Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 17, 2012

5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views News Saturday, March 17, 2012

WHAT 
WERE YOU 
THINKING, 
GOVERNOR 
BROWN?

By Joan Schmidt

 In a daily publication, I noticed the 
headlines, Police Chiefs asked to back tax 
hikes. The article stated that on Monday, 
March 12th, the Governor had appealed 
to the Chiefs of Police for support of his 
November tax initiative and there are going 
to be SEVERAL tax proposals on the ballot!

 His measure wants to raise the state 
sales tax by half a cent for four years and 
increase the income tax on those making 
more than $250,000 a year for five years. Well 
this may not seem too bad but guess what? 
His stupidity and not doing any research is 
why we are in this situation.

 Last May the US Supreme Court 
ordered California to reduce its prison 
inmate population by 30,000 before 2013. (A 
lot of people are using this order to defend 
him) However he DID have a choice. He had 
other options. Before doing his homework, 
the Governor set in motion an aggressive 
Public Safety Realignment: Assembly Bill AB 
109, which took effect October 1, 2011. This 
bill shifted two major safety programs from 
the state to the counties.

 First, it shifted supervision of “Low 
Level” parolees (Referred to as post-
release supervised persons or PSP’s) to be 
supervised by county probation officers 
instead of state parole agents. (Eddie Cordero 
from Probation has come to both Duarte 
City and Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town 
Council Meetings and explained positive 
programs to help parolees. Many wonderful 
organizations such as Duarte Kiwanis have 
donated items for them)

 Second, newly convicted non-
violent, non-serious, non-sex offenders 
(Also referred to as N3’s) are serving their 
felony sentences in county jails instead of state 
prisons. I need to clarify that this “N3” refers 
only to the prisoner’s CURRENT charge! 
Previously, there may have been charges of 
armed robbery or even manslaughter. This 
came as a shock to me. This is one of the 
many reasons Supervisor Antonovich is so 
upset.

 At an Arcadia City Council Joint 
Meeting with Supervisor Mike Antonovich, 
Deputy Chief Reaver E. Bingham, LA 
County Probation, Anna Pmvedjian and 
other officials, much information and insight 
was given over this situation.

 The Supervisor began and reiterated 
that the Governor had other options for the 
prison overcrowding. The prisoners could 
have been transferred to other facilities for 
HALF THE COST. One figure mentioned 
was $60+ per day to house a prisoner out 
of state and that’s INCLUSIVE (medical 
coverage)! Here it was almost double that 
cost and it does NOT include medical, 
mental health, drug programs. I went on 
line and was blown away by the low costs for 
prisons in others states! I also found out that 
58 counties in California are dealing with 
the problem. Riverside County Sheriff Stan 
Sniff Jr. said jails in 36 counties in California 
are already crowded. In his county, they are 
under a federal court order since 1993 not to 
pack too many inmates into its five county 
jails. Capacity stands at 3,940 and expansion 
is at least a few years away. With AB 109, 
Riverside can expect 1,727 parolees released 
this year.

 How have we fared since Governor 
Brown’s program began? Anna had the 
figures: As of February 24, 2012, 5,526 PSP’s 
(Low level parolees) are under county 
probation supervision instead of state parole 
supervision. 1,127 PSP’s have been assessed 
by the Department of Mental Health; 263 
have refused services. 1,933 PSP’s were 
transferred to substance abuse treatment 
for assessment; only 722 have showed up 
for assessment. 1,316 PSP’s have been re-
arrested for new crimes, 863 new cases have 
been presented to the district attorney for 
filing. (This does not include city attorney 
offices.) 339 PSP’s have been turned over to 
federal immigration authorities for federal 
prosecution and/or deportation.

 3,518 N3’s (Non-violent, non-
serious, non-sex offenders) have been 
sentenced to county jail instead of state 
prison. 3,238 of them are currently in county 
jail. 31 are on alternative custody (electronic 
monitoring or working as a station trustee.) 
The electronic monitoring system doesn’t 
always work and there was mention of the 
Governor wanting to send many prisoners to 
“Fire Camps”. This is RIDICULOUS as they 
are NOT trained for this, and many are not 
physically able to do this. It’s another example 
of the Governor trying to solve a problem by 
a “Quick fix” and not really looking at what 
his proposal involves!

