COMING JAN. 22... OUR NEW REDESIGN
COMING JAN. 22... OUR NEW REDESIGN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21, 2015
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
templecitytribune.com
Construction on New Mercedes Showroom Fully Underway in Arcadia
Tale of Two Pasadena Council Members on Scandal
Four Sheriff ’s Dept. Employees Relieved of Duty
BY JOE TAGLIERI
the plan for Rusnak's new showroom is indeed nothing short of luxurious. The palatial yet at the same time conservative design features panoramic glass walls with sleek light-blue columns and white stone
Late last year, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department became aware of evidence that three deputy sheriffs and a parking control officer were implicated in individual incidents of theft from towed vehicles or accepting cash from vehicle owners to avoid towing and impounding of their vehicles. The Sheriff’s Department immediately began an investigation to determine if there had been other instances of criminal activity on the part of those implicated, or whether any other personnel were involved in this misconduct. Based on that investigation, there has been no evidence discovered thus far of any additional personnel involved or any other instances of such criminal activity. The four employees have been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the on-going criminal in-
Please see page 29
Please see page 22
BY NICK KIPLEY At last week’s meeting Council Member Terry Tornek had been particularly vocal about quickly getting to the bottom of the scandal. In a followup interview later on in the week, Tornek told the Independent, “I was a city employee … this is incomprehensible to me. I don’t know how so many people missed so many signals for so long. It’s horrifying.” When asked if he thought that Wooten was working with just his accomplices or if he had more conspirators Tornek replied, “I think this is a guy (Wooten)—a fairly low to middle management guy—who figured out a way to exploit the system and became more brazen and careless over the years. But what we’re dealing with is a culture of complacency. Back in 1983, somebody decided that this [Underground Utilities
The changing face of Arcadia is now seeing the fast-moving construction of the new multimillion dollar Rusnak showroom which will grace Santa Anita Ave. and Santa Clara later this year enticing customers to buy luxury cars. -Photo by Terry Miller
After a nearly 14-year effort, Arcadia's only auto dealership and the city's largest generator of sales tax revenue is in the final stage of its quest to construct a larger, more elaborate showroom. Rusnak MercedesBenz — in town since 2000
and currently located at 55 W. Huntington Drive near Santa Anita Race Track and the Civic Center — broke ground in December to begin construction of a 22,500-square-foot, two-story structure just around the corner from its longstanding base of oper-
ations. The new location is destined for the 100 block of Santa Anita Avenue and will also include 78,000 square feet for vehicle service and repairs, storage and parking. In line with Mercedes' arguable status as the flagship of luxury car brands,
Sierra Madre Council Overturns Planning Commission Decision BY TERRY MILLER
Terry Tornek -Photo by Terry Miller
Please see page 8 leap into summer!
A major victory was celebrated Tuesday when Sierra Madre City Council unanimously voted to overturn a Planning Commission decision on 1 Carter’s first house. According to Resi-
dents for the Preservation of Sierra Madre: “There can be no greater display of a City Council and the residents of a community performing their civic duty than what occurred at last night's City Coun-
cil Meeting which ended with a standing ovation from a jam-packed City Council chamber. Sierra Madre's very own City Council resisted the Please see page 23
Volume 19, No. 3
Pasadena Seeks Legal Action to Recover $6.4M BY TERRY MILLER Mayor Bill Bogaard announced plans to file a civil lawsuit to recover funds lost in the $6.4 million embezzlement of the
utility funds at this week’s City Council meeting. The announcement followed a Please see page 24
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Summer Opportunities Fair
Learn about over 100 local, national, and international summer camps, programs, and activities for boys and girls ages 5-18.
Admission is free and open to the community.
3 2 4 M A D E L I N E D R I V E , P A S A D E N A 9 11 0 5
WESTRIDGE SCHOOL’S 24th ANNUAL
www.WESTRIDGE.ORG/SOF
Fun activities for kids!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Questions? Call 626.799.1053, ext. 264