SEE PAGE 2 for marine takes road trip to help shelter animals
ANAHEIM PRESS
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014 - AUGUST 24, 2014
anaheimpress.com
SEE PAGE 4 for water use restriction measures VOLUME 1, NO. 16
Urgent care facilities pick up business The as public hospitals still overwhelmed Recording by Vickie Vértiz Academy Many patients are finding remembers quick care at the ubiquitous urgent care facilities that have been cropping up all over the Robin country as large hospitals still struggle with long lines and exWilliams orbitant charges. The Orange County Register talked with one such patient who went to an urgent care clinic belonging to MemorialCare in Long Beach and was seen almost immediately. The patient got four stitches and in a week she returned without an appointment to have them removed. The patient said that, if the same care was needed a few years ago, she would have gone to the emergency room at Long Beach Memorial and probably waited several hours to be seen. Curiously, Long Beach Memorial is also owned by MemorialCare. One reason for the trend shift is that large hospitals are pressured to deliver care at lower costs and are effectively discouraging the use of their emergency rooms for conditions that are not threatening to life or limb, providing a market share to outpatient settings such as urgent care clinics.
By Terry Miller
-Photo by Terry Miller
“They would have charged me $200, I’m sure,” said the patient Tina Melgar to the OC Register. Her co-pay for the urgent care was $20, and Melgar added that “because I was in such misery, they didn’t ask me for any money at the time.” It turns out, urgent care clinics are extremely profitable. They are opening at huge numbers nationally through venture capitalists, real estate developers, large health companies, and sometimes insurance companies see how this share of the patient market provides strong returns on investment, also
signaling an increased privatization in urgent care, a major driving force to meet the demand of patients who have not received the care they needed at public or large hospitals due to budget cuts and other limitations. Franz Ritucci, president of the American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine in Orlando, Florida told the OC Register that the number of urgent care centers nationwide grew 25 percent since 2010 to approximately 10,000.
a target in 65 percent or rather 75 percent of all robberies in 2013, estimates the San Francisco city district attorney’s office. Oakland police data reveals that in the first half of this year over 80 percent of armed
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams apparently took his own life at his Northern California home Monday, law enforcement officials said. Williams was 63. “He has been battling severe depression of late,” publicist Mara Buxbaum told CNN. “This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.” Coroner investigators suspect “the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia,” according to a statement from the Marin County, California, Sheriff’s
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Mandatory “kill-switches” for smartphones to prevent theft? by Jennifer schlueter With our smartphones being worth up to $700, $800 or even more, they have become favorable objects for thieves. Black market resales for stolen phones are lucrative for robbers, especially overseas, where American smartphones are more expensive.
According to Consumer Reports, smartphone thefts in the US have almost doubled from 2012 to 2013 making them the leading property crime. Major cities in California are highly affected by this epidemic. In San Francisco and Oakland, cellphones were
Robin Williams, circa 1990, at Santa Barbara’s Biltmore Hotel at a special event honoring his comedic mentor Jonathan Winters – Photo by Terry Miller
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Former US Marine rode his Holden’s bill to recognize Harley across the USA to help President Obama in high shelter animals in need school textbooks passed Rock & Rawhide, the charity that helps increase adoption levels of dogs and cats in shelters, launched a national campaign to help drive adoptions and support of local animal shelters across the country with “Anthony’s Ride for Shelter Pets.” Harkening back to the days of Route 66 and how Americans used to drive awareness of issues from town to town, “Anthony’s Ride for Shelter Pets” took Rock & Rawhide volunteer and Marine Corps Veteran Anthony L. Ungaro from New York to Los Angeles on his 2007 Harley-Davidson FXDB Dyna Bob. Anthony is a 29-year-old Brooklyn native who combined his love for motorcycle riding with his desire to help animals. He served for eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a deployment to Iraq during the 2004 Battle of Fallujah, before returning home and finding love with his red-nosed pit bull Donny. According to Ungaro, “I attribute my successful transition from the military to college, to the positive experiences and responsibilities that come with having a pet in the family.” Anthony rode his HarleyDavidson cross-country to help spread awareness about Rock & Rawhide and pet adoption and arrived in Los Angeles Tuesday,
August 12. Anthony’s motorcycle trip spanned 4,000 miles, covering 14 states. Anthony departed New York City on July 28, and made his final destination Los Angeles, California. In California, Anthony met with the Los Angeles Animal Services and Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, at Petco La Brea, where he delivered toys, treats and supplies on behalf of Rock & Rawhide. Los Angeles Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety and welfare of animals and people. They envision the day when every pet born has a good home and is cared for all its life, and no person is ever endangered by an animal. Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is an independent, donor-supported, non-profit agency that provides animal care for abandoned and homeless animals. An open door agency, PHS welcomes and cares for all animals in its service area regardless of age, medical condition, breed or any other criteria. The Society is responsible for animal control and welfare for nine area cities that include Arcadia, Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.