 The California State Sheriff’s 
Association has endorsed the November 
initiative mentioned in the first paragraph. 
However, there was a spirited debate at the 
Sheriff’s Association meeting over this issue. 
However it seemed the best alternative for 
long term.

 What is the solution? I don’t want a 
higher sales tax, but what are the options? 
Where will the funding come from? Why 
didn’t Governor Brown “do his homework” 
and look into other plans besides dumping 
his problem on the county?

PET OF THE WEEK: Grover Animal ID #A4402208

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

Meet a unique and charming individual, the 
very handsome Grover (A4402208). Grover is 
an amiable three-year-old white and black male 
Pointer mix who was forsaken at the Baldwin 
Park Animal Care Center on March 6th because 
his owner claimed he had such a busy social 
schedule that he no longer had time for his dog. 
Weighing thirty-nine pounds, Grover walks well 
on the leash and is housebroken. He is good with 
other dogs, great with people and we think he 
would be exceptionally good with kids. Grover 
is a great dog that will be an amazing indoor 
pet for an active individual or family living in a 
private home.

To meet Grover in person, please see him at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, 
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 
or 626-962-3577). He is currently available now. 
For any inquiries about Grover, please reference 
his animal ID number: A4402208. 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 Grover 
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/.


Assemblymember 
Portantino Named 
“Legislator of the 
Year” 

California Police Chiefs recognize 
Portantino for his 
public safety advocacy & 
accomplishments

Sacramento – Assemblymember 
Anthony Portantino 
(D-La Cañada Flintridge) 
was honored last night in 
Sacramento by the California 
Police Chiefs Association 
(CPCA) for his public safety 
measure banning the open 
carry of unloaded handguns 
in public places.

 “As someone with many relatives 
in law enforcement this 
means a lot to me. I know 
and respect the dedicated 
men and women in uniform 
and the work they do to keep 
our communities safe and it 
is a tremendous honor to receive 
this recognition,” stated 
Assemblymember Portantino. 
“I have been blessed to 
have worked closely with the 
Police Chiefs during my time 
in office most recently on the 
bill to ban the open carry of 
unloaded handguns. California 
is a safer place because 
the Governor 
signed our collaborative 
effort into 
law.” 

Last year, Assemblymember 
Portantino 
successfully 
authored AB 
144 which outlaws 
the “open carry” of 
unloaded firearms 
in California. The 
bill was backed 
by the CPCA and 
rank and file police 
officers who 
maintained that 
open carry of weapons in 
public places was a safety 
threat and a waste of law enforcement 
officers’ time. 

 “Assemblymember Portantino 
authored the Open Carry 
bill and against all odds, got 
it through the Legislature 
and to the Governor’s desk,” 
stated CPCA President Dave 
Maggard, Chief of the Irvine 
Police Department. “Getting 
legislation like this introduced 
and passed is critical 
for the safety of our communities 
and we appreciate Assemblymember 
Portantino’s 
leadership.”

 The legislation makes it illegal 
to carry an unloaded 
handgun in any public place 
or street. Law enforcement 
personnel are exempt as 
are hunters and others carrying 
unloaded weapons 
under specified licensed 
circumstances. 

 This year, after open carry 
supporters began appearing 
in public with rifles and shotguns, 
the Assemblymember 
authored AB 1527, a measure 
that will prohibit individuals 
from openly displaying unloaded 
rifles and shotguns in 
public. This bill also has the 
support of the Police Chiefs 
Association and is currently 
making its way through the 
Assembly.

CHRISTOPHER NYERGES SPEAKS.......

 
By Christopher Nyerges

 [Nyerges is a field guide and author of books, such as 
“Enter the Forest.” Information about his classes and books 
is available from School of Self-reliance, Box 41834, Eagle 
Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com.]

SPEAK TO US ON THE 
WAYS OF THE WILLOW

A lesson in learning how to learn

 

 The wise man of the forest had been 
hailed by the people of the land, the eager 
pilgrims, to teach another lesson in the 
ways of nature. “Speak to us on the ways 
of the willow, oh kind sir,” asked one of 
the pilgrims. “The people are in great 
need, and it would benefit them greatly to 
learn the secrets of the prolific willow.”

