Traffic Jam hits my Blog. Thoughts about the past month, MOVING ON to new things, and getting ready to CELEBRATE my 1,000,000th READER!

I have been getting lots of emails RECENTLY saying that my Blog is responding REAL SLOWWWW.... "load time" takes forever one of my readers wrote.

Another told me to shut this blog down, that it has gotten TOO BIG, and that I need to start a new one, with a new name, and new look. Hummm? Maybe.

I HEAR your concerns loud and clear, and my crack "technical" team of bloggin' wizards are working 'round the clock to spruce up this place in cyber space.

One change. Less POSTS. LESS CLUTTER!
From now on, only the 20 MOST RECENT POSTINGS of mine will be visible on the Main BLOG Roll. All previous Blog entries (all 1,100 of them) and the nearly 10,000 photos, and hundreds of videos and links, and documents, and reports, over the past 5 YEARS can be viewed by visiting the "Economy Blog Archive Roll" on the right hand side column>>>.

25,000 NEW READERS in 12 Weeks!
In the past 12 weeks, I have had almost 25,000 NEW FIRST time readers click in here for a visit. Tonight I want to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your kindness, comments, and wonderful readership.

In around a month or so, I will have reached a BLOGGING MILESTONE when someone, somewhere on this Earth will become my 1,000,000th READER.

To me that is astounding. One Million Readers. Yikes! On the first day I published my Blog, (in 2005), I had less than 10 readers, and all of them lived here in my Eastside Cerritos, California hood.

On Friday, July 10th (yesterday) I had hundreds of readers in the African countries of Ghana, and Chad, and Togo, and in Milano, Lombardia, Italy, and Vienna, Wien, Austria, and Duluth, Georgia (hummm, who is based in Duluth??), and from Bedminster, New Jersey, and Bethesda, Maryland, and Pico Rivera, California, and in historic Sacramento , California, (they LOVE me in OLD SAC!...lol)....anyway....THANKS

Moving on....Campaign MADNESS!

We have lots to look forward too in the next 18 weeks!

IT'S CAMPAIGN TIME here! YAHHHOOOO! I LIVE FOR A GREAT campaign.

Get ready, the candidates are suiting up, getting their campaign teams in place, and are hitting the streets and holding parties, and walking, and talking, and asking for our precious support and votes! New campaign websites will be hitting soon. Lot's of over written campaign email alerts will be arriving.

I am going to be active in a couple of KEY important campaigns around here. Everyone needs to get involved! We have lots of issues and lots of good people need to step up to the plate and RUN for ELECTED office around here.

I will continue to help those in my community. God is Good. Today, I am Truly Blessed and understand why I am STILL here. I love my Catholic Faith, and love my community and family and friends are MY World...ONE MILLION TIMES OVER, and KEEP COMING BACK!

Randy Economy

Election Filing Starts on Monday for local school boards, college trustees, and some local city councils

LOCAL ELECTION ALERT!

Monday marks the beginning of candidate filing for local school boards, college trustees, and some area city council seats.

Elections will be held for the Artesia City Council, the Hawaiian Gardens City Council, Pico Rivera City Council, ABC Unified School Board, Cerritos College Board of Trustees, Norwalk-La Mirada School Board, Little Lake School Board, Los Nietos School Board and other local districts.

HOT IN PICO AND THE GARDENS

Stay tuned. Look for HOT campaigns for the Hawaiian Gardens City Council, and for the Pico Rivera City Council. Embattled Pico Rivera City Councilman Ron Belike, who is under investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Public Integrity Division, is expected to face the toughest election of any area incumbent.

Also, look for an emotional campaign to be taking place in Hawaiian Gardens for three City Council posts. The Gardens has been the subject of massive gang raids from the FBI, and three incumbents who are seeking reelection are all considered to be facing lots of challengers.

Stay Tuned. If your running for a local city council slot, you must file at your local city hall with your city clerk.  If your running for a school/college/water board seat, you must go to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorders Office in Norwalk.

Deadline to file is August 8!  Don't be left you.  Get involved AND RUN!

Randy Economy

Econo-My-Scene: Holy Hydrazine Batman. No More Political Mumbo Jumbo

By Randy Economy
I would have NEVER imagined that I would have to become educated about a dangerous gas called “Hydrazine,” which according to the Environmental Protection Agency is highly toxic and is polluting our air here on the Eastside of Cerritos.

Don’t mess with Hydrazine. It’s wicked and dangerous to us human folks.

Hydrazine is a known carcinogen that causes damage to your kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs. It causes cancers and horrific breathing disorders.

The EPA revealed that in 2002 an industrial plant run by a company called PGP Industries/Hereaus here in the back yard of East Cerritos has emitted a “dangerous” amount of Hydrazine into our air.

How come we weren’t informed about this chemical leak SEVEN years ago?

Why are we sitting silent to those we send to protect us in Washington, DC and Sacramento?

I live around 4,000 yards (as the crow flies) from PGP/Hereaus. This company is actually located in the City of Santa Fe Springs and has been at this Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard site for eons.

According to Heraeus, they are a “globally active precious metals and technology Group” with firm roots in Germany, headquartered in Hanau near Frankfurt. The company has been family-owned for more than 155 years. Precious metals, sensors, dental and medical products, quartz glass, and specialty lighting sources are the focus of their activities.

Quick grab me my Resume, I totally would love to work for such a “delightful” sounding company like this one.

