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Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 7, 2019
BREEDERS’ CUP RETURNS TO SANTA ANITA
DEL MAR ENDS GREAT MEET
By Joan Schmidt
So much news! Del Mar’s 36 Day Meet ended with no fatalities. Flavien Pratt was top jockey with 42 wins; Drayden Van
Dyke, 32; Abel Cedillo, 25; Joe Talamo, 23; Ruben Fuentes, 22; Rafael Bejarano, 19; Victor Espinosa, 16; and Apprentice Jorge
Velez, 14.
During this Meet, there were several exciting Stakes Races. Flavien won on Encoder, Square Deal, and my favorite,
Vasilika; Drayden won on Bast. Victor won the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes. Exactly one year ago, he broke his neck, and
was almost paralyzed during training. Victor’s determination and hard rehab enabled his return. Many thought he’d retire, but
Victor is not a quitter and still donates a percentage of his earnings to the City of Hope Pediatric Cancer Research.
During the Meet, Johnny Velazquez and Joel Rosario came from back East and won some important races. We were
happy to see Norberto Arroyo win on Nucky in the Del Mar Futurity on closing day. Congrats to trainer, Peter Miller.
Friday, September 6, begins the Fairplex Thoroughbred Meet at Los Alamitos. Races begin at 1pm, Fridays-Sundays;
closing day, September 22. Then Santa Anita opens Friday, September 27 –Sunday, November 3. Please visit www.santaanita.
com
The Breeders’ Cup returns to Santa Anita, Friday, Nov. 1 and Sat. Nov. 2! Can you believe General Admission tickets are
being offered for both days, November 1 and 2? You can go online in advance: Friday is $15; Saturday, $25. You do not receive
a ticket for a seat, but have accessibility to the Infield and Apron. It’s going to be an exciting series, with top jockeys and horses
from not only the United States, but the whole world! Please visit www.breederscup.com/tickets. Also there are still some very
good seats available in addition to the General Admission Tickets.
The Breeders’ Cup features 14 Championship Races worth $30 million in purses and awards. Its return to Santa Anita
is a record 10th time. In addition to the races, Clockers Corners is open in the AM for a fabulous breakfast and see some horses
work out! See you there.
From The Monrovia City Manager
ARCADIA’S EXPERIENCE PORTENDS A SIGNIFICANT
FUTURE ISSUE WITH PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY,
AS COST INCREASES OF NEARLY 600% ARE BEING
PUSHED ONTO CONTRACTING AGENCIES!
Just a quick FYI on an animal control topic currently brewing
… there is a lot of angst in the San Gabriel Valley regarding
the way in which the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) is approaching
their planned implementation of significant rate increases
for animal control services. Currently, Monrovia isn’t
impacted by the possible changes, as our existing contract with
PHS locks in our existing cost structure (~$120k / year) for
the next two years through 2021. However, we should begin
thinking about how to address this issue now, especially given
the experience that other jurisdictions have been subject to.
The latest example of the issues associated with working with
PHS comes from Arcadia. My understanding is that Arcadia
has had two meetings with PHS which were both contentious,
and in both instances, PHS had trouble addressing very basic
questions related to significant planned cost increases.
How significant, you ask?
Well… how about a 578% cost increase?
It appears that Arcadia has historically been paying around
$90k / year to PHS for animal control services. Without any
detailed explanation, PHS is now telling Arcadia that the exact
same service level will now cost around $525k / year!
From $90k / year to $525k / year! In one year!
PHS has been rolling this new cost structure out to other contracting
agencies in the SGV, and La Canada and Bradbury
were the first two cities to address this issue with PHS during
the past few months. Those jurisdictions, like Arcadia, reported
that the PHS has been employing a negotiating approach
that is short on details regarding why costs are increasing so
dramatically.
All of this points to a need to begin looking at alternate options.
Unfortunately, when it comes to animal control, there
are not many other service providers to contract with (LA
County is basically the only other option available), and given
that factor, a number of cities are now talking about meeting to
discuss possible response options, including a separate regional
animal control JPA. With the cost structure being proposed
by PHS, it could likely make financial sense to move in that
direction, and there are currently staff level conversations being
planned with several cities, including Arcadia, La Canada,
Bradbury, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, Pasadena,
and Monrovia.
We will be certain to keep everyone apprised of our efforts
moving ahead!
SEPTEMBER IS PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY MONTH
September is Pedestrian Safety Month and California continues
to see more and more pedestrians getting injured or
killed on roads. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed and
more than 14,000 injured in California alone. A report
(external GHSA PDF link) released earlier this year by the
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projected
that more than 6,200 pedestrians were killed in the United
States last year, the highest number since 1990.
Despite advancements in vehicle technology that increase
the chance of survival for drivers and passengers in crashes,
pedestrians face the same amount of risk of getting seriously
injured or killed when struck by a vehicle.
Steps drivers and pedestrians can take to keep everyone
safe:
For Pedestrians
Look left-right-left before crossing the street. Watch for cars
turning and obey traffic signals.
Only cross the street in marked crosswalks, preferably
crosswalks at stop signs or signals.
Avoid distractions. Stay off the phone while walking.
Make eye contact with drivers. Don’t assume drivers can see
you.
Be seen. Wear bright clothing during the day and use a
flashlight at night.
Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk
on the shoulder, facing traffic and as far away from cars as
possible.
Do not walk near traffic after drinking or using drugs that
affect judgment and coordination.
For Drivers
Follow the speed limit. The higher the speed, the longer it
takes to stop.
Never drive distracted or under the influence of alcohol
and/or drugs.
Look out for people walking, especially at night and in
poorly lit areas.
Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks even if they
are not at a stop sign or signal. Prepare to stop when a pedestrian
enters a crosswalk.
Avoid blocking the
crosswalk when attempting
to make a
right-hand turn.
Be careful backing
up and leaving
parking spaces in
shopping centers
with heavy foot
traffic.
CALIFORNIA VETERANS WILL NO
LONGER NEED TO PAY ADOPTION
FEES AT ANIMAL SHELTERS
SACRAMENTO, CA - Following strong bipartisan support,
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 245, authored by Senator
Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar), which calls on animal
shelters throughout the state to waive pet adoption fees for
military veterans. California is home to two million military
veterans, including many who struggle to cope with Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a companion animal
could be beneficial with their recovery efforts.
"This is a big win for veterans and shelter animals," said Senator
Chang. "As the saying goes, a dog is a 'man's best friend.'
When I'm home my four-legged companions are a part of my
family. Buster and Pepper bring me joy and laughter and I
benefit from the positive effects of their companionship. Our
brave heroes deserve the same happiness, and I'm glad we
can reduce the barriers for bringing together veterans seeking
companion animals and pets in need of a home."
Under SB 245, the process for confirming an eligible veteran
by a shelter would be streamlined by using the state's existing
"VETERAN" driver's license designation. This law is effective
January 1, 2020.
Since Senator Chang's tenure, she has advocated on behalf of
veterans and shelter animals with other legislation that are on
their way to the governor's desk for his signature. She co-authored
Assembly Bill 427 which would exempt military retirement
pay from state income tax for veterans who are residents
in California, and introduced Senate Bill 64 which would require
a microchip be implanted in all dogs and cats at an animal
shelter before they are released.
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
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