Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 1, 2014

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 1, 2014 5 AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 1, 2014 5 
“What’s Going On?”

News and Views from Joan Schmidt 

JOHN SCOTT SWORN IN AS 
INTERIM SHERIFF OF LA COUNTY

 This past Tuesday, the LA Board of Supervisors chose Orange County 

Undersheriff John Scott to finish out Sheriff Baca’s term. I was really surprised, 

but very pleased.

 In August 2001, I met newly-promoted Commander John Scott assigned to 
Custody Operations Division. At that point, he had been in the Department 32 years. Assignments 
were Patrol Deputy at Lakewood Station, Sergeant at Firestone Station, Special Enforcement Bureau, 
and Emergency Operations Bureau, Lieutenant at Men’s Central Jail, Carson Station, Field Operations 
Region II Headquarters, the Office of Emergency Management and Employee Relations and the 
Executive Aide to the Assistant Sheriff. In 1995 after promoting to Captain, he was assigned to Carson 
Station. In 2001, he was promoted to Commander and in 2005 he retired as Chief of Custody Division.

 What I think is so important is the diversity of Scott’s career at LASD. He worked at different Sheriff ’s 
Stations, Bureaus, Custody facilities, Emergency Management and Employee Relations during his 36 
years there. Many LASD personnel know and respect this man. In addition, Scott holds a Bachelor’s 
Degree in Management from Redlands University and a Master’s Degree in Public Communication 
from Pepperdine University. 

Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky, Don Knabe, Interim Sheriff John Scott, Supervisors Mi-
chael D. Antonovich, and Gloria Molina Photo courtesy Supervisor Antonovich 


After the announcement of Scott as Interim Sheriff, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavky said, “In looking for 
an interim we were looking for someone who would not be a caretaker. Not someone who would 
just be marking time for the next 10 months. Someone who would carry on the momentum that has 
developed in the aftermath of the Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence, deal with some of the other 
issues the department has and key it up for the next sheriff who will be elected later this year.”

 At the Press Conference announcing his appointment, Scott said, “I can assure you, I am not going 
to be a placeholder. I will begin the process immediately, of restoring both the dignity to the men and 
women of L.A. County and the confidence and the trust of the public that they serve.”

 On Thursday, Interim Sheriff John Scott was sworn in. His father and his wife Alice, who was with 
the LA Sheriff ’s Department for thirty years were present. It was like a reunion. When I first arrived, 
I ran into Orange County Sheriff Sandy Hutchens and a few coworkers of hers and Scott’s. Three LA 
County Assistant Sheriffs were present: Cecil Rhambo, Todd Rodgers and Jim Helmond, as well as the 
Division Chiefs and Station Commanders. It was wonderful to catch up with so many old friends, and 
Alice Scott, John’s wife also had people coming up and hugging her! 

 The BIG SURPRISE and BEST NEWS is that Interim Sheriff John Scott announced his new Executive 
Aide, retired LASD Chief Neal Tyler. Everyone was very pleased and in fact, when I attended Neal’s 
retirement in July, 2012, Sheriff Sandy Hutchens and Undersheriff John Scott had come up from Orange 
County. Who could have imagined what the future would bring?

I foresee change and improvement in the Department in the next ten months when Interim 
Sheriff John Scott is in charge and Neal Tyler is his Aide. 

4 SHOW PACKAGES 
AVAILABLE NOW!
ARCADIAPAF.ORG • 626.821.1781ARCADIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 
188 Campus Drive • Arcadia, CA 91007 
JANFEBJUNMAR227125
REP. SCHIFF SEEKS 
NOMINATIONS 
FOR ANNUAL 
WOMAN OF THE 
YEAR AWARD 

Burbank, CA – Every March, in 
recognition of Women’s History 
Month, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) 
honors outstanding women 
from his district. The 28th Congressional 
District includes the 
cities and communities of Atwater 
Village, Burbank, East Hollywood, 
Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Glendale, 
Griffith Park, Hollywood, 
Hollywood Hills, La Cañada Flintridge, 
La Crescenta, Los Feliz, 
Montrose, Pasadena, Shadow Hills, 
Silver Lake, Sunland, Tujunga and 
West Hollywood. 

