Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 1, 2016

5


Mountain View News Saturday, October 1, 2016


City Backpedals on 
Internet Services Tax

Local Area 
News Briefs

 

 The 34 finalists for the 2017 
Tournament of Roses Royal 
Court were named Wednesday 
at the Tournament House. The 
Tournament’s Queen and Court 
Committee made its selections 
based on a number of criteria 
including poise, speaking 
ability, academic achievement, 
and community and school 
involvement.

 Top row, from left: Natalie 
Rose Petrosian, La Cañada 
High School; Elyse Juliann 
Reed, La Cañada High School; 
Dominique Noelle Pittman, 
Flintridge Sacred Heart 
Academy; Audrey Mariam 
Cameron, Blair High School; 
Tiffany Claire Echols, Pasadena 
City College. Maya Kawaguchi 
Khan, Arcadia High School.

 Fourth row, from left: Kamela 
Elyse Stewart, Flintridge Sacred 
Heart Academy; Stephanie 
Shih, Temple City High School; 
Sophia Guadalupe Lopez, South 
Pasadena High School; Somer 
Nicole Tiffani Isaac, Maranatha 
High School; Victoria Cecilia 
Castellanos, Temple City High 
School; Grace Osher Van de 
Voorde, Flintridge Sacred Heart 
Academy; Anisa Keyur Patel, La 
Cañada High School.

 Third row, from left: Dineen 
Elise Tamayo, Pasadena City 
College; Anne Marien Bishop, 
Maranatha High School; 
Shannon Tracy Larsuel, Mayfield 
Senior School; Lauren Emiko 
Powers, Arcadia High School; 
Alyssa Hadlyn Chan-Evangelista, 
Arcadia High School; Noni 
Sakile Davis, Polytechnic School; 
Mikayla Jyvonne Nicholas 
O’Reggio, Mayfield Senior 
School; Moondera Nodeja Rabb, 
Alverno High School.

 Second row, from left: Natalie 
Marye Buntich, Flintridge 
Sacred Heart Academy;Elena 
Lizette Flores, John Marshall 
Fundamental High School; 
Caitlin Ann Mispagel, La 
Cañada High School; Alexandra 
Ann Tighe, Flintridge Sacred 
Heart Academy; Raquel Ann 
Ruiz, La Salle High School; 
Kin Mirley Spencer, Maranatha 
High School; Autumn Marie 
Lundy, Polytechnic School.

 First row, from left: Mariah 
LeighAnn Benn, John Marshall 
Fundamental High School; 
Mishtii Rajmohan Murari, 
Flintridge Preparatory School; 
Kennedy Diana Callaway, 
John Marshall Fundamental 
High School; Sophia Olivia 
Calabretta, Arcadia High 
School; Marissa Rose Mendez, 
Arcadia High School; Lauryn 
Camille Miller, John Muir High 
School.

 Royal Court Announcement 
will take place October 4, 9:00 
a.m. at the Tournament House

 Rose Queen Announcement 
and Coronation Ceremony will 
be October 20, 6:45p.m. at the 
Pasadena Playhouse.

 Photo D. Lee/MVNews.

Royal Court 
Search 
Narrows

 Woman Attacked 
with a Machete

By Dean Lee 

 In a memo to the city council 
last week, as part of the City 
Manager’s Weekly newsletter, 
Finance Director Matthew 
Hawkes wrote that a ballot 
measure, approved by voters in 
2008, to raise the Utility User 
Tax (UUT) could now be used 
to also tax internet services 
such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go 
and other services like online 
video gaming and Sling TV.

 Since the memo surfaced, both 
Pasadena Public Information 
Officer William Boyer and City 
Manager Steve Mermell have 
said the information was sent 
out prematurely and that the 
city was reviewing the mater. 

 Mermell told the city council 
Monday night that he would 
return to them with a detailed 
explanation. 

 Mermell made the comments 
after some of the council 
member said they unaware of 
the situation.

 According to Hawkes’ 
memo, the UUT ordinance 
was amended to allow for the 
Tax Administrator to issue 
“administrative rulings” to 
collect taxes without needing 
the council or voter approval. 

 If the city were to move 
forward, streaming services 
would be taxed 9.4 percent 
starting Jan. 1. At press time it 
was unclear how city officials 
would determine who is using 
the services within Pasadena, 
either by, the billing address or 
through the Uniform Resource 
Locator (an individual internet 
address).

 “When the city sought voter 
approval of an updated UUT 
ordinance in 2008, the ballot 
measure specifically indicated 
that new definitions of taxable 
services would be technology-
neutral so that users of such 
utility services would be 
treated the same, regardless of 
technology,” the memo states.

