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Monday edition of the
Monrovia Weekly ArcAdiA Weekly Monday, february 27 - march 4, 2012 Volume xVIi, No. VIV
Where Did You Celebrate Black History?
by Jennifer Boone
Monrovia/Duarte Black Alumni Association held their 3rd Annual Black History Celebration in a new location at Monrovia United Methodist Church last week. The tragic death of Whitney Houston still very deep in our hearts, this was a very fitting location in the church where so many of us have been nurtured. The spontaneous nature of the master of ceremonies, Ralph Walker, set the event on a lively pace. Ocassionally veering away from the program. Various chapters of Monrovia's history were put to life. Speaker Mrs. Eunice Lisberg spoke about the Brown vs. Board of Education. She noted that Monrovia had the first case: Milton Smith v.s. School Trustee. Larry Walls shared the connection between Duarte, Monrovia and Durock. He also talked about how the Duarte School District was not segregated. J. Howard set the tone with a heartfelt rendition, "Everything Must Change" - the crowd gave a standing ovation. Howard’s daughter, Christina followed with a solo. Richard Brown took us all back to the "The Way We Were" and evoking laughter and clapping from the Lailah Spicer brought the spirit of Rosa Parks while Ralph Walker holds the mic. -Photo by Jennifer Boone
Police Association Voices Disapproval Over Financing of New Police Facility by jim e. winburn Although the San Gabriel City Council decided to move forward with plans for a long-awaited new police facility, the Police Officers’ Association at Tuesday’s meeting voiced their disapproval over financing concerns they feel will burden its community. At a study session before the meeting, the council authorized the release of environmental impact report documents for a construction plan that would provide the city with a new police facility and new city public works yard, while tasking staff to
examine funding alternatives. According to City Manager Steven Preston, the city has been studying how to build the new police facility for the last 10 years. Current proposals for financing the project include increasing transient occupancy taxes, parking fines and business license taxes. However, these funding measures would all go to the voters to decide, Preston said. Representatives and fellow supporters of the San Gabriel Police Officers’ Association filled the City Hall chambers to capacity to ex-
press their disapproval over the fiscal impacts of the project. Police Chief David Lawton said that the labor group is opposed to spending money to finance the project during these hard economic times. “I think they (the SGPOA) recognize the need for projects to benefit the community but are somewhat opposed to the city spending money at a time like this.” Detective Fabian Valdez, president of the SGPOA, told the City Council Tuesday Please see page 8
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MTA-City of San Gabriel Agreement Advances Alameda Corridor Supervisor and MTA Vice Chairman Michael D. Antonovich announced that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority has authorized the Chief Executive Officer to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of San Gabriel to meet Union Pacific Railroad liability requirements concerning the construction and maintenance of the Alameda Corridor-East trench project. “This agreement is vital to allowing the project, which
just received a $336 million grant from the California Transportation Commission, to proceed to construction later this year,” said Antonovich. “Once complete, this project will remove four traffic-congesting, pollutioncausing grade crossings in the heart of the City of San Gabriel next to the San Gabriel Mission – the birthplace of Los Angeles County.” The project is expected to begin late 2012 and completed by 2016.
El Monte Approves Study of Road Conditions The El Monte City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Work Order in an amount not to exceed $164,000 for a services agreement with AIM Consulting Services for the 2012 update of the Pavement Management System (PMS). The PMS study consists of vans measuring rutting and smoothness of the roads with video, pictures, ground penetrating radar, and more. The results will inform the city of the condi-
tions of the roads and will point out those in more immediate need of repair and attention. The first scanning of the roads will tell also how the roads were originally constructed - at what depth and with what materials. The $164,000 will cover the first scan of the roads. There will be a $4,000 maintenance fee every year thereafter. After three years the roads will need to be scanned again at an addiPlease see page 4
GLCA and Monrovia Sign Agreement for Remaining Land – Lawsuits Settled by Terry Miller The Gold Line Construction Authority, City of Monrovia, and the Successor Agency to the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency signed an agreement Thursday that will result in the Authority acquiring the remaining land needed for the project’s maintenance and operations facility. The agreement includes settlement of all lawsuits and claims related to the land acquisition and follows the City Council and SuccesWork Continues on the Gold Line in Arcadia. -Photo by Terry Miller
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