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LA MIRADA, CA., SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
VOL. 2, NO. 5
EDITORIAL La Mirada City Council Recognizes Outgoing City Manager Tom Robinson COMMERCE EMPLOYEE RUNS POLITICAL MACHINE ON TAXPAYER DIME By Randy Economy
By Brian Hews
The La Mirada City Council recognized retiring City Manager Tom Robinson for his 28 years of service to the City at Tuesday’s meeting. Robinson served as City Manager since 2008 and is credited with guiding the City through the nation’s Great Recession. Robinson began his career in local government in 1972 with the City of Commerce. After graduating from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelors degree in Journalism, he was hired on full-time as the city’s public information officer. During this time, he was instrumental to the founding of the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), an organization dedicated to promoting integrity and excellence in public communications. In 1978, he was hired as the public information coordinator for the City of Cerritos. While there, he was involved in a variety of special projects, including the opening of the new Cerritos City Hall,
I
t is election season, the time when candidates running for local city council offices and school board seats jaunt around to seek out endorsements from other elected politicians, Jason Stinnett powerful union bosses, and other self-proclaimed political king makers. These “kings” help deliver neophyte candidates large bags of campaign cash, guarantee vast amounts of votes, and bring in endorsements from other politicians who hold powerful offices like Congressional Members, Assembly Members and State Senators. These kings can make or break a candidate’s chance of winning. Hews Media Group-Community News has learned, and takes issue with, an apparent local political “king” here in Commerce, Interim Public Information Officer Jason Stinnett. We have never spoken to Mr. Stinnett, and not for a lack of trying on our part. The main job of a Public Information Officer is to talk to members of the media and to serve as the official spokesperson for the public agency he or she in employed with. Stinnett has never returned a phone call from this news organization. Not one. We take issue with the Mr. Stinnett who is attempting to build a political empire while on the city’s payroll; he should be doing the work on behalf of the people
See STINNETT page 7
Mayor Steve De Ruse and Councilmembers Pauline Deal, Larry Mowles and Andrew Sarega present retiring City Manager Tom Robinson with a plaque commemorating his 28 years of service to La Mirada.
See ROBINSON page 8
McCoy Rigby Entertainment Begins 20th Season at La Mirada Theatre By Brian Hews Theatre-goers attending the La Mirada Theatre’s 2013-14 season opener on Friday, Sept. 20, get the extra special treat of helping usher in the 20th Anniversary Season of the McCoy Rigby Entertainment Series at La Mirada Theatre. And what a remarkable 20 years it’s been. Since opening with To Kill a Mockingbird on Nov. 4, 1994, McCoy Rigby Entertainment and the La Mirada Theatre have built one of the most successful partnerships in all of theatre, and cemented La Mirada’s legacy as a leading city for the performing arts. It’s a partnership that has launched several national tours, including Peter Pan, Seussical the Musical (both starring Cathy Rigby), Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, and Happy Days, the Musical, produced the first La Mirada Theatre production to
have an extended run on Broadway (Peter Pan), and earned the La Mirada The-
Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan. atre numerous Ovation, Emmy and Tony awards and nominations. “Cathy Rigby and I could not be
prouder and more grateful to be celebrating the start of our 20th Anniversary producing McCoy Rigby Series at La Mirada Theatre,” says McCoy Rigby Entertainment Executive Producer Tom McCoy. “Through the outstanding support and partnership with the City of La Mirada, the series is viewed nationally and internationally as one of the best in theatre. Audiences come from all corners of Southern California to see truly exceptional plays, musicals and concerts on the La Mirada stage.” Living up to its distinction as “one of the best Broadway-style house in Southern California,” the La Mirada Theatre’s 2013-14 season brings two of Broadway’s best in Cats, April 18 -May 11, and Lés Misérables, May 30 – June 22, right here to La Mirada. Also returning is the Theatre’s unique and intimate “On Stage” se-
See McCOY RIGBY page 8
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STINNETT
Continued from page 1 of Commerce. Stinnett is paid a lofty salary that includes full medical, dental, retirement, and other perks. He applied for the PIO position that will pay over $100,000 HMG-CN has learned that within the past few weeks, Stinnett has played king and met with elected officials or attended meetings during regular business hours that have nothing to do with the business of the City of Commerce. One such meeting was with current Maywood Mayor pro tem Felipe Aguirre. In an interview with HMG-CN Aguirre said, “it was at South Gate Farmers Market, around 11:00 a.m. I met with him because he was backing Ishmael Ververa, a candidate for Maywood City Council who is a police officer in the City of South Gate. Ververa recently moved into the city of Maywood to run for city council.”
