The Votes Are In!
SEE IF YOUR FAVORITES MADE THE LIST – AUGUST 27 –
COMPLIMENTARY COPY Volume 19, No. 33
arcadiaweekly.com
Thursday, August 13, 2015 - August 19, 2015
Your Voice, Your Community Since 1996
California Water Use Drops 27.3 Percent, Exceeds 25 Percent Mandate for June
Sex Offender Sues Arcadia Over Residency Restrictions
San Gabriel Valley Water Company Reduced Water Use by 35% in June
By Joe Taglieri
By terry miller What Speaker of the House John Boehner failed to realize a couple of weeks ago when he attacked Arcadia for its water conservation efforts was that in California, we care about conservation. In mid-June we shared with our readers a photo depicting Arcadia’s efforts to reduce water usage. Here’s what Speaker John Boehner posted on his Facebook page: “If ever there was a phrase that perfectly encapsulates liberal environmentalists’ backwards priorities and regressive ideology of restriction and scarcity, it is the one now displayed on a government sign in Arcadia, California: ‘It’s ‘green’ to go brown.’” Arcadia’s illustrious city manager, Dominic Lazaretto, had this marvelous quip to the Speaker’s absurd remarks: “If the Speaker would like to send Arcadia the thousands of acre-feet of water we would need to be able to keep our lawns green, I will happily accept them. Otherwise, Arcadia will continue to do its part to ensure that our residents have enough water to drink until the drought breaks.” Arcadia’s Mayor, Gary Kovacic, added this comment: “If the Speaker’s perpetual golf game ever brings him to Santa Anita Golf Course, perhaps he will understand the true facts about our drought and Arcadia’s tremendous efforts to conserve.” SEE PG. 14
Despite revisions last year to an ordinance that severely limits housing options for potential residents convicted of sex crimes, a registered sex offender has filed a lawsuit against the city of Arcadia that seeks to repeal the law entirely. Recent state court decisions have challenged similar ordinances in other California municipalities, as advocates for sex offenders' constitutional rights have over the last several years filed lawsuits aimed at rolling back what they claim are unfairly restrictive and discriminatory enforcement actions by Arcadia and a number of other locales
statewide. Last September the Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to enact the following amendments to the city's sex offender regulations: Council members revised "the definition of a sex offender to include only those individuals who have committed offenses against children," according to a city staff report. The council also removed "restrictions on where a sex offender may travel or loiter and ... regulations involving the Child Safety Zone" in addition to rewording the ordinance to
A woman was pulled from a burning apartment building in Arcadia by the Arcadia Fire Department Friday night, Aug. 7th. She was suffering from smoke inhalation and transported to Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia. The department responded to the fire in the 900 block of West Huntington Drive. The Los Angeles County, Monrovia, and Pasadena Fire Departments assisted Arcadia. Fire crews discovered fire and smoke coming from an upstairs unit of a very
large two-story apartment building at 922 W. Huntington. The unit of origin was charged with smoke throughout with fire burning freely from the bedroom window. Suppression personnel immediately conducted fire attack operations, search and rescue operations, evacuated the building, protected exposure and performed ventilation operations. With all first alarm resources committed, a second alarm response was requested along with an ad-
SEE PG. 16
Woman Pulled From Arcadia Apartment Fire With Critical Injuries
Isabella Lake is disappearing right before California’s eyes, and some Kern River Valley residents are really worried. This fishing boat sank years ago and now serves as a graphic example of how bad California’s drought is. . - Photo by Ted Jorensen
Steaks • Seafood • Martini’s • Catering An American Cafe in a Contemporary Casual Setting
607 N. Azusa Ave. Azusa, CA 91702
| (626) 633-0269
Now Open! 11am-10pm Daily ~ Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner
SEE PG. 17