The California Legislature has given overwhelming, bi-partisan approval to Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bill to encourage California schools to teach the story of President Barack Obama’s trailblazing election. Today’s vote in the Assembly on concurrence in language changes was approved unanimously – 73 to 0. Last Thursday the Senate overwhelmingly approved AB 1912. The bill now goes to Governor Brown for signature. AB 1912 asks the State Board of Education and the Instructional Quality Commission to include the significance of President Barack Obama’s election in the state’s history and social science standards for grades seven to twelve. “The election of President Barack Obama is a significant
part of history and should not just be a mere footnote within textbooks,” said Assemblymember Holden. “This bill would create an opportunity for our children to learn about the historical significance of electing our first AfricanAmerican President. Children need to understand that for years intimidation and physical violence prevented millions of African Americans from voting and alienated them from the electoral process, making the 2008 election of President Obama even more noteworthy.” California has not updated its standards for nine years due largely to the state’s fiscal crisis. The State Board of Education is expected to review instructional materials during the 2015-2016 school year.
Robin Williams Continued from page 1
office. Hundreds of thousands of tributes and a makeshift memorial at his Hollywood star mark the end of one of the most illustrious comedic careers in history. The Recording Academy, based in Santa Monica, released this statement of Williams’ death. “Five-time GRAMMY® winner Robin Williams was a prolific actor and stand-up comedian who literally did it all: television, film, theater, and live performances. After gaining fame in his breakout role of Mork in the television show ‘Mork & Mindy,’ Williams became a household name. His improvisational skills and comedic timing were unmatched, and he quickly established himself as a larger-than-life presence on screen and on stage. His roles in classic movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire, The Birdcage, and Jumanji showcased his comedic chops, while his versatility was re-
flected in dramatic films such as Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, and Good Will Hunting, which earned him an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actor. Although Williams is most recognized for his film and television work, he has received GRAMMYs for Best Comedy Recording three times, Best Recording for Children, and Best Spoken Comedy Album. Additionally, his heart matched his expansive talent, as he often gave generously — both financially and personally — to a number of worthwhile causes throughout his life. Our entertainment community has lost an immense talent, a true inspiration, and a creative genius, and his remarkable legacy will forever be immortalized in his vast and impressive body of work. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, and his countless fans around the world who will continue to honor his memory through laughter.”
AUGUST 18, 2014 - AUGUST 24, 2014 | 3
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City Council approves water use restriction measures The Anaheim City Council tonight approved a resolution to implement four mandatory water conservation measures, in compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency drought regulations. With a focus on outdoor water conservation, the following actions are now prohibited: •Watering of outdoor landscapes or turf that cause excess runoff •Using a hose to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle •Washing down driveways and sidewalks with potable water except to address an immediate health and safety need •Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated In addition, Anaheim added two other mandates to achieve additional water savings: •Landscape irrigation is limited to before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporative water waste, except spot watering with a hose and nozzle, or as necessary for irrigation system maintenance and repairs •The elimination of fire hydrant flushing for City hydrants, unless the discharged water is captured/reused; or the flushing is needed for immediate public health and safety reasons; or to ensure compliance with drinking water standards Anaheim will continue to focus on education and community outreach in order to achieve water savings. A public service campaign, aimed at reducing water usage, has encouraged the community to do their part to save water. Conservation has helped to reduce per person water use over the past decade in Anaheim by 22 percent from a peak of 114 gallons per day to currently 93
gallons per day, even though the number of residential customers has increased by 5 percent. Another indicator of the community’s commitment to saving water is the Turf Removal Program, which has seen a significant increase in the number of applications. Since January of this year, 90 applications have been received for the program, which was recently increased to a rebate of $3 per square foot of turf removed and replaced with California Friendly landscaping or artificial turf. In addition, Anaheim Public Utilities offers a number of other incen-
tives that will help customers save water inside and outside the home or office. “We would like to do our part to respond to the ongoing drought, and the Utility provides ways for everyone to contribute and make an investment to preserve our future water supplies,” said Dukku Lee, Anaheim Public Utilities General Manager. “We encourage everyone to work together as a community to help eliminate water waste in Anaheim.” For more information on saving water or program details, visit www.anaheim.net/ savewater.
