Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 23, 2016

6


Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 23, 2016 


710 FREEWAY 
EXTENSION 
ON THE 
COUNTRY’S 
WORST 
PROJECTS LIST

Public Input 
Sought For 
City Manager 
Replacement

City Received $5 Million 

Insurance for Embezzlement

 
The Public Interest Research 
Group (PIRG) released a report 
Wednesday detailing the “12 
biggest highway boondoggles” 
in the country that included the 
embattled I-710 Tunnel Project 
that would, if built, connect 
Alhambra and Pasadena by way 
of a proposed tunnel at a cost of 
up to $5.6 billion.

 “California is considering 
prioritizing the most expensive, 
most polluting, and least effective 
option for addressing the area’s 
transportation problems, a single 
or double bore tunnel,” said 
Emily Rusch, Executive Director 
at the California Public Interest 
Research Group. “This project 
would cause more pollution than 
any of the alternative projects by 
increasing car and truck traffic 
in the area – and would actually 
make congestion worse.”

 The study recommends that the 
state;

 Adopt fix-it-first policies that 
reorient transportation funding 
away from highway expansion 
and toward repair of existing 
roads and bridges;

 Invest in transportation 
solutions that reduce the need 
for costly and disruptive highway 
expansion projects by improving 
and expanding public transit, 
biking, and walking options;

 Give priority to funding 
transportation projects that 
reduce the number of vehicle-
miles people travel each year, 
thereby also reducing air 
pollution, carbon emissions, 
and future road repair and 
maintenance needs;

 Include future maintenance 
costs, a range of potential future 
housing and transportation 
trends, and the availability of 
new transportation options such 
as car-sharing, bike-sharing, 
ride-sharing, and transit in 
transportation project selection 
decisions;

 Invest in research and data 
collection to better track, and 
more aptly react, to ongoing 
shifts in how people travel.

 The report also cites 
Congressman Adam Schiff: “I do 
not believe that the 710 freeway 
tunnel alternatives proposed by 
Caltrans and Metro make sense 
for our region or taxpayers. For 
the same cost as the $5.6 billion 
tunnel, we could likely complete 
all of the alternatives -- light rail, 
bus, surface street improvements, 
bike and pedestrian walkways, 
cargo movement, and other traffic 
flow solutions – combined.”

 

 Pasadena officials announced 
last week that the City has 
received a $5 million payment 
from its insurance carrier 
to settle a claim filed by the 
City regarding the theft of 
public money from the Utility 
Underground Program fund.

 “While it is important to 
recover the funds that were 
lost, it is equally important to 
ensure that the City makes the 
necessary changes to prevent 
another embezzlement from 
happening in the future and to 
also recover the public’s trust,” 
Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek 
said.

 According to a statement, 
In addition to the insurance 
claim, the City has undergone 
a comprehensive internal 
financial and personnel audit; 
changed or increased oversight 
for many of its financial 
processes and initiated most 
of the recommendations 
announced last year by a 
citizen advisory task force on 
financial administration and 
internal controls, posted online 
at www.cityofpasadena.net/
invoiceinvestigation .

 The payment represents the 
maximum amount of money 
that could be paid on the 
insurance claim. It is also 
about 85 percent of the nearly 
$6 million allegedly embezzled 
by a former City employee who 
is now currently facing both 
criminal charges and a civil 
lawsuit in connection to the 
theft.

 City Manager Michael Beck 
said “we are pleased that our 
insurance carrier has paid 
the maximum amount on the 
claim, but in no way does this 
minimize the importance of our 
internal efforts to strengthen 
our financial administration 
and internal controls.”

 A portion of the settlement 
money will be deposited into 
the City’s General Fund to 
offset the cost of investigating 
the embezzlement and the 
rest will be deposited into the 
Utility Underground fund that 
was impacted by the theft, Beck 
said.

 “The City will continue to 
pursue legal means necessary 
to obtain a full recovery of the 
monies stolen,” City Attorney/
City Prosecutor Michele Beal 
Bagneris said.

 A City audit completed in 
November 2014 documented 
that a former employee used 
fraudulent invoices to steal 
money from the fund that pays 
for moving overhead power 
and communications lines 
underground.

