Break out the BBQ: Summer is Officially Here in Cerritos, CA!

I live for Summertime here in Cerritos, Ca.

Today was PERFECT. Not too hot, just perfect. Around 77 degrees tops and tonight the wind is still, the crickets are screaming, and the stars are bright.

Tonight my bro Martin Garnier and mom Ro and our wonderful family pal Matthew Avila had an amazing meal that was for the "ages." Steaks, and lobster claws, and grilled peppers and green onions, string beans, pesto pasta, and on and on. I am stuffed. This morning began with a typical "Costco Run" and voila...instant magic! Matthew and Martin are NOW both BLOGGING, and you can find their links here on the left HAND column >>>>>>>>>>>>.

Thanks for a great night. Matthew was a HUGE help to us when we lived at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel earlier this year when our house caught fire. Tonight, we celebrated friendship and hope for the future.

Let the good times roll.

Randy Economy

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LOCAL ECONOMY: 9,000 workers unemployed in Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens and Norwalk. Sobering data released

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

The state Unemployment rate has been released, with 11.3% of all Californians currently out of a job. The numbers released this week from the Department of Labor are sobering, to say the least.



Here is Cerritos, Artesia, Norwalk, and Hawaiian Gardens, the jobless numbers are still high and vary from city to city. This is a painful time here in our community and tonight we can place a number to those in our community who are without work due to the recession.
CERRITOS 6.20% Unemployed
Cerritos currently has a labor force of 29,100 people with 1,800 residents who claimed "Unemployment" benefits for last month for a jobless rate of 6.20%.



Artesia has a labor force of 8,200 people with 600 currently "Unemployed" for a jobless rate of 7.80%. Norwalk is having a tough time here in our area with 6,000 Norwalk residents currently without work, or a jobless rate of 12.00%, higher than the California state average by .2%. In Hawaiian Gardens, more than 12.20% of it's workforce is jobless accounting for more than 800 people.

Times are tough. These job totals are sobering. In the Cerritos, Artesia, Norwalk, Hawaiian Gardens community more than 9,200 people are currently in the ranks of the "unemployed." Let's hope that the worse is over. It can't get much worse.
Randy Economy

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Happy Father's Day! It's Dad's Day here in America!

Image by Current News Stories via Flickr

I just wanted to give a great big SHOUT OUT to all of the Dad's here in America who are celebrating Father's Day.

I am getting ready to head to Mass over at St. Linus Catholic Church here in Norwalk, CA, and last night I had a total blast celebrating with my "God Father" Dr. Steve Sherman, and his family over at Los Alamitos Fish Company.

My late father Dick Economy passed away 10 years ago, so today I keep him in my thoughts and prayers. My Dad loved watching The US Open on Fathers Day, and today, I have tuned in to watch all this annual event that is taking place back in a rainy New York. I'm thinking about how much fun my dad and I use to have playing golf over at the Cerritos Iron Wood Nine, where he scored a Hole in One, and other courses up and down California.

Happy Pops Day to EVERYONE! Sccchaaaawwwinnng!

Randy Economy

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Video in Iran: Tehran Video Shows Massive Violence from June 21, 2009

Someone in Egypt sent me this, from someone in Iran, and  I wanted to post this on my Blog. 

The violence in Iran is awful to watch, and this clip was shot and uploaded to You Tube less than 30 minutes ago...it's now 3:30 a.m. here in Cerritos, CA on Sunday, June 21, 2009. 

Send this post to your friends.  Remember, Freedom Isn't Free. 

God Bless Iran.

Randy Economy

June 20th, 2008: One Year Ago Today our House caught on fire. What a Year!

TODAY...ONE YEAR LATER... ONE YEAR AGO...June 20th, 2008




Today marks the date in which our house caught on fire here in Cerritos, California. What a year this has been. It was 107 degrees here in Cerritos last June 20th when our car literally exploded in the garage sending smoke, flames, and ash everywhere.

My mom Rosemary and I and my dog Chickie moved into the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel that night. All I had was a pair of walking shorts, tennis shoes, no socks, and a t-shirt. We lived at the Sheraton for around 220 days. The staff at the Sheraton was remarkable, kind, and very loving. Thanks again to Chris Halderson, General Manager of the Cerritos Sheraton and his remarkable staff for making us part of the "Sheraton Family."

I lost everything in my bedroom, the garage, all my clothes, and everything else had smoke and asbestos damage.