 The wise man listened intently, and 
told the pilgrim that he would teach 
the lesson on the morrow, and that the 
pilgrim should bring the families to the 
spot in the river where the willows grow 
around mid-day.

 “Oh thank you kind sir,” said the 
pilgrim. “We shall be there, eager and 
ready to receive your lessons.”

 On the following mid-day, the wise 
man was at the willows early, as the 
pilgrims began to trickle in.

 It was a cool day as the pilgrims 
gathered around the riverbed area, near 
the tall and drooping willows.

 “Oh, kind sir,” asked the elder pilgrim. 
“It is so chilly in this area. Perhaps we 
can build a small fire to warm up before 
you begin your talk?”

 Without speaking, the wise man of the 
forest collected a long straight piece of 
dried willow. It was about as thick as a 
pencil, and about a foot and a half long. 

He took another dead and dried piece of 
willow branch, about as big around as his 
fist and maybe a foot long. As the pilgrims 
watched, the man of the forest first took 
his large knife and split the branch in 
half, and then further split the half so he 
had a flat rectangular piece of willow. 
All the pilgrims watched carefully as 
the wise man made a little triangular cut 
into the edge of the wood, and then he 
began to press the pencil-shaped piece 
of willow onto the flat piece. The wise 
man pressed hard, and begun to spin the 
willow drill onto the flat piece of willow, 
and soon smoke flowed from the friction. 
The wise man continued to spin thusly, 
and smoke poured out from the drilling. 
Soon, there was a red-hot ember in the 
dust that the wise man created. 

 The wise man quickly collected a 
bunch of dried willow bark from a dead 
branch, and scraped it with his knife to 
create a fluffy bunch of thin bark. He 
deftly placed the little ember into his 
nest of fluffy willow bark, and carefully 
blew on it until it puffed into a flame. He 
then placed it into a circle of stones, and 
added dry willow sticks so that the fire 
could grow and the pilgrims could warm 
themselves.

 The wise man then began to collect his 
thoughts for his talk, when the leader of 
the pilgrims spoke up again.

 “Kind sir, I don’t want to trouble you, 
but we have an elder here with pain in his 
legs. He cannot stand or sit comfortably 
on the floor. Is there something we can 
do for him?

 The wise man nodded, and then 
proceeded to cut some of the dried and 
dead willow branches, those that were 
the straightest. He also peeled some long 
strands of the willow bark and put it to the 
side. First, the man of the woods created 
a square from the willows, and securely 
lashed the square. He then carefully 
measured, and then cut, willow branches 
that he then lashed to the square like legs, 
and the square became the seat of a chair. 
Taking a few more thick willow logs, he 
split them so they were flat, and secured 
these to the seat of the make-shift chair.

 The wise man then helped the elder into 
the chair, cautioning him to sit carefully.

By now, the pilgrims had warmed some 
rice and vegetables on the fire, and one 
lamented to the wise man, “Too bad we 
didn’t bring forks and spoons.” The wise 
man whirled around back to the willows, 
and carefully trimmed pencil-thin twigs 
about 10 inches long. He passed several 
pairs of these to the pilgrim, saying only 
“chop sticks.” The pilgrims eagerly took 
these and began to eat their vegetables 
and rice.

 By now, much time had passed and the 
sky was darkening.

 As the wise man considered how to 
deliver his talk on the virtues of the 
willow, another pilgrim spoke up saying, 
“Kind sir, I have a terrible headache. Is 
there anything that I can do to help?”

 The wise man nodded, and then 
carefully peeled off some fresh willow 
bark. He put the shredded green bark 
into a metal can, added water, and set 
it into the coals of the fire. After a few 
minutes, the wise man poured the tea-
colored water into the pilgrim’s cup, and 
asked him to drink it. “The willow bark 
is nature’s aspirin,” he explained.

 By now, the sky was darker, the 
children restless, and a cold wind began 
to pick up. The leader of the pilgrims 
looked about and decided they should 
depart for the day. As everyone was 
packing and getting ready to depart, he 
spoke up loudly for all to hear, saying, 
“We are all so thankful that the wise man 
of the woods came here to teach us about 
the wonderful willow, but we are very 
sorry that there was no time for him to 
teach us anything.” 

 The wise man tried to conceal his smile 
as he walked out of the canyon with the 
pilgrims.