pA:5, v12.11 — Sierra Madre — Mountain Views News

Sierra Madre

Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, March 17, 2018

MVNews this week: Page A:5

5
Mountain View News Saturday,March 17, 2018
5
Mountain View News Saturday,March 17, 2018
WALKING SIERRA MADRE

CITY OF SIERRA MADRE

DEMANDS: STOP USING
CITY LOGO TO MISLEAD

VOTERS

Sierra Madre, CA –The City of Sierra Madre has put
TeaPac and the two proponents of Measure D on notice
that they must immediately cease and desist the
unauthorized use of the City's logo in their Stop the
UUT campaign literature, or face legal consequences,
including a potential lawsuit. After receiving
telephone calls and emails from confused or angry
residents demanding to know why the City's well-
known and loved wistaria logo was being used in
Measure D campaign materials, the City was forced
to take immediate action to stop the deception.

Use of the City's logo without express written consent
is a violation of the Sierra Madre Municipal
Code and may be enjoined as a public nuisance or
enforced as a misdemeanor. Use of a city logo or seal
in campaign materials in a manner that misleads or
gives a false impression that the campaign materials
are authorized by a public official is also a violation
of state law.

Unlike private committees and initiative proponents,
Sierra Madre is held to a higher standard by
the Fair Political Practices Commission to communicate
only truthful and accurate information to the
community on the impacts of proposed initiatives,
and cannot produce campaign literature. The use
of the City logo to communicate false information

On Thursday,right across the street from Sierra
Madre City Hall stood about a half dozen protestors,
with a very large yellow banner that suggested
that someone was stealing wages. (See picture
below),

The persons associated with the banner were
members of one of the Los Angeles area Carpenter's
Unions and when queried about their grievance, it
was learned that their issue was neither with City
Hall nor the building they were standing in front
of, The Kensington Senior Living Facility. Rather,
according to the spokesperson who did not disclose
his name, the allegations of wage theft were directed
at a sub-contractor on a project in Redondo
Beach. When asked why they were protesting in
Sierra Madre, they indicated that while the Kensington
was not involved in the dispute, one of the
initial deveopers of the Kensington, Billie Shields,
was also involved in the development of the Redondo
Beach project.

A corporate spokesperson for Billy Shields and
The Kensington sent the following statement, " We
are aware of the public awareness activity near our

in campaign literature is deceptive and misleading.
The March 8th TeaPac email, which used the City's
logo, contained several false statements about the
City's fiscal condition.

The Utility User Tax (UUT), which is a 10% local
tax on utilities, produces $2.6 million in revenue
annually, making up 24% of the General Fund, and
pays for Police, Fire, Library and Community Services.
The Fiscal Impact Report which analyzes the
effects of Measure D on Sierra Madre is available
at www.CityofSierraMadre.com, by clicking on the
link titled Fiscal Impact Report on the home page.
This report outlines what is likely to happen to these
services if Measure D is approved and 24% ($2.6M)
of revenue is removed from the City’s General Fund.

Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi, stated "This City Council
has worked hard to keep our police and fire services
here in Sierra Madre while still maintaining
a balanced budget. The UUT is an integral part of
that. I trust our residents, who overwhelmingly
supported the UUT just two years ago, know this
and will not be fooled by false statements from Tea-
Pac. But using our City logo to try to confuse people
about supporting Measure D is beyond the pale
and we have to just say "No."

community and can assure you that the actions and
allegations have nothing to do with The Kensington
Sierra Madre.

The actions and allegations relate to a general contractor
who is responsible for building our project
in Redondo Beach. The general contractor has
hired numerous subcontractors. The actions and
allegations relate to one subcontractor’s previous
work on a non-Kensington project.

We have every confidence in our general contractor.
They have an excellent track record of building
first-class senior housing communities nationally."

It should be noted that during the development,
construction and ongoing management of The
Kensington Sierra Madre, wage disputes have not
been lodged.

The banner, however speaks for itself. Wage Theft
is a crime, but not one being committed in Sierra
Madre at The Kensington.

S. Henderson/MVNews
“Every good citizen adds to the strength of a nation.”
Gordon B. Hinckley

“The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic ofours is that he or she shall be able and willing to pullhis or her own weight.” Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.

S. President
Friday, March 9th, I was invited by Gayle Bluemel,
former Principal and current pianist, to attend theSpotlight Assembly at Sierra Madre ElementarySchool. This year’s Spotlight Assemblies have focusedon Art History and each class in turn has explored andthen presented a specific part of the world timelinethrough Music, Theatre and Dance. Visual Art lessonsare also aligned with each class theme, resultingin some really nifty ten foot tall representationsof Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Romeand Medieval Times. These paper tapestries are sowell done by the various grades involved they couldqualify for showing at the Norton Simon!

Medieval Times was presented by the secondgrade classes of which there are five, ably and superblytaught by Ms. Becky Bickel, Ms. Susan Andres, Ms.
Linda Newhart, Ms. Carolyn Halpern and Mr. StevenMulder. These excellent folk were arrayed in t-shirtssporting a lovely oak tree (I think) and the concepts:
Brilliant – Creative – Strong – True-Hearted printedaround the tree. They also had glittery gold crowns,
which they richly deserved.

Miss Emily Clark, who is the Director andPerforming Arts Specialist for Sierra Madre
Elementary explained that we were about to take ajourney through Medieval Times where we wouldhear how art evolved through illuminated manuscriptsprinted on scrolls of parchment as the printing presshad not yet been invented. As there weren’t a lot ofcareer choices available, one pretty much did whateverone’s mother or father did so people had to fit into onecertain mold and, my goodness, aren’t we glad that’sno longer the case!

The program started with the Pledge of Allegiance,
heartily pronounced, and then a verse or so ofAmerica The Beautiful, with gestures showing usthe amber waves of grain. The 100 second graders,
now occupying risers on the stage, were costumedfor Medieval Times in jester’s hats, crowns, various

doublets and many of the ladies wore long velourdresses with sneakers. The Volunteer Costume
Committee, as usual, outdid themselves with
practically no budget but lots of willing hands.

The music was taken from “Camelot,” “Spamalot,”
and “Pippin,” and, having seen all of these musicals, Ihave to say the second graders did a marvelous job,
kicking off with “Magic To Do,”

“We’ve got magic to do........ Just for you
We’ve got miracle plays to playWe’ve got parts to perform.... Hearts to warmKings and things to take by storm
As we go along our way.”

The King and Queen of Camelot, the Knightsof the Round Table, Ladies in Waiting all danced –
thanks to Lynnanne Hanson-Miller, Dance Specialist

- and sang with joy and enthusiasm, ending with“Find Your Grail” from “Spamalot” and the schoolsong. These little people could not have been moreprofessional and well prepared.
Then, my favorite part of the Spotlight Assemblies,
the giving out of certificates of merit to at least
a hundred students. These awards were, in greatpart, for being good citizens: For participation, forkindness, for helpfulness, for a good attitude, fora great sense of humor. Yes, for great math work,
reading comprehension, but good citizenship, friendsand neighbors, is so important and Sierra MadreElementary is teaching and rewarding exactly that.
The pictures this week are the King and Queenof Camelot and just a few of the kids receivingcertificates of merit. Next month: First Graders and
Medieval Fairy Tales.... stay tuned!

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis
Check out “The Crown” now that we are heading forEaster...
If you’ve ever wondered what happened to that crownof thorns,
“The Crown” is perfect for you!
Star of Wonder the CD is now on TuneCore! Take a
look!
Blog: www.authordeanne.com
Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.com/@
playwrightdd