Inside Alhambra
By: Marijune Wissmann

On Wednesday morning, January 21, the Alhambra Police were dispatched to Washington Mutual Bank to investigate an Asian female trying to open an account with a stolen ID card. That resulted in a trip to jail.

A little later, Washington Mutual called about a male black trying the same
thing. A second black man entered the bank and then exited out the south door, which I remember was permanently closed, equipped with an alarm, and available as a fire exit, only. The police department responded in force, by which time there was action across the street at the Bank of America, using many cruisers. Witnesses saw a tow truck later, so I am assuming there were one or more arrests.

On February 5th, the Alhambra police successfully disarmed someone in a hotel or motel on West Valley, who had been ranting and possibly in a quarrel with a girlfriend.

Later, a vehicle was reported driving around a neighborhood repeatedly. A unit responded and it was found that it was someone taking driving lessons.

On Friday, February 6th, skid marks were found in Target Parking lot, and a
ruined traffic signal and wrecked rental car. The police located the driver,
who said he hydroplaned, had the wreck and left because he had to be at
work. Target security camera placed the time of the accident at around 3 a.m.

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Reporting on City Council meetings has been difficult, as times, and locations have been changed from regular dates. A joint meeting of the Redevelopment Agency and bouncy castle for sale the Council was held on February 4, 2009, at the community room of the new library, and was not televised.

However, much important information was presented regarding city fees and service changes, directly or indirectly affecting residents. Changes were suggested and the possibility of new fees were discussed.

The council will review two proposed water rate increases, select a rate increase for the next five years and approve a public hearing, a suggested hearing date is set for May 26th, 2009.

Current greens fees of the Alhambra Municipal Golf Course are being examined, comparing Alhambra greens fees to other similar golf course fees and to adopt new rates which will increase fees over the next five years. Speaking of Almansor Golf Course, two “duffers” duked it out on the 18th hole on the afternoon of January 17. They were not members of the Golf Club.

The Summer Jubilee will not be held this coming summer, for obvious reasons.

The parking fee schedule is somewhat confusing. Temporary overnight fees will be raised from $2 to $3 beginning March 1, 2009. An annual parking permit has been raised from $35 to $60. Alhambra streets are filled with autos parked at the curbs, large homes rent rooms in residential districts and garages are filled with living quarters rather than owner’s cars.

Residents living on Midwickhill Drive have contacted city officials requesting the city to proceed with the installation of disabled curbs at the intersections on Midwickhill, which is the most heavily pedestrian-traveled street in the area. Elderly residents, pulling the tiny two-wheeled grocery carts are unable to lift the loaded carts up and down the curbs, which are very high on the cul-de-sac corners, so they walk on the streets. This is a danger to motorists and the pedestrians.

The city has built disabled curbs on most of the streets in the tract. Why not on Midwickhill?

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A disturbing notice was received by a resident on Stranahan Drive in the Midwick Tract stating that the home at 2315 S. Stranahan has been sold to “Key Community Housing for the Mentally Handicapped”. At that time, it was announced that the home would be housing up to six males (the ages of 30 to 50) with 24-hour day caretakers.

Several residents from Stranahan Drive went to the City Council meeting for more information and possibly, some assistance in maintaining the R-l zoning in the area. They were informed that there was nothing the city or anyone else could do, as this was a state funded project, with jurisdiction over all cities.

The residents questioned the condition of the disabled and why such an expensive home (approximately $600,000) was necessary for the unfortunate clients and would this influence the value of homes in the area. Finally, a meeting was held with Key Community Housing, Inc., and new information was forthcoming. The representatives from Key Housing said there would be only three mentally impaired women living at the home with 24-hour a day attendants.

Key Community Housing (KCH) is a 50lc (3) community based
organization established to provide affordable housing opportunities for the developmentally disabled consumers of Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC). The corporation may acquire, rehab, manage and construct affordable housing to address the ongoing needs of the consumer and their families.

There is a need for group homes, but planning and zoning should arrive at a better solution, if there was planning and zoning for this purpose.

For more information about this project at Stranahan Drive, please call Vanessa Seymore at (626) 300-8815.

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Much has been printed about the new administration and its successes and
failures but this one instance has disappointed many veterans.

The newly sworn-in President opted not to appear at what should have been one of the most important balls on his agenda that evening. THE SALUTE TO HEROES INAUGURAL BALL. The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration and recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.

There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the new Commander in Chief’s failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event, until now.

The Salute to Heroes Ball is sponsored by the American Legion and co-sponsored by 13 other veterans’ service organizations, including those as the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Instead of attending this ball honoring our nation’s heroes, Obama was busy making stops at the Neighborhood Ball, the Home State Ball for Illinois and Hawaii, the Commander in Chief Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball and the Home State Ball for Delaware and Pennsylvania. They finished the evening with brief appearances at the Mid-Atlantic, Western, Midwest, Eastern and Southern Regional Balls.

Celebrities were plentiful at the balls, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Mariah Carey,
Leonardo DiCaprio and other Hollywood elites. These brave veterans came to respect the President of our country, many of them disabled and elderly, but Obama snubbed the nation’s heroes.

International Herald Tribune

E-mail: mjwissmann@gmail.com
Fax: (626) 457-9409