School Board Approves Donations to La Mirada Schools
Benton Parents donate over $127,000 for Washington D.C. Trip: La Mirada Kiwanis and Rotary Donate Cameras
Norwalk~At a recent meeting, the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board formally accepted several donations totalling thousands of dollars to benefit local schools.
Donations to La Mirada schools included:
-$112.88 by Target Take Charge of Education to Los Coyotes Middle School, to be used for material and supplies.
-$2,750 for Lodestone Adventures to provide Los Coyotes students with training activities that promote team building, talent discovery, and leadership.
-$10,000 to send about 50 Los Coyotes students and chaperones to leadership camp at the Alpine Meadows Retreat Center in Angelus Oaks, with funding coming from parent donations and the ASB budget.
-$34,100 to send about 124 Gardenhill Elementary students and chaperones and $23,386 to send about 88 Eastwood Elementary students and chaperones to Thousand Pines Pines Outdoor Science School in Crestline. Gardenhill will be going in March 2013 and Eastwood in February.
-$481.99 to Benton Middle School by Target Take Charge of Education to be used for the student donation fund.
-$350 To Benton by the Benton PTSA to be used for the student donation fund.
-$359.91 to Benton by Big Lots/La Mirada to be used for the student donation fund.
-$152,550 to send about 71 Benton students and chaperones on an "American Heritage Trip" that will send the group through Boston, New York, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia next summer with funding coming from fundraisers ($24,366), the ASB trust budget ($800), and parent donations ($127,383).
-Two Canon Powershot SX40 HS Cameras to Benton Visual and Arts Academy to be used by the photography class, separately donated by the La Mirada Kiwanis and La Mirada Rotary Clubs.
-16 refurbished computers with Microsoft Office site license for each to Escalona Elementary by the Escalona PTSA, to be used for instruction in classrooms.
La Mirada Voters Pass Measure I
City's First Ever Local Sales Tax Passed by Almost 2-1 Margin
La Mirada~According to the numbers coming out of the County of Los Angels Registrar-Recorder's office in Norwalk, La Mirada's Measure I has passed.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, 67% of the voters in La Mirada have voted yes on the measure.
As of now, the vote count stands at 8,949 voting yes and 4,612 voting no.
Measure I will raise $4-5 million annually by raising La Mirada's sales tax to 9.75 percent, from 8.75 percent for a period of five years.
The city says it needs the funds to maintain infrastructure.
An oversight committee will be formed to monitor the funds.
In other La Mirada related election news:
The Cerritos Community College District's school improvement bond, Measure G has passed by a wide margin receiving just under 70 percent of the vote (63,645 to 27,447). The district claim
s it needs the funds in order to continue meeting the existing needs and growing demands for expanded educational opportunities in the community. The bond will add $25 for every $100,000 of a home's assessed value and will be added to annual property tax bills for La Miradans.
La Mirada's Noel Jaimes (R) appears to be going down in defeat in the 57th State Assembly race. Ian Calderon (D) of Hacienda Heights has captured a little over 63 percent of the vote (65,297 to 37,696).
Bidding for her sixth two-year term, Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, defeated Benjamin Campos in the race for the new 38th Congressional District.
Sanchez will now serve in the new territory that was created by redistricting, that will include La Mirada, she formerly 
served in the 39th District that included La Mirada.
Sanchez received just under 68 percent of the vote, doubling up on Campos, 106,844 to 50,889.
In the 29th State Senate District, it appears to be too close to call. With all precincts reporting, Democrat Greg Diamond has 96 votes more than incumbent Senate Republican leader Bob Huff (18,000 to 17,904).
Native American Pottery Artist Will Highlight La Mirada Arts Colony Meeting
La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada will hold their next meeting on Monday November 5th at 6:30p at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13700 La Mirada Blvd.
Artist Rowlan Harrison will demonstrate his skills in the Native American method of coil pottery. Demonstration is free to the art appreciating public.
For information call (562) 941-4116.
La Mirada to Salute Veterans
La Mirada~The city's annual Salute to Veteran's Observance ceremony will take place Monday, November 5th at 6 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Scheduled special guests include Louis Zamperini, an Olympian, World War II veteran and former prisoner of war. Also, Staff Sergeant John E Mejia, a U.S. Marine with five tours of duty.
A video montage will feature La Mirada veterans and military banner recipients and their families will be recognized.
Veterans also will display their war memorabilia including medals and photographs.
La Mirada VFW Post 9148, along with its Ladies Auxiliary, and Boy Scout troop 438 will participate in the ceremony.
For info contact the La Mirada Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.
MEASURE I : La Mirada Voters to Decide on Infrastructure Needs
What do you think? Vote in our poll on this page!
La Mirada~For the first time in its 52-year history, and reflecting the current state of the economy, the city will ask residents for financial help to maintain city infrastructure and services by proposing a tax increase.
For as long as anyone can remember, La Mirada City Council incumbents running for re-election have always used the fact that La Mirada has never had a local tax as a major part of their platform. Those days appear to be over.
