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Temple Tribune CITY
Monday edition of the
Monrovia Weekly ArcAdiA Weekly MONDAY, JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2011 VOLUME XXIII, NO. XXI
READERS CHOICE 2011
V TE ONLINE
(THIS WEEK VOTE ON PAGE 8)
FREE
Grocery Workers Threaten to Strike
Cathe Wilson's Sentencing and Collapse in Court Sparks Response from Temple City Tribune Readers BY TERRY MILLER The conclusion of what has to be Temple City’s ugliest chapter in history ended last Thursday when Judge Alex Riciardulli sent Cathe Wilson, former Mayor of Temple City to four years in state prison on bribery and perjury charges. The reaction to our coverage has been quite remarkable and our slideshow of the court proceedings and Ms.Wilson’s collapse has already been viewed by over 4,200 people. The Los Angeles Times used one of our images for the story. The only two news photographers in court last Thursday were Terry Miller from Beacon Media and Walt Mancini from the Star News. Both veteran photographers captured one of the most dramatic court scenes in recent memory. After chilling cries of “No” and “ I can’t breathe….” Cathe Wilson appeared to vomit and then collapse after she heard her fate. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies rushed to her side, paramedics were called. The courtroom was cleared as
first responder assistance was administered. Wilson was transported to a hospital and last Friday was transferred to a state prison where she will serve her four year sentence. The images and story captured the hearts and imagination of Temple City residents perhaps, in part, due to the age of the convicted felon. Wilson, 78, and her attorney had proclaimed her innocence all along and asked that probation be the final decision. After the story and photos ran, we started to receive volumes of calls, letters and emails. We are printing a few of the comments we received here. “Justice served! They should take this thing straight to Jail.” “to get away with it. Sorry — 50 years too late for her.” “It’s not fair to compare her to Lindsay. The mayor took million dollar bribes and screwed over her jurisdiction because of greed. Lindsay partied too much and screwed up her
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Wednesday mornings Union rally in Arcadia saw about 1000 workers asking Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons to change their health care plans or be prepared for a strike - Photo by Terry Miller
BY TERRY MILLER
More than one thousand protestors held a vocal but peaceful rally and march on Michillinda in Arcadia under the watchful eye of Arcadia Police who were there en masse complete with SWAT vehicle and two officers on horseback Tuesday morning. With a contract that expired March 6, hundreds of frustrated employees ready to
strike with the union’s blessing. Stickers saying “ I don’t want to strike, but I will if I have too” were worn but just about every participant at the rally on Tuesday morning and hundreds more showed solidarity from neighboring communities and some as far away as Paso Robles. Adding their voice to the 62,000 grocery workers
represented by United Food and Commercial Workers, community leaders urged Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons to negotiate a fair contract that affords workers the opportunity to make ends meet instead of burdening taxpayers with health care costs. “While these grocery store chains scored $5 billion in profits over the last three
years, they want to shift the cost of health care to workers and taxpayers to boost their profits another three percent,” said Rick Icaza, President of UFCW Local 770. “We want a fair contract that respects the workers who are the backbone of these profitable companies.”
The Stronach Group Monrovia’s AeroVironment Acquires MI Developments’ Executives Threatened by Racing and Gaming Assets
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Cathe Wilson was in tears prior to her collapse in court last week. -Photo by Terry Miller
he Stronach Group today announced that it has acquired the racing and gaming assets formerly held by MI Developments Inc. as part of a previously announced reorganization proposal approved by MID shareholders on March 29, 2011. The racing and gaming assets acquired by The Stronach Group include: Santa Anita Park; Gold-
en Gate Fields; Portland Meadows; MID’s joint venture interests in Maryland Jockey Club’s real estate and racing assets (Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park and the Bowie Training Center); Gulfstream Park and MID’s joint venture interest in an associated retail development; horseracing technology assets, including Xpressbet®, AmTote and MID’s joint
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al-Qaida
Federal officials are warning a Monrovia surveillance aircraft manufacturer that Islamic terrorist group al-Qaida has threatened nearly a dozen of its top executives, according to a report issued Friday. Monrovia Lt. Mike Lee: said “After 9/11 we did a complete assessment of all the potential targets in the city and we have be certain to maintain their se-
curity.” Lee went on to explain that because Aerovironment manufactured among other things, drones used for unmanned surveillance, its company was deemed to be a potential target and so was of concern to the police department. Mayor Mary Ann Lutz said that she was aware
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