www.HewsMediaGroup.com HMG-CN has obtained records of Aguirre went on to say, “I wanted to find out why Ververa was running. Mr. Central Basin Water District meetings Stinnett was representing Ververa and his that show Stinnett’s signature on the atcampaign, and he said that he was running tendance sheets. Most of those meetings the campaign for Vervara as well as ap- occur at 10 AM. When informed what Stinnett was dopointed City Councilman Edward Verela, and challenger Eddie DeLa Riva.” ing, long-time Central Basin Municipal Aguirre said Stinnett repeated that he Water Director Art Chacon commented, was running their campaigns in their con- “as a resident and taxpayer in Commerce, versation that lasted around 30 minutes. we should expect our city employees to “I have no idea if Jason is running be dedicating their work time to city busithese campaigns out of Commerce City ness and improving our community, not to Hall, but I do know that he is indeed run- exploiting their position to promote their ning these campaigns here in Maywood,” own political agendas. City Staff and Aguirre said. Council need to hold their employees ac“Jason did not threaten me during our countable, especially those in upper manconversation. I don’t even know the guy, agement positions.” Recently, Stinnett declared his canbut he was telling me that he is running against Art Chacon next year for Central didacy for the CBMWD’s Division 3 Basin Water District, and that he was do- seat currently held by Director Chacon. ing whatever he could to build up support Stinnett is actively raising money for his campaign and has already raised $1,200 for his campaign.” “This does not surprise me,” said one in contributions, including a $1,000 donacity employee who declined to be identi- tion from the local AFSCME (Commerce fied, “He is never here at work, in fact, I city) employee union he controls. More recently, Stinnett traveled to a called him once, left a message on his city machine, and he told me that I never an- meeting of the Los Angeles County Fedswer that machine call me on my cell.” eration of Labor to argue to the powerful
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 7 political wing not to support current Montebello Unified School District President Hector Chacon. Stinnett did this during business hours when he should have been at Commerce City Hall. Sources tell HMG-CN that Stinnett and one of the union leaders, “almost went to blows,” over Stinnett arguing not to endorse Chacon. After the argument the union employee got up and left the meeting and the union eventually voted not to endorse Chacon. Stinnett is putting his political clout behind Loni Cupchoy to beat Chacon in the upcoming November 5, 2013 election. Cupchoy is also being supported by well-know Calderon lackeys Mario Beltran, Sergio Infanso, Carlos Illingsworth, and Julian De La Torre; so now it is official, Stinnett is a Calderon minion. Yes, it is election season, and Stinnett is in full campaign mode. We would like to remind Mr. Stinnett that the people of Commerce and the media are paying attention, especially in these times when political corruption is out of control in Southeast Los Angeles County.
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8 SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
ROBINSON
Continued from page 1 Corporate Yard, Aquatics Center and Cerritos Auto Square. He also assisted with preliminary survey work related to the development of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. In 1985, Robinson joined the La Mirada staff as Community Resources Manager where he was responsible for a variety of City programs and operations, including managing all of the City’s parks and recreation programs, social service programs, communications activities and transportation services. Promoted to Community Services Director in 2001, he was instrumental in the development of the City’s Community Services Master Plan, which greatly expanded the breadth and quality of recreation programs offered by the City, and was actively involved in the development and operation of the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. The La Mirada City Council appointed Robinson City Manager in August 2008. His tenure as City Manager coincided with the nation’s Great Recession and he was responsible for guiding the City through the most difficult economic challenges in its history. He was able to meet these challenges without a significant reduction in services delivered to La Mirada residents and businesses. Robinson earned both his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach. He is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, and past-president of the La Mirada Rotary Club.
www.HewsMediaGroup.com
McCOY RIGBY
Continued from page 1 ries, where the audience gets up close to the production like never before by being seated on the actual stage of the Theatre, in addition to an award-winning mix of plays and musicals to suit any theatre-goers tastes. “This season promises to be one of our biggest and best ever,” says Brian Kite, producing artistic director for the La Mirada Theatre. “Our lineup features back-to-back runs of two of the most popular Broadway productions ever, along with several other acclaimed productions, each of them Tony or Pulitzer Prize winners. Whether you like musicals, dramas or comedies – we have it all this season.” It all begins with Neil Simon’s acclaimed autobiographical Pulitzer-Prize nominated stage hit Broadway Bound running Sept. 20 – Oct. 13. Winner of two Tony Awards, Broadway Bound finds Eugene and his older brother Stanley trying to break into the world of show business as professional comedy writers while coping with their parents break-up. When their material is broadcast on the radio for the first time, the family is upset to hear a thinly-veiled portrait of themselves played for laughs. “Everyone at McCoy Rigby Entertainment looks forward to providing the citizens of La Mirada, and the greater community, with another first class theatre experience this season as they’ve come to expect for many years and many more to come.”Subscriptions and individual tickets for the La Mirada Theatre’s 2013-14 season are available by calling the box office at (562) 944-9801 or online at lamiradatheatre.com. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard.
TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211
La Mirada Senior Health Information and Safety Fair Sept. 18 The City of La Mirada will host its annual Senior Health Information and Safety Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the La Mirada Activity Center. This event will offer a wide array of free health screenings for seniors, including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and derma skin testing. Participating healthcare agencies include Biola Nursing Department, CareMore and Whittier Spine Center.
Also, Home Instead Senior Care will be providing free document shredding services for all attendees. Transportation to the Senior Health Information and Safety Fair is available through La Mirada Transit. To reserve your ride, call (562) 943-6776. The La Mirada Activity Center is located at 13810 La Mirada Boulevard. For more information, call (562) 9023179.
Cerritos Gandhi Statue Protest Set for Saturday at City Hall By Randy Economy Cerritos - A national human rights group will be holding a protest at Cerritos City Hall this Saturday to demand that city officials remove a statue of Gandhi that has recently been the subject of vandalism within the city limits. “Believing the City of Cerritos has turned a deaf ear to a public concern, a group working since July to organize local residents opposed to the Gandhi statue now plans to demonstrate for its removal outside City Hall this coming Saturday,” said Arvin Valmuci, an organizer of the event in a statement. Organization for Minorities of India is coordinating the event that will begin at 11am on September 14 outside the Cerritos City Hall located at the corner of 183rd Street and Bloomfield Avenue. OFMI is also coordinating local residents and community leaders to speak out against the statue at Thursday’s Cerritos City Council meeting.
“The city will not stop hearing from us until it begins listening to us,” said Valmuci. “Our protests will end the moment the city withdraws its approval from this monstrous statue.” Organizers tell Hews Media GroupCommunity Newspaper that they have been “mistreated” by current Cerritos Mayor Bruce Barrows during the past several weeks over the Ghandi statue removal. His response? “The Gandhi statue impedes the general welfare by promoting a shameful icon, endangers our quality of life by implicitly supporting the intolerance to which he devoted his life, and divides the community.” The Organization for Minorities of India was founded “to advance individual liberties of Christians, Buddhists, Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs, and other minorities of South Asian origin, particularly those marginalized by the Hindu caste system.” They have a website at www.OFMI. org.
TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211
www.HewsMediaGroup.com
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
9
Travelling Publisher Restaurant Review
Ciopinot Seafood Grille & Oyster Bar By Brian Hews
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is known for its great downtown, up-and-coming wineries and the quirky Madonna Inn with its themed
Reserved Cioppino which had jumbo prawns, scallops, calamari, and fresh crab, with crusty bread for dipping. rooms. My favorite is the ‘Man Cave,’ and I recommend a visit if you are in the area. In addition and to the delight of many locals, several restaurants have popped up in the city that are winning major acclaim, and Ciopinot is one that is high on that list. Housed within a historic downtown building, Ciopinot’s ambience is accented by exposed brick, and brings, as one resident said, “a sense of big city dining to San Luis Obispo.” Owned by Wendy and Leonard Cohen, as the restaurant’s name implies, the menu celebrates Cioppino and Pinots. Leonard is a second-generation restaurateur; his dad Barry Cohen owned the famous Olde Port
Inn in Avila Beach. Of course, since When Barry retired we were at Ciopiseveral years ago, he not we had to try sold the restaurant the “no work” Ciopto Leonard. Later, pino; no work meanWendy and Leonard ing they do all the opened Ciopinot. shelling for you. We We started off had the “Reserved with Dungeness crab Cioppino” which cakes topped with a had jumbo prawns, smoked tomato aioli. scallops, calamari, The crab was fresh, and fresh crab with the cakes were light crusty bread for dipand fluffy and the ping. The sauce was slightly smoky sauce amazing and the fish complemented them very fresh, a real nicely. treat. Next we tried We also tried the the stuffed Mexican “Lock Duarte” Scotprawns. Tender, juicy tish salmon. Raised prawns stuffed with The beautiful Oyster Bar at Ciopinot. in the cold, clear Monterey Jack cheese waters of Northern then wrapped in honScotland, Loch Duey-cured bacon, breaded and deep-fried. arte uses “artisan techniques and an ethic The sweet/salty combination was very of continuous innovation to raise what is unique and the breading was perfect. widely regarded as the most remarkable
salmon available.” The salmon was perfectly charbroiled and topped with a light ginger soy and wasabe sauce. For meat eaters, the natural prime grade 6-ounce Flat Iron steak, charbroiled and
Grilled scallops with a delightful champagne sauce.
served with sautéed onions and mushroom was delicious and very tender. For dessert we had the old reliable Cream Brulé, which was perfectly caramelized served with mint. We also tried a slice of the Butterfinger ice cream pie with graham cracker crust, and fresh mint. Adding to the decadence, the pie ‘swam’ in a pool of warm chocolate. Overall Ciopinot was a great experience. Leonard is the perfect host, always attentive at your table and making you feel at home. And best of all there is no corkage fee for the first four bottles of wine. I highly recommend Ciopinot on your next trip to in San Luis Obispo.