Rosie Vasquez getting "dumped" in Montebello. Barajas, Molinari, Gomez take early lead: MONTEBELLO CITY GEN MUNI - COUNCILMEMBER 3 ELECTED

MONTEBELLO CITY GEN MUNI - COUNCILMEMBER:
Candidate Votes Percent
W M MOLINARI 776 18.15
A R 'ART' BARAJAS 610 14.27
FRANK A GOMEZ 565 13.21
G 'JOE' VENEZIANO 539 12.61
R 'ROSIE' VASQUEZ 472 11.04
JAMSHID J JAVAHERI 433 10.13
NANCY CADENA-PEREZ 406 9.49
JORGE MANZUR 278 6.5
RICHARD GARCIA 197 4.61

VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3
Registration27,542
Precincts Reporting3
Total Precincts19
% Precincts Reporting15.79"

Kang Cruising, Montgomery Losing: ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL - GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER

CHALLENGER JAMES KANG CRUISING TO WIN in EARLY VOTING for ABC School Board. Incumbent David Montgomery on verge of losing seat.

ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL - GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER:
"Candidate VotesPercent

JAMES KANG 2,224 25.3
MARK E PULIDO 1,918 21.82
OLYMPIA CHEN 1,672 19.02

DAVID MONTGOMERY 1,501 17.08
DAVID N SHAFFER 1,474 16.77

VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3
Registration51,678
Precincts Reporting3
Total Precincts36
% Precincts Reporting8.33"

Carmen Avalos behind challenger Shin Liu for CERRITOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER

Incumbent Carmen Avalos trails challenger Shin Liu for Cerritos College Board in early returns.


CERRITOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE - GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER:
"BOB HUGHLETT 4,747 24.05
BOB EPPLE 4,503 22.81
SHIN LIU 3,881 19.66
CARMEN AVALOS 3,438 17.42
TOM CHAVEZ 3,171 16.06

VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3
Registration192,786
Precincts Reporting5
Total Precincts132
% Precincts Reporting3.79"

Artesia Tax Measure Losing; Flowers, Manalo, Lyons in front for Council seats

Incumbents Sally Flowers, Victor Manalo and former councilman John Lyon is leading for Artesia City Council.  Both proposed local tax measures are currently being defeated.

ARTESIA CITY COUNCIL  3 ELECTED
SALLY A FLOWERS    268    32.25



VICTOR MANALO       263    31.65


JOHN P LYON                219 26.35

I (INDU) PATEL              81    9.75

VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3

 MEASURE S  Hotel  TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX -
YES     163    43.24
NO     214   56.76

MEASURE Y  Business Lisence Taxes
YES     168   44.68%
NO       208   55.32%

Pico Rivera Early Returns: Armenta, Camacho, Ramirez battle for top 2 spot. Beilke trails badly

After the Absentee BALLOTING for 2 PICO RIVERA CITY COUNCIL SEATS. Incumbent David Armenta is leading followed by challenger Gus Camacho and EA Pete Ramirez is only 35 votes in 3rd Place.



DAVID W ARMENTA    479    21.67
GUSTAVO CAMACHO 431    19.5
EA "PETE" RAMIREZ 396     17.92
RON BEILKE              333      15.07
M "MARTY" MORONES   312   14.12
LUIS ALVARADO           163       7.38
RAUL RIESGO            96        4.34

VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 2

Voter Turn Out at the Polls: One word....AWFUL

Voting on Ashworth Place in the City of Cerritos, California. 

Voter turn out today was just plain awful...less than 10%TOTAL voter participation as of 6 p.m. 

Polls close at 8 p.m. here in Los Angeles County for many local school boards, college boards, and for city council races in Artesia, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Montebello, Hawaiian Gardens, El Monte and South El Monte.

An overwhelming amount of voters today decided to Vote By Mail. WATCH the EARLY election returns to see if a voting "trend" is established.

You gotta LOVE ELECTION NIGHTS!  Lots of really nervous candidates running around town....Stay Tuned for returns....

Randy Economy

Montebello City Council Election: Trash Talkin' campaign comes down to money...like $389,000 from Athens Garbage contributions...and RISING

TRASH MONEY

FUELS EMOTIONAL  MONTEBELLO

CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN

By Randy Economy
(Montebello, CA) - The nine candidates running in today's Montebello City Council election have one thing in common.  Money, and lots of it. This campaign has been nasty, loud, crazy and has this city of 62,000 residents on an emotional political rollercoaster.

Nine hopefuls are vying for three seats on the City Council.  All of them are well funded so money is not a problem here.  Having been involved in dozens of Montebello City Council elections in the past, trust me, this one is one for the record books.

So far $389,324 in contributions to candidates and political action committees has been raised here according to reports filed with the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Office.

The election is being driven by an exclusive 15-year contract awarded to Athens Services in July 2008 to haul all trash in the city.  Athens raised $548,251, some of which have been doled out to other local city council candidates, but a huge majority of this campaign cash has been spent in Montebello, according to documents.

Trash haulers raised $242,746 through its "Save Our City" campaign.  

In Montebello, challengers Giuseppe Veneziano, Jamshid Jimmy Javaheri, Nancy Cadena-Perez, Frank Gomez, Richard Garcia and Jorge Manzur will appear on ballots alongside incumbents Bill Molinari and Rosie Vasquez (seen here are Molinari and Rosie Vasquez).

Five candidates submitted late contributions on Friday totaling more than $100,000, according to the Whittier Daily News.

25,500 registered voters are tagged here. 

Look for a modest voter turnout, say in the 25 to 30 percent range here.

RrE

ELECTION PICKS! Campaign Madness Is Over! Voters head to Ballot Box. My CHOICES MAY SURPRISE YOU...

Campaign 2009 is about to be decided by the People, and this local campaign has seen it all...literally.

Voters head to the Polls throughout Southern California on Tuesday to elect candidates for local school and college boards, and in some communities new City Council Members as well as controversial local tax measures.

The HOT races to watch are for Pico Rivera City Council (I support E.A. "Pete" Ramirez and Councilman David Armenta).  Also VOTE NO on MEASURE TR! Enough of phony local tax schemes in PICO RIVERA.

Bell Gardens City Council (I like INCUMBENT Daniel Crespo and CHALLENGER Javier Sanchez and CHALLENGER CRISTINA GARCIA in this campaign).

For the ABC School Board of Education (If you like the status quo vote for Incumbents Mark Pulido, David Montgomery and Olympia Chen, if you want change, the only choices you have are challengers James Kang and David Shaffer. I lean for Shaffer, Pulido and Kang...but it's Your Pick!).

Artesia City Tax Measures Y and S (I say No on Y and S. No new taxes, especially when it's on the backs of the small business owners and hotel/motel guests). In a ho-humm Artesia City Council election  (Pick Sally Flowers, return John Lyons and re-elect Dr. Victor Manalo).

Cerritos College Board of Trustees (Your PICK, No RECOMMENDATIONS HERE, but look for a possible upset win by Tom Chavez and Dr. Shin Liu.  These two have run what some are calling a "textbook/brass tacks campaign).

Bellflower Unified School Board (they need NEW blood,  VOTE for CHALLENGERS CORINNE S. MAESTRO and ANGELIA B. PARRISH).

In Santa Fe Springs City Council (I URGE a Vote FOR Rio Hondo College Trustee Gary Mendez for one of the 3 City Council slots.  The campaign of challenger Jose Angel Zamora has been full of half-truths and lots of double talk).

In Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District (CHALLENGERS Margarita Rios looks good and so does JESUS G. "JESSE" URQUIDI).

IN Hawaiian Gardens voters will elect at least one new city council member.  (I like Pastor Barry Bruce in The Gardens for sure, and Grant Winford and Teresa Macias for the other 2 slots.  THE GARDENS NEED new LEADERS,  and THIS election could be a HUGE MILESTONE in the city's history!)

All of these campaigns have seen expensive and some might even say down right "nasty" campaigning on all sides. 

In Santa Fe Springs, no less than 10 "hit pieces" were sent to voters. Pico Rivera voters recieved at least 12 different "hit pieces" on the 4 main contenders, and in Hawaiian Gardens and Bell Gardens the negative campaigning included dvd's and computerized taped telephone calls urging defeat of one particular candidate or another. 

The race for ABC School Board also saw it's share of misleading campaign mail from just about all sides of the political spectrum.  You Tube has been full of campaign "hits" on ABC School Board candidates, and on the Bell Gardens City Council hopefuls.

The next time someone tells you that school board elections and city council races are non-controversial, tell them to just remember the tone of this campaign.  It's been raw and nasty.