Measure I will be on the November 6 ballot, and if passed by voters, will raise the sales tax in La Mirada from 8.75 percent to 9.75. The tax would go into effect April 1st of next year, and would last for a period of five years.
The measure has opposition, most notably former councilman Pete Dames who served from 1994-2011.
He said the way the measure has been presented is the classic “bait and switch” in politics and he doesn’t like it, “From the very beginning this was supposed to be all about the infrastructure and nothing else.”
“Once the actual wording (of the measure) came out, it was unbelievable, they added other things. They used all the common buzz words including senior care and police services,” said Dames, who asserted other then infrastructure repair needs, the city is fine.
Councilmember Steve Jones, a supporter of Measure I disagreed, “We’ve consistently said these funds are for infrastructure repairs,” look at our City’s record, La Mirada has always done what it said it would do. Measure I will maintain City services by assuring La Mirada has the money needed for infrastructure repairs without taking funds from other vital services.”
The aging La Mirada infrastructure repairs that are needed-identified as about $67 million worth according to a city study-includes traffic lights, streets and curbs, and the sewer system, among other things.
The measure is worded so the money would be put into the general fund instead of a specific need such as infrastructure-the latter requiring a state mandated two-thirds vote.
By including the other items in the measure, along with the infrastructure repairs, only a majority vote is required (50 percent plus one).
If the measure passes, the future tax revenue would go into the general fund and the city can spend the money on anything it desires.
“Money raised by Measure I will go directly into the ground for repairs throughout La Mirada,” says Mayor Gabe Garcia. “Both a twenty-nine member Citizen Task Force and the entire La Mirada City Council have strongly supported Measure I,” Garcia added. “The City Council is committed to making sure every dollar is spent as intended to repair roads, sewers and other infrastructure in La Mirada.”
City Manager Tom Robinson agreed with Mayor Garcia and Councilmember Jones, “The reality is that La Mirada needs additional funding in the coming years to make necessary infrastructure repairs. If the City doesn’t have funding to make repairs in a planned and orderly manner, we will face more costly, emergency repairs that will take resources from other services.”
The revenue was originally expected to generate $8-10 million annually or around $45-50 million for the five year period. However, a recent study by the city tax consultant revealed the revenue was miscalculated, and the city will only receive $4-5 million annually instead, generating $20-25 million total, and falling short of the $67 million total needed.
Celebrate Halloween at the Neff Estate
La Mirada~The annual Halloweenfest will offer safe and festive fun on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the historic Neff Estate.
The free event will feature food, a haunted house tour, a haunted maze, games and crafts, and a costume contest for people and their pets!
Participants will collect candy at various booths throughout the night. This family-oriented event is perfect for all ages.
Rumor has it ghosts from the McNally Mansion are scheduled to appear.
Costume Contest categories and start times: are as follows:
Pets, 4:40 p.m; Under 2, 5:00 p.m; 3 to 5, 5:30 p.m; 6 to 8, 6:00 p.m; 9 to 12, 6:30 p.m; and 13 and up, 7:00 p.m.
For more information, call (562) 943-7277.
La Mirada Weekly Crime Report 10/15/12-10/21/12
Residential Burglary-A residential burglary was reported on the 14800 block of San Ardo Dr.
Other Structure Burglary-two commercial burglaries were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 16300 block of Trojan Wy. Copper wire was stolen from the location. A burglary to a vacant building was reported on the 14700 block of Alondra Blvd.
Grand Theft-A grand theft was reported on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. The incident is currently under investigation.
Grand Theft Vehicle-Two vehicles were reported stolen last week. A vehicle theft occurred on the 16300 block of Alpine Pl. The vehicle was recovered the next day on the 13000 block of La Mancha St. A vehicle was reported stolen from the 15100 block of Caravaca Rd. A third row seat was reported stolen in a vehicle burglary on the 14300 block of Firestone Blvd. A window smash burglary occurred on the 15300 block of Fairhope Dr. A tote bag containing various items was stolen. Two separate vehicle burglaries were reported on the 14300 block of Firestone Blvd. Third row seats, electronics, and cash were taken from the vehicles.
Call from Distraught Boy to Sheriff’s Department Ends Peacefully in La Mirada
La Mirada~The Sheriff's department received a telephone call from a 15 year-old boy early Tuesday evening threatening to harm himself.
Lieutenant Evans of the Norwalk Sheriff's Station told the La Mirada Blog they received a call from the boy shortly after 5 p.m. who said he had a knife and also wanted to be shot by police.
The boy was at Los Coyotes Middle School when he made the call. As officers were arriving, he made his way across the field and into the flood control channel, also carrying a backpack.
Parents and children conducting soccer practice on the school field observed officers running across the field.
Deputies caught up with the juvenille, with assistance from a sheriff's helicopter, north of the school at Behringer Park, where he was detained without incident behind the homes on Keating Drive.
The Lieutenant said he does not know why the boy was distraught and no other information is available at this time.
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