Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 8, 2011

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com

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AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 8, 2011 

Special Report - It Matters To You:

STATE BUDGET – TRIGGERED REDUCTIONS - 
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES IMPACT

As reported in the July 5, 
2011 Sacramento Update, 
Governor Brown signed the 
$86 billion FY 2011-12 State 
Budget Act, which redirected 
State sales tax and vehicle license 
fee revenue to counties 
to fund realignment, as well 
as addressed the State’s remaining 
$9.6 billion deficit 
through a number of expenditure 
reductions, revenue 
solutions and the assumption 
of $4 billion in projected 
revenue the State may receive 
in FY 2011-12. 

The State Budget Act authorizes 
the Director of the 
Department of Finance to 
make up to $2.46 billion in 
additional expenditure reductions 
beginning in January 
2012 if the projected $4.0 
billion in revenue does not 
materialize this fall. State 
tax revenue through August 
lagged $596 million behind 
the State’s projections. However, 
the most important 
data — the state's fall economic 
forecast for example 
— are still yet to come.

Estimated County Impact

Based on a preliminary analysis, 
if the trigger cuts are 
enacted, the impact to the 
County would be approximately 
$380,000. This is in 
addition to the $363.3 million 
in reductions previously 
enacted in the FY 2011-12 
State Budget Act, for a total 
estimated County loss of 
$363.7 million in the budget 
year. 

County Programs Impacted 
by the Trigger

Most of the trigger cuts 
would be imposed on K-12 
education, community colleges 
and higher education. 
However, the following 
County programs would be 
impacted if Tier 1 trigger 
cuts are enacted. 

Medi-Cal Managed Care 
Plan. 

 Reduction of $15.0 million 
for the Medi-Cal Managed 
Care Plan payments for 
counties. The Department 
of Health Services estimates 
that this trigger cut would 
result in a County loss of 
$1.0 million in FY 2011-12.

In-Home Supportive Services 
(IHSS) 

 Anti-Fraud Initiatives. 
Eliminates $10.0 million for 
IHSS fraud prevention, detection, 
referral, and investigation 
activities. According 
to the Department of Public 
Social Services (DPSS), the 
trigger cut would result in a 
loss of $8.5 million in State 
and Federal funding currently 
supporting the County’s 
IHSS Anti-Fraud initiatives. 
DPSS indicates that the trigger 
cut also would eliminate 
the County’s share of cost 
for IHSS fraud activities for 
a net County savings of approximately 
$1.5 million in 
FY 2011-12.

 

Across-the-Board Reduction 
to IHSS Service Hours. 

 Reduction of 20 percent in 
assessed service hours for all 
IHSS recipients for a State 
General Fund (SGF) savings 
of $100.0 million in FY 
2011-12. The State has not 
yet developed the details on 
how this cut will be implemented; 
however, the State 
Budget Act establishes an 
IHSS Supplement application 
for recipients who may 
be at-risk of out-of-home 
placement due to the reduction 
in hours. According to 
DPSS, the County could lose 
receipt of an estimated $37.4 
million in SGFs and $55.9 
million in Federal funds for 
IHSS benefits. DPSS estimates 
that this trigger cut 
could impact most of the 
184,000 individuals who 
currently receive IHSS benefits 
here in Los Angeles 
County. Additionally, DPSS 
estimates that these reductions 
in funding would result 
in a net County savings of 
approximately $20.1 million 
in FY 2011-12, which represents 
the County’s 17.5 percent 
share of IHSS provider 
payments.

Youthful Offenders. 