 The memo also makes note 
of audio streaming services, 
(Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music 
etc.). 

 Other cities in California, with 
similar UUT ordinances such as 
Glendale and San Bernardino, 
are also looking to collect the 
tax, according to city staff.

 On Dec. 3, 2007, the city 
council approved unanimously 
an amendment to the UUT, 
“confirming the legislative 
intent that the tax on charges 
for telephone communications 
not apply to charges for internet 
access.” The council, at the 
time, took up the issue after 
numerous residents complained 
of an internet tax, and the city’s 
fear that Measure D, might 
have failed.

 Altadena Deputies responded 
to the 1500 block of East 
Altadena Drive, in Altadena 
Wednesday regarding a family 
disturbance. They contacted 
the victim who advised them 
the suspect who also resides 
at the location, had assaulted 
her utilizing a machete. The 
suspect then immediately fled 
the location in an unknown 
direction driving a sedan-type 
vehicle. 

 The victim was bleeding 
profusely and was transported 
to a local hospital, where she 
was treated for a laceration 
to the head. The victim’s 
injuries appear to be non-life 
threatening.

 Police said the suspect has 
been identified however; his 
name was not being released 
based upon this being an on-
going investigation.

 This case was presented to the 
Los Angeles County District 
Attorney’s Office.

Firefighters 
Kick-Off Go 
Pink Month

 Kidnapping Suspect 
arrested following 
police pursuit

 Join Pasadena firefighters 
and the community for a lap 
around the Bowl Sunday to 
kick-off Firefighters Go Pink 
month when personnel will 
wear t-shirts to raise awareness 
of breast cancer and cancer 
research.

 Shirts will also be sold to 
the public and all monies 
raised will be donated to 
the Huntington Hospital 
Breast Cancer Center, which 
provides supportive groups 
and treatment from diagnosis 
to recovery.

 The event will start at 9:00 
a.m. with a warm-up with 
Basecamp Fitness at the Rose 
Bowl Stadium – in front of 
neon sign. Health and Fitness 
Fair at Brookside Park will 
immediately follow the lap.

 Pasadena firefighters respond 
to over 14,000 medical 
incidents last year and often 
provide services to members 
of the community with cancer. 
Taking part in this effort 
gives the Department an 
opportunity to help promote 
awareness,

 According to Pasadena police, 
officers observed an individual 
wanted by San Bernadino 
County Sheriffs for armed 
kidnapping driving a vehicle 
in the area of Rosemont and 
Walnut Street at approximately 
12:30 p.m. Thursday. When 
officers attempted a traffic stop, 
the suspect failed to stop. The 
suspect drove to a residence in 
the area of Manzanita Avenue 
and Orange Grove Blvd. where 
a brief police containment 
was established. The suspect 
ultimately surrendered to 
officers without incident. Suspect 
name to be withheld pending 
dialog with San Bernadino law 
enforcement agency.

Metro Board Approves 
Security Enhancements


Metro 
Expands 
Student Fare 
Program

 

 Now in its second year, The 
Universal College Student Fare 
Program allows students to 
sign up for heavily discounted 
Metro passes at the same time 
they register for classes. Those 
who sign up for a pass receive 
a sticker with an electronic chip 
that allows students to use their 
student ID as a TAP card to 
board buses and trains.

 “We all know how expensive 
college can be and with this 
program we hope to provide 
students who are strapped for 
cash a reduced transit option 
to get them where they need 
to go on Metro’s growing 
transportation system, “ 
said Metro CEO Phillip A. 
Washington. “This program 
clearly improves the quality 
of life for thousands of college 
students.”

 In order to expand the program 
to more students, the number of 
units required to participate has 
been reduced from 12 units to 
eight per quarter or semester, 
allowing part-time students to 
buy a U-Pass for the first time.

 The Los Angeles Community 
College District (LACCD), 
California State Universities 
(CSU), University of California 
(UC), private universities and 
vocational colleges are eligible 
for the program including the 
CalTech and Pasadena City 
College.

 

 The Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation 
Authority (Metro) Board of 
Directors, last week, approved 
a contract to nearly double the 
amount of contract security 
officers to deter crime and 
disorder on the bus and rail 
system including the Gold Line 
in Pasadena. 

 Officials said the move is part 
of a strategy on enhancing 
security and rider experience 
on the transit system.

 Metro’s security staffing plan is 
multi-layered and comprised of 
Metro security officers, private 
sector security officers and 
state certified law enforcement 
professionals.

