Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 11, 2014

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 11, 2014 5 AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 11, 2014 5 
“What’s Going On?”

News and Views from Joan Schmidt 

THE END OF AN ERA: 

Sheriff Baca Retires 

This article will have 

information you won’t 

find anywhere else about 

Sheriff Baca. 
Earlier this week, my friend of over fifteen years, 
Lee Baca, made the most difficult decision of 
his life-stepping down as Sheriff of Los Angeles 
County as he announced his retirement at the 
end of January. He could have finished out his 
term, but all the negative publicity about the 
Department had to stop.

I went on Facebook and I was shocked 
about a certain retired LASD Sergeant’s 
REALLY ROTTEN comments about the Sheriff. 
I wondered where this sergeant has been the 
last fifteen years! (Needless to say, I unfriended 
him!) 

I met both Chief Lee Baca and 
Community Policing Director Natalie Salazar 
after I joined the Community Advisory 
Committee at Temple Station. They both blew 
me away with their knowledge and visions. 
During his election, I became better acquainted 
with Lee and Carol, (his fiancée, now wife) 
because of my journalism. I saw firsthand many 
positive programs such as VIDA, attended two 
Asian Gang Conferences and the Anti-Hate 
Crime Conference, saw the establishment of 
a Clergy Council and Gang Advisory Groups 
at various stations-the list goes on and on. It 
seemed to me, from day one, that the Sheriff and his Department set up programs to reach out to 
the community anytime problems arose. I met current Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rhambo when he was 
a Lieutenant on the newly established Asian Task Force. I have a picture of Chief Roberta Abner, 
when she was the Commander/Captain at Temple Station. She introduced ten or twelve deputies who 
spoke various Asian languages. The Sheriff and his Department wanted to make sure there would be 
translators available for ALL RESIDENTS! (This was occurring at ALL the patrol stations!) And the 
Clergy Council was established to reach all to residents in need and help establish a rapport and trust 
between the community and LASD.


The brutality at Central Jail has been abominable. The Sheriff acknowledged that and said 
he should have been aware of it. He took responsibility and there IS NOW an Education Based 
Curriculum to help inmates! Yet a LA Times article yesterday said changes have to be made in the 
inmate programs! 

 I am NOT saying there were not wrongs during his terms. But I have a real problem with the 
sergeant who painted the picture ALL BLACK! This past year I attended the first Homicide Victims 
Conference at Sheriff ’s Headquarters. I wrote about it and made a few calls to find out where to send 
the article. Jane Bufford could NOT say enough about the Sheriff ’s compassion. This is what I find so 
upsetting. No one realizes what a caring compassionate man he is. Ask the late Deputy Dave March’s 
parents or sister what they think of Sheriff Baca. They speak of him with love and admiration.

A couple years ago, I met Sgt. Garo Kuredjian, brother of the late Deputy Jake Kuredjian who 
was killed over twelve years ago at Stevenson Ranch. Garo has a daughter, and another brother Raffi 
has a son and daughter who never met their Uncle Jake. I mentioned this to Sheriff Baca and asked for 
key chains for them to have as a remembrance. The Sheriff HIMSELF wrapped them up and mailed 
not only them to me, but something for Annie, Jake’s mom with a nice HANDWRITTEN note. Many 
times Sheriff Baca and Supervisor Antonovich blew me away with their handwritten “thank you” 
notes. Yet this Sergeant on Facebook would have us believe Sheriff Baca is the worst unfeeling person 
on the face of Earth. 

I have concentrated too much on Lee Baca as a human being. As a member of LASD, while 
he was Chief of Court Services Division, Baca led to the merger of the Sheriff ’s Department with the 
Marshall’s Department. The merger saved taxpayers of Los Angeles County 14 million a year! For his 
efforts he received the Department’s Distinguished Service Award. During his tenure, he provided 
leadership, management and direction to thousands of deputy sheriffs and police officers throughout 
his career. 

All I hope and pray is that Lee Baca will be remembered not only for jail violence but for all 
of the positive programs he brought about and his compassion and kindness. 

SHARP INCREASES IN INFLUENZA ACTIVITY IN 
LOS ANGELES COUNTY 

From LA County Public Health Dept. 

Locally, percent positive lab tests of influenza have risen steadily over the past month and have jumped 
to 18.6%, up from 13.5% the previous week and 8.7% the week before that (Table 1). Relative to last 
year, the 2013-14 influenza season appears to be starting earlier, however an earlier season does not 
necessarily mean a more severe season (Figure 1). 


Antivirals for Influenza 

Antivirals are recommended for those with confirmed or suspected 
influenza and are most effective if administered as close 
to onset of symptoms as possible. Antivirals can help relieve influenza 
symptoms and reduce the duration of illness and further 
complications if administered as soon as symptoms arise, ideally 
within 48 hours of onset. 

For CDC recommendations on antivirals: http://www.cdc.gov/
flu/professionals/antivirals/ 

For more information from the Los Angeles County Department 
of Public Health Influenz’a Watch go to: 

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/FluSurveillance.htm 


DYLAN VS. BEETHAVEN 


By Christoper Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books. He can be reached at www. 
ChristopherNyerges.com]. 

