INDEPENDENT
burbankindependent.com
West Covina Police Dept. appoints interim chief
YOU CAN VOTE ONLINE AT BEACONMEDIANEWS.COM
FREE
MONDAY, JULY 08 - JULY 14, 2013 - VOLUME 2, NO. 27
Independence Day in Los Angeles County
Hundreds brave the heat for parades, picnics, parties and pyrotechnics
BY SHEL SEGAL A 31-year-veteran of the force, Paul LaCommare has recently been appointed interim chief of police of the West Covina Police Department, officials said in a statement. A local product, LaCommare was raised in West Covina and started with the department as a cadet in November 1981. He was then hired by the department in 1983 as a police officer, officials said. LaCommare has been promoted several times throughout his career, including the rank of corporal in 1996, sergeant in 1999, lieutenant in 2003, commander in 2009 and assistant police chief in January of this year before retiring from active service in March, officials said. LaCommare has served the West Covina Police DePlease see page 6
Monterey Park voters just say ‘No’ to Measure FF BY SHEL SEGAL
shower with a friend” theme by having a few young ladies showering along the parade route, albeit discretely.
Voters in Monterey Park have overwhelmingly said no to Measure FF in Tuesday’s special election by a nearly 2-to-1 margin and will retain city control over its fire and paramedic services. The “no” votes tallied 64.1 percent – nearly twothirds – of those votes casted. That means 3,514 votes disapproved of Measure FF, while 1,961 were in favor of its passage. The proposed measure would have amended a current city ordinance and directed the city to negotiate for transferring all city fire department services to the Consolidated Fire Protect District of Los Angeles County. Measure FF was placed
Please see page 4
Please see page 5
-Photo by Terry Miller
One of the largest and most popular parades in the valley is unquestionably that which has become a Sierra Madre tradition. This year, however,
was a little less cool for some as the city of Sierra Madsre is facing a water crisis so the fire dept. which usually hoses down the hot masses was ordered to re-
frain from making rain. To make up for it the non-existent Sierra Madre City College alumni and staff decided to bring back the 60’s “ Save water and
Mike Gatto’s legislation to Golden State Water Hernández hails senate end unfair parking tickets announces A+ water committee for passing heads to governor quality and first ever measure to provide Creates uniform statewide policy, “green” online report additional green space binding on all cities Golden State Water quality, this year we’ve for residents Company (Golden State worked hard to bring cus-
Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) legislation to prohibit local governments from fleecing motorists who park at broken parking meters was approved by the Legislature today by a vote of 36-1 and now awaits Governor Jerry Brown’s signature. The measure will ensure cities fix their broken meters in a responsive and timely manner by prohibiting them from ticketing cars parked at such meters. “Taxpayers already pay for street maintenance, meter installation, and meter
upkeep,” said Gatto. “Local governments should take responsibility and keep parking meters in good working order, not squeeze a doublepenalty out of cash-strapped citizens.” Under AB 61, motorists would be permitted to park in spaces controlled by a broken meter for the maximum time allowed by the meter, guaranteeing that parking spots remain available to the motorists, shop owners, and small businesses that rely on Please see page 5
Water) today announced the release of its 2012 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which indicates that drinking water provided to customers, continues to meet all state and federal standards. This is the first year that the California Department of Public Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have allowed water providers to publish a water quality report online. “While we always strive to provide customers with exceptional water
tomers an online report for easy access to information about their local water supply,” said Denise L. Kruger, Golden State Water Company Senior Vice President of Regulated Utilities. “We welcome the opportunity to promote and incorporate green practices through publishing our CCR online.” Golden State Water tests for more than 200 regulated and unregulated elements in its water sysPlease see page 4
Assembly Bill 1359 authored by Assembly member Roger Hernández (D-West Covina) passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a 5-2 vote. This bill amends the Quimby Act to allow local governments to allocate existing funds, used for the purpose of developing facilities, to areas within the local government that are most in need. This bill also allows for funds to help establish joint use agreements between school districts, universities, counties and cities.
ballots are here! page 2
“By providing additional open space for our children, they will live a more healthy and productive life in their communities,” said Hernández. “This bill gives local governments the opportunity to provide areas in need the quality of life they deserve,” stated Hernández. Since the passage of the Quimby Act in 1975, cities and counties have been authorized to require developers to set aside land, donate conservation easements, or Please see page 6