 “In the last 26 years, Metro 
has added 105 miles of rail, 
more than 100 rail stations and 
numerous transit centers,” said 
Metro Board Chair John Fasana. 
“This is action to enhance 
security is a critical step in 
ensuring our passengers have a 
safe and secure experience.”

 “Safety and security of our 
customers and our employees 
is Metro’s number one priority,” 
said Metro CEO Phillip A. 
Washington. “This is part of 
our overall strategic plan to 
maximize our visibility and 
resources across our system.”

 Under the proposal approved, 
additional staff will be assigned 
to key hubs, rail stations and 
parking facilities in addition 
to safeguarding critical 
infrastructure. The high-
visibility presence augments 
video surveillance and, in some 
cases, will patrol 24 hours, 
seven days a week.

 “Our security officers serve 
as the eyes and ears for law 
enforcement, patrol key areas, 
and notify law enforcement 
when required,” said Metro 
Chief Systems, Security and 
Law Enforcement Officer Alex 
Wiggins. “Security officers 
complement the vital role 
of law enforcement, but do 
not replace it and this action 
follows through with the CEO’s 
directive to enhance security 
through new enforcement 
presence system wide.”

 Wiggins reported that 
additional security is necessary 
to support ridership growth, 
improve rider retention, 
improve perception of safety 
by riders and employees, and 
provide additional resources to 
first responders.

 The contract award 
of nearly $82 million to 
RMI International, Inc. 
will be effective October 
1 through September 30, 
2017.

Pet of the 
Week


Inaugural 
Fuller Writer’s 
Workshop

 The Frederick Buechner 
Center and Fuller Theological 
Seminary announce Tuesday 
the inaugural Frederick 
Buechner Writer’s Workshop 
at Fuller Seminary. Slated for 
this time next year, best-selling 
authors Rachel Held Evans and 
John Ortberg will headline 
the event. Registration 
information is forthcoming 
and will be available on the 
Fuller Seminary website they 
said.

 “This event is designed to 
appeal to writers who, like 
Buechner, think honestly 
about their Christian faith 
and are not afraid of where 
that thinking will take them,” 
said Brian Allain, Director 
of the Frederick Buechner 
Center. “We are honored to 
have Rachel and John as our 
featured speakers for the 
event.”

 Rachel Held Evans is a New 
York Times best-selling author 
whose books include Faith 
Unraveled, A Year of Biblical 
Womanhood, and Searching 
for Sunday. 

 John Ortberg is the senior 
pastor at Menlo Church in 
Menlo Park, California. 

 “Frederick Buechner’s 
writings have been a beacon 
of integration of faith, poetry, 
and prose as a distinct voice 
in the American letters. We 
are honored and excited to 
partner with the Frederick 
Buechner Center to launch 
this new initiative,” said Mako 
Fujimura, world-renowned 
painter, author, and director of 
the Brehm Center for Worship, 
Theology, and the Arts.

 “We’re assembling a fantastic 
faculty lineup that will 
include notable published 
authors, editors who acquire 
manuscripts for their 
companies, and literary agents. 

 For more information 
about the writer’s workshop, 
contact Brian Allain at 
info@frederickbuechner.
com, or Victoria Smith at 
victoriasmith@fuller.edu.

Free Events Roundup at the 
Pasadena Senior Center

 Donald (A405784) is a 
medium-sized, male, red 
guinea pig with an adorable 
white cowlick on the top of 
his head. This curious fellow 
enjoys exploring his kennel 
and nudging toys with his 
nose. He likes to be pet 
and loves to be held. Once 
he settles comfortably on 
your lap, he begins cooing 
to indicate his happiness. 
Since guinea pigs are from 
the Cavy family and can’t 
produce their own Vitamin 
C, Donald’s adopter 
should make sure to feed 
him plenty of leafy green 
veggies, fruits and timothy 
hay. If you’re looking for a 
playful, friendly addition to 
your family, Donald might 
just be the perfect fit!

 The adoption fee for guinea 
pigs is $10. 

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

 Call the Pasadena Humane 
Society & SPCA at (626) 
792-7151 to ask about 
A405784, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. Tuesday through 
Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Saturday.

 Pets may not be available 
for adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
by phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of 
all pets can be found at 
pasadenahumane.org.

 There is something for everyone 
at the Pasadena Senior Center, 
85 E. Holly St. You do not 
have to be a member to attend. 
Some events require advance 
reservations. 

