SEE PAGE 3 FOR “wizard of oz” screening at union station
ANAHEIM PRESS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 - DECEMBER 21, 2014
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SEE PAGE 3 for former sheriff deputy sentenced VOLUME 1, NO. 33
Ride-Sharing App Uber: Sexual Offenses Intimidation Against Passengers and Lawsuit for Alleged Insufficient Background Checks in School Controversy by jennifer schlueter by Vickie Vértiz
than 136 different service projects in the five communities that encompass the District— Anaheim, Cypress, La Palma, Buena Park, and Stanton—and surrounding areas. The projects, which range
After a state senator complained, the Orange County District Attorney requested that the president of the Anaheim City School District investigate allegations of parent intimidation and harassment as they try to improve their struggling school. According to the Orange County Register, a group of parents have been collecting signatures to take over Palm Lane Elementary School under the so-called “parent trigger law” or the Parent Empowerment Act. But when Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, who was a co-sponsor on the law, sent a letter November 21 to the district attorney, his office outlined “allegations of intimidation of parents and advocates that Huff said could be law violations,” said the paper. Michael Lubinski, a senior assistant district attorney, sent a letter to Jose Moreno, the school board president on November 24 asking him to address the accusations. The paper added that, Lubinski asked Moreno to inform his office of any improper conduct by parents or anyone else. “Our intent in reaching out to you is to make sure all efforts have been made to ensure that members of the public and the school district comply with the procedures outlined in the Parent Empowerment Act,” states the letter as quoted in the Register. “The process must work
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Travis Kalanick, founder-CEO of Uber, at the 2014 Launch Festival .
While Uber has been banned in Portland, Nevada, Delhi, Spain, Thailand, etc. for unfair and illegal business practices as well as a rape incident, several other cities and
countries are also investigating a potential boycott of the app that is competing with taxi services. According to the official website, Uber currently provides 52 countries with a (most-
- Photo by JD Lasica
ly) cheaper alternative for cab rides with private drivers and their cars. As convenient as the services are, stories about (sexPlease see page 4
AUHSD to Help District with First "Servathon" on King Holiday More than 2,200 Anaheim Union students are gearing up to stage the first-ever AUHSD Servathon, which will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015, coinciding with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday and National Day of Service. The Servathon is a fun-
draiser similar to a jogathon, but instead of getting sponsors for laps, participants get sponsors for hours of community service. The students, who hail from all of the District's 19 junior high and high school campuses, will be raising money while accomplishing more
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First King Holiday “Servathon” Continued from page 1
from the traditional, such as campus or beach cleanups to the less customary, such as helping seniors with technology needs or going door-todoor to encourage the use of smoke alarms, are designed to give students experiences that will better connect them with neighborhoods, businesses, the elderly, and younger students. Most Servathon activities will occur on January 19, but there will be a window of service of up to one week. The Servathon's goal is to raise $75,000 per year to create a funding source for scholarships administered through the AUHSD Foundation, and to continue funding studentadministered learning grants through the AUHSD Student Service Foundation. As an incentive for campus buy-in, schools will keep 50 percent of the funds raised, while the other half goes to fund the scholarships, grants, and other civic-engagement programs. "I can't tell you how proud I am of our students for using their education to serve the community," said Superintendent Michael B. Matsuda, who proposed the idea of a District-wide Servathon. Mr. Matsuda had staged a smallerscale Servathon while teaching
at Orangeview Junior High School in the mid-1990s. When he became superintendent, it seemed natural to expand the idea to the District as a whole, and to tie into the National Day of Service. In 1983, Congress enacted legislation creating the federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. King. In 1994, Congress also designated the holiday as a National Day of Service, calling on Americans to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. "We want our students to have meaningful opportunities to reach out and connect with the real world," the superintendent said. "Students are hungry for this sort of connection. After all, that is the essence of common core instruction—making learning relevant to their daily lives. Participating in community service gives them authentic engagement with their community." Like many local civic leaders, Mayor Tom Tait of Anaheim is lending his support to the AUHSD Servathon and encouraging community groups to link with the student volunteers. "The students are exemplifying what civic engagement