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4 | AUGUST 18, 2014 - AUGUST 24, 2014
“Kill-switches” for smartphones Continued from page 1
robberies involved mobile devices. Los Angeles has seen a 12% increase in cellphone thefts last year, reports NBC. To fight these alarming numbers, State Sen. Mark Leno introduced a bill that would require smartphone manufacturers to install a “kill-switch” into their new, California-sold devices, which would make them inoperable if they fall into the wrong hands. Rightful owners would be able to lock their phones with antitheft software. According to CNBC, the bill exempts “smartphone models introduced before Jan. 1, 2015, that could not ‘reasonably be re-engineered’ to incorporate the anti-theft technology” and excludes tablets. Should the bill become law, “manufacturers will have until July 1, 2015, to incorporate the theft deterrent, which users would be asked to turn on when they set up their new devices,” CNBC states. “Our goal is to swiftly take the wind out of the sails of thieves who have made the theft of smartphones one of the most prevalent street crimes in California’s biggest cities,” Leno’s statement reads. The CTIA, a trade association representing the wireless telecommunication industry, opposed the bill according to a statement by their vice president of external and state affairs, Jamie Hastings. “We urge the Governor to not sign
this bill, since uniformity in the wireless industry created tremendous benefits for wireless consumers, including lower costs and phenomenal innovation,” said he. “State by state technology mandates, such as this one, stifle those benefits and are detrimental to wireless consumers.” However, the bill’s sponsor San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón says that “the manufacturers have indicated that they will implement this technology nationwide with passage of this bill, and with organized crime rings shipping smartphones stolen in the U.S. overseas, passage of this legislation will have implications for public safety around the globe.” Samsung and Apple, along with other US mobile device manufacturers have already carried out antitheft measures and are continuously working on them. After prior denial and several revisions, the “kill-switch” bill was recently approved 27-8 by the California State Assembly and is now being reviewed by Governor Jerry Brown. Following Minnesota, California would be the second state to require a “kill-switch”. In May, the Midwestern state has passed a similar law. Minneapolis mayoral candidate Mark Andrew fell victim to two teenage robbers, who had beaten him down because he tried to prevent them from stealing his phone.
LASD seeking help in identifying a suspect for lewd acts upon a child The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Special Victims Bureau is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the adult male Hispanic suspect pictured here. The suspect is wanted in connection with a child pornography investigation involving an unknown 11-year-old victim. If you recognize the suspect in the attached photograph, you are asked to call the Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-LASD (5273) or you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS (8477) or Text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) to anonymously provide your information.
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Movies in the Park - Frozen August 22, 8PM Location: Pearson Park Amphitheatre, 401 N. Lemon St.
For more information please call: 714-765-5274
Urgent care facilities pick up business Continued from page 1
Orange County residents are affected directly in that 24hour urgent care locations have sprung up in Anaheim and La Palma, among other cities. The OC Register reported that Humana paid $790 million in 2011 to buy Concentra, the largest urgent care chain in the U.S. with more than 330 clinics in the country, including the Anaheim and La Palma locations. Local hospital and medical group operators like MemorialCare and St. Joseph Health System also see patients who come to their urgent care centers as potential customers for their doctors and larger hospitals. Case in point, Dr. David Kim, medical director at the MemorialCare Los Altos clinic told the Register that they “try to use our urgent care as a bridge for people who don’t have a
primary care physician to establish a relationship with one.” In this case, the urgent care clinic is in the same building as the MemorialCare hospital. Kevin Manemann, chief operating officer at St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group told the Register that between 30 to 40 percent of patients who go to ERs at the hospitals run by the St. Joseph Health System could be treated “very easily” in an urgent care clinic. Manemann added that “urgent care can provide more flexibility and lower cost not only for the patient, but also for the organization,” he says. One thing consumers understand with health care is the cost while health care corporations and related businesses understand profit margins just as well.