For us here on the Eastside of Cerritos, Heraeus is known as the “smokestack” across from a hamburger joint.

But, what’s going on INSIDE the plant? What’s really in that smoke? What’s that awful smell?

Our wonderful Eastside Cerritos neighborhood was listed on June 25, 2009 by the EPA as having the worst toxic air in the United States. We are “Ground Zero” according to this report. We can handle the truth. We just need to know what the truth IS, and what WE need to do to take this matter into our own hands.

The City of Cerritos is talking about this Company, Heraeus, thank goodness. Check out http://www.cerritos.us/ for more information on what our city leaders are saying about this situation.

One city councilman here in Cerritos sent out an email this week telling resident’s “not to panic,” that our air here isn’t really isn’t that “bad” compared to other areas in Los Angeles County. Huh? Not “that bad?” Give me a break, Joe.

For years we have endured thick rotten smelling white smoke spewing into our East Cerritos neighborhood from the dozens of stacks from Heraeus and other manufacturing companies within the Alondra Boulevard/Carmenita Road/ Firestone Frontage Road area.

The EPA has also listed at least SEVEN additional companies as being “harmful” polluters. I am now calling this area the “Toxic Triangle.”

Like clockwork, “The Toxic Triangle” stacks start blasting around 9:30 p.m., and continues to spew into the wee hours of the morning. Grab your camcorders and start rolling footage for yourself. You will be stunned what you actual watch.

Hereaus has employees working 24/7. They never stop working. I hope the employees of this company ask hard questions of their management.
We need real experts to investigate this situation.
We don’t need elected officials telling us their opinions about this situation in political emails.

We need scientific data and tests, and conversations, not “duck and cover” from elected officials.

The next time a politician sends you and email telling you not to panic about the air here in Cerritos, grab your telephone and call him or her and start demanding facts.

Hey, I hear they have clean air in Boron, California. Who knew!
Stay Tuned.

Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com

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AQMD Investigation Finds "No Significant" Air Toxic Risk at Heraeus, but EPA hasn't confirmed data

I just watched the Cerritos City Council Meeting and wanted to post this Notice from the South Coast Air Quality Management District about the recent EPA study showing the Eastside of Cerritos as having the "most toxic air" in America. It needs to be pointed out that the EPA did not investigate, nor comment about the results on this below AQMD "air test" from the Heraeus plant located at Alondra and Carmenita Road in Santa Fe Springs. More to follow. Randy Economy

July 9, 2009
Following U.S. EPA Toxics Report Results of air monitoring tests from a metal processing facility in Santa Fe Springs show that it does not pose a significant cancer risk to the surrounding community, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials said today.

During the last week of June, AQMD collected air samples at Heraeus Metal Processing Inc. at 13429 Alondra Blvd. in Santa Fe Springs and in nearby Cerritos. Samples were analyzed for the presence of hydrazine, a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel and a wide range of industrial applications.

The analysis showed that the facility currently emits less than two pounds per year of hydrazine. Computer modeling of these emissions shows that they would result in a maximum lifetime cancer risk in the community of 0.5 in 1 million. That is 20 times lower than the threshold for public notification (10 in 1 million) and 50 times lower than the threshold for reducing toxic emissions and health risk (25 in 1 million) both required by AQMD rules.

“These results have shown that this facility does not pose a significant cancer risk to Cerritos or the community surrounding the plant,” said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD’s executive officer.

The potential for toxic risk in Cerritos attracted attention after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) report on June 24. It found that residents in one portion of Cerritos experienced a 1,244 in 1 million cancer risk, assuming a lifetime of exposure, primarily due to hydrazine emissions from Heraeus. That risk was more than 30 times the national average according to the EPA report.

Following announcement of the report, AQMD immediately dispatched field inspectors and engineers to the facility. They confirmed that hydrazine is introduced into equipment in a closed system where it reacts with solution to form harmless compounds in the metals recovery process. AQMD source testing engineers took air samples from air-pollution-control exhaust stacks at Heraeus and also from outdoor air downwind in Cerritos.

“We have agreed to work closely with EPA prior to the release of its next National Air Toxics Assessment report to ensure that any facilities identified with elevated cancer risk are verified with accurate emissions, source testing and inspection reports,” Wallerstein said.EPA’s NATA report appears to contain outdated information when compared to actual facility emissions today. For example, the next three facilities in the report causing the highest cancer risk in the region have been out of business or have no reported emissions since at least 2001.

In addition, the report stated that Heraeus emitted 1,250 pounds of hydrazine in 2002 when in fact the facility has not reported that amount of annual emissions since about 1991 when it was operated by a previous owner, PGP Industries Inc. Since calculations of emissions at that time were crude in comparison to today’s methods, AQMD officials now are trying to determine if the facility ever emitted that much hydrazine. Based on the facility’s operations history, its actual emissions in 2002 and possibly as early as 1991 were likely similar to today’s emissions of less than two pounds per year of hydrazine.
AQMD last year released the final report for its Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES III), a landmark study of toxic air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin. Unlike EPA’s report, MATES III used the latest emissions data from facilities as well as tens of thousands of air samples collected during a 24-month period. The study found the average cancer risk across the region is about 1,200 in 1 million during a lifetime exposure. It also found that about 84 percent of the cancer risk is due to diesel fuel combustion from trucks, trains and ships. (Cancer risk from diesel was not included in EPA’s NATA report.) The highest cancer risk levels in MATES III were found in areas of elevated diesel exhaust including near freeways, rail yards and the ports.

AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

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Breaking News: District Attorney Serves Search Warrants at Pico Rivera City Councilman Ron Beilke's house, business and City Hall office

PICO RIVERA COUNCILMAN RON BEILKE IS UNDER FORMAL INVESTIGATION BY THE LA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Search Warrents Served Today at embattled Councilman's residence, business, and at City Hall.

This just in from the Whittier Daily News. Amazing developments regarding "alleged" political corruption at Pico Rivera City Hall. Stay tuned.
Randy Economy

District Attorney serving search warrants on Pico Rivera Councilman Ron Beilke
By Tim Traeger and Mike Sprague, Staff Writers
Posted: 07/09/2009 12:00:42 PM PDT

PICO RIVERA - The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office served search warrants on Thursday at three locations concerning Councilman Ron Beilke, according to Pico Rivera Sheriff's Capt. Michael Rothans.
Rothans said his department was alerted by the D.A.'s office that search warrants were being served at City Hall, 6615 S. Passons Blvd., Beilke's Der Wienerschnitzel restaurant, 6749 S. Rosemead Blvd., and at Beilke's residence in the 9000 block of Aero Drive.

He did not know why the search warrants were being served. "We really don't get involved with their investigations," Rothans said. Pico Rivera Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Prang confirmed D.A's office personnel were searching Beilke's office at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. Thursday but did not know why.

Two people wearing shirts identifying them as District Attorney agents were seen at the Der Wienerschnitzel at 11:50 a.m.

Inside Heraeus: A look at a video called "The Heraeus Code"

It literally only took around 5 minutes...but one of my readers in Germany sent me this "inside" view of the local controversial company "Heraeus."

The WORLD WIDE WEB truly is amazing. I never under estimate the power of people communicating in every corner of the world on issues that effect our entire planet.

Heraeus has been named by the US Environmental Protection Agency has being responsible for spewing the toxin HYDRAZINE into our East Cerritos air. This promo clip is called the "Heraeus Code." I watched this, and now I am totally convinced that our bedroom community of Cerritos, California is NOT the proper location for this type of business to be located here. BTW...Heraeus is located at Alondra and Carmenita....in the City of Santa Fe Springs.

Heavy duty manufacturers need to be located AWAY from bedroom communities...not in the MIDDLE of them.

Send this clip to your friends, and ask them what they think about this matter. The conversation continues, and thanks for being part of the BIG picture.

Thanks, again for your readership, and keep those clips coming!! RREconomy@aol.com

Randy Economy

Wednesday night: Smoke continues from Heraeus into Eastside of Cerritos

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight at 9:08 p.m., right after sunset, thick white smoke was being emitted into the Eastside Cerritos, California air from the PGP Industries Heraeus Plant located at the corner of Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard in the City of Santa Fe Springs.

This plant is the location, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management Distict and the City of Cerritos as being the source that has emitted dangerous levels of the toxin Hydrazine into our air.

If you have photos you want to share from inside this location...email them to RREconomy@aol.com. No questions asked.

Randy Economy

Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee takes on Assemblyman Tony Mendoza's AB 155

Note to our Assemblyman Tony Mendoza...what the heck are you doing...?? This appeared on Page 3 of today's Sacramento Bee from Political Editor Dan Walters, and covers Assemblyman Tony Mendoz's controversial AB 155.
RrE.

Dan Walters: Public worker unions are seeking more clout

Published: Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2009 - 12:00 am
Page 3A, Sacramento Bee.

The state's ongoing budget crisis provides ample evidence that public employee unions wield immense – even hegemonic – influence over the Capitol's Democratic majority.

Every move on the budget affects those drawing public paychecks, and Democrats won't make any move without at least consulting the affected unions. Not only are Democrats highly dependent on the unions for campaign contributions, but an astonishing number of Democratic lawmakers come directly from their ranks.

One of them is Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, whose official biography describes him as "an active member in United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and as a representative to the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association." And if anyone doubts the power that they and other unions exert over legislative policy, he or she need look no further than Mendoza's Assembly Bill 155, which cleared the Assembly on a largely party-line vote and is now pending in the Senate.

Spurred by the city of Vallejo's bankruptcy filing, a powerful coalition of public worker unions is sponsoring the legislation that would, in effect, preclude cities, counties and other local governments from seeking bankruptcy protection unless a board dominated by union-friendly Democrats gave its blessing.

The board is the nine-member California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission, which was created 18 years ago to monitor bonds and other public debt and has labored in virtual obscurity ever since.

Mendoza's bill would not only empower the commission to regulate bankruptcy filings but allow it to impose conditions on the filings they do allow, which is the nut of the issue. Local governments that file for bankruptcy may be able to abrogate their labor contracts, but if AB 155 becomes law, the debt commission could – or at least the unions hope they would – block abrogation.

Vallejo offers a cogent example of how local governments can get into deep financial trouble. It – much like the state itself – enjoyed a gusher of revenues from the housing bubble, both property taxes and sales taxes. And it squandered that windfall on lavish contracts for its unionized employees, especially police and firefighters, thanks to their unions' political influence.

When the bubble burst, Vallejo found itself with a cost structure that its revenues could not support, again emulating the state, and its City Council decided that bankruptcy was the only alternative.

Had AB 155 been law, however, Vallejo would have had to seek permission from the debt commission to file bankruptcy, and the city's unions would have appealed to the board's Democratic majority to either block bankruptcy or force the city to retain the contracts that had made it insolvent.