 Increase of $72.1 million 
in county charges for youthful 
offender placements in 
Division of Juvenile Justice 
(DJJ). The provision shifting 
responsibility for supervision 
of all juvenile offenders 
was removed from the Public 
Safety Realignment legislation 
passed earlier this year. 
However, juvenile justice 
supervision was included as 
a Tier 1 trigger in the 2011-
12 State Budget. If the trigger 
reductions are enacted, 
beginning January 1, 2012, 
the State would charge an 
annual rate of $125,000 to 
house offenders committed 
from counties to a DJJ facility. 
This would be a significant 
increase in the amount 
currently charged to Los Angeles 
County to house youth 
in DJJ, which has averaged 
$77,000 per month for approximately 
300 youth over 
the previous six months. 
While the number of youth 
committed to DJJ is entirely 
under the jurisdiction of the 
court and is variable, under 
the trigger reductions, 
the Probation Department 
would be charged between 
$18.0 and $20.0 million by 
the State in FY 2011-12 for 
the period January 1, 2012 
through June 30, 2012. 

Vertical Prosecution. 

 Elimination of Vertical 
Prosecution Grant managed 
by the California Emergency 
Management Agency with 
SGF savings of $15.0 million. 
In Los Angeles, the District 
Attorney’s Office uses this 
grant to help support staffing 
for its Major Narcotics Vertical 
Prosecution Program 
and the Elder Abuse Vertical 
Prosecution Program. Together, 
the programs received 
an allocation of $682,253 for 
FY 2010-11. The District Attorney’s 
Office indicates that 
the loss of this critical grant 
funding would eliminate fiscal 
support for six Deputy 
District Attorneys assigned 
to these vertical prosecution 
programs. The District Attorney’s 
Office estimates that 
this trigger cut would result 
in an estimated County loss 
of approximately $680,000 in 
FY 2011-12.

Public Library Grants. 

 Reduction of $15.9 million 
statewide for local assistance 
programs for public libraries. 
The Public Library indicates 
that this would result 
in an estimated County loss 
of approximately $300,000 in 
the budget year to purchase 
books and other library materials. 
This is in addition to 
the $15.2 million in reductions 
previously enacted in 
the FY 2011-12 State Budget 
for local libraries, which the 
Public Library indicates resulted 
in an estimated County 
loss of approximately

$1.0 million in the budget 
year to purchase books and 
other library materials.

Source: Ryan J. Alsop

Assistant Chief Executive Officer 
Intergovernmental and 
External Affairs

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt


ARCADIA: AWESOME FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photo and Story By Joan Schmidt

 This past Sunday, I was driving down Baldwin Avenue by the Los Angeles 
County Arboretum and saw two peacocks on a grassy area. I pulled into the 
parking lot and was surprised. There is a great grassy area and picnic tables 
which are available even if the Arboretum hasn’t opened yet! 

 It was only 7:00 a.m., but I needed to send photos of peacocks to an old 
friend in Jersey. I wanted to show him what makes San Gabriel Valley so unique! 
(I am STILL trying to get close-ups of our parrots!) I had a blast taking photos 
of the peacocks. Then I noticed a small shallow “pool” area. On the other side of it was a flock of geese. 
They were a riot! The whole group came to the edge of the pool and honked at me! I wished I had my 
3 year old grandson, Jacob with me! The next time he comes to visit, I must bring him over. Even if a 
person has only an hour or so, this section can be enjoyed!

 After taking photos of the peacocks and geese, I looked at the beautiful trees. Signs on them 
tell exactly what they are. When time permits, I plan to return to go into the Arboretum, and see 
more!

 Besides this grassy area and picnic tables, the Arboretum has a wonderful gift shop accessible 
to the public. I am looking for a special unique gift for an old friend Meg, in Goshen, New York. She 
may be blind, but loves beautiful colorful things. The gift shop not only has plants, postcards, books, 
tote bags, mugs and shirts with the Arboretum logo, but a wide selection of woman’s hats! I can’t wait 
to view the selection and find something for Meg!

 Are you aware the Arboretum has a library with 35,000 books and 300 current periodicals? It 
can be used during hours, but it’s a non-circulating library. There’s even a special “Bookworms” free 
story-telling program for children. 