is all about," the mayor said. "They certainly are bringing the core value of kindness to city culture, taking strides along the road to being good citizens and contributing members of their community. The school district and the city have established a very positive working relationship, and the Servathon activities will only strengthen those ties." When State School Superintendent Tom Torlakson visited the AUHSD in October as the first four grants under the Student Service Foundation were awarded, he praised the District's approach to student engagement. The learning grants and the Servathon are "so innovative as to be a model for the whole country." Paul Chylinski, the Loara High School activities director, who is chairing the Servathon, called the project "bigger than all of us." Mr. Chylinski maintained that the student volunteer count is impressive, but not surprising. "I believe this generation is not as selfish as the generations before. I believe they look at the world with a good philosophy and they want to serve their fellow man. They want to know at the end of their life they did something
that mattered. Honestly, I think it is taught to them when they are young that we need to be nice to one another and reach out to help, just like we were taught smoking is bad for us, and drunk driving kills innocent people. Giving back wasn't the message when I was a kid, and I had to learn it as I was older; today, it's a societal message." The buy-in from the project advisers—teachers, counselors, athletic directors, and the like—is also impressive. Raising money to outfit the "canine officers" of the Anaheim Police Department with protective vests was a natural fit for Orangeview Junior High English teacher Amanda Bryant and her Dance Club, due to the fact that her father figure is a Santa Ana police officer. Also, of course, the 32 club members were touched by the plight of Bruno, the Anaheim police dog who gained national attention after he was shot and seriously wounded last May. Bruno recovered, but was forced to retire from police work. One way the club is raising the money is by soliciting donations through the website http://www.gofundme.com/i5i5f8.
Ex-“Cake” Drummer Sentenced 15 Years to Life A former drummer for the alternative rock band “Cake” was sentenced on Dec. 8 to 15 years to life in state prison for molesting a girl in 2009, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Fred Wapner sentenced Peter Ivan McNeal, 48, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.
In March 2013, jurors found McNeal guilty of one count of oral copulation of a child 10 years old or younger. Deputy District Attorney Elena Abramson said McNeal molested the girl on Thanksgiving 2009 at a Laurel Canyon home where he was a guest. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.
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Free Screening of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Union Station Dec. 20 Celebrate the holiday season with a free, all-ages screening of the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” at Union Station on Saturday, Dec. 20. The screening will take place inside the station’s majestic Historic Ticketing Hall and is the finale to the station’s milestone 75th anniversary celebration and a part of Metro Presents, a series of free arts and cultural programs at the iconic station. The film will be shown at 5PM in the Historic Ticketing Hall and will be preceded at 4:30PM by a costume contest for those who want to embellish their experience by dressing up as their favorite ‘Wizard’ characters. Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed. Seating is limited but Metro customers who show their TAP cards at check-in will gain access to preferential seating. Guests may bring food, but alcoholic beverages will not be allowed. Union Station is accessible via Metro Rail, Metro Bus and several municipal bus lines. Use the Trip Planner atmetro. net for routes and connections. Car and bicycle parking are also available on site. “We’re ecstatic about presenting one of the most iconic movies in film history at one of the most iconic of L.A. landmarks,” said Maya Emsden, Deputy Executive Officer in Metro Countywide Planning. “’The Wizard of Oz’ screening and costume contest is certain to animate Union Station’s historic ticketing hall in an unusually fun and festive way. As always, we hope we’ll entice people to take transit to the event, perhaps some for the first time.”
Former Sheriff ’s Deputy Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Molestation A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced today to three years in state prison for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. John Augustus Rose II, 44, also must be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life as part of his sentence. In October, Rose pleaded no contest to one count each of lewd act on a child and possession of matter depicting minor
engaging in sexual conduct. Deputy District Attorney Rosa Alarcon with the Justice System Integrity Division said Rose began a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl beginning in March 2013 and continuing through June 2013. He met her through her family. Rose was with the Sheriff’s Department for 22 years. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau.