AB 155 would essentially duplicate the oversight that federal courts now exercise on bankruptcies, so the only rationale for the legislation is to expand public employee union power.

Toxic HYDRAZINE over East Cerritos: SFS company Heraeus denies it is cause of possible cancer risks, Press Telegram Reports

Randy Economy EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

I wanted to pass this BREAKING NEWS from the Long Beach Press Telegram, regarding Cerritos, California's recent ranking as "America's Most Toxic City" by the EPA (see below).

Also....on Monday night, July 7, 2009 at 9:40 p.m., I witnessed 6 smoke stacks from the Heraeus Plant spewing thick white smoke into the air that smelled of rotten eggs.

The smoke, and odor is now a nightly ritual here on the Eastside of Cerritos. Where is the EPA during these night hours when the Heraeus smoke stacks are raging into our bedroom community? Is the South Coast AQMD sending investigators into the Heraeus plant in the middle of the night? When will Cerritos residents be mailed information to tell us about this situation? Why hasn't the City of Santa Fe Springs issued any comments about these toxic polluters that are located in their city limits?Here is tonight's photo of the thick smoke that blows directly into the Eastside of Cerritos. If you have pictures from inside the Heraeus Plant, send me a copy of the photos to my email at RREconomy@aol.com BTW....Kelly Puente from the LB Press Telegram wrote this below article, that appears in Wednesday's edition of the PT.
RrE

Plant denies being source of Cerritos cancer risk
By Kelly Puente, LB Press Telegram
Tuesday, July 8, 2009
SANTA FE SPRINGS - A Santa Fe Springs metal processing plant under investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency denies being the source of a possible cancer risk in a Cerritos neighborhood back in 2002.

Heraeus Metal Processing Inc., 13429 Alondra Blvd., is under investigation after figures in an EPA report released June 24 showed a small Cerritos neighborhood as having the highest cancer risk in the nation.

EPA officials, however, have since said that data from the report was prematurely leaked to the media and the information was old - possibly dating back to the early 1990s. Moreover, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has said they have not found any indication of higher cancer risks in Cerritos.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the EPA and the AQMD were still investigating the plant at the Santa Fe Springs/Cerritos border, said AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood.

Curtis Mello, vice president of compliance for Heraeus, said the company is cooperating fully with the investigation. "The EPA's data related to our site is completely erroneous," Mello said on Tuesday. "We fully expect that to come out in the next week or so."

The report said that more than 95 percent of the toxins in the area came from the chemical hydrazine, a liquid used in rocket fuel and chemical manufacturing.

In a statement, Heraeus said the company utilizes hydrazine in its industrial process, but the chemical is used in a "closed system," and the by-products go through equipment that controls the release of toxins into the atmosphere.

"(Heraeus) operates a state-of-the-art facility that complies with all permitting requirements of EPA and the South Coast Air Quality Management District," the statement said.

The City of Cerritos is expected to hold a town hall meeting on the issue some time at the end of the month.

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One Moment In Time: 04:05:06 07/08/09, today we celebrate one second of history

Here is my useless tidbit of the day, and if it wasn't so "historic" I probably wouldn't have given a second glance at this factoid.

Wednesday is the 8th Of July, in the year 2009. So, what makes today so unique ? ?

At five minutes and six seconds after 4 am on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be 04:05:06 07/08/09. This will never happen again in our lifetime. Cool huh?

Randy Economy

EPA Toxic Report on Cerritos: South Coast Air Quality Management District issues "Fact Sheet." Health Risks to Eastside Cerritos residents revealed.

CLICK TO ENLARGE, or to make COPIES for your Family and Neighbors. I wanted to post this FACT SHEET that was released on June 25th by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. It is in regards to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Ranking that states that my Eastside Cerritos community has the most "toxic" air in America.

Send my blog to EVERYONE you KNOW.

We all need to be educated about this very important situation that effects ALL of our LIVES. Peace!

Randy Economy
http://www.economy4abc.blogspot.com/

FACT SHEET US EPA REPORT ON AIR TOXIC RISK IN CERRITOS, CA. Dated: June 25th, 2009
Background
"Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released results from their most recent National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA). The reports estimates toxic risk for each census tract in the United States using a national emissions database combined with modeling of exposures. The current NATA report estimates risk from emissions in the year 2002.

While these is considerable uncertainty in the EPA emissions data, the report identified a single census tract in Cerritos as having a cancer risk of 1244 in one million, one of the highest in the country.

According to the NATA report, one chemical from one facility accounted for over 95% of this risk. The facility is HERAEUS Metal Processing (formerly PGP Industries Inc.) and the chemical was HYDRAZINE.

EPA has classified HYDRAZINE as a probable human carcinogen and is considered a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP). It also has other serious acute and chronic (non-cancer) effects. It is a colorless liquid with an odor similar to ammonia and it is reactive in air. It has been used as rocket fuel, and has several other industrial uses.

Previous air toxics studies by AQMD (MATES) have shown that the vast majority of cancer risk is due to exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM). Many areas in Southern California have cancer risks greater that 1200 in One Million. The NATA Report did not consider diesel PM in the cancer risk estimates, and the MATES studies did not consider HYDRAZINE.

A 1200 in One Million risk is unacceptably high and AQMD is working hard to reduce exposure to all air toxics.