 The former employee, Danny 
Wooten, was arrested in 
December 2014 and is due in 
Superior Court March 9 for 
a preliminary hearing in the 
criminal case against him. A 
civil suit filed against him by 
the City is set for a jury trial in 
October.

 The public is invited 
to provide input at the 
city council’s regularly 
scheduled meeting Monday 
about what qualities they 
would like to see in a new 
city manager. The meeting 
begins at 6:30 p.m. in the 
council chamber at city hall, 
100 N. Garfield Ave., on the 
second Floor.

 In November, City Manager 
Michael J. Beck announced 
his plans to accept a new 
position as Administrative 
Vice Chancellor at UCLA. 
His last day at the City of 
Pasadena is Feb. 14.

 Mayor Terry Tornek 
recently appointed a City 
Council Ad Hoc Search 
Committee to begin the 
process of finding a new city 
manager. The committee 
includes the mayor and 
Councilmembers Margaret 
McAustin, Victor Gordo 
and Tyron Hampton. There 
has been no announcement 
yet for an interim city 
manager.

The city manager is 
charged with supervising, 
coordinating, and 
administering the various 
functions of the City. 
Beck was appointed to the 
position in 2008.

District 1 
Community 
Meeting

 
Pasadena Museum of 
History and Pasadena City 
Council representative Tyron 
Hampton will hold a District 
1 residents and businesses 
“Neighborhood Night and 
Community Meeting” at the 
Museum on Friday, January 
29, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 The free event includes 
remarks and a reception with 
Councilmember Hampton 
and Museum staff, viewing the 
popular exhibition Fabulous 
Fashion – Decades of Change: 
1890s, 1920s, & 1950s, door 
prizes, and Pasadena paper 
doll coloring pages for 
children.

 “The Pasadena Museum 
of History is a jewel in our 
city that we are lucky to have 
within our council district,” 
Hampton said. “I am excited 
about the opportunity to 
have our community come 
together for this event. I look 
forward to seeing everyone in 
their fabulous First District 
fashions on this special night.”

 “We are delighted to welcome 
our District 1 neighbors and 
hope it encourages attendees to 
return often to take advantage 
of PMH’s many resources” 
says PMH Executive Director 
Jeannette O’Malley.

 Fabulous Fashion – Decades 
of Change: 1890s, 1920s, & 
1950s

 From the uncomfortable 
corsets and ornate bodices of 
the 1890s to the deconstructed 
freedom of the 1920s to the 
full skirts and bullet bras of 
the 1950s, fashion trends in 
Pasadena followed the rest of 
the country.

 This exhibition highlights 
women’s clothing worn 
from morning to night, 
comparing these three 
memorable decades. Over 
40 exquisite garments from 
Pasadena Museum of History’s 
extensive Costume and 
Textile Collection, plus period 
accessories and household 
objects, will be featured.

 Pasadena Museum of History 
470 W. Walnut Street. RSVP to 
Cushon Bell/Cheyenne Chong 

Pasadena Cheeseburger 
Challenge Results Released


Earthquake Expert Lucy Jones 
to Speak At Community Forum

 

 Vice Mayor Gene Masuda 
invites the public to hear from 
one of the world’s preeminent 
earthquake scientists, Lucy 
Jones, Ph.D., about earthquake 
preparedness at a Council 
District 4 Community Forum, 
7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 
28, 2016, at the Victory Park 
Community Center, 2575 
Paloma St. Parking is free.

 The theme for the event is “Are 
We Earthquake Ready?”

 Jones is one of the world’s 
leading seismologists and a 
public voice for earthquake 
science and earthquake safety. 
For years, Jones has been the 
“go-to” on-camera expert 
interviewed by the news 
media to explain earthquake 
activity. Among her many 
accomplishments, academic 
degrees, and dozens of 
published research papers, 
Jones also has a doctorate in 
geophysics from MIT.

 She has been a seismologist 
with the U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS) and a Visiting Research 
Associate at the Seismological 
Laboratory of Caltech in 
Pasadena since 1983. She is also 
a science advisor for seismic 
safety to the City of Los Angeles.