Since then, our house was rebuilt, and it is a true Blessing to be back into a "Home Sweet Home." My dog Chickie passed away two weeks after we moved back home, and all of the lawn and garden has been replanted. Our house won the Grand Prize Award for our Area in the "Cerritos City Wide Pride Award" a couple of weeks ago, so we have lots to celebrate during this next year.

Again, thanks for everyone who helped us in our "hour of need" this past year. You are all in my Prayers and Thoughts today!

Randy Economy

Econo-My-Scene: Politics in the Age of Facebook, Twitter and Blogger.

This is my regular column here in the Los Cerritos Community News.  Thanks for checking out, and thanks for your support and readership!  This is actually quite funny.  Enjoy.

Randy

Econo-My-Scene:
Politics in the Age of Facebook, Twitter and Blogger.
By Randy Economy

I love Facebook.
I just started to Twitter, and I have been Blogging for the past 4 years.
Hitt me up, send me a "Friend Request" to "Randy Economy" and viola, you will be my new best pal. Facebook and Twitter is interesting to those of us who enjoy being involved in movements, campaigning for good people in public life, and to keep in touch with those we haven't seen in eons.

It's also a great place to speak out for and against "social causes."
I started a FB Group called "Throw Your Shoes At AIG Chairman Edward Liddy." What a riot. Within hours I had 150 new friends involved in a conversation about the corruption of the failed financial institution that has cost us taxpayers Billions upon Billions of real "bailout" bucks.

Candidates for local, state and national offices are ALL on Facebook.
I love seeing what Meg Whitman is doing in her campaign for California Governor each day on Twitter, and our Attorney General Jerry Brown also has a great following via his new Blackberry.

FB and Twitter and Blogger are great tools to engage new supporters, and to give them "insight" into your personal life, and what you do on a daily basis.
But sometimes, it's a tad disturbing to actually see what some of our elected officials post on their Facebook and "Twitter" updates" or "What I am Doing Right Now."

One local state legislator updates his FB and Twitter "status" at least 10 times a day. Instead of being a candidate for public office, he should be a candidate for a "reality tv" series called, "I'm a Politician, Get Me Out of Here."

"HEY. Just left a fundraiser over at Frank Fats and now heading to another fundraiser at the California Train Museum, then heading over to a friend's place for a pizza and beer bust to watch the Laker game," a recent posting claimed.  "Then, I am heading over for a nightcap at Camacho's. PARTY!"

Wait a cotton pickin' minute.

Do I really want to know that much information about the daily doings of those we send to represent us in Sacramento or Washington DC?

Pizza and Beer Parties, Drinking Games in bars, and going to fundraisers every night?

Huh?

No wonder we are in such a mess here in California.
One night I got flash message from a local Member of Congress telling me that they just woke up with a HUGE hang over after a night of wildness in Georgetown.

Political hangover's in Georgetown?

That's, way too much information.

It's time for us on Facebook to start telling our elected officials to get back to work, and get the job done, and stop the "fun and games" once and for all.

Sacramento and Washington has "Gone Wild."
 Social networking sites are a great tool for the people to keep tabs on those we like to call our "public servants."

Take my word on this. During the next campaign here in California, these daily postings from our politicians will come back to bit them in the rear.
Their own words and actions will come back to haunt them.  Hang on. I have an incoming message from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villiaraigosa. He's having din din over at the Ivy with some news anchor gal from KTLA. Now that's HOT!

Econo-My-Scene: Be on your toes, Politicians, we're watching your EVERY MOVE!!

QUICK NOTE:
I will be posting my bi-weekly column "Econo-My-Scene" later this afternoon (Friday) here on the Blog.  My column now runs EVERY other WEEK in the Los Cerritos Community News and covers life in the cities of Cerritos, Artesia, Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Lakewood, and Hawaiian Gardens, CA

PEEK:

It really drives me crazy to see some of the things our elected officials POST on their Facebook, Twitter and other "Social Media" outlets.

Stay tuned.

This is going to crack you up.

I've been watching our Politicians UP to in Sacramento and Washington, DC. to see how they REALLY spend their time working "for us" on the job.

Check back this afternoon...

Randy Economy

SHOUT OUT: City of Hawaiian Gardens is Getting Back On Track!

Tonight, I have been watching the Hawaiian Gardens City Council Meeting, here in Cerritos on Verizon Channel 16.

