April 2009 Archives

Whittier's decision to consider drilling for oil in the Whittier Hills apparently is national news. The Wall Street Journal ran a story in its newspaper today about the city's plans to drill for oil. And of course we also had a story about the next step in the process. Interesting timing, wouldn't you say.
Here's a link to our story about Matrix Oil Corp. filing its request for a conditional use permit:
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_12247487

Here's the one to the Wall Street Journal story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124096173407165939.html#articleTabs%3Dcomments
Thanks to Gary Scott for putting us on to the WSJ story.
http://reporter-g.blogspot.com/

Tuesday's Whittier City Council meeting is going to have a deja vu quality to it. Many items that have been considered in the past and continued for more discussion will come back at the 6:30 p.m. meeting. They range from July 4 celebration to key decisions on how to handle new development to medical marijuana dispensaries.

The issue for medical marijuana is whether to scrap the city's ordinance that allows them in limited locations and ban the dispensaries. This comes as a Pico Rivera woman is applying to the city to open a business. Another issue will be just what kind of non-fireworks celebration the council might want to have. Councilwoman Cathy Warner is bringing this back. But there remains a question on whether she can get three votes to do anything.

Warner also has asked to review the historical heritage commission and its role. And the council will look at a proposal to eliminate the Design Review Board.

     There's a new trial date for Vincent Cantu, the retired Pasadena cop accused of robbing two La Habra banks as the "Polite Bandit."

     The Whittier man's trial was continued to June 2 at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana. The trial was supposed to start April 28.

      The FBI alleges Cantu is the "Polite Bandit" who apologized to tellers during the armed robberies.

As astutely observed by letter writer Scott Jarvis, we had two different ages listed for perennial City Council candidate Joe Marsico in last week's papers.

After getting into a scrap with Whittier police over unpaid parking tickets on his 15-foot trolley (which also serves as Marsico's home), we printed a story listing Marsico as 67 years old.

The next day we did a more indepth piece on Joe, saying he was 66.

"I'm envious," Jarvis wrote. "What does Mr. Marsico have in his genetic makeup that causes him to lose a full year in just one day?

"All I can say is, Benjamin Button, move over! Before we know it, Joe might be attending Dexter Middle School on Floral Drive, and still getting younger!"

Well, Brad Pitt should never be confused with Marsico. For the record, Joe was born on April 30, 1942. So he will remain 66 until next Thursday.

Thanks, Scott, for keeping us honest.

State Sen. Ron Calderon has lost his second attempt in two years to provide for the forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through dogfighting of those convicted of the crime.
The Senate Public Safety Committee Tuesday defeated Calderon's SB 318 on a 2-2 vote. Four votes were needed for passage. Calderon also was unsuccessful last year when a similar bill was stopped in the same committee.

Sen. Mark Leno, committee chairman, offered a compromise that would prevent the forfeiture of property, such as homes. But Leon, D-San Francisco would allow money found on the site of the crime, such as was used in gambling to be forfeited.

Calderon, D-Montebello, turned down the offer. "I'm willing to work with the committee on facilitating the definition and fine tuning it and making sure that we don't have any cases where there are spouses unaware of the situation and losing their homes," he said.
"But there's there's got to be a bigger deterrent. It's just not there and the crime is going to grow."  The bill was given reconsideration and could come back for a later vote.

Just how tough is to be mayor of a city? We try to answer that question in story on Sunday.
But for those at or watching Whittier's reorganization meeting Tuesday, you might have got a flavor and here's a recap of some of the comments.

Outgoing Mayor Joe Vinatieri talked about his wife, Sandy, and how she's probably happy the year is over.

 "She's got a smile on her face," he said. "There have been a lot of nights, mornings and days I wasn't around," he said as he gave flowers to her. "There's a lot of hours and a lot of time I come home grumpy and she listens."
Vinatieri said he believes it was important that he did make to an estimated 250 events last year. "During these difficult times, I find it's important for the mayor to be around," he said. "They want to know the mayor is out and doing the business of government and knowing their council is there to help them."

