVE.

I-10/I-605 Freeway Connector Closures Scheduled

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close portions of the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) as part of the Interchange Improvement Project. The following schedule will be in effect, weather permitting:

On Thursday, Jan. 16, the following will be closed:
• 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Two lanes of east and westbound I-10 from I-605 to Frazier Street
• 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Westbound I-10 Frazier Street, Baldwin Park Boulevard, Francisquito Avenue and Puente Avenue on-ramps
• 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Two lanes of north and southbound I-605 from I-10 to West Ramona Boulevard
• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Valley Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-605
• 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Southbound I-605 connectors to east and westbound I-10
• 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. – West Ramona Boulevard on-ramp to southbound I-605
• 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Northbound I-605 connector to westbound I-10
• 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Eastbound I-10 Garvey Avenue on-ramp
• 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Westbound I-10 connector to north- and southbound I-605
• 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Eastbound I-10 connectors to north- and southbound I-605
• 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Eastbound I-10 Frazier Street off-ramp
• 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Northbound I-605 connector to eastbound I-10
• 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. – All lanes of westbound I-10 from Puente Avenue to I-605
• 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. – All lanes of northbound I-605 from Valley Boulevard to I-10
• 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. – All lanes of southbound I-605 from West Ramona Boulevard to I-10
• 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. – All lanes of eastbound I-10 from I-605 to Baldwin Park Boulevard

On Friday, Jan. 17, the following will be closed:
• 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. – Two lanes of east and westbound I-10 from I-605 to Frazier Street
• 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. – Westbound I-10 Frazier Street, Baldwin Park Boulevard, Francisquito Avenue, and Puente Avenue on-ramps
• 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. – Two lanes of north- and southbound I-605 from West Ramona Boulevard to I-10
• 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. – Valley Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-604
• 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. – Southbound I-605 connectors to east and westbound I-10
• 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. – East and westbound I-10 connector to northbound I-605
• 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. – Eastbound I-10 Garvey Ave on-ramp
• 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. – Northbound I-605 connector to westbound I-10
• 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. – Eastbound I-10 Frazier Street off-ramp
• 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. – East and westbound I-10 connectors to southbound I-605
• 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. –Southbound I-605 West Ramona Blvd on-ramp
• 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. – Northbound I-605 connector to eastbound I-10
• 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. – All lanes of southbound I-605 from West Ramona Boulevard to I-10
• 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. – All lanes of westbound I-10 from Puente Ave to I-605
• 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. – All lanes of northbound I-605 from Valley Boulevard to I-10
• 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. – All lanes of eastbound I-10 from I-605 to Baldwin Park Blvd

MCM Construction, Inc. is the contractor for this $66 million Design Build project, which will create a flyover bridge from the southbound San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway (I-10). Detour signs will be posted to direct motorists.
Anticipated completion is fall, 2015. Caltrans reminds you to “Slow For the Cone Zone.”

Information courtesy of the City of Walnut.

Industry: Sheriff’s Station Offers “Solutions”

Youth Participating in the Solutions Program

Youth in the Solutions Program implement a community-friendly way of tagging a previously vandalized wall facing an elementary school. (Photo Courtesy: Deputy Jim Bickel)

BY K.P. SANDER

Industry – There are many joys that come along with parenting. Seeing your children grow into productive adults is a source of pride and love. But let’s face it, the world we live in is full of dangers. You just have to watch the news to see violence, hatred, anger and negativity rampant nearly everywhere. As parents, how do you get your children through adolescence amid not just the societal challenges, but the peer pressure of fitting in without succumbing to alcohol, drugs, sex, bullying, gangs and perhaps even worse trouble? What if you lose the battle? What if you have run out of ideas to keep your children on the right path?

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Industry Station, offers a special program called “Solutions”; a diversion program in partnership with several Los Angeles County Universities and Colleges to help find solutions and strategies for families struggling with teen conflicts and destructive behaviors.The goal of this program is simple: Success. In their words, “The Solutions program aims to demonstrate to at-risk teens that poor life choices lead to a destructive lifestyle, and there are alternatives to joining gangs, committing crimes and using drugs and alcohol.”

In January of 2012, Deputy Jim Bickel and Sergeant Toni Calton created and launched an education-based program at their LASD Industry Station. After years of referring parents who were seeking help for their teenager’s destructive behavior elsewhere, they found a solution and offered a comprehensive program of parenting at-risk teens to the local community. For ten weeks, parents and their non-compliant teenagers attend simultaneous classes, free of charge.

For the parents, Sergeant Calton teaches, “Parent Project”, a certified, court-approved parenting class, and a component critical to the program’s success. For the teens, Deputy Bickel teaches them how to make better “Life Choices”. The program is assisted with student-mentors from Mt. San Antonio College, Cal Poly Pomona, the University of California at Irvine, Fullerton College, and Rio Hondo College. The college students receive undergraduate credits necessary for graduation, and are made Sheriff’s Department Volunteers (undergoing a full background check to complete the process). The Solutions program provides the internships that give these students real life experience, and they in turn provide the teens with the benefit of their education and knowledge as they work toward a career in related fields. Deputy Bickel says it’s a win/win situation.
When asked what led to the development of Solutions, Deputy Bickel says, “We were tired of turning away families looking for help with their out-of-control teen. Also, our field deputies needed a resource to help cut down on service calls related to domestic problems.” Bickel goes on to say that, “Confronting violence with violence doesn’t work. There are better ways of dealing with these situations, and Solutions works; that’s the main reason I do this.”

It does work. In fact Solutions is showing such success that Pomona courts are now sentencing offenders to the program. The courts have been impressed by what they have seen and some probationary stipulations are requiring enrollment in Solutions. In 2012, the Police Officers Association of Los Angeles County awarded Solutions with the Centurion Award for Excellence in Community Policing.
Since the inception of the Solutions program, five classes have been conducted benefiting 60 families and 50 at-risk teens. The youth who have participated in this program have remained in contact with both their mentors and the deputies. Four of the teens have joined the LASD family and become law enforcement Explorers. The parents have learned techniques to improve relationships with their children, and the fact that structure and rules, along with unconditional love, are essential for success.

If you have or know of a teen that could benefit from this program, you can get more information by contacting Deputy Jim Bickel at (626) 934-3315 or via email at jwbickel@lasd.org. Enrolling in a class could finally be the bridge that leads to an improved relationship with a child who is currently in line for a dismal future. Through Solutions, and fully participating in the behaviors associated with better life choices, a much brighter future is on the horizon.