Hawaiian Gardens is going through a lot of hard times lately, and watching the residents tonight, I see a community full of pain, hurt and anger.

I wanted to congratulate The Garden's Mayor Mike Gomez and City Administrator Ernesto Marquez for beginning an "open conversation" with the community that is based upon respect, truth and candor. People are hurting in HG. Young children are at risk of heading in the wrong direction. Tonight I saw a city wanting a fresh start, and one with lots of questions.

City politics in The Gardens is a contact sport. Rough and Tumble Politics is the Rule in The Gardens. Three incumbents (Betty Schultze, John Heckerman and Michi Canada) will be facing tough reelection campaigns this November.

Open conversations with the community is vital and is the foundation of our Democracy.

I can only hope that the upcoming election in HG is civil, spirited, and one run on facts, passion and hope for the future.

Let Freedom Ring!
Randy Economy

Inside Iran: A look at the Political Crisis from Author Nathan Gonzalez! Thanks Nathan!

Note: I first met Nathan Gonzalez during former Vermont Governor Howard Dean's Campaign for President back in 2003/2004. Nathan is a Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, is author of "Engaging Iran: The Rise of a Middle East Powerhouse and America's Strategic Choice." Thanks for the post, Nathan.  Also, Nathan appeared on Montel Williams "Air America" Talk Show this afternoon and above is that clip. 

Following the announcement by Iran's Interior Ministry that incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won reelection in an implausible landslide, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets with the kind of unbridled political anger that may have the power to escalate into full-blown revolution. The ball is now in the court of the supreme leader, the highest authority in Iran, to avert the ultimate confrontation.

Image via Wikipedia

During most of the Islamic Republic's young history, elections have served as a kind of pressure safety valve, releasing discontent into ballot boxes within the framework of contested elections. By voting at rates that would put any U.S. election to shame, the Iranian people, reformists and conservatives alike, gave legitimacy to a system that was otherwise seen as corrupt and undemocratic, since real power always rested with the supreme leader and his close associates.

The shocking results of the June 12 election are a sign that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei feared becoming irrelevant amidst a campaign that both the candidates and the people seemed to be taking far too seriously. Green-clad supporters of leading challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi formed human chains in the streets of Tehran, while Ahmadinejad jettisoned Persian decorum when he called out former president and consummate insider Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on national television, accusing him of corruption. The 2009 presidential election looked less like the charade it was designed to be, and more like an all-or-nothing contest for power.

The supreme leader, however, decided to reestablish his importance in the most clumsy of ways: by handing Ahmadinejad nearly 63% of the vote, a blatantly exaggerated figure, given polling data, and given the groundbreaking 80-85% voter turnout, which by all indications was expected to favor Mousavi -- the change candidate.

To be sure, Khamenei would not be the first Iranian leader to consolidate power in shortsighted fashion. Following the 1953 coup against democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq, the last shah of Iran banned all but two handpicked political parties, forcing the opposition to adopt extra-legal and often violent means of confrontation with the monarchy. Peaceful and moderate coalitions like the National Front, which Mossadeq helped found, soon took a back seat to more extremist elements such as the Marxist Fedayeen, the People's Mojahedeen, and Khomeini himself -- groups that could more efficiently navigate the undercurrents of repressed political anger.

It may be too early to tell whether Khamenei has made an error in judgment comparable to that of the shah, and whether the current outrage may lead to a bona fide revolution. The last revolution took over a year of government fumbles and excessive violence before it reached full maturity and toppled the shah. What is foreseeable is that no revolution can take place in Iran without the involvement of particular segments of the society, including the bazaar merchant class, religious institutions, and the working poor, groups that are hardly in the pocket of the regime, despite their social conservative bent.

One sign that the supreme leader may be unwilling to risk further escalation was his decision to have a recount, which was made public on Tuesday. Although the idea was rejected outright by Mousavi, given allegations of destroyed ballots around the country, it could mark the first step toward Khamenei's change of heart. Sooner or later, the supreme leader will realize that abandoning Ahmadinejad will be a safer bet than confronting millions of young Iranians, who as of Saturday morning no longer have a stake in the system they inherited from the 1978-79 revolution.

Moving forward, the supreme leader has two clear choices: Save the fragile legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by calling for new elections, or move toward a system that increasingly looks like a dictatorship, in which all pretensions of popular will are thrown by the wayside. Either choice may be a losing proposition for the Islamic ruling elite in the long run. But what is certain is that a massive confrontation with the people of Iran very seldom benefits those in power, something Khamenei and his fellow revolutionaries from the class of 1979 know all too well.