 One Saturday, with But we knew better than to doubt or to cross 

no warning, family Marie. 

friend Paul Martinez We prepared the usual Saturday night dinner 

engaged my father – something like hotdogs and baked beans and 

in the relative value salad and some other vegetables. We took a plate 

of pop vs. classical into Frank and Paul, and we didn’t expect them 

music. This was to come into the kitchen as their debate entered 

probably around 1964 the third hour.

when Bob Dylan was We spoke sparingly as we ate in the kitchen, 
king, and seemed to be the messenger of the around the corner from the living room.
“secret messages” to the younger generation. We heard silence and then the lyrics of 
All my older brothers could fairly accurately be Dylan. Sad Eyed Lady of the Low lands. Hey 
called Dylan fans, if not Dylan worshippers. We Mr. Tambourine Man. Blowing in the Wind. 
all seemed to regard listening to Dylan as a more The Times They Are A Changing. After each 
meaningful spiritual experience than sitting short selection, there would be a brief silence, 
through Mass at Saint Elizabeth’s.presumably as Paul removed the needle, and 

 No one remembers how it began, but it was then they would talk about it. We couldn’t hear 
a legendary conversation that lasted for hours. all the details. Then there would be a round of 
My father’s argument was that the music and some of the classical musicians’ work, a silence, 
lyrics of Bob Dylan were of no lasting value and and commentary by Frank. 
the young people were simply too ignorant to We cleared the table and washed the dishes, 
realize it. My father said that Dylan would be and I set up the chess board and began a game 
forgotten in a few years. He compared Dylan with Robert. Our game lasted nearly an hour, 
to Beethoven and Bach, and other classical and Robert won. 
musicians, and explained that Dylan was not in And then, all of a sudden, Frank and Paul were 
any way at the level of the classical composers. standing in the kitchen doorway, shaking hands 
Paul wholeheartedly disagreed.as Paul had to depart. David hadn’t said much 

 Their conversation began in the living room the whole night, but he never did. Gilbert had 
where Frank would sit in his easy reclining chair said a lot, mostly short derisive comments about 
and watch TV. Paul sat near him on the couch. my father. 
Everyone in the household only became aware It was late and Paul had to go home and so it was 
of their conversation when we realized they were over. A stalemate, we presumed. No clear winner, 
still at it after about an hour. As the conversation’s each side having done their best to promote their 
volume level would rise from time to time, we own arguments to win over the other. But both 
could all hear what they were saying: “Of course Paul and Frank were unbudgeable and they each 
you can put Dylan in Beethoven’s category,” said stuck to their guns.
Paul in his deep and sincere voice. “Have you For the rest of us, the conversation about the 
actually ever listened to what he’s saying in his conversation had just begun. 
songs?” “Why doesn’t he ever have meaningful 

 “He just cackles,” said Frank, “and you really conversations with us,” David asked to no one 
can’t even make out his words most of the time. in particular. “He engaged with Paul when 
And I’m not even talking about the words. Paul challenged, but shouldn’t he take it upon 
It’s very monotonous. And I don’t need any himself to engage us?” asked David. No one 
explanation to know that Bach’s music really is really cared, but it was clear in the conversation 
good,” said Frank as Paul patiently waited his about the conversation that David didn’t really 
turn in this lively exchange.care about whose music was best. To David, the 

 “Well, I’m not saying that Dylan and Bach conversation was an example of a father who 
and the other classicals can be compared didn’t take adequate interest in his own children, 
directly. Obviously, they can’t,” said Paul, giving but would take extra time and supreme effort in 
some ground to Frank. “But there is obviously a very engaging discussion – but not with David. 
something that millions of people are responding I was sure that David had a good point that 
to that you aren’t seeing – or hearing.”Frank should do these sorts of things, but I was 

 This went on, back and forth, quiet and loud, not bitter about the fact that he did not do so. 
for another hour. They opened up the record The rest of us had probably long ago accepted 
player and began playing select songs for the Frank for what and who he was. But to David, 
other to listen to. Frank’s conversation was like a slap in the face, 

 Robert Haddon dropped by and joined us saying that he can take the time with a friend of 
as we were preparing dinner. No one dared to the family, but would not take the time with his 
interfere with the primary debate, but Robert, own children. At least that’s how I took David’s 
and my mother, and my brothers, each piped in reaction.
from time to time. Though I generally disagreed with Frank’s 

 “Dylan is the boss,” said Robert, “everyone premise, his performance definitely boosted my 
knows that. Your dad is not cool, just like my image of him. And likewise my image of Paul 
dad,” he smiled.was greatly enlarged. Here was a peer of my 

 Robert asked my mother what she thought.brother who could debate with intensity and 

 Marie obviously didn’t want to get involved, or authority, and try to convince my father of a 
to take sides, but she softly whispered, “Dylan is point of view which I held, but felt totally unable 
no Beethoven,” and we all laughed. But she said it to communicate in any meaningful way. 
with a look on her face of “knowingness,” and so How each person eventually chose to discuss 
that tempered our laughter. We figured that we the discussion said far more about that individual 
could safely disagree with Frank, because he was person than it did about the debate itself. 
regarded as a sort of Pasadena Archie Bunker. 

IT PAYS TO STAY 
If you want to take advantage of the affordability of homes today, but anticipate major life changes in 
the next couple of years, you have to consider the implications of selling so soon. Keep the following 
factors in mind when making your decision.

 As long as you sell for more than you owe on the mortgage, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you'll lose 
those costs associated with your initial investment, including the money you spent on loan and closing 
fees.

 Also consider the cost of selling your home soon after purchasing. You paid closing costs when 
you bought it, but you face more closing costs when you sell it. In just a couple of years, most people 
won't build up enough equity in the home to justify selling so soon and paying transaction fees again.

 Finally, if you sell your home in less than two years - for a profit - you may have to pay capital gains 
taxes on that profit. Currently, homeowners are exempt from those taxes up to $250,000 (or up to 
$500,000 for married filers) - but the home must be your primary residence and lived in for at least 
two years.

 Hardships like health issues or job relocation may allow you a partial exclusion on those taxes, 
though. Speak with your tax advisor and real estate agent for some solid advice.