Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014 - AUGUST 3, 2014
belmontbeacon.com
California approves bill to minimize concussion risk for youth footballers BY JENNIFER SCHLUETER
VOLUME 1, NO. 13
L.B.P.D. seeks public’s help in robbery being investigated as hate crime
La Salle quarterback gets tackled with an opponents head last season. Luckily no one was injured in this incident but it helps illustrate the need for legislation.- Photo by Terry Miller
Police sketch of suspect -Courtesy Photo
With more and more football players suing the National Football League because of severe head injuries and the increasing awareness of the public about the tragic aftermath of such concussions, the NFL and college leagues reacted by limiting full-contact practices, which has already proven to reduce concussions. Last Monday, Governor Jerry Brown signed the AB2127 law,
against. We should be using every avenue available to fight discrimination – it’s just the right thing to do. “Nevertheless, this does not free Congress from the responsibility to pass ENDA and protect all workers from
On Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at approx. 4:30 p.m., a female was attacked in the parking lot of a local shopping center located in the 4000 block of Atlantic Avenue, and investigators are hoping that someone may be able to identify the suspect from a composite sketch. The victim was wearing a black hijab, a cover worn by Muslim women over their head to conceal their hair and neck. She was parked in the shopping center parking lot adjacent to the alley that runs north and south and just west of the shopping center, and loading items into her car. It was then that she was approached from behind by a male suspect on foot, who took hold of her hijab in his hand. The suspect cursed at the victim while referring to the cover as a “hijab,” indicating he had some knowledge of the Muslim culture. He forcibly pulled and twisted the
Please see page 2
Please see page 2
which will prohibit full-contact practices taking longer than 90 minutes a day in middle and high schools. Full-contact practices will be limited to twice a week, and completely banned during off-season. Furthermore, if a head injury is suspected, players cannot return to the game at all or before gaining approval from a medical professional. These regulations aim to prevent and reduce severe concus-
sions in young football players. The rules, supported by the California Interscholastic Federation and sponsored by Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), will be enforced starting January 1, 2015. California will then be one out of 20 states to prohibit off-seasonal full-contact practices. The CIF additionally voted Please see page 4
President signs executive order banning discrimination against LGBT workers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (Equality Caucus), released the following statement after President signed an executive order last week prohibiting federal contractors and agencies from discriminating against employees on the bases of sexual ori-
entation and gender identity: “With Republicans still unwilling to bring up the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the House – despite bipartisan support during passage in the Senate – the President was right to act to protect LGBT workers in the federal government from being discriminated
2 | JULY 28, 2014 - AUGUST 3, 2014
No discrimination against LGBT workers Continued from page 1
80-year-old man fatally shot possibly pregnant burglar BY JENNIFER SCHLUETER
President Obama signed executive order protecting LGBT government employees and contractors from discrimination -Courtesy Photo
discrimination and we must continue to call for such action, and work to narrow the exemption granted to religious organizations.” Schiff earlier led an effort urging President Obama to issue such an Executive Order. The announcement is an important step towards ending discrimination against LGBT employees and ensuring that they are judged based on the quality of their work and not because of who they are or who they love. The executive order, when implemented, will only protect employees of federal contractors and federal agencies. Schiff is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which passed the U.S. Senate in November 2013. ENDA currently has 205
cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would establish basic protections in the workplace to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There are currently only 18 states (including California) and the District of Columbia that prohibit discrimination on bases of sexual orientation and gender identity, and an additional 3 states that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. ENDA would provide a basic level of protection against workplace discrimination in a manner modeled closely on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would apply to private employers as well as local, state, and federal government employers.
Last Tuesday night, 28-yearold Andrea Miller of Long Beach and 26-year-old Gus Adams broke into Long Beach resident Tom Greer’s home attempting to steal from his safe. When the 80-year-old Greer surprised the burglars, Miller struck Greer, according to a Long Beach Police Press Release. When she stopped to assist her accomplice in trying to break the safe, Greer was able to obtain his gun and shot Miller “twice in the back with his .22-caliber Smith and Wesson,” according to NBC. Furthermore, NBC reports that Greer told them in an interview: “She says, ‘Don’t shoot me, I’m pregnant -- I’m going to have a baby.’ And I shot her anyway. The lady didn’t run as fast as the man so I shot her in the back twice, she’s dead ... but he got away.”