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Uber Lawsuit Continued from page 1
ual) assaults and kidnappings by Uber drivers, some of them with a felony background, are surfacing from numerous violated passengers, prompting to question the app’s background check procedures. Last Tuesday, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey announced that they were suing Uber accusing them of “misleading consumers about the service’s safety, overcharging them and thumbing its nose at the law,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Not only did the company illegally demanded airport fees, but UberX passengers have been charged a $1 “Safe Rides Fee” misleadingly promoting their background checks. “Uber continues to misrepresent and exaggerate background checks on drivers,” Gascon said. He told the LA Times that the company claims to use an “industry-leading background check process,” which he titles “completely worthless” because they do not include fingerprinting. “The company repeats this misleading statement, giving consumers a false sense of security when deciding whether to get into a stranger’s car.” He added at another press conference: “It’s not our goal to shut them
School Controversy Continued from page 1
down. What we’re saying is the advertising is false.” Eva Behrend, spokeswoman for Uber defends the company in a statement: “Californians and California lawmakers all agree — Uber is an integral, safe and established part of the transportation ecosystem in the Golden State.” Uber’s biggest competitor Lyft also faced a lawsuit, but settled with Gascon and Lacey “to stop picking up passengers at airports until it obtains the necessary permits and approvals, and to submit its app to a state testing agency to measure accuracy in calculating fares, a move Uber refused to make,” the LA Times claimed. Director of communications at Lyft, Erin Simpson, said told the paper that this “demonstrates [Lyft’s] shared commitment to consumers and innovation.” Additionally, Lyft agreed to pay both counties a combined fee of $500,000. The lawsuit wasn’t a surprise for Thilo Koslowski, vice president and automotive practice leader at the technology analysis firm Gartner because the company is still in its infancy and growing exponentially. However, “Uber has to address these problems because if it doesn’t, it’s at risk of letting these things get out of control,” the LA Times quoted him.
without fear of harassment, threats or intimidation.” According to the paper, Lubinski says he and office routinely send letters to government agencies when any complaint is made to carry out an investigation. However, Moreno and Superintendent Linda Wagner denied the allegations. Wagner said in a statement that they “support the rights of the parents we serve to make a decision about the future education of their students.” Wagner wrote that, “While we cannot control the tactics or communication from either side in this matter, we can ensure that we provide the resources and information necessary for our parents to make the most informed decisions for their child’s future.” Huff told the paper that the allegations he listed could possibly show that the district and its supporters are “illegally coordinating efforts to suppress parents’ rights.” The complaint names of district officials and members of the union of teachers letter. The Register reported that one incident is alleged to have occurred when “Huff was invited by a parent group to discuss the parent trigger law at district headquarters.” The district did not allow the meeting, because, officials said that the group was larger than expected. It also involved political campaigning and the proper insurance was
unavailable, said the paper. Huff, according to the paper, had offered the insurance his office pays for, but the district said it did not cover the group. Huff went ahead and met with the parents in a parking lot, the paper added. The senator also said that an Anaheim Union High School District employee told Palm Lane parents to not sign the petition for parents being circulated, added the Register. Huff told the paper that, “There seemed to be a pattern of what we were hearing and what we were seeing.” Huff represents a lot of north Orange County, including a section of Anaheim. “It [is] hard to prove what’s going on, and I wanted to notify the district attorney about it.” Moreno told the paper that the allegations are “fabrications.” “It does [not] at all reflect the reality,” Moreno said. His term ends Monday, Dec.15th. The parents from Palm Lane will have until the middle of January to turn in signatures to the district board, which must total more than fifty percent of the parents at the school. The Register added that, the parents may be facing a difficult challenge given that the goal of the petition is to get rid of staff including the principal, in order to turn the campus into a publicly-funded charter school.
Anaheim’s Ballet and Symphony Present ‘The Nutcracker’ The holiday season comes to life in Anaheim Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”, a cornerstone of seasonal family entertainment and tradition. “The Nutcracker” will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2PM and 7PM. Experience a spectacle
of towering Christmas trees, waltzing flowers, battling toy soldiers and menacing mice. The story is a source of inspiration for those of all ages and interests. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact www.anaheimballet.org