I hope everyone votes.   THINK about WHO you are VOTING FOR and HOW that candidate will serve as an elected official.  Check back here for up to the minute election results on TUESDAY Night beginning at 8:15 p.m.   For more details, visit http://www.lavote.net/

Randy Economy

CNN names Pico Rivera as the "Latino Mayberry." Are you kidding me?

MAYBERRY, North Carolina meet
Pico Rivera, California!


With all of the controversy that has plagued Pico Rivera over these past two years, it was interesting to see this "outside" look into the community from CNN during its much hyped "Latinos In America" series that aired this past week.

Pico Rivera is part of the rich culture of Southern California.  But is it fair to label the community as the "Latino Mayberry?" 

If Pico Rivera is the new Latino Mayberry, who is playing the role of Goober or Barney Fife in this town?  Is there a real "Sheriff Andy Taylor" in Pico? Paging Aunt Bea and who is the Pico town kid that is ALWAYS getting into trouble? (I might have the answer afterall....)

Hummm.  As a matter of fact, CNN may be ON to something.  If you watch this clip, you will see former Pico Rivera Mayor Gracie Gallegos Smith (the blond ex-felon mayor) who is standing next to PIO Bob Spencer at the Little League Opening Day Ceremony.  Both Smith and Spencer have left Pico Rivera since this clip was filmed.

After watching this, I have come to the conclusion that CNN is really "sheltered" in what goes on outside of their fancy luxury studio in Atlanta, Georgia and totally "out of touch" with "real life" problems that are occurring here in Pico Rivera.  They totally missed the boat on their reporting...

Do you share this same impression as CNN?   Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com.

Trick or Treating? Not in our Eastside Cerritos Hood. Is this tradition dead on arrival?

Tonight is Halloween here in America. 

Our Tony Eastside Cerritos, California 'hood has hundreds of school aged youngsters going to Cerritos Elementary here.

Tonight we had a GRAND TOTAL of 11 Trick or Treaters ... period.

Is the tradition of "Trick or Treating" sadly going bye-bye?

How many Trick or Treaters  did you have at your house?  The costumes were wonderful tonight, very creative.

How much candy do you have left over?

Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com and tell me what you think about Trick or Treating and does it matter to kids anymore.

Feel free to send me any pics from Halloween 2009.

Randy Economy

Randy Economy's Blog: 16,000 NEW READERS in OCTOBER! THANKS for YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT!!

I just wanted to THANK all of you for making October, 2009 the BEST month EVER here on my Blog. 

More than 16,000 NEW READERS logged on  here this past month, to visit "The World Around Us." 

I also celebrated my 1 Millionth reader this past month, a milestone I will always cherish.  

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween, and Don't Be Tricked. I can only imagine what lies ahead in November.
Randy Economy

Supervisor Don Knabe to deliver "State of Los Angeles County" next Wednesday, Nov. 4th in Long Beach. Webcast also planned at www.Knabe.com

STATE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

  Randy Economy Photos of Supervisor Don Knabe

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, our Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will deliver his annual State of the County Speech before an anticipated capacity crowd of 1,200 people at the Long Beach Convention Center.

For the first time, Sup. Knabe’s speech will be broadcast live on the Internet at http://www.knabe.com/. The event begins at 11:30 a.m., but the Internet broadcast will begin at approximately 12:15 p.m., once the Supervisor actually begins his speech.   (Can we call this Knabe Kast? Whadda you think, Don?)

“I am excited that community members who are not able to personally attend State of the County this year will still have convenient access to my speech,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Los Angeles County is geographically vast and many people that may want to hear the speech but cannot attend will now have a way to watch it.”

During his speech, Supervisor Knabe plans to discuss the County’s financial situation, give an update on efforts to improve to local economy through the 10,000 jobs initiative and career technology training programs, and unveil over $42 million in capital projects that will be built in communities across the Fourth District in the year ahead.

Viewers can log on to on www.knabe.com on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 beginning at 12:15 p.m. to see the Supervisor’s speech. The address also will be made available later on http://www.knabe.com/ for those who miss the live broadcast.

Gavin Newsom makes it official...he's OUT of Governor's Race!

Here is the official statement from San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom who pulled out of the race for Governor.  I  have three words...Viva Jerry Brown!

It is with great regret I announce today that I am withdrawing from the race for governor of California. With a young family and responsibilities at city hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to — and should be — done.

This is not an easy decision. But it is one made with the best intentions for my wife, my daughter, the residents of the city and county of San Francisco, and California Democrats.

When I embarked on this campaign in April, my goal was to engage thousands and thousands of Californians dedicated to reforming our broken system and bringing change to Sacramento.

I would like to thank those supporters, volunteers, and donors who have worked so hard on my behalf. I have been humbled by their support and am indebted to their efforts. They represent the spirit of change and determination essential to putting California back on the right track.

I will continue to fight for change and the causes and issues for which I care deeply — universal health care, a cleaner environment and a green economy for our families, better education for our children, and, of course, equal rights under the law for all citizens.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

BREAKING NEWS: Gavin Newsom calling it quits in CA Guv race? KCAL says it's true and the 'net is a buzzzzzzz......

KCAL NEWS in LA and Mike Higby of the politics blog Mayor Sam's Sister City reports that SF Mayor Gavin Newsom will announce his withdrawl from the California gubernatorial race this afternoon.
Mayor Sam says:

We don't know if this is a Halloween prank (and if it is it's not mine cause I only do April Fools Jokes) but sources in the Capital are telling us that a handful of high profile donors to candidate for Governor Gavin Newsom say the San Francisco Mayor is going to announce this afternoon his withdrawl from the race, after failing to gain traction in the race.

My opine: Gavin Newsom was never going to win the Democratic Primary any way. Go Jerry Brown Go.

Pico Rivera Campaign Sign snaggers criminal Booking Photos Released

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has released the mugshot photos of the three suspected "Pico Rivera Political Sign Theives."

They are (left to right) Steven "The Stapler" Duran, age 20;  James "Hang em' High" Diaz, age 19, and Paul "Don't Call Me Fuentes" Puentes age 20. All three men are from Pico Rivera.  They were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing campaign signs belonging to incumbent City Councilman and candidate David Armenta.

These three told Sheriff authorities that James "Jimmie" Beilke, the son of Councilman Ron Beilke promised to pay them as much as $8 for every political sign they stole belonging to Councilman Armenta

The Beilkes say they are innocent and had no involvement in the sign stealing ring. It was still unknown if Jimmie Beilke would be arrested and charged in the case.  An investigation is still ongoing.

Stay Tuned.

Randy Economy

James "Jimmy" Beilke Caught on Camera: Exclusive Photo of the Mastermind behind the Pico Rivera Campaign Sign Stealing Ring! Insider: "Emotions are running very high at Pico City Hall!"

EXCLUSIVE!!!!

JAMES "JIMMY" BEILKE

PICO RIVERA POLITICAL SIGN RING LEADER
CAUGHT ON CAMERA!

I wanted to thank http://www.prctip.org/ for sending me this "exclusive photo" of James "Jimmy" Beilke who is the alleged "mastermind" of the Pico Rivera political sign stealing ring that has already landed 3 suspects in custody.

Beilke is the son of Councilman Ron Beilke, and he has been named as the "ring leader" of the crime wave that has engulfed this emotional campaign.

Paul Puente, 20, Steven Duran, 20, and James Diaz, 19, all of Pico Rivera, were arrested at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. The three were booked on suspicion of stealing signs belonging to City Councilman David Armenta, detectives said.

During an interrogation, the three accused James Beilke Jr., son of City Councilman Ron Beilke, of offering to pay them to steal the signs, authorities said.

So, if you see this person driving around your neighborhood in Pico Rivera...PROTECT your CAMPAIGN SIGNS...and LOCK your DOORS!  See below for more details.

One of my inside sources over at Pico Rivera City Hall told me this afternoon that "EMOTIONS are RUNNING VERY HIGH" and this campaign caper by James "Jimmy" Beilke is the "straw that broke the camels back."

Stay tuned...we STILL have FIVE DAYS left in this BARN BURNER!

Pico Rivera Councilman Ron Belike's son implicated in Political Campaign Sign Stealing arrests

Well, it didn't take long for the details to come out about who was the alleged "Mastermind" behind the "campaign sign stealing" caper over in Pico Rivera that took place earlier this morning.

Convroversial Councilman Ron Beilke's adult son James Beilke is the alleged "ring leader" of the political sign stealing crime that has landed 3 of his pals behind bars. 

Here are the LATEST details from the Whittier Daily News. 

Doesn't ANYONE obey the laws when it comes to campaigning in Pico Rivera?  This town is totally outta control.

