WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018
AN AMERICAN PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION
By Jim Forbes Special to The Bulletin
In a move initiated and supported by local legislators responding to customer complaints, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Friday, authorization for an outside administrator to take over control of the embattled Sativa—Los Angeles County Water District.
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In boisterous Town Hall meet- 2005, fell flat, and with relatively little his includes dissolving the Board of Directors and ings hosted by Congresswoman Na- community support. But the times are changing. Rewresting all control of the nette Barragán this past May and water district from the cur- June, promises were made for swift luctant to endure another drawn-out action to help the districts 1,600 cus- attempt and the likelihood of legal rent operators. Sativa has been plagued for de- tomers, primarily in unincorporated battles, State Assemblyman Mike cades by accusations of mismanage- Willowbrook, and others in the City Gipson (D-Carson) introduced Asment and a crumbling sembly Bill 1577. If infrastructure with insigned into law it would enable the State Wasufficient resources to Years of neglect was coming to a maintain a quality water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to imter supply. head, and realities and perceptions That came to a mediately appoint an outweighed pleas for patience. head this spring when outside administrator customers began postto take full control of the district, while coming videos of visually brown and brackish water, along of Compton. pletely eliminating the current Board with testimony of its offensive odor In July, at the urging of Supervi- of Directors. and taste. While the district attempt- sors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Janice As an urgency law, which preed to appease customer’s that these Hahn, L.A. County’s Local Agency vents any legal action against it, some issues were being addressed and the Formation Commission, LAFCO, expressed concern that this is a powwater tested safe, the years of neglect which has oversight authority over er play that endangers many of the was coming to a head, and realities County water agencies, voted to dis- thousands of small water systems in and perceptions outweighed pleas for solve Sativa. But two previous efforts California. patience. by LAFCO to do the same since n SATIVA, see page 8
New Artistic Director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz Leads LA Children’s Chorus in New Season Los Angeles Children’s Chorus’ (LACC) new Artistic Director Fernando MalvarRuiz, who began his tenure on August 1, ushers in a new chapter for the acclaimed choral organization with the announcement of plans for his inaugural season in 2018-19.
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he visionary conductor and educator, only the third artistic director to lead Los Angeles Children’s Chorus since its inception in 1986, will further hone the chorus’ sound and repertoire and build upon its stellar foundation as one of the most exceptional
and innovative arts institutions in Los Angeles and the country. Working closely with LACC’s artistic and administrative staff to ensure that the organization continues to provide outstanding choral music education to its choristers, Malvar-Ruiz has announced a range of long—and short-term goals, including expanding the chorus’ artistic and physical reach and significantly increasing its presence in the community. He envisions bringing the chorus to new and broader audiences, increasing the diversity of its membership, providing new singing opportunities for the choristers, fostering current artistic partnerships while developing new ones, reimagining its concert presentations and enriching the overall experience of its 400 young n CHILDREN'S CHORUS, see page 8
LA County Cracking Down on Fowl Cockfighting By Elizabeth Marcellino
illegal activity. Sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Perry said the department has received more than 100 complaints of cockfights in progress over the past several years and served more than 35 search warrants on locations actively breeding roosters for fights.
acted in Solano County and reflects best practices, Barger said. The county first considered LOS ANGELES—Seeking to the restrictions after “the largest stop illegal cockfighting while alcock—fighting raid in U.S. histolowing bird lovers to breed and show roosters, the Los Angeles ry” in the unincorporated comCounty Board of Supervisors munity of Val Verde in the Santa adopted an ordinance Tuesday Clarita Valley in May 2017, said limiting the number of mature Marcia Mayeda, who leads the male chickens that resiDepartment of Animal Care and Control. dents can keep in unincorSheriff’s Capt. Jeff Perry Animal control offiporated areas. “There’s no question in cers spent four days imsaid the department has pounding my mind that this county nearly 8,000 received more than 100 needs to take action,” Suroosters in Val Verde and roughly $270,000 pervisor Kathryn Barger complaints of cockfights spent on the enforcement effort. said. Between 2012-18, the Limits will be based on in progress over the past department impounded a property size and residents several years. total of 18,300 birds. And with more than 10 roosters the problem is not reon any size property will need to be licensed as an stricted to rural neighborDeputies have “discovered hoods. Thousands of fowl were animal facility. Roosters trained to fight are illegal weapons, including long confiscated from an unincorposometimes fitted with knives and rifles, illegal drugs ... theft of rated area near Compton. injected with adrenaline-boost- utilities,” Perry said, while othAuthorities said they deing drugs and typically become ers mentioned prostitution and signed the ordinance to balance too aggressive to be rescued and child endangerment. the needs of hobbyists who show adopted, animal rights advocates Many cities—including 43 chickens by allowing as many as told the board. of the 88 within Los Angeles 25 roosters at a licensed animal But the issue is bigger than County—already prohibit roost- facility. animal abuse and complaints ers or limit the number allowed Supervisor Janice Hahn about noise and odor, because per residence. The county’s ordi- questioned whether that number cockfighting often draws other nance was modeled on one enn CRACKDOWN, see page 2