SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2022 VOLUME 16 NO. 4VOLUME 16 NO. 4 
real estate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
We're doing very well for our clients in 
buying and selling homes. 
Call us today for a free home assessment 
with no obligations. 
THE 
WEBB-MARTIN GROUP 
Our team consistently sold our 
listings in less time for over asking 
with multiple offers on all. 
In the 4th quarter alone, prices 
went up by 25% partially due to 
less homes to sell. 
This is NOT over. 
If you have a home to sell, let us 
help you. 
HERE IS SOME GOOD 
NEWS ABOUT 2021 
2020 2021 
Total # Sold: 111 138 
Average Sold Price: $1,166,319 $1,392,451 
Average Sq. Ft. 2,027 2,026 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $624 $726 
2020 2021 
Total # Sold: 16 21 
Average Sold Price: $730,275 $746,329 
Average Sq. Ft. 1,538 1,466 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $481 $521 
Single-Family Homes 
Condo/Townhomes 
Was last year really better 
than the year before? 
SIERRA MADRE REAL ESTATE TRENDS 
SIERRA MADRE POLICE ARREST A TRIO 
FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS, A SAWED 
OFF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND 
BURGLARY TOOLS 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2022 VOLUME 16 NO. 4VOLUME 16 NO. 4 
real estate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
We're doing very well for our clients in 
buying and selling homes. 
Call us today for a free home assessment 
with no obligations. 
THE 
WEBB-MARTIN GROUP 
Our team consistently sold our 
listings in less time for over asking 
with multiple offers on all. 
In the 4th quarter alone, prices 
went up by 25% partially due to 
less homes to sell. 
This is NOT over. 
If you have a home to sell, let us 
help you. 
HERE IS SOME GOOD 
NEWS ABOUT 2021 
2020 2021 
Total # Sold: 111 138 
Average Sold Price: $1,166,319 $1,392,451 
Average Sq. Ft. 2,027 2,026 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $624 $726 
2020 2021 
Total # Sold: 16 21 
Average Sold Price: $730,275 $746,329 
Average Sq. Ft. 1,538 1,466 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $481 $521 
Single-Family Homes 
Condo/Townhomes 
Was last year really better 
than the year before? 
SIERRA MADRE REAL ESTATE TRENDS 
SIERRA MADRE POLICE ARREST A TRIO 
FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS, A SAWED 
OFF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND 
BURGLARY TOOLS 
THE MEADOWS AT BAILEY 
CANYON ENVIRONMENTAL 
IMPACT REPORT SUBMITTED 

On January 17, 2022, officers from the Sierra Madre Police Department 
made a routine traffic stop for a vehicle code violation only to 
find the driver and passengers in possession of drugs, a sawed off 
catalytic converter and power tools commonly used in converter 
thefts. Arrested were Jorge Ballesteros, 41 from Los Angeles, Nathanael 
Reyes 26, from El Monte, and Mayra Medrano 33, from 
Los Angeles for possession of the illegal items. All three, according 
to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Deparments records, have had 
multiple arrests between 2019 and 2022. In fact, Ballestros was 
sentenced in January, 2020 to four years in State Prison. His record 
indicates that he is on probation and with this arrest is currently on 
a no bail status. Mayra Medrano also has multiple arrests including 
one as recent as December 29, 2021. Bail was not set at press 
time for Medrano and Reyes. 

The theft of catalytic converters have increased by 400% between 
2019 and 2020. Such thefts have also been reported in Sierra Madre. 
At press time, information was not available as to whether or not 
the stolen converter was taken from a Sierra Madre resident. 


Speaking of Catalytic Converters Why Are They Being Stolen? 

Catalytic converters are an essential part vehicles, designed to reduce 
the pollutants and toxic gas your emissions system produces. It uses precious 
metals like platinum, rhodium, and palladium to complete this process. 
People have been stealing catalytic converters to sell these metals 
for scraps. Thieves can fetch as much as $700 or more per converter from 
unscrupulous scrap yards.
It takes just a few minutes for a thief to saw the catalytic converter out of 
your car and leave you with thousands of dollars in damage. 

How will you know if your converter has been stolen? 