 The Arboretum’s mission is to foster an awareness and appreciation of the role of plants in nature 
and human affairs. The admission fee is reasonable, and there are tram tours on all days except Tuesdays. 
The 3rd Tuesday of 
the month is free, but no 
tram service. There is a 
wonderful café available 
for a meal, but those on a 
tight budget could have a 
picnic prior or after touring 
the beautiful grounds 
and enjoying the geese 
and peacocks. Hope to see 
you there!

Los Angeles County 
Arboretum

301 North Baldwin 
Avenue

Arcadia, CA 91006

(626) 821-3222

Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 
p.m.


ARMENIANS OF 
PASADENA MEET 
STATE ASSEMBLY 
CANDIDATE 
CHRIS HOLDEN

 The Armenian Community 
Coalition of Pasadena (ACCP) 
invited state assemblyman 
candidate Mr. Chris Holden 
on Thursday night to meet 
with leaders of the Armenian 
organizations of southern 
California. The event was very 
successful and everybody left 
content.

 The ACCP is comprised of 
twelve Armenian organizations 
and Mr. Chris Chahinian 
of the fourth district is the 
active chairman at present. 
The gathering was aimed to 
introduce candidate Holden 
to the Armenian community. 
Pasadena is home to about 
thirty thousand Armenian 
residents with an estimated 
6000 election votes. 

 The gathering occurred at 
the Tekeyan cultural center 
(1901 Allen). Mr. Holden’s 
presentation of his goals and 
visions were followed by a few 
questions and concerns from 
the attendees. Mr. Holden’s 
positive and motivating 
presentation was equally 
matched by the attendees’ 
excitement and approval 
of his future aims. Among 
the attendees were active 
community members Mr. 
Robin Salzer, Mr. Nat Nehdar, 
and Ms. Roberta Martinez, all 
of them being very supportive 
and friends of the Pasadena 
Armenian community. 
After a short biography of 
Mr. Holden was read by 
a member of the ACCP, 
Mr. Robin Salzer took the 
podium and introduced the 
“future assemblyman” to the 
audience. Mr. Salzer introduced 
Chris Holden as a close friend, 
honorable family man, and a 
person of high integrity and 
moral values.

 The evening started with 
a social hour when all the 
guests were treated to snacks 
and refreshments sponsored 
by Corfu restaurant of Sierra 
Madre. After introductions and 
welcoming words Mr. Holden 
presented a Proclamation of 
the Armenian Independence 
to ACCP chairman Chris 
Chahinian and then spoke to 
the audience, followed by a 
few questions and answers. Mr. 
Holden’s responses were very 
well received and an overall 
positive attitude was noticeable 
in the hall.

For additional information, 
please contact the ACCP offices 
at (626) 398-4520.

 P.O. Box 70548 Pasadena, CA. 
91117 info@acc-us.org 


PET OF THE WEEK: BUDDY: A4343462

Buddy: Animal ID #A4343462

Meet the cutest fuzz ball at the Baldwin 
Park shelter, Buddy (A4343462). Buddy 
is a happy-go-lucky three-month-old 
yellow male Terrier mix puppy who came 
to the Baldwin Park shelter as a stray 
from Baldwin Park on September 22nd. 
Weighing fifteen pounds, Buddy hasn’t had 
any formal training yet but is highly treat-
motivated and “will work for food”. That is 
a very good sign. Attentive and incredibly 
smart, he loves other dogs and wants to play 
with all of them; his tail never slows down 
whenever he’s taken out to play! Buddy 
will be the perfect indoor pet for anybody 
in any living situation whatsoever. To 
watch a video of Buddy interacting with a 
volunteer, please visit: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=-hr-vNLK8IY

To meet Buddy in person, please see him 
at the Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-
2378). He is currently available now. For any inquiries about Buddy, please reference his animal 
ID number: A4343462. The shelter is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 
10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great need for adoptions. For more 
information about Buddy or the adoption process, contact United Hope for Animals Volunteer 
Adoption Coordinator Samantha at samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-309-2674. To learn more 
about United Hope for Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter through its Shelter 
Support Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes available for adoption in 
local shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/shelter-support-program/.


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