Vinatieri's colleagues were impressed and a little worried about the precedent he set.
"You gave a lousy example of how a mayorship should be run," joked Bob Henderson, the new mayor. "I don't intend to try and beat that." But his work also was much appreciated by the community and the council, Henderson added.

To Henderson, Vinatieri had just a few words, "It's your turn Bob."

Councilman Owen Newcomer said it was tiring just watching Vinatieri.

Councilman Greg Nordbak said he's glad it's Henderson, not him who is following Vinatieri.
"In my 15 previous years I've never seen a mayor do a better job and be at more places," Nordbak said.
"You were like the energizer bunny and that includes the three years I served as mayor," he said. "I know your family and business have suffered. You have kept us proud."

Cathy Warner, who has served on the council or on school boards for the last 20 years, said she's never seen anything like it.

Usually when a City Council reorganizes, i.e. elects a new mayor and mayor pro tem, the council agendas are pretty sparse and noncontroversial. You probably can't say that for today's 6 p.m. Whittier City Council meeting. The least controversial item will be when Councilman Bob Henderson is elected mayor.

But at 6 p.m., the council will choose a new planning commissioner from a list of four people: James Becerra, Jeanette Fasone, Eduardo Hernandez and John Olvera. At 7 p.m., a new mayor will be selected.

And then there's the consent calendar -- normally a long list of items everybody agrees about and usually are not too important. But this consent calendar includes an agreement with the Whittier Police Officers Association agreeing to take less of a pay raise beginning July 1. Instead of a 5 percent increase, officers will only receive a 3 percent raise. In addition, employee medical and dental contribution rates will be increased.

And then there's the most controversial item. City Manager Steve Helvey is proposing to add a code enforcement officer position to work on redevelopment areas -- primarily Whittier Boulevard and Lambert Road. This proposal is made at a time when some in the Whittier are complaining the city is too tough already. While typically consent calendar items are approved without discussion, look for this one to get pulled and get lots of talk.

By Mike Sprague

For the first time in 15 years, it appears that Whittier Councilman Bob Henderson is going to become mayor.

Henderson served for mayor from 1992-94, but has steadfastly refused to serve again. But a year ago he agreed to be mayor pro tem and is expected to be elected at the 7 p.m. Tuesday meeting. He would succeed Mayor Joe Vinatieri.

     Friends of Paul Jaurequi are holding a car wash today from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bailey's Beverage Corner, which is at the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Broadway.

     Funds raised will go toward his family.   

    Jaurequi, a Whittier High senior and football player, was shot and killed Friday night by a man who tried to rob him at a birthday party. The party was held in the 9800 block of Calmada Avenue which is in the unincorporated county area of Whittier. No arrests have been made in the case.

You might just say oops about the upcoming agenda item for the 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting of the Whittier Historic Resources Commission. The commission is being asked to review a zoning code amendment that will add the College Hills Historic District to the city's Municipal Code.

The district is the first planned hillside development in Whittier, according to city documents.
It says that "mastering the steep slopes, grade changes, and curving hills throughout College Hills represents the earliest large-scale example of hillside development. Some design solutions are unique and found only in the College Hills community. College Hills serves as an intact example of architectural evolution from the 1920s to the recent past."
The area, which is just to the north of Whittier College, also was connected with several renowned, important, and local personalities, including Frank and Hannah Nixon, parents of Richard M. Nixon.

Those were some of the reason the City Council created the historic district in 2002. Only for some unknown reason, the council never made it part of the municipal code, said Jeff Collier, director of community development for Whittier. "It's not like the other two (historic districts) where you can open up the municipal code and find those municipal districts," Collier said.
So, a new code amendment will eventually go the Planning Commission and then the City Council.

Just say oops.

Good mourning. Everyone at the Whittier Daily News is wearing black today in honor of Sylvia Hilliard, the classified advertising representative who has been helping our readers at the front counter for a good chunk of 20 years.

Sylvia will be retiring tomorrow and in deference to her dedication and longevity, we all decided black was the color of choice for today's noon potluck.

If you get a chance, drop by our office at 7612 Greenleaf Avenue and wish her well. She will be sorely missed.