WILDLIFE INSPECTOR AT LAX
GREG GETS AWAY TO CARLSBAD
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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 - APRIL 5, 2015 - VOLUME 6, NO. 13
Devastating Drought Demands Drastic Decisions County Supes
Mobilizing state resources to face another year of extreme dry conditions, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. last week joined Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Republican Leaders Senator Bob Huff and Assemblymember Kristin Olsen to announce legislation to help local communities cope with the ongoing, devastating drought. The $1 billion package will expedite bond funding to make the state more resilient to the disastrous effects of climate change and help ensure that all Californians have access to local water supplies. “This unprecedented drought continues with no signs yet of letting up,” said Governor Brown. “The programs funded by the actions announced today will provide direct relief to workers and communities most impacted by these historic dry conditions.” SEE PG. 7
Order Flawed Communications System Be Fixed
A River Used to Run Through It – Eaton Canyon in Pasadena used to carry a wonderful stream of water from the San Gabriel mountains to the popular hiking areas … alas the drought has dried up just about every inch in the canyon. – Photo by Terry Miller
Major Crimes Detectives Rescue Victim from 3 Years of Involuntary Servitude, Human Trafficking
Deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station Tuesday responded to a restaurant on the 23300 block of Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita regarding a tip that an employee was allegedly being forced to work against his will. Deputies arrived at the restaurant and began an investigation. They located an employee at the business who said he had been forced by the owner of the restaurant to work as a cook without pay for approximately three years. The victim regularly worked twelve to fourteen hours a day, seven days a week. The victim alleged that he was physically assaulted by the owner whenever he made any mistakes while performing
his duties. Deputies were also told that the victim had been forced to live at the restaurant owner’s home,
- Courtesy Photo: LASD
and was driven to and from work. The victim further said he was not allowed to communicate with anyone in the outside world. Santa Clarita personnel
notified the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau who responded with their Human Trafficking Task Force members. Their Federal partners, Homeland Security Investigations Bureau, also responded to assist along with a Los Angeles County District Attorney investigator. The Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau handles all commercial sex and labor related human trafficking crimes throughout the County. The owner of the restaurant, later identified as Pardeep Kumar, a 47-yearold male from Newhall, was placed under arrest for Mayhem, Assault With A Deadly Weapon, Involuntary Servitude, and Human SEE PG. 5
On a motion by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to end the immediate construction of a network of antenna sites proposed as part of a dedicated emergency communication system. Citing health risks to firefighters and local residents, along with local community concerns and a lack of transparency, Mayor Antonovich’s motion calls for an outreach campaign and a legislative effort to extend the grant funding deadline, among other things. “While a reliable communications platform is vital to preserve life and SEE PG. 4
Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA Launches “Community Cat” During the month of April, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA will offer no-cost spay and neuter surgeries, plus free rabies vaccinations as part of “Community Cat,” PetSmart Charities’ spay/ neuter campaign to alter free-roaming cats. If left unaltered, feral and stray cats produce large quantities of unwanted kittens each spring, flooding local animal shelters and leading to higher euthanasia rates. By taking a proactive approach and getting the cats fixed now, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA will help lessen the impact of the coming kitten season. Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the home-
less pet population and is safe for kittens as young as eight to ten weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Spaying a female cat
before the first heat cycle can be beneficial, improving the health of the cat by reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and SEE PG. 3
Coral and Silky were rescued feral cats and spayed and neutered - Photo by Terry Miller
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