Seen>>>>>The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office of Public Integrity when they raided Councilman Ron Belike's "Hot Dog" stand earlier this year for alleged corruption charges.
Randy Economy

Three arrested for stealing Armenta campaign signs


Councilman Ron Beilke's son accused of offering to pay for thefts

By Bethania Palma Markus, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/28/2009 07:24:32 PM PDT
Whittier Daily News

PICO RIVERA - Three men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing campaign signs belonging to an incumbent City Council candidate and they accused an opponent's son of paying them to do it, authorities said.

Paul Puente, 20, Steven Duran, 20, and James Diaz, 19, all of Pico Rivera, were arrested at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. The three were booked on suspicion of stealing signs belonging to City Councilman David Armenta, detectives said.

During an interrogation, the three accused James Beilke Jr., son of City Councilman Ron Beilke, of offering to pay them to steal the signs, authorities said.

Councilman Beilke (below, seen pulling up his pants), who was not implicated in the theft, said his son was innocent.  "I think it's ridiculous," he said. "I think it's politics as usual. My son was home in bed last night where these kids should have been."

James Beilke was not available for comment because he was in class, his father said. "The detective interviewed (James Beilke) and he denied any involvement," said L.A. County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Chavez.

The incident began when an L.A. County Sheriff's deputy pulled Puente, Duran and Diaz over for driving without headlights. Their car carried an expired vehicle registration sticker. Inside its trunk deputies found 37 campaign signs for David Armenta, authorities said.

Puente, Duran and Diaz potentially face misdemeanor petty theft charges, Chavez said. James Beilke could face misdemeanor conspiracy to commit petty theft charges.

The investigation is ongoing and sheriff's detectives will bring their case against James Beilke, Puente, Duran and Diaz to the District Attorney's Office to determine whether and what charges will be filed, Chavez said.

Puente, Duran, Diaz and James Beilke are friends, Chavez said. The trio told deputies that James Beilke offered to pay them for taking down campaign signs, Chavez said. Chavez did not know how much was offered nor how the payment would be made.

James Beilke was neither arrested nor charged by deputies because he is accused of committing a misdemeanor not witnessed by law enforcement, Chavez said.

"By law we can't arrest for a misdemeanor that didn't occur in our presence," said L.A. County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Rothans. "All we can do is present it to the DA's office and they choose whether to file a case or not."
bethania.palma@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028

ARMENTA SIGN THEIVES: Political Sign War in Pico Rivera Lands 3 Suspects in Slammer

By Randy Economy
The political "sign war" in Pico Rivera has landed three young adults in the slammer on "petty theft" charges.

The men were booked on charges of receiving stolen property, law enforcement authorities said.

Paul Puente, 20, Steven Duran, 20, and James Diaz, 19, all from Pico Rivera, are suspected of taking signs belonging to city councilman and incumbent candidate David Armenta.

The men were stopped by a deputy who spotted them driving without headlights in car with expired registration, said L.A. County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Chavez. After stopping the car, a Deputy discovered 37 Armenta campaign signs in the trunk.

Between 150 to 200 "ARMENTA FOR PICO RIVERA" campaign signs were stolen on Tuesday night. These signs cost around $4 to $5 each.  More details to follow.

If you have details on this crime, drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com

Thousands line up for H1N1 Flu shots in Cerritos

 By Randy Economy

Thousands of local Cerritos residents lined up around the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Center this afternoon in hopes of receiving an H1N1 Flu Vaccination.

By 1 p.m., more than 4,000 people were already waiting in line and some had been there for more than 4 hours. The Clinic was scheduled to go on till 9 p.m. According to medical staff at the site, only 3,000 doses of the vaccine were available at this location.

The next H1N1 Clinic will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at the Hawaiian Gardens Human Resources Department, located at 21815 Pioneer Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This flu season the Center for Disease Control (CDC) warns that the young and the elderly are at high risk when it comes to the H1N1 flu virus. The most vulnerable in our community are encouraged to obtain an H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible.

You may be high risk if you are:

Between the ages of 24 to 64 with chronic health problems or a weakened immune system. Pregnant. Between 6 months to 24 years of age. Live with or care for children 6 months old or younger. Work in the health care or emergency medical services. Individuals that meet these qualifications are asked to visit any of the following locations on the dates indicated. If you do not meet the qualifications noted above, the H1N1 vaccine may be available later in the year.

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Whittier Daily News: Pico Rivera Needs a Good Scrubbing. Slams Hot Dog King/Councilman Ron Beilke, and his side kick Gustavo Camacho. Urges support of Councilman Armenta and Challenger Luis Alvarado

Note...

The Whittier Daily News has endorsed Incumbent David Armenta and upstart challenger Luis Alvarado for Pico Rivera City Council. The editorial slams the corruption at City Hall that they say has been "controlled" by embattled incumbent Ron Beilke and city manager Chuck Fuentes. Read this editorial, pass this along to your friends and neighbors in Pico Rivera, then vote to end the corruption at Pico Rivera City Hall, once and for all.

Randy Economy

Our View: Armenta, Alvarado for Pico Rivera
Posted: 10/27/2009 05:56:21 PM PDT

THE five challengers in the room had one thing in common.

They want to liberate Pico Rivera in the Nov. 3 City Council election from its heavy-handed, secretive way of doing business.

Their primary target is incumbent Councilman Ron Beilke. The Der Wienerschnitzel owner has been called "King Beilke" because it's his way or the highway. To his credit, Beilke makes things happen. To his detriment, the re-hiring of City Manager Chuck Fuentes and the addition of a second assistant city manager has incumbent David Armenta and challengers Luis Alvarado, Marty Morones, Raul Riesgo and Pete Ramirez noting the town is top-heavy in the gusty winds of economic recession.

Beilke is also under investigation by the District Attorney's Office for alleged election-code violations and allegations of conflict of interest for his vote on a project that benefited his restaurant.

Fellow challenger and Beilke sidekick Gustavo Camacho had the audacity to say he didn't believe in newspaper endorsements. Beilke and Camacho were conspicuous no-shows at our editorial board meeting last week. We wonder what they're hiding.

Pico Rivera needs a good scrubbing.

The city's overall aura of corruption can't be ignored, not when former Mayor Gracie Gallegos-Smith was convicted for felony insurance fraud but continued to serve anyway without a word from those in City Hall who knew of her legal situation.

Many in Pico's power elite were given free parking exemptions so their vehicles could not be ticketed. 

When this newspaper asked for campaign finance reports, we were told by the city clerk we'd have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get documents that were created for the public's view.

Measure P, a 1-cent sales tax hike, was passed by voters in November and, along with other bumps in sales taxes, give Pico Rivera the dubious distinction of one of the nation's highest sales taxes.

Measure P was forced down residents' throats with the threat of "draconian" cuts in city services while the council was jockeying to use the money to leverage bonds for parks and library improvements.

Clearly the public's right to know does not enter into the current council's equation. Arrogance and secrecy rule the day.

Despite a recent CNN special that compared it to a "Latino Mayberry," we have seen very few councils that do business in darker shadows than those over Pico Rivera.

Its people deserve better.

That's why we are throwing our support behind David Armenta. He's been on the losing end of many 3-2 votes, but has remained dedicated to speaking his mind. The divorced single father and retired aerospace administrator has lived in the city for 45 years and spent the last eight on the council.

"We need a major housecleaning. Our dirty laundry is at the top," he said. "We have two serpent heads - Chuck and Ron. I am the one who tells the truth."

The next endorsement was a tough call. Morones is a Vietnam veteran obviously dedicated to cleaning up Pico Rivera, while Ramirez served on the council from 1997 to 2007 and has the experience gleaned from those years of service.

We also like Riesgo and urge the marketing consultant and youth sports proponent to run in April to fill the seat vacated by Gallegos.

But we endorse Luis Alvarado (seen here at the Norwalk Tea Party-Randy Economy Photo)  for his business-oriented platform that energizes Pico Rivera and gives fresh ideas and a new twist to the council. He called Measure P a "Trojan horse passed under the cover of darkness."

The political consultant and insurance broker added, "The people are tired of the bickering. We have the vision to understand the past and the future. I am running to provide an independent voice to the people of Pico Rivera."

The future of Pico Rivera is at stake and only its citizens have the power to change it for the better on Tuesday.

We hope they cast their votes for David Armenta and Luis Alvarado to help turn the city back toward the light.

H1N1 Flu Shots at Cerritos Center for Performing Arts on Wednesday, October 28th, and in Hawaiian Gardens on Wednesday Nov. 4th

Assemblyman Tony Mendoza presents this public service announcement...OOUCHH! Do the H1N1 Flu Shots hurt? Well, it depends who you ask?

