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Extension of Megan’s Law postponed Bill allows landlords to suggest tenants check Web for sex offenders By AMANDA PENNINGTON Daily Titan Staff
Assembly Bill 438, a bill to amend the penal code regarding sex offenders, was postponed in the California
Disney park is turning to gold
Legislature on April 19, giving the creators of the bill two years to gain more support for the legislation. The bill deals with high-risk violent sexual predators living in rental units. It was proposed to allow rental owners and managers to tell tenants to check for violent sexual predators in the area through Meganʼs Law. Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), who authored the bill, hopes to gain more support for AB
438 in the coming two years. “We intend to work with the apartment associations and create more awareness for our district to what [AB 438] would do,” said Mary Gutierrez, Cal State Fullerton alumna and spokeswoman for Parra. Parraʼs office said the bill sought to clarify what a tenantʼs responsibility is in accordance to Meganʼs Law. “It would clarify that the rent-
al housing providers must inform the tenant via the rental agreement of the sex offender Web site and encourage them to go on the site,” Gutierrez said. The bill was designed to help monitor high-risk sexual offenders who committed acts against children, which by law, labels them as violent sexual offenders, said Asael Sala, a fellow for Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez (D-Norwalk), co-
By JULIE KIM Daily Titan Staff
By COURTNEY BETH PUGATCH For the Daily Titan
DAVID BARRY/Daily Titan
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Clear Channel’s “Los Angeles, Mexico” billboard (above) is causing controversy. Someone placed the U.S. flag over “Mexico” on this sign, located on the corner of State College Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue.
Billboards ignite controversy
Governor says TV ad campaign encourages illegal immigration By CAROLINA RUIZ-MEJIA Daily Titan Staff
Billboards advertising a Spanish language TV newscast, KRCA Channel 62, have sparked heated political and community reactions. On the billboards, California has been crossed out and Mexico writ-
ten in big, red bold letters instead. The billboard that says “Your City. Your Team,” can be found at the State College Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue intersection. In the center of the billboardʼ s background stands the Angel of Independence, a national symbolic monument in Mexico City. According to an article of the Pasadena Star News, about 75 billboards went up last week in the counties of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles. The billboards are diving the
Pongo takes a ride
country. “[The TV station] wants to rip the country apart,” said Mike Spence, California Republicans Assembly president. “Itʼs a bad marketing tool.” “[They] exploit illegal immigrants to make money,” Spence said. “They donʼt want people to become Americans to continue exploitation,” he said refusing to say in what way the TV station exploits illegal immigrants. MEXICO 3
station or calling a “900” toll number to access the registry. Currently, it is illegal for renters to alert tenants if there is a sexual offender living on the premises, but they are also not suppose to put the lessor in danger. This bill would seek to eliminate lawsuits from tenants or the offender. “There have been past lawsuits BILL 438 4
Titans alarmed over violence on the roads Eleven new shootings, including four deaths, terrorize local drivers
Fifty-year-old rides will feature special cars in celebration
In the case of Disneyland, all that glitters is gold. Today marks the kick-off of an 18-month long celebration hailed as the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth,” which commemorates the parkʼs 50 th anniversary. Not only is Disneyland celebrating its own anniversary, all 11 Disney parks are joining in on this worldwide festivity. “Since this is Disneyland's golden anniversary, the park has been given the golden treatment in design, decor and even horticulture,” said Disney Guest Relations Supervisor, Adrienne Marquez. “Every attraction that was here for the opening of Disneyland has a golden vehicle available for guests to ride.” As with old favorites, there are also new attractions for park guests to enjoy as well. The Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride is the newest Disney Fastpass attraction, which is based on the Disney/Pixar animated film, “Toy Story 2.” The attraction opened on March 17 and is one of the only rides in the park to offer an interactive experience. “The ride was actually more enjoyable than it sounded from the description,” said Sara Levinger of West Hollywood. “I sat in this car that looked like an arcade game, and I shot at targets with a laser gun for points. While my score wasnʼt the best, it was really fun to compete with the person sitting next to me.” Rides arenʼt the only new addition to the park. A new fireworks spectacular mixes music, pyrotechnics and fireworks, with a new flight path for Tinker Bell. There is also a history of Disneyland movie starring Steve Martin and Donald Duck, which documents the parkʼs creativity, storytelling and innovation over the last 50 years. It plays in the theatre that used to showcase the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln exhibit. The focal point of the celebration is the restoration of Sleeping Beautyʼs castle. The castle has been repainted in pastel hues and five golden crowns top the turrets, each one signifying a passing decade. Several store fronts on Main Street have also been given new coats of paint, trying to have them appear as they did when the park first opened. New Orleans Square has also had some of its shops made over
author of the bill. “The apartment owners … often get put in a difficult situation when they become aware that a violent sexual predator lives within the complex,” Sala said. In 2004, a bill was passed to expand the sex offender registry to the Internet, allowing residents to view the list from their home at no cost. Prior to this, residents accessed the list by visiting their local police
Cal State Fullerton students – many of them commuters – expressed concerns Wednesday over Southern Californiaʼs recent bombardment of freeway shootings. Since March 12, local freeways have had 11 apparently non-related shootings – four of which have resulted in fatalities. And yesterday, KABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News reported another possible shooting on the 710 Freeway near Lynwood when a big rig driver noticed a bullet hole in his vehicle. Two motorists died on the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles and one on the 60 Freeway in Riverside. The recent surge of vehicle violence began when a 26-year-old Fontana man was shot and killed on the 55 Freeway in Tustin. Several law enforcement officials speculated that the shootings were related to common road rage; some guessed the accidents were gang
Safe driving tips from the AAA • Slower vehicles should drive on the right since the left lanes are reserved for faster-moving vehicles. • Don’t make eye contact if you can; some motorists view random glances as threats and challenges. • Avoid honking your horn if possible. • Don’t flash your high beams to “punish” other drivers. • Move to a slower lane if you have more than five vehicles trailing behind you. • Evade all conflict – even if you’re right.
