News
La Mirada City Council Moves Forward With Budget Despite Continuous Lambasting of State Actions
La Mirada~The La Mirada City Council took the first major steps into adopting a new fiscal budget for next year on Tuesday night.
La Mirada and many other area municipalities will be going into the new budget year without the luxury of having income generated from "economic engines" such as community redevelopment agencies.
City officials said that La Mirada's worst financial challenge stems from the State of California actions that have "impacted the City's budget far more than the Great Recession."
"The State's elimination of redevelopment agencies will have far-reaching negative impacts. The State's process for dissolving redevelopment was poorly conceived and executed, and has caused financial chaos and confusion for local governments throughout California," said Kevin Prelgovisk, Assistant City Manager.
But, overall, La Mirada's financial position is better than most area cities, however, without changes to the current law, La Mirada's General Fund could lose nearly $58 million, almost twice the annual operating budget.
"Financial blows of this magnitude will have severe negative impacts on La Mirada's ability to provide services and make critical infrastructure repairs," Prelgovisk said.
Councilman Steve Jones was blunt in his assessment of the new budget challenges from Sacramento.
"The state of California is acting like your addicted uncle who has the keys to your house," Jones quipped.
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Bermudez, Calderon Campaigns Engage in War of Words Over âPornoâ Mailers
The campaign battle between local state assembly candidates Ian Calderon and Rudy Bermudez has taken yet another twist with the wife of Bermudez diving into the fray with a week and a half before voters head to the ballot box.
Calderon and Bermudez are engaged in one of California's nastiest primary campaigns in the newly created 57th Assembly District.
Voters on Friday and Saturday will be receiving a giant sized post card from Nancy Bermudez, the longtime wife of the former assemblyman that attacks the first time candidate Calderon for portraying her husband for supporting a bill that "wrongfully" portrayed him as "supporting child pornography."
The Los Cerritos Community Newspaper was emailed an advance copy of the campaign mailer from Bermudez campaign advisor Bruce Young.
In the mailer, Nancy Bermudez states "Ian Calderon sent out a mailer claiming Rudy voted with the porn industry on AB 281, which is an outright lie."
"As you can see, AB 281was a bill sponsored by the District Attorneys to increase the penalties for child porn. Even Ian's uncle, (Senator) Ron (Calderon), voted for the bill. Ian Calderon needs to stop lying. Ian hasn't earned the right to lie about someone who risked his life to keep us safe." The signature of Nancy Bermudez appears at the bottom of the mailer.
The bill, that Bermudez and every other member of the State Assembly voted to support, increases the penalty for possession of child pornography by making the possession of more than 100 prohibited items an alternate felony misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail or by imprisonment in state prison for 16 months, 2 or 3 years.
57th Assembly Campaign Turns Into a War of Charges and Counter Charges; La Mirada’s Jaimes in Race
The race for a local California State Assembly seat between Democrats Rudy Bermudez and Ian Calderon has literally turned into a steel cage match that now includes charges of money laundering, and hiding personal income sources, and the filing of complaints with state campaign regulators.
Did Assemblyman Tony Mendoza mastermind an elaborate money laundering scheme to skirt California campaign finance laws to help benefit the campaign of the candidate who is running to take his place in Sacramento?
Did assembly candidate Ian Calderon fail to report $60,000 in income to state officials?
State campaign reform officials have opened up an official inquiry to determine if Mendoza and Assembly candidate Rudy Bermudez worked in tandem to avoid campaign contribution limits after $50,000 in donations were allegedly transferred between at least a half dozen campaign committees involving at least four local elected officials.
Mendoza is a former Chairman of the controversial Latino Caucus that is comprised of elected officials in Sacramento who serve as members of the Assembly and State Senate.
This week Latino Caucus Chairman Assemblyman Ricardo Lara blasted Mendoza in a statement that has sent several political observers into a tailspin.
Refuse Hauler Will Pay for Street Sweeping Services if City Extends Agreement
City expected to approve $60,000 mailing program; other news from recent city council study session and regular council meeting
La Mirada~The city is claiming it will save $238,000 per year by approving a three-year extension to its current 10-year agreement that went into effect on July 1, 2009 with EDCO Disposal for refuse services in La Mirada
EDCO has proposed to find a new company for street sweeping, and pay for it, in exchange for the three-year extension of its original deal slated to end in 2019. Now their agreement will be extended to 2022.
For street sweeping services, the city has contracted with R.F. Dickson Co. for the past 48 years-currently under the terms of a five-year agreement set to expire next month on June 24th.
The new street sweeping company would be approved by the city and would be bound by current specifications and level of services.
City of La Mirada Public Works Director Steve Forster told the La Mirada Blog it is expected that Dickson would be one of the applicants when EDCO searches for a new street sweeping provider.
The City of La Mirada, even in these tough economic times, allocates funding for social service agencies that provide services to residents in La Mirada.