The Los Angeles County Health Department and Assemblyman Tony Mendoza  will be holding two H1N1 Vaccine Clinics here in Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens for those in "priority groups." 

The first will be held on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28th from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Center.

The other will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at the Hawaiian Gardens Human Resources Department.  See below for BOTH specific addresses.

This flu season the Center for Disease Control (CDC) warns that the young and the elderly are at high risk when it comes to the H1N1 flu virus. The most vulnerable in our community are encouraged to obtain an H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible.

You may be high risk if you are:

Between the ages of 24 to 64 with chronic health problems or a weakened immune system.   Pregnant.  Between 6 months to 24 years of age. Live with or care for children 6 months old or younger. Work in the health care or emergency medical services.  Individuals that meet these qualifications are asked to visit any of the following locations on the dates indicated. If you do not meet the qualifications noted above, the H1N1 vaccine may be available later in the year.

Wednesday, October 28th
1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cerritos Performing Arts Center
12700 Center Court Drive (Near Towne Center Drive)
Cerritos, CA 90703


Wednesday, November 4th
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hawaiian Gardens Human Resources Dept.
21815 Pioneer Blvd.,
Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716

Thanks for you help, Tony Mendoza!

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Supervisor Don Knabe and MPT Joe Cho dishing up a great afternoon at Friendship Park

Around 200 of my neighbors here on the Eastside of Cerritos attended a special afternoon event to hear Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Cho talk about the many challenges facing our city, county and state.

I enjoied seeing lots of community leaders, and candidates for local offices at the eventl as well as lots of my neighbors. 

I have to salute Mayor Pro Tem Cho for organizing these "neighborhood" picnics for the past couple of years. 

He is the only City Councilman to ever host these type of neighborhood  to neighborhood events that give Cerritos residents the opportunity to get vital information about "what's happening around Cerritos and at City Hall."  To date, he has hosted almost 10 of these local gatherings.  Also saw our local Sheriff Commander Gonzales at the picnic.

Also had a nice visit with the Cho family, including Joesph's wife Lucy, and sons Andy and Tony Cho, who were cooking up a storm on the BBQ. (Seen above).

I also visited with 2 candidates running in next week's election.  James Kang for ABC School Board and Dr. Shin Liu for Cerritos College Board of Trustees.  Both are working hard in this campaign, and both are facing tough opponents. >>>>>

Also seen were Cho-appointed commissioners Ken Cha, Alon Barlevy, Nick Kim, and Julietta Williams.

Thanks for a great afternoon Don Knabe and Joseph Cho!

BREAKING: NORWALK COUNCILMAN RICK RAMIREZ ARRESTED for Criminal Threats against his wife, Little Lake School Board Clerk Gina Ramirez! EXCLUSIVE!

Happier times...Gina and Rick Ramirez

Randy Economy EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

BREAKING NEWS--EXCLUSIVE

NORWALK COUNCILMAN RICK RAMIREZ IS ARRESTED FOR MAKING CRIMINAL THREAT ON WIFE
Little Lake School Board Member Gina A. Ramirez!

By Randy Economy
UPDATED AT 11:00 p.m.
October 24, 2009

Note:  I was the FIRST to BREAK this STORY at 11:40 a.m. on SATURDAY, OCT. 24th, just 20 minutes after Councilman Ramirez was released on Bail.

(Norwalk, CA)  Norwalk City Councilman Rick Ramirez, 41, was arrested this morning for making "ciminal threats" against his wife Little Lake School Board Member Gina Ramirez. He was held on a $50,000 bail and was released at 11:25 a.m. on Saturday.

According to Watch Commander John Gannon of the Norwalk Sheriffs Station, Deputies were called to the Ramirez home in North Norwalk at 11:30 p.m. Friday night for a domestic disturbance call.  Ramriez was placed under arrest at 1:20 a.m., according to Sheriff booking records.  The Ramirez'es live at the 11000 block of Pluton Avenue,

Gina Ramirez is currently serving as Clerk of the Little Lake School Board of Education.  She announced earlier this Summer that she would not be seeking another term citing "personal family" matters.

Deputies took Councilman Ramirez into custody and booked him on one Felony count of making a "criminal threat."  The threat claimed the Councilman threatened his wife with "great bodily harm or death."

Councilman Ramirez is scheduled to appear in Bellflower Superior Court on Tuesday, October 27th at 8:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department website.   I will be reconfirming the exact time of his first Court appearance on Sunday.  Some media members are reporting that Ramirez first appearance in Court will be on November 20th.

More details to follow.

Sup. Don Knabe to attend MPT Joe Cho's monthly meeting at Friendship Park this Saturday afternoon!

Friendship Park here in my 'hood will be the site of Cerritos Mayor Joseph Cho's Monthly Neighborhood bar-b-que this Saturday, October 24th from Noon to 2 p.m.

This event is open to everyone here in Cerritos, and especially to our great neighbors here on the Eastside. 

The main speaker will be the amazing, and talented Don Knabe, who is the Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Admission is free, and Korean BBQ will be served.

Friendship Park is located at 13650 Acoro Street here in Cerritos. 

This is my HOT PICK of the weekend here in Cerritos!

Just Another HALO VICTORY! Angels beat Yankees in Game 5 thriller!

Image via Wikipedia

I was totally lucky to get to watch BOTH Game 3 AND Game 5 of the American League Championship series this week between the Los Angeles Angels of Cerritos and the New York Yankees.  Last night I went to see the ANGELS BEAT the Yanks in a come from behind AMAZING victory!

These two games will go down in Angel history.  Here is the final pitch of the game from Angel pitcher Brian Fuentes.  He was literally shaking on the mound right before the Angels got the final out.

Now, let's GO ANGELS, and beat New York in Yankee Stadium and bring the World Series here to the Hood! Let's win this for Nick Adenhart...our fallen Angel pitcher who passed away tragically at the beginning of this season!

I still have my "Big A" face tattoo...and it's not coming off till we go to the Series....baby! 

BtW...The Rally Monkee is my new Leader....

 

The Prayer for Peace: Passing along Mother Teresa of Calcutta's moving words!

I wanted to pass along the "Prayer for Peace" that was given this morning at the Cerritos Prayer Breakfast from Rev. Tony Gomez from St. Linus Catholic Church here in Norwalk. Thanks, Fr. Tony for sharing this with me and our readers.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta and speaks to everyones heart and these words are inspriational for everyone regardless of your Faith!

The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.


If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.


What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.


Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.


In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.


-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

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PRAYING FOR CERRITOS: A Morning Full of Blessings! Thanks to Matt Luke for making today Special!

Matt Luke ... Giving thanks in Cerritos!

This morning, I attended the Annual Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast over at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel. What a Blessing today's event was.

The inspirational Matt Luke, a former member of the New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers and someone who attended Kindergarten here in Cerritos, spoke about hope, and overcoming odds in his life.

He moved all of us today with his words about how he handled discrimination and harassment as a child from a rare facial disorder he was born with. Matt told about how he found God on his journey in Major League Baseball.

I have always loved seeing Matt Luke on the field when he played in the Major Leagues, and today I TRULY understood just how special he is as a person. Thanks Matt for your kindness and passion, you’re a hero of mine!

I also was Blessed today to see my dear friend Msgr. Gregory RAMKISSOON,  Founder of the Mustard Seed Communities who is here from Jamaica this week. Father Gregory has dedicated his life to help children without homes who are known as "garbage children" in some of the poorest and in remote areas of South America and the Caribbean Islands. Here is Msgr. Gregory with Prayer Breakfast Committee Chair Anna Titus (left) and Rosemary Economy (right) with Bob Buell.

Also at our table was Cerritos community leader Julietta Williams, Pastor Tony Gomez from St. Linus Catholic Church, and Pastor Keith Tanis from New Life Community Church in Artesia.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Chairman Don Knabe was a Masterful host this morning, and made everyone feel loved and welcomed. Thanks, Don for your compassion and commitment to Our Lord and to our community!

Mayor Bruce Barrows and Councilman Jim Edwards also read beautiful passages today, but my favorite moment was the "Prayer for Peace" from Fr. Tony Gomez. It was moving, and I will be posting this incredible Prayer here on the Blog later today!

We also remember Mary Ann Villegas this morning, who was the former Chairwoman of the event who passed away last year.  Mary would have loved this event today....Peace!
Randy

CALLING ALL ANGELS!! KEEPING HOPE ALIVE! LET'S BEAT THE YANKEES ON THURSDAY!

I will not give up on my Angels. I didn't give UP on them in 2002 when EVERYONE COUNTED them OUT, over and over and over again!

