Joe Marsico gets his trolley back

Joe Marsico has his trolley back. Apparently, the police released it Thursday afternoon from the custody of Bob and Dave's Towing, which stores vehicles impounded by police, Marsico told the Whittier Daily News on Friday.

Officials from the Whittier Police Department couldn't be reached Friday for comment. Police said last week that an officer saw Marsico's son, Ralph, driving it and believe his license was suspended. Marsico has owned the 15-foot, rubber-tired trolley since 2006 when he purchased it from the city was towed April 7.

Joe Marsico said the police told him Thursday that his son's license hadn't been suspended after all and that his trolley was released without him having to pay a fee. "I'm grateful that they gave into what was right," Marsico said. "It was wrong what they did."

Marsico said he's been staying the past week with his daughter, Violet, who lives in Whittier.
Marsico, who is homeless, lives in the trolley. He's been a community activist for years, running for City Council in 15 of the last 16 elections. He is at nearly every council meeting, usually talking about his plan for a trolley system.