“Recipients of the ‘Woman of the 
Year Award’ come from all walks 
of life and represent the thousands 
of women who make a positive impact 
in our region,” Rep. Schiff said. 
“I urge constituents to contact my 
office and let us know about some 
of the admirable women in our 
communities by nominating them 
for this year’s award.” 

Constituents are encouraged to 
nominate women in their community 
— while there are no specific 
criteria for nomination, Rep. Schiff 
looks for women who — through 
their work or volunteerism — have 
improved the quality of life in our 
community. Nominations can be 
sent to Mary Hovagimian (mary.
hovagimian@mail.house.gov).
Nominations should include a written 
description of your nominee’s 
accomplishments, the home address, 
phone number and e-mail of 
the nominee, and the nominator's 
name and contact information. 

The deadline for nominations is 
February 21, 2014. 


PLANTING TREES IN SIERRA MADRE 
TO FIGHT DROUGHT By Christoper Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of Extreme Simplicity: Homesteading in the City (along with 
his wife Dolores). Nyerges operates the School of Self-reliance, offering classes in self-
reliance and survival. The web site is www.self-reliance.net. Nyerges is also a member 
of the Highland Park-based WTI (www.wtinc.info), which teaches city dwellers 
how to live better with less.] 

Trees, grey water recycling, and welcoming the rain are all 
needed Low-tech solutions to Urban Density 

We are not advocates of the “front lawn.” Our front area is planted with 

fruit trees, herbs, and ornamentals. Once, while we were tending this area, 
a visitor of ours stated that he does not grow anything in his yard. He told us he was so concerned 
about dry weather conditions, and drought conditions, that he regarded any sort of plant cultivation 
as “wasting water.” 
Of course, our visitor was tacitly suggesting that we were wasting water.
We realized that this idea was rather widespread when yet a second person suggested that we forget 
about planting any more trees, bushes, or vegetables due to what seems to be regular periods of 
drought and water shortages in Southern California. 
This counter-productive idea seems to have gained a foothold in the minds of many residents of our 
Southland. We’ve even heard some “garden experts” suggest this idea, that to “save water” we should 
simply not grow plants.
We are able to grow fruit trees and roses and herbs and other edible plants partly because we direct 
all of our washing machine water, and most of our dish water, out into the garden areas and not down 
the city’s sewer line. We are using the water twice!
To the visitor who suggested that we stop growing for awhile, we casually asked, as we were showing 
him our water recycling system, “So where does all your used water go?” He was silent for a moment, 
and then told us that it all goes into the sewer.
In fact, with careful attention to the type of detergents purchased, we can direct virtually all of our water 
into our yards. This is done in many possible ways. The dish basin, full of used water, can simply 
be carried outside and poured manually around your plants. Or you can fill one gallon plastic buckets 
with your used bath, shower, or dish water, and then carry it outside to where it is needed. With a bit 
more work, you can disconnect from your sewer line and permanently direct all of your used water 
into your own yard, as we’ve done with the washing machine.
There are two major benefits of sending your used household water into your own yards, rather than 
letting it flow unceremoniously down the sewer. 
As more and more people move into this coastal mountain-locked desert plain, we have quickly 
begun to use the water faster than nature’s ability to replenish the supply. Thus, our underground 
water table has steadily dropped. Directing all our household water into our yards could have at least 
a minimal positive affect on the water table (as long as we avoid bleaches and dyes in our detergents 
that could be harmful to the soil and water). 
More importantly, one of the best “weapons” to combat desertification and the serious effects of the 
cycles of drought is the presence of trees! Throughout recorded history, the harvest and non-replenishment 
of trees has led to weather changes that have resulted in large deserts. All the major deserts 
on earth were once forests, but the trees were cut down for making boats or other products. Conversely, 
since the transpiration cycle of trees releases large amounts of water into the environment, the 
planting of trees on a large scale can reduce the effects of drought, can alter weather and can reverse 
the downward cycle towards desertification. 