They took it on the chin on Tuesday night from the

NY Yankees. I'm heading over to Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night in Anaheim.

So, calling all Angels...
Say your prayers...
Keep calm...and remember...
 The New York Yankees are still a bunch of over paid idiots...who cheat and lie and take steroids...
Forgive me Father....
Hand me my Rally Monkey!
Randy Economy

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Angels beat Yankees in GAME 3 in BOTTOM of 11th INNINING! What an AMAZING GAME!

randy economy pics

...TODAY I headed over the watch my Angels take on the NY Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series and ended up seeing one of the most exciting games ever in recent memory!

I want to thank my pal Chris Halderson for attending this landmark game with me today. We had GREAT seats, and didn't mind the massive traffic jam both coming and going to and from Anaheim Stadium!

Here is the latest story from the Associated Press on the game, and my pics of today's game are also here.  So....I'm HEADING to GAME 5 of the ALCS SERIES on THURSDAY....RIGHT ON ANGLES!

Mathis provides Halo heroics in win vs. Yanks

Two-out double in 11th seals Los Angeles’ 5-4 victory; N.Y. lead now 2-1

From the Associated Press:
ANAHEIM, Calif. - When Derek Jeter led off Game 3 with a homer into the bullpen, this AL championship series seemed uncomplicated. Power hitting and steady pitching appeared to be driving New York to the World Series.

About 261 minutes, 14 pitchers, six homers and several big blunders later, a winning hit by a backup catcher left only one thing certain in this cuckoo series: The Los Angeles Angels won’t be trampled by the mighty Yankees.

Jeff Mathis drove home Howie Kendrick with a two-out double in the 11th inning, and the Angels survived a second straight ALCS thriller, beating New York 5-4 Monday to trim the Yankees’ series lead to 2-1.



“There was a lot of great baseball on that field this afternoon,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “There were a lot of twists and turns, and both teams played a terrific game. We just got it done at the end.”

Kendrick, himself a part-time infielder, homered and tripled before singling with two outs in the 11th off rookie Alfredo Aceves. Mathis followed with his drive up against the left-field wall, and Kendrick slid home well ahead of a desperate throw, setting off an on-field celebration of the backups’ bonanza.

Mathis, a .211 hitter in the regular season, came up with his third late-inning, extra-base hit of this outlandish series, just two days after the clubs’ 310-minute, 13-inning icy epic in Game 2.

“Obviously, it’s the biggest hit of my life,” Mathis said. “For Howie to have the at-bat he did right there, and to get on base and put one in the gap to win the game, it’s a pretty good feeling.”

If the Angels had any lingering doubts about their ability to match up with the big-money Yankees after two discouraging losses in the chilly Bronx, those worries melted during their comeback in the balmy Orange County sun.

“Man, that was one of the craziest games,” said Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who lamented his 1-for-5 effort. “It was an emotional roller coaster, man. We were up, we were down. I’ve got a headache right now, but it was a lot of fun. Both teams were battling and we came through in the end. As long as you have innings and outs left, you’ve got a chance to make something happen.”

Game 4 is Tuesday night, with CC Sabathia pitching on three days’ rest against Angels newcomer Scott Kazmir. Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Thursday.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a tying two-run homer as the Angels overcame a 3-0 deficit and four solo homers by the Yankees’ stars, including Jorge Posada’s tying shot in the eighth. Bobby Abreu made a big baserunning mistake, Joba Chamberlain flopped, and Mariano Rivera made a gutsy stand with the bases loaded in the 10th before Kendrick and Mathis made it all academic with two quick hits against Aceves, the Yankees’ eighth pitcher.

Mathis entered Game 3 in the eighth, and had a leadoff double in the 10th.

“You wouldn’t think Jeff Mathis would be the guy that beats us, but top to bottom, they’re a good lineup,” said Yankees reliever Phil Hughes, who got five outs and finished the ninth.

For the second straight game, the Angels and Yankees played into tense extra innings, stretching nerves and bullpens still frayed from Saturday’s marathon New York victory at Yankee Stadium.

“This is the type of series we expected it to be,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “We didn’t really stretch out any of our pitchers too far today out of the bullpen, so I believe our guys will be fine tomorrow.”

Rally Monkey: Let's GO ANGELS! I'm heading to Game 3 today. Send in the Monkey's!

RALLY MONKEY TIME!



I'm heading over to Anaheim Stadium to watch Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angeles of East Cerritos in the American League Championship Series this afternoon.

WE NEED THE RALLY MONKEY TODAY!  We CAN'T GIVE IN to the EVIL NY YANKEES! 

LETS GO ANGELS!

Randy Economy: Taxes only a mother could love. My take on local ballot tax measures in Artesia and Pico Rivera

 Note: This is my weekly column in the Los Cerritos Community News and is about Measure S and Y in Artesia, and Measure TR in Pico Rivera.

BY: RANDY ECONOMY

We ALL hate taxes.

California is the highest taxed state in the WORLD.

Have you ever thought about how much of your money goes to taxes each and every year or each and every day?

It’s amazing when you stop and actually ponder just how much it costs to live and gasp for air here in California. We are taxed for everything under the sun here in the Golden State, and I’m sick of it.

Candy bars, coffee, a bottle of coke, internet access, cable television, utilities, car registrations, and property taxes, special “district” taxes for water and mosquito abatement and libraries.

We get taxed to stay in a hotel, or when we buy a ticket to the movies. We get taxed when we buy tickets to baseball games on line.

Last week my cell phone broke into 7 pieces, so I had to replace it. When I found a new phone, over at the Verizon Store here at the Cerritos Towne Center the $79.00 phone replacement ended up costing me $113.80, because of $21 in “special fees” like “optional service access fees,” “equipment, surcharges and ‘other’ charges/credit’ activation fees,” and the good old’ “government surcharge fee of $4.81.”

What the hell? Are you kidding me?

Now, we are getting ready to vote in our local city and school board elections here on Tuesday, November 3rd. In the city of Artesia, and city of Pico Rivera voters face three local tax measures.

In Pico Rivera, voters will determine the fate of Measure TR that would decrease their “Utility Users Tax” by ½ of 1 percent. Pico Rivera residents are one of the highest locally taxed cities in the entire United States, and they are heading back to the ballot box to determine the fate of this controversial measure.

In Artesia the voters are facing two tax increases in Measures S and Y.


Measure Y would increase business license taxes. Artesia is the home of the wonderful and colorful Pioneer Boulevard Shopping District and is the home to the nationally known “Little India,” the California Milk Producers, as well as Olympic icon Michele Kwan’s “East West Ice Palace.”


Can small business people afford higher business “license” fees, especially in this rotten economy?


Let’s take a brief look at Measure S in Artesia.


Measure S would more than double the hotel occupancy tax from 6% to 12.5% on every Hotel/Motel room each and every night.


This means, a one night stay at the “Quality Inn & Suites” at Pioneer Boulevard and the 91 Freeway would cost you $112.00 a night instead of the current $99. These prices are from the Quality Inn’s web site.


On the other hand, if you book the same sized room over at the Sheraton Hotel in the Cerritos Towne Center, for the same one night stay, the cost would be around $99 per night.


Sheraton Cerritos or Quality Inn in Artesia? Humm?


So, what’s in a “hotel” occupancy tax increase? You might be surprised if you stop and “compare” prices and to actually do the “math.”


I understand that Cities are facing financial “crisis.” I get it. I also understand how we can make government more accountable with an active citizenry.


Less government is better. Leaner is not meaner. Let’s really tighten up the purse strings. Let’s hold our City Managers and our ELECTED City Council Members accountable for how they spend our money, before they ask us for yet another tax increase.


Sometimes we need to really think about how we vote, before we vote, and what we are actually voting on. Why? Because, we are being taxed to death.


What are your thoughts? How are you going to vote?


Drop me at note to RREconomy@CerritosNews.com

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ARTESIA COOL! City of Artesia celebrates 50 Years....Prom stylin....!

The HOT PARTY of the YEAR continued tonight in the City of Artesia, California!  The Artesia Historical Society held a real life PROM tonight at the Albert O. Little Community Center in celebration of it's 50th Birthday!!  What a BLAST!  Poodle skirts, bow ties, hula hoops, motorcycles, car hops, bee hives, up dos...this Prom had it all!

Seen tonight was the "Whoes WHO of Artesia!" 

Looking totally cool were (above-clockwise): Steve Donn and his son with sweet tunes; Hamburger? Fries? Ice Cream?  What's your pleasure?; Artesia Councilwoman Sally Zuniga Flowers (looking amazing) Diane Padelford Young (Artesia's FIRST FIRST Daughter), Former Mayor John Lyons in his vintage red Mustang, and the VERY cool Councilman John Martins and his wife Karen....ala John Travolta and Olvia Newton John from "Grease" fame!  Happy BIRTHDAY ARTESIA! Enjoy the PICS!