Arnold Bucks: Get'em If You Can....Coming to Every Californian this Summer!

The State of California is now officially broke.  Today was the day that the California State Assembly and Senate was required to pass a budget and to send it to Arnold for his "John Hancock."

Nope.  Not this time.

Instead of a balanced budget, look for "Arnold Bucks" to be showing up in your mail boxes real soon.

This is what we can look forward to this Summer of California Broken Dreams.

Randy Economy
Cerritos, CA

CATHOLICS GOT TALENT! Concert Under The Stars is a HUGE hit at St. Linus Church in Norwalk! What a BLAST!

SEEN:
Fr. Tony Gomez and Anna Betancourt; Mike Betancourt on the guitar; Isabel Trarab; and "the Supremes" Rock St. Linus Catholic Church, Under the Stars!



Tonight, some of the most talented folks in our community rocked and rolled over at St. Linus Catholic Church in Norwalk, CA to celebrate "Concert Under The Stars, A Jukebox Party."

I want to congratulate everyone for making tonight such a success and a whole lot of family fun! The Producer of the amazing event was the talented Anna Betancourt. Anna is one of the most talented people I know. She is amazing, and has an amazing gift and is a great role model for our ENTIRE community! Enjoy the photos! Great job to those who produced the show and who preformed.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Msgr. Joe Brennan, Fr. Tony Gomez, Barbra Manriquez, Dennis Adame, Monica and Bruce Landry, Jennifer Perez, Cecilia Partida, Emil Salud, Dean Adame, Mike Betancourt, Maureen Linnebur, Annette and Fito Rodriguez, Archie and Lilly Swarr, Michelle and Marissa Lazalde, Silvia Flores, Joey Triona, Marge Fisher, Horacio Rodriguez, Elohim D'leon and D'leon Entertainment!

Randy Economy PHOTOS!

How Bad is The Economy: Check out this list from Matt Kauble

I wanted to pass this "Top 10" list from my pal Matt Kauble, here in Cerritos. Thanks Matt for making us look at what a mess our world is in with a smile!
Randy Economy

You Know The Economy is so bad...when...

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
Even people who have nothing to do with the Obama administration aren't paying their taxes.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

Obama met with small businesses to discuss the Stimulus Package: GE, Pfizer and Citigroup.

McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

A truckload of Americans got caught sneaking into Mexico.

The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

People in Africa are donating money to Americans.

Mothers in Ethiopia are telling their kids, "finish your plate, do you know how many kids are starving in the US ?"

Motel Six won't leave the light on.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

And finally...

Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal.
Hey, neat...the guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $750 billion disappear.

You got something for the Blog?  Drop me your ideas to RREconomy@aol.com.
R

NOAH KROM: Memorial Scholarship Established

“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell

I wanted to pass along this information about the recent passing of Noah Krom, 22, who was the oldest son of Irvine City Councilwoman Beth Krom and Sollie Krom.

Noah died tragically one week before graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara in an apparent accident in which he fell from a steep cliff.

Many of you have asked how you can remember Noah through a contribution.

The Krom Family is in the process of establishing the Noah J. Krom Foundation to help carry Noah’s legacy forward and realize the dreams he held in his heart. Details will be forthcoming about how you can contribute. E-mail Caryn Puma at Carynpuma@cox.net if you would like to be notified when the foundation is able to receive contributions.

Services for Noah were held tonight at the Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin, California. I received the following note from the Krom family, and I wanted to pass this along to you.

"The Krom family appreciates the outpouring of love and all the thoughtful expressions of sympathy you have extended in this time of their most intense grief. The are trying hard to make sense of this tragedy. Their hearts are broken and they know that only time and the support of their family and friends over the coming months will help them begin to heal their world."

Randy Economy

Get Ready for Cerritos.US!

Hey, here is some interesting news from our All-America City of Cerritos, CA.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Cerritos.US bought by the City of Cerritos,California

From Mister.US

It's not everyday you see a city government buy on the aftermark their city dot .US ,City of Cerritos ,Cerritos,California 90703 purchases Cerritos.US much better then their ci.cerritos.ca.us url. Where .US has been used so long as gvt sites .US brings instant credibilty and most .US gvt sites rank top in google under keyword city name see newyork 4th in google even above newyork.com

Stay Tuned.