We don’t want to stop our efforts to plant -- and to nurture -- trees just because there is a period of 
drought. But we must do so wisely. By using all possible grey water, we’re able to keep our necessary 
trees and plants alive and transpiring.
When we read that the average residence of Los Angeles County uses about 400 gallons a day, we were 
astounded. We’re not sure what constitutes an “average” family, but when we average out out water 
usage, it doesn’t come close to 400 gallons on a daily basis. Imagine how astounded we both were to 
learn that Hugh Hefner’s Playboy mansion uses 25,000 gallons of water daily!! Or that the Hotel Bel-
Air, an 11 acre retreat, uses 98,000 gallons a day! 
No wonder we have water troubles. People flock her to the desert and they use water profligately, as 
if they were living in Canada or the Rockies or some other water-rich environment.
With all this in mind, we wonder: 
n Where doesn’t every single family residence in Southern California direct all their own gray 
water into their own yard? This raises the water table, and allows plants to grow with water that was 
already used and paid for? 
n Why isn’t the city, or various water agencies, actively promoting not just low-flush toilets but 
composting toilets, which use NO water at all? 
n Why does the average residence pay more for the water they so-carefully use, when the “big 
users” get to buy their water wholesale? 
n Why do we allow any new construction at all, either residential or business? If our water situation 
is only going to get worse as population increases, shouldn’t we take some steps to encourage 
development elsewhere? Or are we so caught up in the suicidal money-making mindset that “development 
is always good for business” that we are blind to what we are doing to ourselves? 

We know that there are countless other “easy” and practical ways to fight water shortages and to live 
lightly on the earth. 
Another deep-seated idea that all should root out of our thinking is that “Sunny weather is good 
weather, and rainy weather is bad.” Most Southern California weather reporters have interpreted the 
weather this way for decades (with a few rare exceptions, such as the former television meteorologist 
Dr. George Fischbeck). Though we are not badmouthing sunny weather, we need to begin to think 
about rain as a valuable, friendly, needed gift from heaven, without which our home here between the 
sea and the mountains would quickly revert to a semi-barren desert. 


customers. ANIMAL CARE CENTER NOW OPEN "It’s a very exciting time,” says Steven R. McNall, 
president and CEO of the Pasadena Humane 

There’s a new animal welfare standard in town open Tuesday through Saturday, allowing PHS 

Society & SPCA. “We’re focusing on expanded 

- - the Pasadena Humane Society’s Animal Care veterinarians to perform 20 spay/neuter surger-programs to help stop the tragedy of pet over-
Center. The advanced center includes a new ies on dogs, cats and rabbits per day.

population. The Animal Care Center is a pro-

Wellness Clinic housing a high-volume spay/ An affordable vaccination and microchip clinic active approach to keep animals in their homes 
neuter clinic, a larger behavior and training held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.and out of the shelter."
center, dog daycare and boarding, the Shelter Dog daycare, which will be available in February. All services and programs, except for animal 
Shop a larger onsite pet store; and ample un- A new Education and Training Center that will 

control and dog licensing, are available to pet 

derground parking. The new facility, which is hold a series of seminars and training classes.owners, regardless of where they live. PHS is 
an addition to the Pasadena Humane Society’s A new dog boarding facility.

contracted by the cities of Arcadia, Glendale, La 

existing campus, opened January 9 at 9 a.m. The Shelter Shop, an expanded on-site pet store Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Monrovia (startThe 
goal of this expansion is to keep pets in with a variety of food, accessories, clothing and ing Jan. 1), San Marino, Sierra Madre and South 
homes and out of shelters. The Animal Care more for pets. All proceeds from retail sales go Pasadena to perform animal control duties. The 

Center features:back to shelter programs.$20-million expansion is located at 361 South 

 An expanded affordable spay/neuter clinic Ample on-site underground parking for 

Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91105.