NOISE! 
The first sign of a stolen catalytic converter is incredibly loud vehicle noises. 
You will find that when driving without your catalytic converter, it will 
sound like your vehicle is roaring—especially when starting or giving it 
gas. 

ROUGH DRIVING AND ACCELERATION 
As your exhaust goes unregulated, your vehicle will drive more roughly. 
Your engine usually forces your exhaust through your catalytic converter. 
Without this component in place, this forceful exhaust push will lead to 
jarring, uneven acceleration. 

HARMFUL CAR EMISSIONS 
Without this component, your vehicle will no longer be filtering and reducing 
harmful emissions, including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and 
carbon monoxide. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it can 
also lead to harmfully poor air quality. When you park in your garage, for 
example, these toxic pollutants can find their way into your home. 

ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION FAILURE 
And it is guarantee that without that converter, you will not pass the California 
Vehicle inspection required to register your car. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

According to the SMPD, after-market components such as a CAT Clamp 
and Cat Security device, canbe purchase to make the catalytic converters 
difficult to steal. As a precaution, should you have your vehicle identification 
number (VIN) etched on the converter it will help in the apprehension 
of those who steal and/or market your property. 

The Sierra Madre Police Dept. wants to remind residents to park 
their vehicles in a garage, or in well-lit areas. Residents are also 
asked to watch for double-parked vehicles. 

REMEMBER: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! 

The much anticipated 'Final' Environmental 
Impact Report has been 
submitted and posted on the city's 
website. The document, which 
must be approved by both the Sierra 
Madre Planning Commission 
and City Council appears to move 
the project a step closer to its goal 
of building 42 new homes on North 
Sunnyside.

 The report has raised the ire of 
opponents of the project with allegations 
that the city was not 
transparent and did not adhere to 
the previously announced timeline 
given the public. Announcement 
of receipt of the 'final' EIR was 
posted on social media. The complete 
document is available on the 
city's website.

 City Manager Jose Reynoso in 
a telephonic interview after the 
document was made public, indicated 
that there would indeed 
be multiple opportunities for the 
public to comment on the report 
prior to review by Planning and the 
Council. Reynoso confirmed that 
the city's commitment to transparency 
had not changed. In fact he 
noted that a letter announcing the 
report was sent to every household 
in Sierra Madre despite the stated 
legal requirement that the city only 
notify households within 300 feet 
of the project. Reynoso felt that 
by sending the letter to the entire 

town, all residents would benefit 
from knowing what the status of 
the project was and the content of 
the EIR.

 However, members of the two 
most vocal groups against the project, 
Preserve Sierra Madre and 
the Stop The Monastery group are 
skeptical that procedures are beingfollowed and promises made by the 
city are being kept. (See related articles/
letter on page 3).

Another bone of contention is 
the recent change in procedures 
that no longer allows communications 
from residents who submit 
comments via email to be read 
aloud at the council meetings. This 
became especially important since 
public access to council meetingshas been suspended for at least 30 
days. According to Mayor Goss, 
that change was made in an effort 
to better manage the council meeting 
length. The submissions however, 
are posted prior to the meeting 
for council members to read. 

The public may also read those 
comments online by going to the 
City's website under Agendas & 
Minutes - Sierra Madre (cityofsierramadre.
com). Public Comments 
can now be reviewed at the 
same location on the website where 
council agendas, minutes and videos 
are posted.

S. Henderson/MVNews 
InSIDE THIS WEEK 
Conversations: 
WHAT IS 
CRYPTO 
CURRENCY? 
Page 14 
Sierra Madre NewsPages 1,3,4 
Pasadena/AltadenaPage 5 
So. Pas./San MarinoPage 6 
Arcadia/Monrovia/
Duarte News 
Page 7 
Around San Gabriel 
Valley 
Peter Dills 
Page 8 
Education & Youth 
Page 9 
Nyerges on Carob 
Page 10 
The Good Life 
Page 12 
OPINION 
Page 13 
LA COUNTY 
HEALTH UPDATE 
Sierra Madre 
Surpasses 1200 
Cases of COVID 
19 Page 8 
LA COUNTY 
HEALTH UPDATE 
Sierra Madre 
Surpasses 1200 
Cases of COVID 
19 Page 8