Randy Economy!

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El Monte City Manager brings new meaning to "Political Prostitution." He got BUSTED!

Speaking of Political Prostitutes in the San Gabriel Valley...

El Monte City Manager Jim Mussenden was arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of soliciting prostitution in Pomona. 

Is this guy totally stupid, or is he another City Manager who thinks that they are "above the law?"


Mussenden, 59, was among 30 suspects arrested during a six-hour sting, which began at 6 p.m. near east Holt Boulevard. He was cited, given a court date and released, Pomona police said. Mussenden referred all questions about the arrest to his attorney on Friday.

According to the El Monte City Website,  Mussenden was hired as City Manager on  July 1, 2006. He has  worked for the City of El Monte since 1983, almost 25 years serving as El Monte’s Code Enforcement Manager.  Code Enforcement Manager?  Are you kidding me?  He was actually responsible for ENFORCING the LAWS of EL MONTE, and gets popped by the Pomona Police Department for Prostitution solicitation?

The El Monte City Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The council will consider in closed session Mussenden's "discipline, dismissal, or release," according to the meeting's agenda. It has also placed on the agenda "consideration of appointment of city manager."

Councilwoman Emily Ishigaki thinks the council will put Mussenden on administrative leave, and that he will resign. "There is no way he could stay on. I don't think Jim would cause himself that embarassment," she said.

The sting involved undercover police officers posing as both prostitutes and customers in an area known for heavy prostitution activity, according to Pomona Ltn. Alex Rilloraza.

Twelve women and 18 men were arrested in the sting. The men without outstanding warrants were cited and given a court date, Rilloraza said.

Mussenden has been active in the El Monte Kiwanis Club and the Boys & Girls Club of San Gabriel Valley, according  to his biography on the city's Web site.  He is married with an adult daughter.

Randy Economy with Reports from The Associated Press

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FANTASTIC LOOK BY THE LA TIMES ON HOW MUCH MONEY IT COSTS TO EAT WITH OBAMA!

Note: This is a GREAT look at how much money it took to attend President Barack Obama's "Mega" Fundraiser in San Francisco last night. This is from the LA Times and I HAD to pass this along to all of you this morning.  So much for his "Change We Can Believe In" stuff.

Randy Economy

It takes this much money to eat with Barack Obama

October 16, 2009 |  2:38  am

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
By Andrew Malcolm

Didja ever hold one of these $10G notes in your hands?

Well, it took this bill....

...plus this bill....

and yet ANOTHER IDENTICAL $10,000 bill

 PLUS FOUR BEN FRANKLINS:

for a couple to have dinner with Barack Obama Thursday night in San Francisco's Westin Hotel. And hundreds of northern Californians lined up to do so. It better be an abundant shrimp cocktail for that price.

This is a newish administration that so quickly denounces the egregious excesses and appalling financial greed of corporate America. And was someone recently saying the country faces one of the most serious economic eras since back before even Joe Biden was born?

Apparently not these San Francisco Democrats, who also got to hear Speaker Nancy Pelosi, well, speak. (VP Biden, by the bye, is in Nevada Friday doing the same campaign/money thing for happy Harry Reid, the embattled Democrat Senate Majority Leader.)

You'll be surprised to know that Pelosi praised the attendees as "a great collection of....

...intellectuals, entrepreneurial spirit, idealism (and) integrity." And, she told the president during her introduction, "They have a full appreciation for what you have done." details, video and transcript available here). According to the White House press pool report, the president seemed energized. And the night's haul of $3 million couldn't hurt.

The speaker told the crowd that the major issue at hand is healthcare reform. But she said the reforms were not really "about the details of the policy, it was about something bigger. It was about our moral responsibility…social responsibility and the character of our country.'' "Mr. President," Pelosi stated, "you give us hope, you make us proud. Thank you, Mr. President, for giving us hope. Thank you for being with us so soon after the Nobel Peace Prize.''

Obama was fresh from the long, comfortable 747 flight from New Orleans, which is a lot closer than Copenhagen. Obama held another town hall meeting in the Crescent City

(Obama returned Pelosi's praise: "Having now known Nancy, I can tell you that, day in and day out, she faces down some of the toughest problems…and she doesn't break a sweat. And she is willing to stare folks down and tell them how things are going to be.

"And that steel that Nancy Pelosi has is part of the reason why this has been such an incredibly productive Congress — and why I am so confident that we are going to end up getting healthcare done.''

The president predicted that it was going to take a long time to address the nation's vast array of problems, perhaps even longer than 36 months. Which coincidentally puts him right at the 2012 presidential election.

"We're just getting started," Obama said. "Some of our opponents seem to think they can wear us out and I just want to be clear. I'm not tired. I'm refreshed. We are not going to stop."

Oh, btw, for their $30,400 dinner tab, attendees also got a photograph with the president. It won't cost you even one of these....

INSPIRE: Former LA Dodger Matt Luke headlines upcoming Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast on October 21st at Cerritos Sheraton!

Image via Wikipedia

The Cerritos Community Prayer Breakfast is going to be held on Wednesday, October 21 at the spectacular Cerritos Sheraton Hotel from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker for the uplifting event is Matt Luke who played 10 years in the Major Leagues for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Don Knabe will serve as Master of Ceremonies and will also feature lots of local religious leaders from our community. Tickets are $25. See the flyer above. See you at the Prayer Breakfast!

Randy Economy

From the Cerritos ICKY file: Severed "paw" found was not human but anaimal

This just in from the Associated Press.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say a body part found on the sidewalk in Cerritos is a severed animal paw, and not human. YIKES! So, we have NOTHING to FEAR...remain calm.

Lt. Ron Kegel says a security guard found the badly decomposed part Wednesday morning outside a parking garage across from a business office here in our "tony hood" of Cerritos.

Kegel says coroner's officials determined the part was animal after initially wondering if the fur on the hand was human hair.

There is no fresh blood in the area or reports of other body parts elsewhere.
Kegel did not know the type of animal or how the paw was severed. He says coyotes roam the area.

Let's ALL keep an eye on our small pets. These Cerritos "coyotes" have been lurking around here for generations and they are looking for food since the recent wild fires have burned much of their food source up the river.

Randy Economy

AB 943: Arnold shoots down Assemblyman Tony "Cash and Carry" Mendoza's special interest credit history check bill

(Randy Economy Photo)

This just in from John Canalis of the Long Beach Press Telegram. Assemblyman Tony "Cash and Carry" Mendoza's "landmark" law that he touted all summer long as a "consumer protection" safeguard, has been shot down from The Governator. Mendoza has lined his campaign coffers with tens of thousands of "special interest" dollars from groups that directly benefit from the laws he tries to get passed...and this bill is no exception. Thanks to John Canalis of the Long Beach Press Telegram for this news. Let's keep em' honest! Okay. Disclosure. Truth in Politics. Follow the REAL MONEY.

Randy Economy

California employers can continue checking job applicants' credit histories.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill this week by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Norwalk, that would have barred employers from reviewing most prospective hires' credit statements - but not their scores.

"The governor sided with big business to continue the practice of legalized discrimination in California," Mendoza said.

"Searching for work in today's poor economic climate just became tougher as millions struggling to make their payments will continue to have their credit report used against them in the hiring process." Legal in California when applicants grant consent, credit inquiries are an increasingly common component of pre-employment background checks.

About 43 percent of employers nationwide screen applicants' credit histories, according to a federal estimate. Assembly Bill 943 would have limited the credit reviews to law enforcement and managerial slots, as well as positions that handle sensitive financial information or large amounts of cash, jewelry or valuables.

The bill easily cleared both chambers of the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
But Republicans and the business lobby strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that credit checks can weed out financially irresponsible employees and help uncover liens, bankruptcies and other red flags. The Long Beach and California chambers of commerce, issued statements of opposition. The Long Beach chamber also wrote a letter to the Republican governor, urging a veto.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger understands that California business cannot withstand additional regulation at a time when we are struggling with economic recovery," Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement after the veto.

Mendoza had argued that he saw no correlation between a person's borrowing and employment histories, particularly in a climate of foreclosures, layoffs, divorces, high student loan debt and identity theft.
john.canalis@presstelegram.com,

562-499-1273

So, who won tonight's ABC School Board of Education Debate on Television?

I am watching the ABC Unified School District Board of Education candidates on Cerritos TV 3 right now.

The rain and wet is awful outside, so I decided to watch the Candidate Forum here at home. The event was hosted by the Artesia Cerritos La Palma Association of University Women.