 Citizenship Classes – 
Wednesdays, Sept. 21 to Nov. 9, 
from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Make your 
dreams come true by attending 
this eight-week session to 
become a U.S. citizen! The first 
four weeks will cover some of 
the American history and U.S. 
government questions on the 
citizenship exam, along with 
discussions about the rights and 
responsibilities of citizenship. 
The four remaining classes 
will cover more questions on 
the exam as well as strategies 
for completing the application 
for citizenship and having a 
successful interview.

 Cardmaking Workshop – 
Monday, Oct. 3, from noon to 2 
p.m. Surprise a special someone 
with a personalized, handmade 
greeting card. Whether it’s 
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.

 Sample Classes for Fall – 
Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 3 
and 4, from 9 a.m. to noon. As 
the registration period for fall 
classes approaches, anyone can 
sit in on mini versions of more 
than 20 of the most popular 
classes from arts and computers 
to foreign languages and Zumba 
Gold, meet the instructors and 
learn more about the courses.

 Memory Loss Education 
Series – Tuesdays, Oct. 4 to 
25, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 
Learn what can be done to help 
yourself and those you love deal 
with memory loss during a four-
part series on brain health. Oct. 
4: Memory Loss and Aging. 
Reservations are required; call 
626-685-6730.

 Smart Phones, Tablets and 
Computers – Any Questions? 
– Tuesdays and Thursdays, 
Oct. 4 to 27, from 10 to 11 
a.m. Get the answers you need 
about technology devices, 
whether you own them already 
or are considering a purchase. 
Learning how to text, check 
voicemail, set an alarm, navigate 
the Internet and download apps 
is easier than you may think!

 Psychological and Social 
Recovery from Stroke – 
Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. 
Stroke is emotionally and 
socially traumatic. Most pain 
after stroke is felt as physical 
and social distress. Learn how 
survivors who participate in 
outpatient support groups that 
address psychological and social 
effects of stroke make more 
progress in physical recovery, 
have fewer subsequent strokes 
and a better quality of life than 
those who do not. Presented by 
Stroke Association of Southern 
California.

 Friday Movie Matinees – at 
1 p.m. Oct. 7: “Porgy and Bess” 
(1959, NR) starring Sidney 
Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge. 
In 1912 in a South Carolina 
tenement, a disabled man 
overlooks the past of a woman 
trying to break free from her 
brutish lover. 

 The Pasadena Senior Center 
is an independent, nonprofit that 
offers recreational, educational, 
wellness and social services to 
people ages 50 and older.

Crime Blotter for Altadena

Sunday, September 11th

3:47 AM – A petty theft from an 
unlocked vehicle occurred in the 
1700 block of N. Craig Avenue. 
Suspect described as a male, 
between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 
feet, 160 -175 pounds wearing 
a white t-shirt, shorts and 
white knee high socks. Stolen: 
currency.

Monday, September 12th

12:00 PM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 2300 block of 
Pinecrest Drive. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by shattering 
the driver’s side window. Stolen: 
purse, sunglasses, credit cards, 
iPhone 6, cosmetic bag and 
currency.

Tuesday, September 13th

12:34 AM – A residential 
burglary occurred in the 1100 
block of E. Mariposa Street. 
Suspect(s) entered the garage 
via the unsecured door. Stolen: 
black bicycle, blue bicycle, and a 
green bicycle.

10:00 AM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 2100 block of 
N. Lincoln Avenue. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by shattering 
the front passenger window. 
Stolen: black purse, purple 
wallet, driver’s license and 
currency.

5:55 PM – An assault with a 
deadly weapon occurred in the 
80 block of E. Calaveras Street. 
Suspect(s) in a minivan pulled 
up to a driveway and fired 
several gunshots at a parked 
vehicle. Suspect vehicle last seen 
eastbound on Calaveras Street. 
No injuries report.

Wednesday, September 14th

10:19 AM – Roland Shaghoolian, 
39 years old of Pasadena was 
arrested in the 2400 block of 
Washington Boulevard for 
possession of stolen mail.

11:00 AM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 2200 block of 
Pinecrest Drive. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle by shattering 
the front passenger window. 
Stolen: black Michael Kors 
wallet, Beats headphones, credit 
cards and currency. 

Thursday, September 15th

No significant incidents. 

Friday, September 16th

8:00 AM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the 1900 block of 
E. Pinecrest Drive. Suspect(s) 
entered the vehicle shattering 
the front passenger window. 
Stolen: black briefcase.

Saturday, September 17th

12:00 PM – A vehicle burglary 
occurred in the area of Altadena 
Drive and Roosevelt Avenue. 
Suspect(s) entered the vehicle 
by shattering the driver’s side 
window. Stolen: black Nine 
West purse, credit cards and 
currency.

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