AQMD ACTIONS
The AQMD has initiated an investigation of the emissions data used in the NATA Report to assess its accuracy. Some of the data in the NATA Report may be from the early 1990's or earlier.

AQMD engineers and inspectors have been dispatched to the HERAEUS facility to conduct inspections, records searches, and source tests to identify potential HYDRAZINE emissions. It has been confirmed that the facility CURRENTLY USES HYDRAZINE.

HYDRAZINE is used as a reducing agent in an industrial process and should react and be converted to less harmful products. The process that uses HYDRAZINE at HERAEUS is a closed system that is vented to pollution control devices. These control systems should also reduce HYDRAZINE emissions.

FUTURE AQMD Actions
Ambient air stack, and process samples will be taken from the HERAEUS facility as well as the surrounding community. They will be analyzed for the presence of HYDRAZINE.

Investigations to assess the emissions data used by the NATA Report will continue. This and all other work will be done in consultation and cooperation with the EPA.

AQMD will coordinate with the Cerritos City Manager to hold a TOWN HALL MEETING in CERRITOS to communicate all findings and results. This will occur within the next two weeks.

If the risk of HYDRAZINE is confirmed, AQMD will apply exsisting regulations or develop new regulations to reduce risk to the community for this chemical.

If errors or gaps in the toxic emissions are identified, AQMD will work quickly to improve emissions reporting procedures and requirements. DATED JUNE 25, 2009

NOW HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS:

It has been almost 14 DAYS SINCE THIS report first surfaced in the USA Today and the EPA.

When will we have our Town Hall Meeting here in Cerritos? Where will it be held? Who is representing the interest of the RESIDENTS who live here in the effected area? The City of Cerritos has lots of legal experts, and so does the EPA, and the AQMD..., who is making sure that MY INTEREST is REPRESENTED, and those of my Eastside Cerritos Neighbors?

Will the Chairman of the EPA from Washington, DC be in attendance? Will our Congresswoman Linda Sanchez be on hand? Where is US Senator Dianne Feinstein or Barbra Boxer on this matter, and they been invited to this Town Hall? Will the Town Hall event be televised on Cerritos TV3, and streamed live on our city's Website?

This is about getting to the truth, and demanding that EVERY legal avenue is explored in order to MAKE sure that EVERY CERRITOS RESIDENT can live in a SAFE, clean, HEALTHY community for generations to come.

The People of Cerritos deserve the truth, and I will continue to seek the facts.
Your thoughts? RREconomy@aol.com
Randy Economy

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Let Freedom Ring! America's BEST City Celebrates our Country! W2G Cerritos!

Randy Economy Photos. Copyright. 2009

Tonight, the people of Cerritos, California celebrated the 36th Annual Let Freedom Ring Celebration. This event was attended by tens of thousands of loccal residents. The fireworks tonight were incredible and it was great seeing so many friends tonight. Here is a slide show for your enjoyment.

Randy Economy Photos

Michael Jackson's LAST Time on Stage: Full of energy, or full of something else?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

If you haven't seen this last rehersal performance from Michael Jackson from the Staple's Center, you have to check it out.

Michael Jackson appeared healthy in this video clip -- obtained by CNN -- of his rehearsal two nights before he died, but looks can be misleading.

AEG, promoter of Jackson's planned London shows, released the short video of Jackson rehearsing on a stage in the Staples Center arena on June 23, 2009.

This was two days before his death. Thanks to CNN for the footage. CNN reports that there is over 100 hours of rehearsal footage. Stay tuned.
Randy Economy

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Tickets to Michael Jackson Funeral at Staples Center: Yep, I went on line to www.StaplesCenter.com and entered the drawing

Tonight, I was one of an ESTIMATED HALF BILLION people who went on-line to the Staple's Center's website in hopes of landing 2 tickets to the King of Pop's Funeral service that will be held next Tuesday, July 7th beginning at 10:30 a.m.

All you have to do is go to http://www.staplescenter.com/ and follow the link for Michael Jackson Funeral Tickets.

If I get picked, I am still deciding if I will ACTUALLY go, or sell my tickets on E-Bay? Some folks are already asking up to $10,ooo.oo for ONE SEAT in the Staple's Center to witness the event. 17,500 public tickets will be issued. Staple's Center holds more than 21,500 people for a basketball game.

So, here is my Question of the Weekend:
What would you do if your name was picked to attend the Michael Jackson Funeral? Would you sell them? What price would you ask? Would you attend? Who would you bring? Do you think this Public Event at the Staples Center is an appropriate venue? Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com and I will get your comments posted here on the Blog.

My longtime buddy Greg DeRossi said he would sell his tickets for $10K to buy a new car. Hummm.....

In case you can't get through to the Staple's Center Web Site, here is what is listed about the Memorial Services. BTW. As many as 750,000 to 1,000,000 people are expected to line the area of the Staples Center/Nokia Arena next Tuesday, according to local law enforcement officials.

The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, California and simulcast inside to Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE across the street. A limited number of free tickets to both venues will be made available for Michael Jackson's fans to attend.

Due to the expected overwhelming demand, the following procedures have been set to accommodate registration for the tickets. Please note that by registering for tickets to attend the Public Memorial Service, it does NOT guarantee the registrant tickets.

The opportunity to register for tickets begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, July 3, 2009 and ends at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Please enter your information for your chance to receive two tickets, that will be randomly distributed for either STAPLES Center or Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE to attend the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service. Only one entry per individual will be accepted.