"This is money that comes out of the general fund," said City Manager Tom Robinson.
The agencies submit their request through an application process, and then are scrutinized by the city's Community Services Commission. The commission then provides their recommendations.
La Mirada Weekly Crime Summary
CRIME REPORT
April 30-May 6
Residential Burglary-Two residential burglaries were reported last week. A burglary was reported on the 14800 block of Valeda Dr. Jewelry and miscellaneous documents were taken. An incident was reported on the 12800 block of Gabbett Dr. A side porch door was pried open. Jewelry, flatware, and a television were stolen from the home.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to a business was reported on the 14500 block of Alondra Blvd. Cash was stolen from the location. A burglary to a storage shed was reported on the 14100 block of Angell St.
Vehicle Burglary Five vehicle burglaries were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 12000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A driver's side window was shattered. No loss from the vehicle was reported. A window smash burglary was reported on the 13300 block of Beach Blvd. Cell phones and cash were taken. A burglary was reported on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. A tote bag containing paperwork was stolen.Two vehicle burglaries were reported on the 13000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave.
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1,200 La Mirada Lamplighter Newspapers stolen from Newsroom Office Prior to Distribution
Cerritos~Members of the Cerritos Sheriff's Department are investigating the theft of 1,200 undelivered community newspapers from outside the office of Los Cerritos Community Newspaper on early Friday morning.
According to Brian Hews, Publisher of both the Los Cerritos Community Newspaper and La Mirada Lamplighter, over 1,200 printed newspapers of Friday's edition of the Lamplighter were stolen from the front of the Lamplighter office located at the corner of Artesia Boulevard and Shoemaker Avenue in Cerritos.
Hews said that their home-delivery person, Eddie Garcia, leaves the papers at the office at aroun
d 4 am in the morning with other business delivery drivers taking those papers between 7 am and 9 am.
"Our Sports Editor Loren Kopff took the Cerritos papers at 7:30 am, and said the Lamplighter papers were in front of the office when he left. Maria Gonzalez, Lamplighter Marketing Consultant, arrived at the office at 8:30 am and saw that the Lamplighter papers were gone, so they were obviously taken between 7:40 and 8:30", said Hews.
La Mirada substitute teacher makes bail, court appearance set for May 22
Downey~Taylor Welch, the 22 year old substitute teacher from La Mirada who was arrested this week for allegedly exchanging sexually graphic images with a 13-year-old female has posted bond, law enforcement officials have confirmed.
Welch, who substituted at Hutchinson Middle School was slated to appear in Downey Superior Court on Thursday.
After posting a $140,000 bail bond, he was released from county jail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 22.
Overnight Lane Closures on I-5 for La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs This Week
Overnight closures of the 5 Freeway will take place Monday through Friday of this week.
The closures will be between Valley View Avenue and Carmenita Road from 10 p.m.to 5 a.m.
Caltrans will continue its work of creating two extra lanes in both directions as part of the I-5 Widening project.
For more information call (855) 454-6335 or visit www.I-5info.com
Crossroads Center to be Developed
New Walgreens Will Spur Development at Stagnant "Unsightly" Center;
VIDEO: See residents address commission here.
La Mirada~Something is finally happening at the Crossroads Center in La Mirada, at least part of it.
No, really.
At its last meeting, the La Mirada Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow for a drive-thru as part of a new 13,650 square foot Walgreens 
retail pharmacy to be built on the southern portion of the site-which is mostly vacant- located at Telegraph Road and Imperial Highway.
"It's good to finally be at this point," said Ruben Arceo, director of community development for La Mirada, "we're excited."
The city has made numerous attempts to develop the center.
"Look for grading to begin this summer", says Tab Johnson, partner, associated with Rich Development, who owns the property, "we should have everything done by the fourth quarter of this year."
Jeanette Garcia who lives across the street on Goldendale Drive calls the property a "dumping ground."
"They told us 10 years ago that a Home Depot was going in there. It's looked like this since. We open our front door and this is what we see. There are always people dumping mattresses, furniture, dogs, puppies, you name it. And, in the summer we have the skateboarders. I've been going to the meetings so I can find out if this is really going to happen or not." she said.
"I am very excited and am looking forward to this. I really want something done there. We want to spend money in our city. Unfortunately, La Mirada does not have a lot of shopping options, but this will very convenient."
New Development Coming to Crossroads Center
La Mirada~Something is finally happening at the Crossroads Center in La Mirada.
No, really.
After what seems like a hundred years, partial development will happen at the site with a new 13,650 square foot Walgreen's retail pharmacy opening, maybe by Christmas of this year.
"I'm excited about this", says Jeanette Garcia who live across the street on Goldendale Dr.
In recent years, parts of the property have been described by some as a "dumping ground."
"Look for grading to begin this summer", says Tab Johnson, partner, associated with Rich Development, who owns the property.
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/T16xIwdpAK8
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