The male suspect was able to flee the scene, but was arrested Wednesday on charges of murder and residential robbery. Both Miller and Adams have criminal histories. Greer also suspects them to have broken into his home previously. Despite Miller running away, Greer claims to have shot Miller in self-defense. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether or not he will be charged. Anyone who may have any information regarding this investigation should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Mark McGuire and Greg Krabbe at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Hate crime robbery Continued from page 1
hijab as he attempted to remove it, which choked the victim, and caused scratches and abrasions to her neck. The suspect then walked southbound down the alley with the hijab. The victim was able to provide a description of the suspect, and worked with detectives to create a composite sketch. The¬¬ suspect is described as follows: A male white in his 30’s, approximately 5’8” to 5’9” tall, a thin build, short brown hair and brown eyes, a trimmed brown mustache and beard, was wearing a white buttoned-up shirt, black pants, and possibly black shoes. This crime incited fear in the victim for her life and safety. Due to the circumstances, this incident is being investigated as a hate crime. The L.B.P.D. has not have not had any similar crimes reported recently, and believe
this to be an isolated incident. However, if anyone has been a victim of a similar crime, we would urge them to immediately come forward. “This incident occurred during the day in a busy shopping center and we are hoping that someone may have witnessed the encounter or saw the suspect leaving the area, and can provide us with additional information,” stated Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in our city and we will continue our efforts to find the suspect and hold him accountable.” Anyone with information should contact the L.B.P.D.’s Violent Crimes Detail at (562) 570-7250. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
JULY 28, 2014 - AUGUST 3, 2014 | 3
HLR MEDIA EDITORIAL editor@belmontbeacon.com EDITOR Jennifer Schlueter PUBLISHER HLR Media ADVERTISING advertising@hlrmedia.com SUBMISSIONS:
Please send all press releases to: editor@belmontbeacon.com HLR Media, LLC .All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at HLR Media, LLC 525 E SEASIDE WAY, SUITE 101B LONG BEACH 90802
PHONE: (626) 386-3457 FAX: (626) 600-4452
Alhambra PRESS
Baldwin Park
INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT
Largest US food distribution company sued for holding perishable food in unrefrigerated sheds The nation’s largest food distribution company, Sysco Corporation, will pay nearly $20 million dollars in a consumer protection settlement for illegally holding perishable foods, such as seafood, milk and raw meat, in unrefrigerated, unprotected storage sheds. This is the largest settlement of a food safety prosecution in California history. This case was investigated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and prosecuted by The California Food, Drug and Medical Device task force, made up of the District Attorney’s Offices of Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Shasta Counties. The case was filed in Santa Clara County. Deputy District Attorney Tracy Hughes of the Consumer Protection Unit prosecuted this case for the Orange County District Attorney. Circumstances of the Case: Sysco is the largest food distribution company in the nation and among the largest worldwide. California law requires food distribution companies to register all vehicles and sites used to transport or store food with CDPH, which regulates food distribution and storage of perishable items to protect consumers from unsanitary conditions and food-borne illness. Beginning in or after 2010, Sysco used unregistered storage facilities and vehicles to store and transport smaller food shipments to commercial restaurants, schools and hospitals. Sysco trucks routinely delivered food orders to unrefrigerated mini-storage units, the same type in which people store extra furniture and other household items. Most of these units had no refrigeration and some were unsanitary. The shipments included products such as seafood, pork, beef and dairy products, all of which are extremely perishable. These smaller orders were dropped secretly at these unreg-
istered locations for employees to transport later to commercial customers. Sales representatives transported these smaller shipments in personal, unrefrigerated vehicles, also in violation of California law. The practice was uncovered by a reporter in Northern California. State inspectors subsequently found that Sysco had used at least 22 unregistered storage sites throughout California. Food coming through these sites reached commercial customers, and ultimately consumers, throughout the state. Furthermore, Sysco engaged in misleading advertising, falsely claiming to use only “state of the art distribution warehouses,” and
go “above and beyond government regulations.” Sysco trucks also bear the slogan, “Quality Assured.” Sysco has agreed to strict injunctive terms to cease the unlawful and unsafe practices. As terms of the settlement, they will be required to pay $15 million in civil penalties, $3.3 million to fund a food inspection program administered by the CDPH, Food Safety Division, and to implement a company-wide food safety and food safety education program. Sysco will also provide $1 million worth of fresh food to California food banks to be distributed based on need. Approximately $55,000 of fresh food will go to Orange County food banks.
Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086
4 | JULY 28, 2014 - AUGUST 3, 2014
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson announces millions in grants to improve California charter school system Twenty agencies will share $7.5 million in federal grants to develop or improve charter schools in California, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today as he released the funding results for two grants. “These grants will help districts create high-quality charter schools, and help already successful charter schools share their best practices,” Torlakson said. The $7.5 million in funding is being distributed through two sources: the Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant (Round 2) and the Pub-
lic Charter Schools Grant Program Dissemination Sub-grant. In the Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant (Round 2), 13 school districts and nonprofit agencies will receive $5.4 million in federal funding. The grants were awarded to agencies that are likely to develop and open high-quality charter schools. The grantees were selected based on the quality of their application outlining how they would improve student academic achievement. For the list of grantees, visit the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Funding Results: Public Charter Schools Grant Pro-
gram Planning and Implementation Grant (Round 2) Web page. In the Public Charter Schools Grant Program Dissemination Sub-grants, seven districts and nonprofit agencies are receiving $2.1 million in federal funding. The grants must be used to share their best practices with other schools on how to significantly improve student achievement. The grants were made available to charter schools that have been serving students for at least three consecutive years, met Academic Performance Index growth targets for at least two of the prior three years, have high levels of parent satisfac-
tion, and demonstrated substantial progress in improving student academic achievement. For the list of grantees, visit the CDE’s Funding Results: Public Charter Schools Grant Program Dissemination Sub-grant Web page. Charter schools are public schools, which can provide instruction in any of the K-12 grades. They are typically created or organized by a group of teachers, parents, or community leaders or by a communitybased organization. California became the second state in the nation in 1992 to adopt public charter school legislation, and there are now 1,161 active charter schools in the state.
California approves bill to minimize concussion risk for youth footballers Continued from page 1
on limiting weekly practice hours to 18 per week. According to the LA Times, Cooley said: “AB 2127’s practice guidelines will reassure parents that their kids can learn football safely through three hours of fullcontact practice … to maximize conditioning and skill development while minimizing concussion risk.” A study by Dawn Levine, a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant director of the Youth Sports
Concussion Program for Kaiser Permanente, demonstrates that one-third of the average 600 hits to a high school player’s head occur during practice. Former New Orleans Saints executive Terry O’Neil estimates that per season, high schoolers endure 100,000 concussions - 60-75 percent of them during practice, The Sports Legacy Institute claims. Levine agrees with the bill, because less full-contact practices will reduce the number of injuries, and thus,
the “risk of any long-term damage,” the LA Times reports. According to the same LA Times article, Sen. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) and Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) voted against the bill. In Knight’s opinion, the law makes California high schoolers less competitive for college scholarships, whereas Anderson believes that legislature should not interfere with sports practices. LA Roosevelt High School football coach Javier Cid said in an interview with the Times that full-contact practices are necessary to determine starters. “Concussion can change a kid’s life,” Cooley told Reuters. “Viewed through that lens, this bill is not crazy. It’s good for kids and it’s good for parents.” For the assemblyman, the players’ health and the concerns of their families are more important than a possible impact on football practices: “I anticipate other states will follow our lead as they consider the interests of kids and families,” he said in a press release. “We have a multitude of evidence that this does not just affect professional
athletes, but that younger kids who are still developing are just as susceptible and the effects of impacts. Research has shown hits don’t have to produce a concussion to have long-lasting effects.” In 2006, Zackary Lystedt, a middle school football player, had suffered severe head injury from a game. After a three month coma, and despite several therapies, Lystedt “still walks with a cane and has limited speaking abilities,” said the Washington post. Together with his parents, he fights for stronger regulations of football practices and awareness of concussions and their consequences. According to the LA Times, Loyola High School in Los Angeles has already taken an exceptional step to detect concussions. Principal Frank Kozakowski demands every single one of his students at the all-boy Catholic school to participate in a baseline test to assess “the student’s balance and brain functions [with the help of memory and problem solving skills] so it can be used and compared with a similar exam if the student is suspected of having a concussion.”