Registering to attend the Public Memorial Service is NOT a guarantee of tickets. Two tickets will be issued to each randomly selected attendee.
-Staple's Center

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Randy Economy

Let Freedom Ring: America's BEST Fireworks are over at the St. Linus Catholic Church Stand at Pioneer and Imperial in Norwalk!

JULY 4th in AMERICA!

I am totally into 4th of July. I live for this DAY!

Let Freedom Ring. Let's get the fireworks ready to EXPLODE in our crisp, clean, blue sky! You can't buy or use fireworks here in Cerritos, but you can buy them in and use them in Artesia and Norwalk.

Remember, be smart this weekend, and don't get all crazy shooting off fireworks were they are banned.
ANYWAY....

Today, I was over at the St. Linus Catholic Church Fireworks Booth at the corner of Pioneer Boulevard and Imperial Highway in the Sizzler Restaurant parking lot.

Business was brisk this afternoon, and our stand only offers "THE BEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS ANYWHERE IN AMERICA!"

I was with my bro Martin Garnier (from the country of Burma....this was his first time selling fireworks)and Father Tony Gomez, community/church leaders Tom Yokohama, and Percy Garces, and George Gonzalez and many others.

Man, fireworks have gotten so advanced over the past few decades. There is something for every taste at this Booth. Please, if you BUY fireworks this weekend, get over and support our wonderful St. Linus Catholic Church booth!

I promise, you will be more "bang for your buck" at our stand!
Randy Economy Photos

New York Times Magazine: Who can POSSIBLY Govern California? A GREAT inside look at those who want our vote in 2010!

Image via CrunchBase

GAVIN NEWSOM...READY for CA?

So, who do you like for California Governor next year? Is California actually "governable?" What do you look for in a candidate running for Governor? Tell me your thoughts, RREconomy@aol.com .

Thanks for a great job from the New York Times Magazine reporter Jeff Minton for this great inside look at California politics!

NY Times Magazine Preview
Who Can Possibly Govern California?
Jeff Minton for The New York Times
Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, one of a crowd of colorful candidates vying to be California’s next governor.

By MARK LEIBOVICH
Published: July 1, 2009

Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, has an emergency button under his desk that was installed 30 years ago after former City Supervisor Dan White entered City Hall through a window and fatally shot Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Not knowing what the button was for, Newsom kept pushing it on his first day in office, only to have three sheriffs rush in repeatedly.

I was sitting in Newsom’s office in May, and the mayor was fidgeting behind his desk, which is neat except for a few side-by-side stacks of collated papers. These are what Newsom calls his CliffsNotes, part of an elaborate system of self-education he developed over several years.

Newsom struggled with severe dyslexia as a child and compensated by rereading, underlining, bracketing and scrawling comments in the margins. “I just butcher a book,” he explained to me. “Everything I underline I assume is important to me.” Interns type up what Newsom has underlined and produce a set of notes for him. “Sometimes I will make CliffsNotes of my CliffsNotes,” Newsom said. He described the practice as “really pathetic.” But it works for him and illustrates a larger point about people with learning disabilities: when a person struggles to learn in conventional ways, he said, you adapt “in ways that can nurture creative solutions.” Doing so can also promote “audacious goals that many would dismiss as irrational.”

That may well be the best description of Newsom’s latest ambition: to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as the governor of California even as the state is in the midst of one of its recurring cataclysms. They come along once or twice a decade, sparked by natural disaster or some fiasco of overcrowding (prisons, schools, roads) or shortage (water, energy, cash) or civic rebellion (taxes, cops, Gray Davis). California always seems to produce more spectacle than anywhere else in the country, and that goes for its meltdowns too. Calamity is just part of the equation here, as if God gave California so much glamour and grandeur and great weather that he had to throw in some apocalyptic menace to provide a little balance. Earthquakes, say. Or Sacramento.

Californians, would-be governors included, have learned to take crises in stride. “People have been declaring this place on the brink of extinction for decades,” said Newsom, who was born in San Francisco and reared in the city and in the adjacent county of Marin. When I visited him in his office, Newsom, who is 41, had just finished rereading his notes on one of his favorite books about the state, “Coast of Dreams: California on the Edge, 1990-2003,” by Kevin Starr. Newsom’s CliffsNotes for “Coast of Dreams” fill 77 pages. He gave me a set, after leafing through them to make sure he had not written anything embarrassing in the margins.

“California had become . . . a reality in search of a myth that had once been believed in,” Starr writes in a passage highlighted by Newsom. “That dream, in fact, had been the first and only premise of the Schwarzenegger campaign.” Those days, in the early years of this decade, were the last time real life overwhelmed the state’s ability to govern itself — that’s when voters recalled their governor, Gray Davis, and once again looked beyond “reality,” to Hollywood, for their next savior, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Click HERE for the REST of the STORY....

I Want You Back! Michael Jackson Remembered

Image by Luiza via Flickr

This is VINTAGE Michael Jackson with The Jackson 5 performing "I Want You Back," on Soul Train in 1972. Michael was 13.

This was the beginning of a life-long relationship with Don Cornelius and Soul Train. Tonight I ran across this vid clip and it makes me smile. I will miss the ARTISTRY of Michael Jackson.

I hear he is going to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn in the amazing Hollywood Hills. I have a lot of family members resting in peace there and the setting is breathtaking from top of the hill.

