SEE PAGE 4 for EX-CAKE DRUMMER SENTENCED
SEE PAGE 2 FOR HOLIDAY GOING GREEN TIPS MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 - DECEMBER 21, 2014
cypressnewspress.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 25
Ride-Sharing App Uber: Sexual Offenses VIP Soccer Program Awards Against Passengers and Lawsuit for Scholarships Insufficient Background Checks to Outstanding Volunteers
by jennifer schlueter
campuses, will be raising money while accomplishing more than 136 different service projects in the five communities that encompass the District— Anaheim, Cypress, La Palma,
On Saturday, Nov. 22,, Cypress Mayor Pro Tern Rob Johnson joined the AYSO VIP Program in a ceremony to recognize its volunteers and award four scholarships to high school students who serve as buddies to the special needs soccer program. The scholarships awarded were sponsored by Dr. Denise Eckman and Mary Tran of Creative Behavior Interventions (CBI) to encourage the pursuit of studies in the their volunteer service at practices and games, the completion of several training programs, and the display of a personal commitment to helping the special needs players. The 2014 scholarship award winners were: . Jason Dwyer, Cypress High School . Sarah Smith, Millikan High School . Alex Kouns, Valley Christian High School Sabrina Nguyen, Cypress High School Each award winner received a $250 contribution toward their college education and a commemorative plaque. "I commend all of the volunteers, coaches, and parents for your dedication to the VIP Soccer program. The success of VIP Soccer is truly a reflection of all of the time and effort that you invest in the program. VIP Soccer provides such a meaningful opportunity for children and adults with special needs
Please see page 4
Please see page 3
Monrovia residents brace for the storms with K-rails and sandbags near the Madison Fire area.
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 (mostly) cheaper alternative
for cab rides with private drivers and their cars. As convenient as the services are, stories about (sexual) 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
- Photo by Terry Miller
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 demandPlease see page 3
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 fundraiser 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
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Waste Management of Southern California Gives Residents Tips for Going Green this Holiday Twelve Days of Green tips to help residents gift green this season The holiday season has officially begun and along with good holiday cheer comes a lot of extra waste. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s as compared to any other time of the year. The extra waste amounts to about one million extra tons. “This holiday season we ask community members to make a commitment to go green using our 12 easy tips,” shared Eloisa Orozco, spokesperson for Waste Management of Southern California. “With a little thought and creativity we can all save money and time while reducing our impact on the environment this year.” 12 Days of Going Green: 1. On the first day of going green, do it yourself (DIY) decorations: Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, garlands made from strung popcorn or cranberries, wreaths made from artificial greens and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cin-
namon and cloves. 2. On the second day of going green, buy green: Check product labels to determine whether an item is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available. 3. On the third day of going green, wrap green: Consider earth friendly wrapping alternatives. Scarves, handkerchiefs, old maps, newspapers, children’s artwork, repurposed gift bags and reusable containers like cookie tins or baskets all make great packaging. Replace ribbons and bows with natural evergreens, berries, dried flowers and keep them as decorations or compost them after the gifts are unwrapped. 4. On the fourth day of going green, send green cards: This year, send eCards or recycled-content cards. If you send cards in the mail, consider making them by hand with last year’s cards or wrapping paper. If you receive cards from family and friends, make sure you recycle them after the holidays. 5. On the fifth day of going green, gift green: Give potted plants, flowers or trees that the recipient can plant in the garden or yard – not only
will it be a gift that continues to be a beautiful reminder of the holidays all throughout the year, but it will also benefit the environment. 6. On the sixth day of going green, gift loved ones an experience: Music lessons, concert tickets, museum passes, zoo memberships or even favors like babysitting make great zero waste gifts. Find out the gift recipient’s favorite charity and make a donation in his or her honor, or commit to volunteering time with that organization. 7. On the seventh day of going green, make a plan to carpool: Spend quality time with friends by carpooling to holiday activities or consider taking public transportation to avoid traffic jams. 8. On the eighth day of going green, bring a reusable container: Package dishes for holiday dinners in a reusable container. If the item is a gift, place it on a decorative holiday plate, in a washable kitchen container or wrap it with a holiday towel. 9. On the ninth day of going green, be a green host: When entertaining, use washable utensils, plates, glasses, napkins and table linens. If you don’t already have these items,
consider renting rather than purchasing them. If you have leftover food, send it home with your guests or donate it to a local homeless shelter to avoid waste. 10. On the tenth day of going green, love your lights: Set holiday lights on a timer to go off late at night and during the day. This saves energy and makes lights last longer. 11. On the eleventh day of going green, recharge: About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season, most of which later end up in landfills. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away, and can save money in the long run. 12. On the twelfth day of going green, recycle: When the holidays are over, be sure to recycle your holiday tree and wreath. Waste Management offers free pick up and drop off in many areas to its customers. Learn all about recycling by visiting http://recycleoftenrecycleright.com. With a little imagination and commitment, we can use this holiday season to create new traditions that help preserve the environment, not only for our families, but also for future generations.
Gifts Needed at Boys and Girls Club The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is currently collecting holiday gifts and supplies from now through Dec. 19. The demand for assistance is great during the holidays and the Club is seeking your support. The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is also selling handmade Christmas ornaments and has a Giving Tree with items needed by the Club. Opportunities are available to provide items from member wish lists as well as sponsorship of a Club family. If you are interested
in donating an item from our Giving Tree or purchasing an ornament you can stop by the Club in person. Some of the items needed are: toys for children 8-13 years old, board games, first aid supplies, pencils, dry erase markers, copy paper and sports equipment. For more information about ways to help this holiday season or about our winter break session, stop by the Club at 10161 Moody St. in Cypress, call 714-527-2697, or visitwww.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com.
DECEMBER 15, 2014 - DECEMBER 21, 2014 | 3
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Uber Lawsuit Continued from page 1
ed 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 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.
Soccer Scholarships Continued from page 1
Baldwin Park
The Volunteers
INDEPENDENT
Cypress Press INDEPENDENT
-Courtesy Photo
to participate in sports and it would not be possible without all of you here today," said Mayor Pro Tern Johnson. "Congratulations to the VIP Program for your continued success, and congratulations to the outstanding young people receiving scholarship awards today. Your spirit of volunteerism is a positive reflection on our community and the reason why our City remains a great place to live," he added. For information regarding AYSO, visit www.ayso154.org. For information regarding the City of C y press Recreational P r o grams visit www.ci.cvoress. ca.us/recreationfrecreation home.html.
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 | DECEMBER 15, 2014 - DECEMBER 21, 2014
AUHSD To Help with First “Servathon” Continued from page 1
Buena Park, and Stanton—and surrounding areas. The projects, which range 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 exem-
plifying 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 to 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.