So, who won tonight? Do these "debates" matter on how you cast your vote?

Was it the incumbents:Olympia Chen, Mark Pulido and David Montgomery, or did challengers David Shaffer and James Kang score points and your precious vote tonight?

Tell me who you thought won the debate and what questions you to want to directly ask the candidates to RREconomy@aol.com.

All notes will be posted.

Randy Economy

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I-19, B-3, O-73...BINGO! I had a blast calling Bingo at the St. Linus Catholic Church Octoberfest today!

Today I did something I always wanted to do.

I was the "Bingo Caller" at the St. Linus Catholic Church Octoberfest over in Norwalk!

What a blast.

I totally got into it, and only messed up around 5 times. It is AMAZING how SERIOUS these BINGO PLAYERS are.  If you call the wrong number, they aren't affraid to tell you.

So, do I have a future as a Bingo Caller?

It's amazing how many folks play Bingo in our community. Maybe I'll go put in an application over at the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club this week.

We raised lots of money for our wonderful Catholic Church this weekend.

Hats off to Mike Bettencourt for Chairing this years Festival! He is seen here (above) with Father Tony Gomez...drawing a $5,000.00 GRAND PRIZE Ticker for one of our lucky church members.

The Drawing was the FINALE of the 3-day event that attracted several thousand community members from Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Cerritos and Artesia!

Thanks St. Linus for a GREAT FESTIVAL!
Randy Economy

ARTESIA'S GREAT PARADE was FANTASTIC! Happy 50th Birthday!

The City of Artesia, California today celebrated it's 50th Birthday today with an amazing PARADE and PARTY on PIONEER BOULEVARD!

It was a trip down memory lane and a heartfelt look to the future for this wonderful part of "California Gold."

I was impressed with all of the hometown spirit and genuine care and pride and kindness from those in attendance.

Congrats to everyone in the community who made today possible.

Enjoy the pics.

I'll post more later tonight!

Randy Economy

I Love A Parade: City of Artesia get's ready to Party this weekend!

The cows and bulls are long gone from Artesia, California.

But this weekend, it will be a trip down memory lane as Artesia celebrates it's 50th Anniversary fair, parade and weekend of partying.

A 50th Anniversary Parade will be held TODAY....Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 to 11:30 a.m....and the Parade Route starts at Pioneer Boulevard

The 50th Anniversary City Fair will be held at Artesia Park from Friday to Sunday.

It will include a carnival and Country Fair.

The fair is free to the public and will include an exposition center for community non-profit organizations to display some of Artesia's history and available services.

See you on Pioneer Boulevard for the Parade...and at Artesia Park for the Festival!

NO LIE: Barack Obama Named 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Winner. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to President Barack Obama in a shocking announcement from Oslo, Norway. Are you kidding me? The Nobel Peace Prize? Obama? Peace Prize? Huh? This is amazing to me.

I was waiting for Congressman Joe Wilson to stand up in the back of the press conference and yell out: "You Lie."

Obama is currently overseeing TWO WARS in the WORLD. He added 30,000 new troops to BOTH wars in Iraq and and Afghanistan during the past couple of weeks alone.

Yesterday he cancelled a meeting with a true man of Peace, The Dalai Lama, so he wouldn't get the Communist Rulers of China pissed off.

So what do you think?

Is the Nobel Prize Committee out of there mind, or are they "right on?"

Drop me a note to RREconomy@AOL.com

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NASA TV Get's READY to show MOON BLAST!

NASA TV

Shared via AddThisThis is going to be amazing to watch. We are going to be blasting a ROCKET BOMB on the MOON at 4:15 a.m. here in Cerritos, CA. This is going to be bigger than Let Freedom Ring's annual fireworks show...trust me on this one. Hit this Link and get your camera's ready with your HIGH POWERED lenses.

Is Pico Rivera Hot Dog King/Councilman Ron Beilke getting closer to getting busted on corruption charges?

SEEN: Pico Rivera HOT DOG KING Councilman RON BEILKE. Is he getting ready to face the music for his misdeeds?

Is the upcoming Pico Rivera City Council election about to be thrown into another loop? Here is an "inside" look at the criminal investigation on Pico Rivera City Councilman Ron Beilke by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office of Public Integrity. Great reporting, once again, from Bethania Palma Markus of the Whittier Daily News for this update.
Randy Economy

District Attorney's investigation of Pico Rivera's Beilke continues as election nears
By Bethania Palma Markus, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2009 05:08:30 PM PDT

PICO RIVERA - A criminal investigation of a city councilman is progressing but a Los Angeles County District Attorney said Tuesday the upcoming election will influence the timing of an announcement if he decides to file charges.
City Councilman Ron Beilke is up for re-election Nov. 3. He is being investigated for allegations of conflict of interest and election code violations, officials said.
"We're still working on (the case)," said Dave Demerjian, head of the DA's public integrity unit. "If we're thinking of filing criminal charges, (the election) is something we're conscious of."
Beilke is accused of collecting absentee ballots, which is illegal because the collector could influence votes, officials said. He is also accused of voting in 2006 for street improvements near his Der Wienerschnitzel franchise, which could have benefited his business.
DA investigators in July served search warrants at his home and business. They also searched his office at City Hall.
"I don't believe there are any issues of any concern and I'd be really surprised if (the DA's office) found some," Beilke said. "I don't believe the residents are truly concerned about it. We have a lot of issues in the city that need our attention and this is simply an unnecessary distraction."
Raul Murga, director of the Pico Rivera Community for Truth in Politics, said he contacted the DA's office in 2006 after Beilke voted to improve Rosemead Boulevard from Washington Boulevard to Mines Avenue. Beilke's restaurant is in the project area.
A left-turn lane and driveway leading to the Wienerschnitzel restaurant were added, Murga said. "It was on the agenda, he voted on it, it's in the minutes, it improved the front of his business and the Pico Rivera Marketplace improved the access to his business," Murga said. "That's cut and dried."

Celebrating ARTS and HUMANITY MONTH here in Cerritos!

This afternoon I swung over to the beautiful Cerritos Scupture Garden to help celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month. Several cities here in our area, including both in the City of Cerritos and in the City of Long Beach are holding literally dozens upon dozens of events throughout the month of October.

Today I caught Poetry readings, and vocal singings, and looked at photography contest winners and enjoyed the amazing Southern California sunshine!

Seen today:

Cerritos Arts Commissioners Elayne Shiohama, Julietta Williams, and Doris Iglesias, along with Cerritos Councilwoman Carol Chen and Councilman Jim Edwards. Jim and Carol are great leaders here in Cerritos, and you can always count of them to support Cerritos with lots of class! Also, hats off to Cerritos' Sherry Titus and Kathy Matsumoto for helping pull all of these activities together!

BTW...I picked up a new "art deco" hat to help celebrate the big month here in Cerritos!

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Whittier Daily News: BIG BUCKS TAKES OVER PICO RIVERA CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN. Campaign cash being controlled by City Manager and Wife

(Seen: Pico Rivera City Manager Chuck Fuentes and Councilman Ronald Beilke, the center of another political controversy involving TENS of THOUSANDS of DOLLARS of Campaign CASH).

In politics you need to FOLLOW the MONEY, if you can FIGURE out WHERE it is being HIDDEN, Raised and SPENT. 

Take the circus that has become the Pico Rivera City Council election for example. 

The Whittier Daily News has once again exposed how political cash is going in and out of Campaign Committee that are being directly controlled by City Manager Chuck Fuentes, and his wife, Linda Unruh Fuentes.

Team Fuentes are trying to get embattled and highly controversial incumbent Ron Beilke and his running mate Planning Commissioner Gustavo "Gus" Camacho elected in this upcoming November 3rd election. 

Remember....FOLLOW the MONEY....and in Pico Rivera, it comes in very seedy ways.  Thanks to the Whittier DAILY NEWS Bethania Palma Marcus for hitting this expose out of the Park!

Randy

Big bucks raised for upcoming Pico Rivera City Council election
By Bethania Palma Markus, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/02/2009 08:48:31 PM PDT

PICO RIVERA - A city councilman's political action committee has raised tens of thousands of dollars for his re-election campaign and had as its treasurer the city manager's wife, according to campaign finance reports.

Linda Unruh-Fuentes, who was listed as Linda L. Unruh, acted as treasurer of Committee to Restore Pico Rivera's Pride, a PAC run by City Councilman Ron Beilke, from early 2007 until mid-2008, she said. During that time the PAC raised nearly $70,000 for the Nov. 3 election.

Unruh-Fuentes is the wife of City Manager Chuck Fuentes. Fuentes' sister, Cecilia Fuentes, also worked on the campaign, doing duties like fundraising and event coordination.