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Cerritos Mayor Pro-Tem Joseph Cho responds to EPA Ranking for Cerritos

Cerritos Mayor Pro-Tem Joseph Cho sent me a note to see if I could pass this information along to my readers here on the Blog, and it is regarding the EPA Study from last week about our community. Thanks, Joseph for the note. What do you think about Mayor Pro-Tem Cho's take on this situation? Tell me at RREconomy@aol.com, and I will make sure that your voice will be heard. Randy Economy

June 30, 2009
Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Cerritos
(562) 547-4434
Josephjcho@earthlink.net

City Of Cerritos Is Aggressively Investigating EPA Report On Air Pollution To Protect The Safty And Reputation

Dear Cerritos residents and friends,

On June 24, 2009, I was shocked, as I am sure many of you were, when I read the news reports that stated Cerritos has the “worst single neighborhood” for cancer risk. The report said the neighborhood has a cancer risk of more than 1,200 people in 1 million, which is 34 times the national average. This shocking news suddenly tarnished the City’s reputation and its residents’ pride in the many notable awards earned by the City, such as the All American City Award, the most Livability City Award, Tree City USA , etc.

First off, I would like to commend Mayor Barrows and staff for their immediate attention to this matter by researching the issue, contacting the proper authorities, responding to the news media, and preparing a detailed report to the Council. Since then, they have worked hard every day to clarify this issue.

At the June 25, 2009 Council meeting, I asked representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) questions regarding the cancer risk in other sections of the City and surrounding areas, but they could not answers and only promised to report us in two weeks. Therefore, there are still many factors that are unclear, but I strongly feel my responsibility to report to our residents what I have learned so far.

First, EPA and/or AQMD never notified the City of Cerritos about the finding of the National-scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA). The “Long Beach Press-Telegram” newspaper quoted South Coast AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood as stating “At this point we do not see any indication that the cancer risk and air pollution would be any higher in Cerritos than in the surrounding areas.”

On June 25, 2009, at the Cerritos City Council meeting, Dr. Anupom Ganguli with the South Coast AQMD said the data used in the NATA study was likely from the late 1980’s or early 1990’s. He also said the majority of cancer risk from air pollution is caused by diesel emissions, which the NATA study does not consider, and that the risk in Cerritos is no greater than surrounding areas. Also at the meeting, Steven John, EPA Director of the Southern California Field Office apologized to the City and said, “People shouldn’t look at this and panic.”
Second, EPA and South Coast AQMD identified that PGA Industries, now known as Heraeus Metal Processing, in Santa Fe Springs, emitted .625 tons of the chemical Hydrazine into the atmosphere seven years ago. Hydrazine, a colorless liquid used in rocket fuel and chemical manufacturing, is listed by the EPA as a “probable” carcinogen, but since 2006, AQMD did not test for Hydrazine because it is not a common toxin in the area. By the recent inspection, AQMD has been confirmed that the facility currently uses Hydrazine.

Third, a South Coast AQMD fact sheet indicated that the National Air Toxic Assessment (NATA) report recently released by the EPA is based on the data from the year 2002, and some of the data may be from the early 1990’s or earlier. It means that the EPA emission data is old and according to the South Coast AQMD has “considerable uncertainty.”

Fourth, previous Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Studies (MATES) by AQMD have shown that the vast majority (84%) of cancer risk is due to exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM). However, the NATA report did not consider diesel PM in their cancer risk estimates and the national average came out very low, only 36 in 1 million. Using this very limited data, the cancer risk in Cerritos due to toxic exposure was disproportionately higher than in the surrounding areas. However, more recent studies, that include cancer risk due to diesel PM, reveal a different story. In the report conducted by AQMD between April 2004 and March 2006, the cancer risk average was 1,200 in 1 million in Los Angeles and Riverside Counties. On June 25, 2009, the “Long Beach Press-Telegram” reported that the cancer risk jumped to as high as 3200 in 1 million in Long Beach, downtown Los Angeles and Wilmington. When considering these studies, the cancer risk due to air pollutants in Cerritos is much low!

Better than in these surrounding areas.
In consideration of all the factors, I strongly feel that the NATA report is based on old and uncertain data, and especially failed to include the high cancer risk due to diesel PM and as a result its estimation and modeling of cancer risk is considerably uncertain. Without regard to thus information and with no special environmental knowledge a “USA Today” reporter wrongfully assumed that two nearby freeways caused air pollution in Cerritos and pointed out one section of Cerritos as the worst cancer risk neighborhood. Also, the study appears to have taken the data relating to a small section of Cerritos in a near the facility, but mistakenly applied it to the much larger cross-section of the city.

This is a major concern for all of us and we should look carefully into this problem. EPA and South Coast AQMD have started investigating this matter, resurveying the area in question and will report to the City of Cerritos in two weeks. At the last Council meeting, I made motion to agendize this issue at our July 9 City Council meeting for more detailed and comprehensive discussions.

Even though the EPA’s data is of considerable uncertainty, this news has made us more aware of our environment and to pay more attention to air pollution in our community. We need to recognize the basic message of the EPA report and South Coast AQMD studies that indicate Southern California remains one of most highly polluted areas of the country and that cancer risks remain unacceptably high. We should address our air pollution issue and become more actively involved in caring for our environment.

Lastly, despite our effort to correct the data and statistics, the image of our City of Cerritos has been damaged. We must do all that we can do to recover Cerritos ’ reputation as a clean, beautiful and healthy city. Let’s work together to rebuild our proud All-American City of Cerritos.

