Local Teen Competes For Miss California Teen USA®
El Monte Union Educator Named Among LA County Teachers of the Year
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westcovinapress.com
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2017 - OCTOBER 25, 2017 - VOLUME 5, NO. 42
DMV Launches Disabled Person Parking Placard Awareness Campaign Program to combat abuse through statewide education In an effort to curb the fraudulent use of Disabled Person Parking Placards, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a statewide public awareness campaign to educate Californians about the proper use of disabled parking placards and the consequences of misusing one. The campaign, combined with proactive enforcement efforts, is designed to achieve greater compliance. The multifaceted program includes the release of a monthly citation report, the distribution of posters and brochures that can also be easily printed from the DMV website, a public service announcement for television and radio, and social media messages and testimonials, among others. “By raising public awareness, our goal is to get drivers to think twice
before illegally using a disabled person parking placard,” said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. “We want to remind Californians that these placards are issued to individuals who have a qualified disability and can only be used by them.” People breaking the law must appear in court and face possible fines that range from $250 to $1,000. While the misdemeanor offense will appear on an offender’s driver record, no points will be assessed because it is not a moving violation. “The level of reported or observed abuse varies from area to area,” said DMV Investigations Chief Frank Alvarez. “Most violations involve using disabled parking placards issued to family or friends to avoid parking fees, and
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Inland Empire Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Offense An Inland Empire man pleaded guilty to a federal child exploitation offense after coercing at least six boys around the nation to send him sexually explicit videos – some of which were posted on the internet when victims refused to send additional images and videos. Francisco Javier Soledad, 25, of Eastvale, pleaded guilty to one count of using the internet to induce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. In a plea agreement filed in United States District court, Soledad admitted victimizing six boys between the ages of 12 and 15 over the course of several months in 2016. Soledad found the victims – who lived across the nation, from California to Georgia – on
social media sites he accessed under the handle “linkinparkrocks.” Soledad pleaded guilty to one count related to a victim in Illinois, but he admitted engaging in similar conduct with at least five other boys he communicated with via Snapchat, text messages and email. According to court documents, Soledad assumed different personas – sometimes a 13-year-old boy, and other times an adult woman – to convince the victims to send him explicit photographs and videos. When several of the victims refused demands to send additional images, Soledad threatened to publish the previously sent images on social media platforms. In at least one instance, Soledad See Page 2
INV 7030 P2 (NEW 9/2017) WWW
– Courtesy photo by D.M.V.
Beach Streets Uptown Is Back On Oct 28
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Beach Streets is back where it all began.
Q&A with Assistant District Attorney Mary Ashley
Beach Streets is an Open Streets event designed to showcase businesses & neighborhoods. For a single day, we close a major traffic corridor to cars & open the street to people walking & bicycling. The event attracts local residents & visitors from across the region to explore & discover the area at a slower “foot-traffic” pace. Previous Beach Streets events have attracted more than 40,000 people. • Participants of all ages will enjoy family-friendly entertainment at festival hubs along the route, including Wardlow Rd, Atlantic Ave & Houghton
Park. • Opportunity for participants to discover local businesses & services. Try a new restaurant. Explore a new retail store. Find a business service that suits your needs. • Modes of transportation along the route include: Walking, bicycles, skates, rollerblades, skateboards, etc… Basically anything without a motor (officially marked means of transportation for those with disabilities excepted). • The event route is free of vehicle traffic & parked cars, no cars on the street! Businesses, we enSee Page 3
Q: What is being done at the national to address issues of domestic violence? Ashley: Our nation is still at war in putting a stop to domestic violence. There is no place in this country for this kind of abuse and violence, yet it exists in every state. Organizations like the California District Attorneys Association and the National District Attorneys Association continually offer specialized educational forums and promote awareness efforts, such as the release of a Policy Paper earlier this year by the NDAA WPS on Best Practices for Domestic Violence. It is important
that we are at the table with state and national legislators who will listen to our concerns and assist in advocating for better laws, resources and assistance for victims’ rights. Q: Why is it necessary to collaborate on these issues? Ashley: Collaboration between community partners and stakeholders is key to best hold perpetrators accountable and help victims to feel safe. When law enforcement is able to easily communicate with medical personnel, health care staff, child welfare members and the local
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