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Monrovia WEEKLY monroviaweekly.com
Thursday, AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 10, 2011
15
UG READERS CHOICE 2011 EA LA
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(THIS WEEK VOTE ON PAGE 17)
Volume XVI, No. XXIX
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Crawford Lawsuit Dismissed - Blogger Gets No Relief
The City of Sierra Madre Expressly Denied that it Breached any Duty or Obligation, and Maintains it fully Complied with the Proposition 218 Rate Increase Process BY TERRY MILLER Local blogger John Crawford is declaring “victory” over the city of Sierra Madre in a lawsuit that was settled with the city accepting no wrong doing. In fact, not one item in the suit was triumphant. The taxpayers of Sierra Madre footed the bill for this suit for which the full costs have yet to be assessed according to city manager Elaine Aguilar, “We do not have a time estimate on the amount of time the City staff spent researching and defending the City against the lawsuit. The City did however incur attorney fees, but I won’t have the amount for another few weeks – there is about a one to two month lag in our receipt of attorney invoices.” Aguilar said. The alleged proposition 218 violation was unfounded. Crawford agreed to “settle” the case before continuing the costly litigation. Maintaining their innocence from any wrong doing regarding the water rate hike issue throughout the proceed-
Water Wars - A workman clears the dust from completed water reservior near Sierra Madre. The dust and light, symbolic of the lawsuit that was dismissed earlrier this week, settles the argument. The city of Sierra Madre did don’t violate Prop 218. – Photograph by Terry Miller
ings, the city of Sierra Madre challenged the complaint after former Mayor Kurt Zimmerman filed suit on behalf of
Crawford. In May of 2011, John Crawford filed a lawsuit in hopes of invalidating the
City’s recent water rate increase. In June, the City responded to the lawsuit challenging the complaint; and
shortly thereafter the plaintiff approached the City seeking a “non-monetary settlement” according to a city issued press
release Monday. “The City was very confident it would prevail in court; however, the City Council decided to accept Mr. John Crawford’s settlement offer and the case was officially dismissed on July 29th. The City Council agreed to accept the settlement offer, basing their decision upon what they felt was best for the City’s residents and water customers, noting that further judicial proceedings would result in additional legal fees. In exchange for the dismissal, the City agreed that in the event the City was to consider a water rate increase, before May 1, 2014, the City would continue to provide water customers with a Fact Sheet, similar to one it provided during the last rate increase process, as well as information regarding low income discounts, which is always available at City Hall and the Public Library. The City expressly denied that it breached any duty or obli-
Please see page 11
Death Investigated -Body Found at Fire Scene Pasadena PD Arrests 12 Men in On July 31t in the early tion to conduct a follow up been identified at this time. hours, the Pasa- investigation. During his inIf anyone saw anything Prostitution Sting on E. Colorado morning dena Fire and Police Depart- vestigation he discovered a suspicious between July 31 On Thursday, July 28th, from 12:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m., the Pasadena Police Special Investigations Unit conducted a prostitution sting in the 3100 block of East Colorado Blvd. As a result of the operation, the
following 12 males were arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Gary Wu, Male 09-12-1964, Arcadia Resident Jeff Myers Male 10-2-1973, W. Covina Resident Javier Cervantes Male 5-26-
1992, El Monte Resident James Ferrero M 01-171979, Monrovia Resident Michael Gregorian Male 05-25-1962, Glendale Resident
Please see page 6
ments responded to a fire in a detached structure in the 100 Block of S. San Marino Avenue. The fire was extinguished and the cause of the fire is under investigation. On August 2nd shortly before noon, a private arson investigator went to the loca-
deceased body in the backyard structure. He immediately called 911 and police officers responded. Pasadena Fire Department Arson Investigators and police detectives are conducting an investigation into the death. The body has not
and August 1st, they are encouraged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222TIPS (800-222-8477).
Pasadena Entertainment and Civic Center Join Forces for Monrovia National Night Out Encourages Community Safety an Incredible Beatles Tribute Worthy of Shea Stadium
The Fab Four took concert-goers back into the 1960’s on Friday night. – Photo by Terry Miller
BY TERRY MILLER I must admit, I had the tesy of his Telegraph connecchance to see the Beatles at tions and multiple press creShea Stadium in 1965. We dentials for this historic show. had just come across the For some reason, we never pond to have a new life in got to see that show…my America earlier that year. Dad apparently ( so the story My Dad was assigned to cov- goes) gave the tickets away in er the story for the Daily Tele- a place called Charlie O’s in graph of London. His two New York saying he didn’t sons, true Beatle fans, were Please see page 10 supposed to “tag along” cour-
BY MICHELLE R. BROWN Monrovia Police Department’s held a National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 2nd in an effort to raise awareness and “Give Neighborhood Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party” as their flier so aptly put it.
Children and parents alike enjoyed free popcorn, hotdogs, and snow cones whilst listening to live music performed by the band Upstream and learning about area programs, safety, and min-
Please see page 7