2013_02_28_Rosemead Reader

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Rosemead Reader

Thursday, FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2013

rosemeadreader.com

Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996

Pasadena police to implement autonomous examination of officers’ alleged misconduct BY TERRY MILLER Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and Police Chief Phillip Sanchez announced Monday in a press release that a comprehensive independent audit of cases within the Detective Bureau will be implemented in response to allegations of misconduct against Pasadena Police Officers Kevin Okamoto and William Broghamer. In an interview with the Mayor last week, Bogaard confirmed he was seeking an opportunity to go over the issues with Chief Sanchez (regarding the Okamoto and Broghamer allegations) and contrary to reports in a local newspaper, the Mayor was not ‘back peddling” on the issue. While some publications and attorneys have been highly critical of the Pasadena Police department and the city regarding this particular investigation, Chief Sanchez has maintained that he wants to be upfront and transparPlease see page 10

Please see page 13

Benefit slated Saturday for El Monte’s Brookside residents Retired cop makes tamales for tenants BY DENA BURROUGHS A tamale sale has been organized for this Saturday, Mar. 2 to benefit the residents of the Brookside Mobile Home Park in El Monte. The residents at Brookside have attended several El Monte City Council meetings, asking the Council for help with a situation in which their rents have gone from $600 to $1,700 in some cases, due to continuous raises by the mobile home park’s management. It was for their benefit that Measure F was put on

Pasadena’s Mayor Bogaard and Police Chief Sanchez have announced a comprehensive independent audit of cases within the Detective Bureau. -Photo by Terry Miller

Fundraiser Alleged Brown Act to be held at violations by Temple City Bean Town Board of Education being for barista investigated by DA BY TERRY MILLER John Peters Los Angeles County Smith used closed session are reviewing meetings to specifically Friday night prosecutors alleged violations of the criticize and verbally attack John Peters, a barista at Bean Town Sierra Madre for more than two years, passed away Sunday, at the far too young age of 23. Peters collapsed while working Saturday night, and was rushed to the hospital. He held on long enough for his parents to arrive from out of town, but passed away Sunday. There has been a remarkable outpouring of love and friendship for Peters,

Volume 18, No. 9

state’s open meeting law by the Temple City Unified School District board. “We have an inquiry being conducted with regard to alleged Brown Act violations by the Temple City Unified School District Board of Education,” Jennifer Snyder of the District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Division told Beacon Media Thursday. Board member Joe Walker challenges that the board violated the Ralph M. Brown Act on Dec. 12 and on Feb. 13 when Kang-

Ken Knollenberg and him. Walker claims that Kang –Smith has always loved to “stir up trouble at Board meetings,” and has “ violated the Brown Act on numerous occasions.” Walker said he was censured by Kang-Smith during the Dec. 12 closed session for a comment posted by a community member on his Facebook page. The comment related to the Superintendent’s performance at the time her contract was up Please see page 5

Please see page 12

Thousands march in annual Camellia Festival Parade BY TERRY MILLER From its humble beginnings 69 years ago with a handful of people tossing camellia blossoms to bystanders along Las Tunas Drive, the annual Camellia festival now sees over 5,000 children and many more adults in its parade last Saturday morning. While there were far more participating in the parade than actually watching the annual spectacle, Temple City did however turn out in force for the events in the city park. A Royal Court of first graders reigned over the weekend’s festivities. The Royal Court of very young people was selected during the Royalty Contest Play Day held at the Live Oak Park Community Cen-

Celebrating the Chinese New Year at Camellia Festival. -Photo by Terry Miller

ter in January. The Royal Court’s float was pulled along Las Tunas, as is tradition, by Temple City High school students . Bands from area cities, homage to Chinese New

Year with Lion Dancers and a flyover by a vintage biplane completed a picture perfect morning parade the theme of which was “ Once in a Lifetime” (see more photos on page 11)


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