Pet of the 
Week

 Pasadena celebrated all 
things cheeseburger during 
Cheeseburger Week the last 
seven days. Visitors enjoyed 
food created especially for 
the event, took advantage 
of great deals and meals, 
followed cheeseburger 
crawls and voted in the 2016 
Cheeseburger Challenge. In 
all, 1246 votes were cast in 
the challenge to determine 
favorites in 14 categories 
ranging from Favorite 
Burger to favorite Dessert 
after a Burger.

 Cheeseburger Challenge 
results include Dog Haus/
Dog Haus Biergarten as 
the favorite place for a 
cheeseburger Umami Burger 
came in second with The 
Counter as third.

 Favorite Lunch Counter 
Burger in the area is The 
Counter, second Pie ‘n 
Burger and third was a tie 
between Clearman’s Galley 
in San Gabriel and Twohey’s 
in Alhambra 

 Favorite Traditional 
Cheeseburger in Pasadena is 
Pie ‘n Burger, second the Dog 
Haus and third The Counter.

 Cheeseburger Week is a 
Pasadena Restaurant Week 
and California Restaurant 
Month event presented by 
the Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce. Cheeseburger 
Week sponsored by the 
City of Pasadena. For a 
complete list of winners, 
or other information, visit 
pasadenarestaurantweek.
com.


Jones

 Jedi (A389928) is a seven-
year-old, male, white and 
brindle American Bulldog 
mix. This friendly and 
gentle boy is truly a breed 
ambassador! He has been 
out on our Mobile Unit, 
and was affectionate and 
sweet to everyone he met, 
including other dogs. He 
enjoyed belly rubs and 
petting from everyone from 
toddlers to seniors. He just 
loves attention and will lean 
into you for Jedi qualifies 
for our Seniors for Seniors 
program which waives the 
adoption fee for adopters 
age 60 and up. The $20 
mandatory microchip fee 
still applies. Come say hello 
to Jedi and make a forever 
friend!

 The regular dog adoption 
fee is $125 which includes 
the spay or neuter surgery, 
microchip, vaccinations, 
and a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 

New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to care 
for your pet. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA 
at 626.792.7151 or visit at 
361 S. Raymond Ave. in 
Pasadena. Adoption hours 
are 11-4 Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday 
–Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.

Events at the Senior Center

 

 There is something for 
everyone in January at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. 
Holly St. All events listed are 
free.

 You do not have to be a 
member to attend. Some events 
require advance reservations as 
noted.

 Stay Connected with 
Social Media – Tuesdays and 
Thursdays to Jan. 28, from 9 
to 11 a.m. Learn how to keep in 
touch with family and friends 
via email, Skype, Facebook 
and other forms of social 
media during a 30-minute, 
one-on-one meeting with an 
instructor. You’ll choose which 
applications you want to learn. 
Bring a laptop or use one of the 
onsite computers. Sign up with 
Edison at the Welcome Desk.

 Smart Phones, Tablets and 
Computers – Any Questions? 
– Tuesdays and Thursdays to 
Jan. 28, from 10 to 11 a.m. Get 
the answers you need about 
technology devices, whether 
you own them already or are 
considering a purchase. Learn 
how to text, check voicemail, set 
an alarm, navigate the Internet, 
download apps and more.

 Friday Movie Matinees – 
Fridays,1 p.m. Jan. 29: The Kid 
(1921, NR) starring Charlie 
Chaplin and Jackie Coogan. In 
Chaplain’s first feature-length 
comic masterpiece, a poor, 
good-hearted loner finds a 
kidnapped baby and “adopts” 
him as his own.

 Monday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. 
Titanic expert and local author 
Bill Blowers will discuss the 
famed ship, its builders and her 
first and only voyage. Drawing 
on more than two decades 
he has spent researching the 
most famous maritime disaster 
in history, Blowers will take 
participants back in history 
and explain the story behind 
his novel Dangerous Betrayal – 
The Vendetta That Sank Titanic. 
Books will be available for 
purchase and signing. A scale 
model of the ship will be on 
display.