Randy Economy

Sad News: The Passing of Noah Krom, 22, son of Irvine Councilwoman Beth Krom

NOAH KROM-- 1987-2009

I was sadden to see that Noah Krom, the son of my friend Irvine City Councilwoman Beth Krom died over the weekend after an apparent fall from an Isla Vista cliff.

Noah was just 22 years old and was a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He was suppose to be graduating from the University this week by receiving a degree in business Sunday, according to Melahat Rafiei, Beth Krom's campaign manager.

I first met Beth back when she first got elected to the Irvine City Council in 2000, and she and I and Melahat worked tirelessly for former Vermont Governor Howard Dean in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President in 2004. Noah was always full of energy and full of zest, he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Tonight I pray from the Krom Family, and ask you to do the same. Noah, seen above in the middle, leaves behind his brother Hershel Krom, sister Abby Krom, and dad Solly Krom and mom Beth.

RIP, Noah!

Brits Got Talent: Diversity dances over Susan Boyle to be Crowned Englands Best!

The SHOCK of the YEAR is that SUSAN BOYLE has LOST her bid to win Brits Got Talent to an incredible dance group called Diversity. Watch the finals from tonight's show across the pond, and their is no doubt that the right performance won.

Amazing.

It will leave you in awwwwwwww.....

Randy Economy

Econo-My-Scene: Fixing California Begins with Paging Art Gallucci!

Image via Wikipedia

This is my weekly column for the Los Cerritos Community News for this weekend, and focuses on my solution to fix California, once and for all. Your thoughts? RREconomy@aol.com.
Randy Economy

I have been thinking a lot about the fiscal mess we are facing here in California, and what in the world WE can offer up as a solution to rescue our beloved Golden State.

I can’t sit and watch California fall into the Pacific Ocean from our ineffective and out of touch politicians in Sacramento any longer. We gotta’ get a plan, man. Wait. I got it.

It’s time to send in reinforcement. Not the National Guard or the Army into Sacramento. I have a better idea. We need to send in Cerritos City Manager Art Gallucci to fix Sacramento.

Let’s face reality; no one up THERE really has a clue on how to run our State. Actor Dude is toast, we all know that. The 30-Year-Olds running the State Assembly are all too young and too inexperienced to fix anything, and the termed out State Senate cares more about “leaving Sacramento,” collecting their pensions, instead of hanging around to fix the mess they created when they were first elected to the State Assembly six years earlier.

Yep, time to send in the “A” Team to Sacramento for the next 6 months to lead us out of this fiscal dark forest.

Can you imagine what California could accomplish under the tight, fiscally creative reign of Art Gallucci? Can you imagine what could get accomplished on the Floor of the State Assembly or Senate with Galluch’ runnin’ the joint.

First of all, we would understand how big our budget crisis “actually” is, instead of the current system of drawing numbers out of a hat everyday in the State Capitol Basement Cafeteria that determines how much California is in debt on that particular day.

We need to have Art’s vast experience and keen knowledge to help fix California.

Art Gallucci has created a legacy of success here in Cerritos that is recognized all over America and the World. He is The Prince of Bloomfield. The King of the Golden Library. The Wizard of 183rd. Get my drift.

For his ENTIRE adult life, Art Gallucci has dedicated it to the people of this community.
I first met Art in 1970, in the trailers at Cerritos City Hall on Pioneer Blvd. Art was hip, young, 25-ish. I was like 9 years old back then. My parents Dick and Rosemary Economy immediately fell in love with Art. He was "an up and comer" in a city that was nothing but cows, a billion flies, and a Field of Dreams 7 miles wide!

Art’s first job was to oversee the construction of all of our Parks here in Cerritos. Voila, A Masterful job.

Elected officials come and go here due to voter mandated term limits, but Art is the cement that holds Cerritos together year in and year out. He literally helped build Cerritos, park by park, house by house, waterfalls, and shopping centers, and center medians, and the world’s largest Auto Mall that has been our fiscal “Saving Grace.”

Art is the Man who listens to ALL the People of our community. Trust me, if you call City Hall and ask to speak to the City Manager, you will get Art on the phone ASAP. He is Cerritos. He is sophisticated, yet unassuming. He is sharp on his feet, and is someone every local city manager aspires to become. He is a Diplomat amongst sometime shaken egos, and speaks with pride and knowledge.