related. CSUF student Mark Zambon, a senior mathematics major who occaSHOOTING 4
Advocacy group recruits volunteers At-risk youth are in need of mentors, local speaker lays out details By KRISTINA RIDENOUR Daily Titan Staff
An information session was held Wednesday in the Titan Student Union to recruit and inform the Cal State Fullerton community on how to become an advocate for children in need. Court Appointed Special Advocates, a non-profit organization, trains and seeks out volunteers to work with people in the court system and work with children under the age of 18. Three million people live in Orange County, and one million of them are
minors. From this million, the Child Abuse Hotline receives more than 25,000 phone calls about possible child abuse, said Karrah Lompa, a communications relations representative for CASA. The organization has worked with 434 children in the past year, which is 13 percent of the children in the court system. Lompa said they hope to work with 600 children a year by 2007. Lompa spoke to students in attendance about the requirements of being a volunteer, the training and the rewards of being an advocate. The volunteers work with children who are in situations ranging from having drug-addicted parents, to simply living a life riddled with neglect. Most of the children live in group homes or foster homes, and are looking for stability and an authority figure that is interested
in taking the time to help. To volunteer, the organization expects at least 10-15 hours of commitment a month, which includes face-to-face time with the children, and calls to various authorities in their life; such as judges and social workers. Also, they expect a one to two-year commitment. “You serve as the judgeʼs eyes and ears and have to be the voice of the child in the court,” Lompa said. After deciding to volunteer, many steps must be taken, such as training. The training is 30 hours long, with classes on the roles and responsibilities of being a volunteer, child development and child abuse. After the training is over, the staff pairs each volunteer with a suitable CASA
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Foundation tells CSUF to ‘take a hike’ Eighth annual ʻCelebrateʼ event promotes outside activities, natureʼs beauty By JOSEPH GAVICA Daily Titan Staff
APRIL MILLER/Daily Titan
Blaze, a 7-year-old Dalmation, sits atop the 1902 coal fire steam engine, which was found rusted in a barn. It has been rebuilt by retired fire captain and his wife, Dave and Barbara Hurbert. The steam engine, now valued at more than half a million dollars, will be on display at Railroad Days on May 7 and 8 at the Fullerton Train Station. See full story on page 3.
Laguna Beach Wilderness Park wants Cal State Fullerton students and faculty to take a hike. A nature hike that is. The Laguna Canyon Foundation is throwing their eighth annual Celebrate Laguna Coast Wilderness Park event on May 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “This yearʼs ʻCelebrateʼ event is a
chance for the public to enjoy the colorful results of a rainy year,” said Mary Fegraus, Laguna Canyon Foundationʼs executive director. “We invite visitors to hike independently or with a guide, and attend the 10:30 a.m. ceremony to hear more about our exciting plans for the James and Rosemary Nix Nature Center and interpretive loop trail.” The entire park will be accessible to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. “We want everybody to bring their mountain bikes, horses and boots,” said Steven Maffey, a public relations senior and volunteer of the Celebrate event. “We want to promote not only the beauty and awareness of the park,
but promote people going outside and getting active.” Only two guided panoramic-view tours are offered this day. Reservations are highly recommended, Maffey said. The 8 a.m. shuttle will take hikers to Irvine Ranch Land Reserve to begin a six-mile, three-to-four-hour trek over Serrano Ridge. The 9 a.m. shuttle will take hikers to Ridge Park to begin a less strenuous, four-mile, two and a half-hour hike. Another group will meet at 8 a.m. at the Willow Canyon trailer for a three and a half-mile, three-hour loop through Laurel Canyon. HIKE
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