 Heritage and Legacy 
Planning – Thursday, Jan. 
28, at 10 a.m. What are senior 
dwelling benefits? What steps 
should be taken at the time of 
passing? What is a parent-child 
transfer exclusion? These and 
other topics will be explored 
during this one-hour session 
presented by the Los Angeles 
County Assessor’s Office and 
Forest Lawn.

 Cardmaking Workshop – 
Monday, Feb. 1, from noon to 2 
p.m. Surprise a special someone 
with a personalized, handmade 
greeting card. Whether it’s a 
happy birthday, happy holidays, 
thank you, thinking of you or 
other sentiment, you’ll create 
a decorative card in your own 
unique style and have fun 
discovering your creativity 
while workshop leaders help 
you bring your ideas to life. All 
materials will be provided. 

 Founded in 1960, the 
Pasadena Senior Center is 
an independent nonprofit 
agency that offers recreational, 
educational, wellness and social 
services to people ages 50 and 
older.

Crime blotter for Altadena

Sunday, January 10th

6:09 AM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred at 740 W. Woodbury 
Road. Suspects entered the 
vehicle by using a lock pick. 
Suspect #1 described as a 
male, 38 – 40 years old, thin 
build, unshaven, wearing a 
black beanie and dark clothing. 
Suspect #2 was observed 
wearing a green or grey 
hooded sweatshirt. Property 
Stolen: unknown. On-going 
investigation.

8:00 PM – Shyjuan Prudhomme, 
20 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the 500 block of W. 
Terrace Street for battery on a 
peace officer.

9:30 PM – An assault with a 
deadly weapon (hands/feet) 
occurred in the 100 block of 
W. Woodbury Road. Suspect 
described as a male, (no further 
details).

Monday, January 11th

8:00 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 
2800 block of Maiden Lane. 
Suspect(s) entered the residence 
via unknown means. Property 
Stolen: burgundy jewelry tray 
containing miscellaneous 
jewelry. On-going investigation.

Tuesday, January 12th

2:30 PM – Issac Brooks, 20 years 
old of Pasadena was arrested in 
the area of Montana Street and 
Raymond Avenue for felon in 
possession of a firearm.

Wednesday, January 13th

1:24 AM – Porfirio Guerrero, 
24 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the 400 block of 
Alameda Street for possession 
of a controlled substance.

10:00 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 700 
block of E. Sacramento Street. 
Suspect entered the residence 
by shattering a window. Suspect 
possibly a previous tenant. On-
going investigation.

4:15 PM – Allan Nixon, 26 years 
old of Altadena was arrested 
in the area of Mountain View 
Street and Olive Avenue for 
possession of marijuana for 
sale.

Thursday, January 14th

1:45 AM – A petty theft 
occurred in the 100 block of 
Pine Street. Property Stolen: 
surveillance camera.

Friday, January 15th

8:00 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 2400 
block of Fair Oaks Avenue. 
Suspects entered the residence 
through the unlocked garage. 
Property Stolen: (2) mantel 
clocks, (2) table lamps.

3:01 PM – Fabian Friese, 31 
years old of Pasadena was 
cited at Walmart, 2408 Lincoln 
Avenue for petty theft.

7:20 PM – Joshua Jacob, 31 years 
old of La Crescenta was arrested 
in the area of Washington 
Boulevard and Mentor Avenue 
for felon in possession of a 
firearm.

Saturday, January 16th

2:06 PM – A petty theft occurred 
at Walmart, 2408 Lincoln 
Avenue. Suspect described as a 
female, 5’05, 160 lbs. Property 
Stolen: hair products.

African 
American 
Firefighters in 
Los Angeles

 In celebration of Black 
History Month, David Spence, 
LAFD Battalion Chief and 
Interim President of the 
African American Firefighter 
Museum, will present a 
program about the history of 
African American firefighters 
in the Los Angeles area. The 
talk will take place February 
9, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the 
Pasadena Museum of History. 
Chief Spence will take 
attendees back to the late 
1800s and cover the days when 
fire stations were segregated 
through their transformation 
into the desegregated fire 
departments of today. Cost: 
$20 General; $15 Museum 
Members. to purchase tickets 
go to firefighter.bpt.me

Pasadena Museum of History 
470 W. Walnut Street.

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