Having to balance a City Council and a city staff, law enforcement agencies, employee unions, 55,000 residents, and an amazing wife (Joann) and family is a tough gig. Art makes it look fun and actually enjoyable. Just think of what he could do to get Sacramento under control?

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VIDEO: KTLA on the Artesia Bullflight Brew Ha Ha

KTLA Morning News did a story on the Artesia DES Hall's Bloodless Bullfight controversy that took place over the weekend. Here are the details in case you are unaware of them (from KTLA and the Chicago Tribune). This situation in Artesia has been aired and printed in thousands of publications, blogs, and television news programs all over the world since this past Memorial Day weekend when the incident took place.
Randy Economy

BLOODY BULLFIGHT BUSTED IN ARTESIA
From KTLA News

Chip Yost, Reporting

A humane officer with Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) busted up a bull fight Saturday night at the Festa da Bola.

The ACI officer said bullfighters were using long wooden sticks with long sharpened nails on the end to stab and torment the bulls.

The officer said he noticed blood and puncture wounds on the bull when the animal was being led out of the ring.

The bull had been repeatedly stabbed with up to eight sticks, according to ACI.

After seeing the bloodied bull, the humane officer went into center ring, held up his badge and ended the bullfight.

ACI says more than 30 sticks with nails on the end were confiscated, and the company operating the bullfight was informed that stabbing a bull is a violation of California state animal cruelty laws.

Jane Garrison, spokeswoman for Animal Cruelty Investigations, says they "hope the DA prosecutes this case to the fullest extent of the law and the City of Artesia makes this bullfight its last."

Those who organize the fight say the bulls wear heavy padding so they won't be hurt by the sticks.

Gardens Gang Raid: Identification Mix Up lands Innocent Chef in Jail; Two more arrests bring total to 90. New You Tube Video documents raid

<P>

VIDEOS on Last weeks Massive Raid from You Tube.

Thanks to local news sources, Long Beach Press Telegram, Los Angeles Times, KABC Eyewitness News, and YouTube.com .

Blog Posting by Randy Economy

Two more alleged gang members have been located and arrested over the weekend in the nation's largest federal indictment against the criminal street gang "Varrio Hawaiian Gardens," and one Pico Rivera man is free tonight in what can only be called a huge case of "mistaken identity."

A Pico Rivera grandfather, who is an Executive Chef by trade, was incorrectly arrested during the investigation by authorities and was released from Los Angeles County Jail in Downtown. Opps. How could this happen? Easy, when you share the same EXACT name of one of those being sought by authorities.

"Operation Knockout"

This massive raid, the largest every conducted against an American street gang, has had everyone breathing a sigh of relief in our Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, Norwalk, Pico Rivera community.

The arrests included more than 60 people named in five federal indictments and more than 20 individuals arrested on state or local charges, authorities said.

Included in the arrests was a Pico Rivera husband and father - Ramon Galves Huerta - who shares a first, middle and last name with one of the 147 people named in the federal indictment said a spokesman for the US Attorneys Office.

The retired chef was released on Saturday, after spending two nights in jail, when authorities realized he was not the drug dealer they were after.

Authorities are still trying to figure out how they mixed up the 64-year-old Huerta with the suspect who shares an identical name, Mrozek said Tuesday.

One indictment alleges a man named Ramon Galves Huerta was recorded in wiretapped phone conversations speaking about heroin and conspiring to sell the drug, although the court document gives no physical description or identifying details of the suspect.

Watch for a lawsuit to be filed from Ramon Galves Huerta, the Chef, not the one in the gang...Paging Gloria Allred.

I also want to give a "Shout Out" to Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem for being the only member of the Cerritos City Council to mention "Operation Knockout" at City Hall tonight and for asking the community to be "engaged" in making our streets safer. Thanks Joe Cho!

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LA Times: Artesia bullfight brings wrath of animal welfare group. What a bunch of BS*#%@!

Protest is a Bunch of Bull in Artesia!

Note:

I guess "political" correctness is running rampant here in Artesia, or is our government sticking it's nose into a bunch of bull poop it has no business in.

Over the weekend, the annual Festa de Bola (Festival of the Bulls) at the DES Hall was shut down by law enforcement officials over possible "animal cruelty" charges against the bulls that are used in the bloodless ritual.

You have to read this article in today's LA Times, Page 3.