The daughter of legendary dealmaker Jess Unruh, onetime Speaker of the California Assembly known for his political savvy, Unruh-Fuentes said she volunteered for the position "as a friend thing" and did it for free. Unruh-Fuentes said she did not see her work as political.

"At this point with his campaign coming up, we needed to transfer (the position of PAC treasurer) to someone else, but up until that point it didn't seem like it was any kind of conflict," she said. "I was simply doing his bookwork."

Over the past several months several thousand dollars have been transferred from the PAC into Beilke's personal campaign.

Beilke's personal campaign spent nearly $22,000 as of the filing period ending Sept. 19. Kindee Durkee and Associates, a professional campaign accounting,
consulting and reporting firm, is now listed as its treasurer.

Gary Sloan, a retired 20-year city manager for La Mirada, said the situation is a conflict of interest.

"The city manager is a non-political entity and should always be above politics and playing favorites with the City Council," he said. "It's a big no-no. If nothing else, it's hugely unprofessional."

Beilke disagreed.   "You go to the people you trust the most and that you know you can feel comfortable with," he said. "I don't see it as any issue myself."

Beilke was responsible for hiring Fuentes as city manager in 2007, after helping get Gracie Gallegos-Smith and Bob Archuleta elected to the City Council. Beilke, Archuleta and Gallegos-Smith then voted 3-2 to hire Fuentes.

Big donors to Beilke's PAC and campaign included Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, who gave $7,000 to Beilke in 2007 and $5,000 to Planning Commissioner Gustavo Camacho in recent months.

Beilke is supporting Camacho in his bid for a City Council seat, saying he hopes Camacho replaces Beilke's political rival, David Armenta.

El Rodeo Restaurant contributed $1,500 plus nearly $3,000-worth of catering and event forums, office space and telephone use.

Imperial Showgirls, an all-nude strip club that closed last month, donated $5,000 to Beilke in 2008, as did LEBA, Inc., which sub-contracts the Pico Rivera Sports Arena.

Beilke said he returned the contribution from Imperial Showgirls. Unruh faxed a campaign finance report "payments made" sheet Friday showing the return, which was not included in reports obtained from the City Clerk's office.

He received some smaller contributions from individuals as well. So far in 2009, Beilke's personal campaign took $1,000 from Express Transportation Services, a Los Angeles-based taxi company.

"I have tremendous support from the business community," Beilke said. "I don't think it's any secret that the business community sees me as someone that has bettered the community, and they've invested in me."

Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, a nonprofit political accountability organization, said candidates sometimes start PACs to give them more flexibility in how they can spend campaign money.

"PACs generally allow a person to raise funds and then spend that money on issues or other candidates, whereas a candidate's own campaign committee has restrictions on what they can spend the money on," she said.

It raises concerns when a candidate's PAC does not bear the candidate's name, she said.  From the voters' perspective, the point of having access to campaign finances is to see what financial interests are supporting the candidate, she said.

"By funneling (money) to a PAC that doesn't bear the candidate's name, there's some question as to whether they are playing a shell game," she said. "That's when you raise money from one source and you put it into a committee that isn't easily traceable to you, and then you're moving that money around from one shell to another."

Beilke said he did not put his name on the PAC because he didn't want the name to be too long.  "It doesn't have to be," he said. "How long do you want the title to be? It was a space consideration."

bethania.palma@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028

Summer Concert Series concludes at Cerritos Sheraton! Thanks to Will Donato for an amazing summer of sweet sounds

SEEN!

Will Donato (left); Rosemary Economy and Councilwoman Carol Chen (bottom); Chris Halderson, Randy Economy, Ryan Keithley, and Ro; Will Donato Economy (hehe) below!

Last night, was the final act for the Summer concert series at the Grille 91 at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel.

Will Donato and his band were amazing all summer long, and I can't wait for next year's series to start.

Thanks for a GREAT summer of fun! We also celebrated Ryan Keithley's Birthday last night with Sheraton GM Chris Halderson. Ryan is the Catering and Marketing CZAR for the hotel and a great friend! (above).

Also SEEN last night was Councilwoman Carol Chen and Commish Lily Kuo, Commish Julietta Williams and hubby Amos, and Charlie and Sue Chung!

Randy Economy Pics

ANGELS WIN WESTERN DIVISION! I got my tickets to the Divisional Championship!

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight, my Angels won the WESTERN DIVISION and are heading to the MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL POST SEASON. I went on line last week, and ordered two tickets to the playoffs for Home Game #3. 

I am hoping that this year we can have a true 5 FREEWAY Series between the Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.  Anyway....way to go Angels! 

Vote 4 PJ Mellana 4 Assembly holds a GREAT Celebration at Anaheim Stadium! WHAT at amazing GAME! A's beat Angels 15-10

POLITICAL BASEBALL!

Tonight I was one of around 100 friends and supporters of California State Assembly Candidate PJ Mellana to celebrate his campaign and to watch the Angels lose to the Oakland A's 15-10 in a slugfest.

It was an amazing night of fun, and PJ's enthusiastic supporters had a ball in the picture perfect Southern California sunshine.

PJ is running for Assembly next year in the 50th District (Bellflower, South Gate, Downey, Bell Gardens). His campaign is in high gear, and tonight it was about fun, hot dogs, celebrating, and hoping to watch the Halos wrap up the Western Division title.

RANDY ECONOMY: LCCN Column hones in on API Test Cheating Scandal at Furguson; Angry ABCFT Rep calls me "demented." OMG, are you kidding me?

My column this week in the Los Cerritos Community News has already sparked anger from members of the ABC Federation of Teachers Union. Ina Tennison, a retired teacher and an Activist here with the ABCUSD Teachers Fed has resorted to calling me "demented" in my thinking, and not "worthy" of knowing the name of the teacher who got caught cheating over at Furguson Elementary. Here is my Column for this week, and followed by INA TENNISON'S angry letter. Thanks, Ina for your "kind words." Your a class act. "Demented, no!" Seeker of the TRUTH, yes!

Randy Economy

API TESTS AT FURGUSON TOSSED OUT BY STATE
By RANDY ECONOMY

Furguson Elementary School in Hawaiian Gardens had its state accountability results thrown out this year after the ABC Unified School District found that a 3rd Grade teacher had inappropriately coached students while they took standardized tests.Because of this misdeed by the unnamed teacher, Furguson Elementary, located at 22215 Elaine Ave., will not receive an Academic Performance Index score as part of the state school accountability system.API serves as a barometer of student achievement and determines whether a school has met its academic growth targets for the year.

Furguson will be ineligible for two years for state performance awards like the California Distinguished School Award, according to John Boivin, administrator for the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program Office at the California Department of Education.


So, here’s the low down on how the “alleged” cheating took place:

When reviewing the testing booklets to erase any stray pencil marks, a Teacher at Ferguson noticed that a booklet from one 3rd Grade teacher's classroom had an “unusual” amount of erasures that changed incorrect answers to correct responses, said Boivin.

When approached, the student in question claimed to have been “coached” during the test by this "unnamed 3rd Grade Teacher."


“Coached” to cheat? Are you kidding me?

Additional student interviews and a review of test answer booklets in the class indicated “inappropriate coaching,” and according to published reports in the Long Beach Press Telegram, one test booklet had 33 questions in which wrong answers had been erased and changed to correct responses, the district's investigation revealed.Because the alleged cheating affected at least 5 percent of the school's tested students, state rules forbid Ferguson from receiving an API score this year.

Listen, Furguson Elementary School has lots of wonderful teachers, and great students. The misdeeds of a few sneaky teachers have caused a huge black eye to the image of this campus that has been through rough times recently.

Why do we tolerate any cheating on State Testing from any teacher?

It’s a sad commentary on our education system when we see these activities occur. I applaud the ABC School District for making sure that this never happens again! What’s your opinion? Drop me a note to RREconomy@CerritosNews.com

LETTER from ABC Federation of Teacher Member Ina Tennison:

Randy:

You don't deserve to know because you only delight in demeaning those who do well. However...the three you named are still working--go figure with your demented brain. Your warped sense of righting wrongs only suits a few. Cheating is not acceptable and it was handled properly. Get your facts straight before you spout off.

Ina Tennison, retired
Teacher of 35 years in ABC

Response to Ina:

I have my facts totally straight. Cheating is UNACCEPTABLE PERIOD!

If you have a problem with John Boivin of the California Department of Education, perhaps to vent your anger directly to him.

The PEOPLE of this School Distict pay the salaries of EVERY teacher here, and we deserve transparency and accountability when these type of misdeeds occur.

Randy Economy