Thursday, JUNE 14 - JUNE 20, 2012
A zusa B eacon Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Two Top PCC Administrators Under Investigation by L.A. County D.A.’s Office
PLEASE SEE PAGE 16
Volume XVII, No. XXIV
Sierra Madre to Attract Downtown Business with Marketing Study JIM E. WINBURN Sierra Madre, like most cities in this Post-Redevelopment Era, must go to creative lengths to attract new downtown business to fuel economic growth. At its Tuesday meeting, the City Council gave staff direction to implement a downtown market demand study that would not only help recruit new business, but invigorate current businesses to help the city compete with neighboring market areas. Prepared by Fort Worth, Texas marketing firm Buxton, the study identifies Sierra Madre’s
From left: PCC Trustee President Geoff Baum and top administrator Dr. Mark Rocha at the press conference last Thursday announcing the investigation of Van Pelt and Hutchings at PCC on bribery charges which cast a dark shadow over the city college. -Photo by Terry Miller
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office served search warrants on the homes and offices of two top administrators at Pasadena City College last Thursday morning according to PCC President Mark Rocha. During an afternoon press conference, Rocha told reporters “ the search
warrants were served early Thursday in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation regarding violations of conflict of interest and similar laws.” The target of the investigations: Richard Van Pelt, vice president of administrative services, and Al Hutchings, the college’s facilities services
supervisor come on the heels of another DA investigation into SGVCOG on Monday in which another prominent member of the community , Nick Conway is under investigation. There is no evidence at the moment that the two cases are connected. However it should be noted that Van Pelt was
recently appointed by the college to a membership on the successor agency to Sierra Madre’s Redevelopment Agency. College President Mark Rocha announced Thursday afternoon that both men have been placed on immediate adPlease see page 17
retail strengths and weaknesses to assist the city in recruiting specific retailers that would best compliment the area’s consumers. The study was also intended to assist current businesses with making strategic merchandising and marketing decisions, according to City Manager Elaine Aguilar. The first step in implementing the market demand study is to focus on business retention, said Aguilar. The idea is to inform local merchants with Please see page 12
Sierra Madre Commissioners Sign Off on Assisted Living Facility JIM E. WINBURN With its planning documents approved by commissioners, the Kensington project has cleared its first public hurdle to becoming part of Sierra Madre’s downtown landscape. Planning Commissioners finally approved the project’s Specific Plan and
Conditional Use Permit at the end of Monday’s fourhour meeting, which was the commission’s ninth meeting on the assisted living facility, or, what Assistant City Attorney Scott Porter chose to call it, Please see page 15
D.A. Probe Sierra Madre Parents Felony Investigation Involving Creates Upset with PUSD U.S. Secretary of Commerce Vacancy on Over Middle School Bryson Continues Sierra Madre Construction Delays Secretary Takes a Medical Leave of Absence After BY TERRY MILLER Suffering ‘Seizure' Oversight A 20 percent shortfall dents at the Sierra Madre On Saturday, June 9, bound in a Lexus on San Board has put several projects seem- Middle School campus who 2012 at about 5:05PM a hit Gabriel Boulevard and rearJIM E. WINBURN Because of a Los Angeles County D.A.’s bribery investigation into a local community college administrator, the Oversight Board for Sierra Madre's former Community Redevelopment Agency will be one member short. Please see page 14
ingly on the backburner at PUSD. Of particular note is the Sierra Madre Middle School campus, formerly Maranatha, that was razed and students still in portable classrooms two years later. The issue is particularly important to residents within Pasadena Unified School District and parents of stu-
claim PUSD has not been transparent and has not been willing to work with those concerned. Measure TT funds were supposed to fund the construction of the new middle school which was razed last year. With state cuts and increasing construction costs, Please see page 10
-Courtesy Photo
and run traffic collision occurred in the 400 block of South San Gabriel Boulevard in the City of San Gabriel. Preliminary investigation indicates the collision was caused by suspect John Bryson, who is the United States Secretary of Commerce. Secretary Bryson was allegedly travelling south-
ended a Buick occupied by three males that was stopped on the street awaiting a passing train. Bryson spoke with the males, then left the scene, hitting the same car again as he left the scene. The three males followed him in their car while calling San Gabriel Police officers via 911 and Please see page 5