Like thousands of you here in Cerritos and Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens and Norwalk, I have attended this major community event for years. Now, animal right activists are trying to stop this deeply religious activity from taking place.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney is now investigating this "incident" that took place over Memorial Day Weekend, and two Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Deputies were called to the event and rounded up "evidence" that could lead to criminal charges against leaders of the Artesia DES community.

Look at these pics I took of last years Artesia DES Parade, featuring these two adorable bulls. They are not abused, they are deeply loved and cared for. I see a column brewing here for this week's Los Cerritos Community News. Stay Tuned! I also found this vid clip from You Tube from the Artesia festival. Ehhh...no rough and tumble violence on this clip....just a whole lotta family fun.

Randy Economy

'Bloodless' bullfight is illegal, says the group. But Artesia's Portuguese community insists it's both traditional and harmless. The district attorney's office may weigh in.

From the LOS ANGELES TIMES

By Carla Hall
9:42 PM PDT, May 25, 2009

Men, women, and children gathered before dusk Saturday behind the Portuguese community center in Artesia. They packed the bleachers that circle the dirt ring with its high wood walls painted red. The three-day holiday weekend Festa da Bola would be filled with soccer, laughter, food.

But on this evening, the main attraction was a bullfight.

It was billed as a "bloodless bullfight" -- in which the animal is not killed in the ring.

"But they are anything but bloodless," said Jane Garrison, spokeswoman for an animal welfare group called Animal Cruelty Investigations.

On Saturday night, a humane officer who works with the animal group interrupted the show "when he discovered the bullfighters were using long wooden sticks with several-inch sharpened nails on the end to stab, torment and infuriate the bulls," according to a statement that the group posted on its website. The officer "saw blood and puncture wounds on the bull when the animal was being returned."

It's unclear whether the officer completely halted the evening's events. The Los Angeles County sheriff's station in Lakewood confirmed that he requested assistance and that two deputies were dispatched to help him. He confiscated 36 sticks, Garrison said.

Today, representatives of the animal welfare group plan to call on the district attorney to prosecute, under animal cruelty statutes, the Kern County-based company that supplies bulls for these events.

"No animal should ever be made to suffer for so-called entertainment," the group's statement says.

But beyond the debate over animal cruelty, what happened Saturday night opened a window onto a clash of cultures: the growing movement to extend welfare protection to animals not thought of as pets versus a close-knit Portuguese community that sees this sport as a cherished tradition, not the least bit cruel.

Although most Los Angeles residents may be surprised to learn that there's bullfighting going on at any time in a sedate leafy neighborhood blocks from a Starbucks, in fact it takes place throughout the state. The sport of bloodless bullfighting dates back centuries in Portugal and the Azores.

On Monday, members of the Portuguese community staunchly defended the ritual as benign while they enjoyed holiday activities at the Artesia DES Hall -- the anchor for their community. Though not officially tied, there is a close connection to the Catholic Church: DES stands for Divino Espirito Santo, or Divine Holy Spirit.

"What I want everyone to understand is that we do not harm any animals," said Christina Rocha, a 28-year-old nurse, as she sat in the bleachers Monday behind the hall. Instead of a bullfight were women's volleyball games. Rocha said the bullfight takes place only once a year.

Rocha attended the bullfight Saturday night but saw no blood. "We wouldn't bring our kids to see that," she said, adding that any nails on the sticks -- or banderillas -- wouldn't pierce the bulls anyway because the animals are blanketed with Velcro padding.

A senior law enforcement specialist with the Humane Society of the United States disagreed. "They'll tell you that the padding on a bull's back is enough to keep from puncturing the bull," said Eric Sakach, a Sacramento-based Humane Society official. "But it's only an inch to an inch-and-a-half deep. It does hurt the bull. Is it enough to kill the bull? No. Is it enough to make the bull mad? Yes. And it's completely not in keeping with the law."

According to the California Penal Code (Section 597m), any bullfight exhibition -- even a bloodless one -- is against the law. There is one exception: "bloodless bullfights . . . held in connection with religious celebrations or religious festivals," the code states. And Artesia's Festa da Bola has its roots in religious traditions.

Jose Avila, editor of the Modesto-based Portuguese Tribune, said the bulls fight for about 15 minutes each and then go off to a slaughterhouse. But before that, he said, "For four years, that bull is free. He does what he wants. He eats what he wants . . . The bull is treated like a king."

Exclusive Video: Susan Boyle Rocks The Brits One More Time! The Dream Continues!

Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

Susan Boyle's Dream of becoming the biggest sensation in Britian continues.

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