Thank you
Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Cerritos

USA TODAY INVESTIGATIVE REPORT – The Smokestack Effect – SANTA FE SPRINGS/CERRITOS/BUENA PARK/NORWALK AREA "TOXIC" COMPANIES LISTED BY EPA

MOST OF THE TOXIC SITES FROM THE RECENT EPA REPORT ARE FOUND ALONG THE FIRESTONE FRONTAGE ROAD AREA IN SANTA FE SPRINGS/NORWALK THAT RUNS NEXT TO THE SANTA ANA 5 FREEWAY. 

June 30th
Tuesday 1 a.m.
BREAKING....

UPDATE ON EPA STUDY OF TOXINS IN AREA COMMUNITIES.

Interactive MAP released by USA TODAY showing "Toxic" sites.

This is AMAZING USA TODAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION that follow's up their article from last week regarding the EPA Study AREA of Toxic Pollution in our community.
Nearly 50 LOCAL AREA company's are NOW listed by USA TODAY for being "toxic" businesses, than are contributing to our area's pollution problems.

Many of them have been in business here for several generations, like Artesia Ready Mix (yep, it's on the list) here in Artesia.

An overwhelming majority of these listed/so-called "toxic polluters" by USA Today are actually located witin the City of Norwalk, City of Santa Fe Springs, City of Artesia, City of La Mirada and City of Buena Park. Only 5 "toxic" businesses are listed in Cerritos.

CLICK BELOW.
This is from the EPA and the UNIVERSITY of MASS/Amherst and was published in the USA TODAY and at http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/polluter/46447
The link below and ABOVE is an interactive map of ALL of the locations in our area that are considered to be "toxic polluters" from the EPA.

If all of this data is correct, the community will need to come together to seek more facts, and to come up with a plan to help make our community cleaner and healthier for ALL of US! I think it's time for some more honest talk from our leaders in Washington, DC. How come our Congresswoman Linda Sanchez hasn't held a press conference about this urgent matter?

Of the dozens and dozens of "identified polluters" in our area from the EPA, only 5 are actually located in Cerritos, and the others are primarily based in Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and La Mirada. The prime area of pollutants are from manufacturing business along the 5 Freeway/Firestone Frontage Road Corridor bordering Firestone Blvd., Carmenita Road, Valley View, and Knott Ave.

The main suspect company is "Heraeus Metal Processing" in SFS at Alondra and Carmenita directly across the border from Cerritos, California.

Special Report – The Smokestack Effect – Heraeus Metal Processing Inc. Santa Fe Springs, California CLICK HERE FOR MAP OF SITES:

Toxic chemicals emitted by company includes Sulfuric acid, Lead and lead compounds, Hydrochloric acid, Hydrazine and Nitric acid.

Also named in the USA Today/EPA study where FIVE local CERRITOS schools, all located in the immediate/most affected area:

These schools are:
Carmenita Middle, Cerritos, California
Joe A. Gonsalves Elementary, Cerritos, California
Abc Secondary (Alternative), Cerritos, California
Smart Christian School, Cerritos, California
Cecil B. Stowers Elementary, Cerritos, California

Sources:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
University of Massachusetts Amherst

To report corrections and clarifications, contact the USA TODAY investigative team.
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LETTERS: More on Toxic EPA Report from C. Michael Dang and Eileen Ikuta

Seems like my blog is now becoming "Mail Central" for Cerritos residents to express their views and concerns about last week's conroversial EPA Air Ranking.

These great notes are from Resident C. Michael Dang, who lives in the South and Bloomfield, and former Cerritos Resident Eileen Ikuta who still has family here at South and Carmenita. Thanks Michael and Eileen for your notes. Keep em' coming to RREconomy@aol.com and I will post them as they arrive.

Randy

Hi Randy,
I'm a long time Cerritos resident, and became concerned about the recent EPA news as well. Saw your blog on this subject, and though I'd contribute by calling to your attention a few updated tidbits regarding this matter.

Please skip the first link below, since you already know about it.
The second link is more recently updated, with the EPA admitting old data & apologizing to the Cerritos City Council

I had sent the below to another Cerritos friend, and made the Word documents out of those articles as well. Since you don't know me, you'd probably spam any attachment I may have, so I did NOT attach those Word docs, but do have them if you need them (in case the links don't work, or if the links have been updated so that the old news aren't there any longer).

Sincerely,

C. Michael Dang
South & Bloomfield, Cerritos
----------
First link was on June 24, updated on June 25, with the South Coast Air Quality Management District already casting doubt on the EPA study
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12683199

Second link below is more updated (June 25, updated on June 26), with EPA spokesperson apologizing to the Cerritos City Council
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_12692141

Re: SoCal City Ranks Worst in Nation for Cancer Risk

Thanks for the info. Randy. I myself, live in Hollywood, but my parents live on the borderline of Cerritos/Orange County at South/Carmenita near the McDonald's and Ralph's, Cerritos Lanes. This article along has hurt many business owners, and also hurt property values as Cerritos is still a great place to live, although too conservative for me...ha ha.

I attended Whitney High School and don't want something such as this silly study to affect people's interest in the city. My parents moved there in the early 70's from the Inland Empire due to increased gang activity.

Thanks for being on top of it, Randy. Enjoy your blogs. keep up the great work!

Eileen Ikuta

Former Cerritos Resident

Past Graduate of Whitney HS

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