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Monterey Park City Council authorizes early end of furloughs The City of Monterey Park has announced that the City Council approved ending the general employees' furloughs early. Furloughs will officially end April 1, 2014 and the city hall employees will return to a regular work schedule with city hall hours returning to a five day work week: Monday thru Thursday 7:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This furlough, agreed to by these three general employee units, represented a savings to the city's funds in excess of a million dollars annually. The city's financial circumstances had required significant cooperation from all of the city's general employee groups. The Mayor and City Council would like to acknowledge and thank these bargaining teams and the individual members of SEIU, the Mid-Management Association (MMA) and the Confidential Employees' Association (CEA) for coming to the table and agreeing to help the City during these challenging fiscal times. Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian stated, "The City Council recognizes the sacrifice the General Employees made these past three years assisting the city with the difficult but necessary steps to ensure the city's future financial health. We appreciate their support and efforts. Ending furloughs early is our way of saying "thank you." We also thank our residents for their patience during this time period and am pleased to report that, as of April 1, 2014, city hall will be open for business five days a week." The general employees expressed their appreciation of the City Council Please see page 3
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2013 - Volume 1, No. 18
Chemical odor exposes 200 people in Monrovia to gas, hospitalizes nine
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Glendale resident appointed to Apprenticeship Council Frank J. Quintero, 68, of Glendale, has been appointed to the California Apprenticeship Council. Quintero has served in multiple positions for the City of Glendale since 2001, including mayor and city council member. He was director of the Alliance for Education from 1976 to 2002. Quintero is a member of the BurbankGlendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and the Orangeline Development AuthorPlease see page 2
Firefighters from numerous agencies were decontaminated after being exposed to a volatile mixture of Cyclo Aliphathic resin, Boron trifluoride, and Ancamine chemicals which caused 200 people to be treated for exposure Monday in Monrovia. – Photo by Terry Miller
by terry miller A ‘shelter in place’ order was lifted early Monday evening in Monrovia after a hazardous materials spill sickened residents and local employees, according to city officials. At least 45 people reported symptoms including dizziness, chest pains, asthma, nausea and vomiting. A manufacturing company (Air Logistics) on Railroad Avenue was batch
mixing three chemicals and at some point there was an adverse reaction causing the chemicals to heat up and off gas into the air,” said Alexis Newell the Public Information Officer for Monrovia. Approximately 200 people reported symptoms including dizziness, chest pains, asthma, nausea and vomiting. At 11:05am Monday smoke was reported coming out of vents in a roof at 146 Railroad Avenue. The
unknown resin was off gassing. Monrovia Fire, Health HazMat and AQMD (Air Quality Mgmt District)were on scene throughout the day to identify the chemical and treat patients. Nine people were hospitalized with two requiring immediate care and IV support, according to Newell. In the earliest hours HazMats crews were seen working to try to identify the mystery chemicals since identified as Cyclo Alipha-
thic resin, Boron trifluoride, and Ancamine. Firefighters were decontaminated by fellow firefighters in their turnouts after being exposed to the gases as a precaution. Of those 200 people exposed to the chemical gases, 45 became symptomatic, reporting dizziness and other symptoms. One of the main thoroughfares in Monrovia, Myrtle Avenue,
nevertheless a sad day for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. We do not tolerate misconduct by any deputies. This department is grounded in its core values, namely to honorably perform our duties with respect for the dignity of all people, and integrity to do right and
Prosecutors Monday filed criminal charges against two me n accused of stealing a vehicle part from the wrecked Porsche Carrera GT in which actor Paul Walker died, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. Deputy District Attorney Sera Boyadjian of the San Fe rnando Branch Office said Jameson Brooks Witty, 18 (dob 11/18/95), and Anthony Edward Janow, 25 (dob 6/1/88), are charged with one felony count of grand theft of personal property. Witty and Janow also are charged with two misdemea nor counts each of destroying evidence and resisting, obstructing and delaying a peace officer. Janow is expected to surrender to-
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18 Los Angeles sheriff's deputies arrested in federal jail investigation Baca says ‘no one is above the law'
The U.S. Justice Department on Monday charged 18 current or former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies with federal civil rights violations in connection with an FBI investigation into alleged excessive force in the nation largest jail system. The charges include unjustified beatings of inmates and visitors at down-
town jails, unjustified detentions and conspiring to obstruct the investigation at the Men's Central Jail. "These incidents did not take place in a vacuum — in fact, they demonstrated behavior that had become institutionalized," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said at an afternoon news conference. "The pattern of activity
alleged in the obstruction of justice case shows how some members of the Sheriff's Department considered themselves to be above the law." All are lower to midranking deputies, an unidentified law enforcement official told the Associated Press. “While the indictments were not unexpected, it is
Two charged with theft of a vehicle part stemming from Paul Walker’s fatal collision