Sunday, November 30, 2014

Remembering Michelle Wright Alonzo: She Taught Life Lessons with a Loving Heart

I wanted to share a few thoughts about the passing of my friend Michelle Wright Alonzo who left this Earth this weekend all too soon.

Michelle and I, and so many others here on the East Side of Cerritos literally grew up together starting at the age of six, seven, and eight.
 

 Michelle had a heart of gold and her spirit touched me at a young age and I also considered her to be like a "kid sister" and a true friend. We both struggled in our adult years with health issues, but we never lost our sense of humor or sense of where we came from and the values we learned from our parents as youngsters. Michelle was an amazing teacher here in the ABC Unified School District, but the lessons she taught to so many about life through her compassion and struggles will inspire generations to come. Words cannot describe the sorrow I feel. Keeping her in my Thoughts and Prayers this week and I ask you to do the same.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Quincy Jones: Running into 'Q' on the Red Carpet was a real life 'Bucket List' Moment

With Quincy Jones last week at the Biltmore Hotel,
Let's see. I can now take "Meet Quincy Jones on a Red Carpet" off my official Bucket List.

Do people still have "Bucket Lists?" 

I really don't have a Bucket List, but I think I will start one...just in case. Being an Investigative Journalist whose work has ACTUALLY sent several politicians to jail, and other shady folks around Southern California does have it's risks, if you know what I mean. It also has it's totally cool aspects as well.

Case in point. Last Sunday night I was a finalist in the News category for the 2014 Seventh Annual National Arts and Entertainment Awards held at the Biltmore Hotel.

On the "Red Carpet" with my pal Robert Kovacik from NBC LA and the Q.
An article that was co-wrote by my previous newspaper publisher and myself was selected as a "finalist" against amazing work from colleagues at the Hollywood Reporter, and Los Angeles Times. Our entry did not win, but it was an honor just to be "in the mix" with some of the best journalists in America in this years competition.

I love a good Red Carpet. I totally loved this one since I found myself face to face, and arm over arm with the iconic Quincy Jones. The Q. Are you kidding me?  This is a "Bucket List Bonus Item" that just "popped up" and landed on my lap.

Quincy Jones was kind. Asked me "how did you lose your right eye," pointing to my signature "pirate patch." With cameras clicking away, I got close to his ear and whispered, "I got into a nasty fight was a corrupt politician in Southern California and well, I ended up loosing my eyesight in this eye." 

"Really," Quincy responded.

Awe, not so much. I told "Q,"  (we are now on a first initial basis) the truth that I lost the vision in my right eye due to a very rare medical condition.  It was incredible. A real life moment that I will not soon forget.

with Reporter Patt Morrison.
Also had a great time visiting with reporter Gene Maddaus with the LA Weekly as well as with the iconic Patt Morrison, and yes, Patt's hat was another signature statement piece with some of the most amazing feathers you could ever imagine.

I also want to congratulate journalist Josh Peeples with The Advocate for being named Journalist of the Year.

 More about Quincy Jones: Mr. Jones will accept the Visionary Award at a gala celebration on November 23 at the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles.
The Visionary Award was instituted two years ago to honor an individual within the Entertainment Industry who uses their high-profile status to make the world a better place and to spread information about issues of freedom and importance.  

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Being Thankful Today. BTW, the GPS doesn't always work around Anaheim



Thanksgiving, 2014.

Today was another day when I paused, thanked God for the many Blessing's that have been bestowed upon me and to be with loved ones.

I am also reminded that life is a gift, a precious gift that cannot fit into a box but can only be felt in one's inner soul.   I also was reminded to never trust Mapquest or Verizon Navigator.

My mom, and a dear family friend went to Anaheim today to celebrate Thanksgiving, it ended up being like Mr. Toads Wild Ride over at Disneyland.  (Is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride STILL at Disneyland, or am I out of touch?)

We got lost, totally lost, and we have the magic of GPS to thank for the big misadventure.

Sure, we had the right address to where we were headed, after all, Anaheim is only six miles from Cerritos.

Residential streets in Anaheim actually look identical and many of the street names are identical with the exception of the tiny word etched on the end of the street type.  Yep. Watch the Avenue, Street, Circle, Court, Way, Lane, Drive, East Anaheim, West Anaheim, N, S, W, E, it was all a blur today.

Needless to say....we arrived very late.....like the last one's to arrive.  We did however find a lovely home on the end of a street that had the same street number and street name.  Nah, we didn't crash that party but maybe next year we might just pop into that unsuspecting fancy two story ranch styled home.

We still laughed at being SO lost and SO late....it was a Thanksgiving I will never forget.

Life is good.

I wonder what ever happened that that family recipe for "Stacked Pie" that I made with Debbie Wilson at my casa in Cerritos back in 1978?  That's another story I have tucked in my "Turkey Day Memory Bank."

What are you #thankful for today?  Hit my comment section.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

ONE MONTH LATER: Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo’s Murder Continues to Cast Dark Shadow over Friends, Family, and Legal System

The casket of Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo.  Randy Economy Photo

By Randy Economy

(Bell Gardens, CA) The murder of Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo continues to haunt the subdued halls of City Hall, homes and businesses across this small working class bedroom community that is located outside of shadows of Downtown Los Angeles.

It also haunts me.

Daniel Crespo was my friend, a very close friend and confidant.

On September 20, I got a phone call from Robert Kovacik who works with NBC LA.  Robert was on jury duty when he called me that particular afternoon.  I had been in a major car accident a couple of weeks earlier and had suffered tremendous soft tissue damage in my rib cage and back and deep bruises.  I was racked up and lucky to be alive.

Robert asked me if I had heard that Daniel had “been shot.”

Shot? Daniel, Crespo? Huh?

My life blurred.  I turned on Channel 4; a photo of “Crespo” (as so many of us called him) was on the screen with the graphic words, “Bell Gardens Mayor Shot.”

The next several minutes turned into an hour, an American Mayor had been murdered and his wife (Lyvette) was named as the person who pulled the trigger and their 19-year-old son was apparently in the same room when it all took place.

Today marks one month since Daniel Crespo was murdered.

Still, no one has been charged.

No one has been held accountable.

The media is going “cold” on this case, except for me.  I, for one, will be dedicating my energy to follow each detail of Daniel’s death and to see how the American Justice System is going to work, or fail here.

The LA Times had a front-page splash on the case this week.  It made the front page. I applaud the LA Times for the ink.

I attended Daniel’s funeral at Rose Hills. It was bizarre, it was surreal and it was something I will never forget and what took place at that funeral was shocking for those of us who witness what unfolded.

I will be documenting each detail of this case for the next several weeks, months, or years for that matter.

You don’t shoot someone seven times just because your having a bad day. 

There is more to be revealed.

I took this photo of Mayor Daniel Crespo just a few weeks before he was murdered at a park in Bell Gardens.
I am going to stick to the facts.

I am working on a documentary, a book for sure on the case.

Today I will pause and remember my friend Daniel Crespo, and so should every member of the media and the community of Bell Gardens.


(Note: If you would like to talk to me more about this case, and if you are one of my friends in the media who is covering this case, feel free to drop me a note at RREconomy@aol.com or call me on my cell phone at 562 743-0882).

Moving on to the next chapter in my life


I have spent the last four years working tirelessly for Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper located here in Southeast Los Angeles County.

As many of you have heard, I have resigned my position and will be moving my professional career into a new direction, and I could not be more excited.

Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough.

An ethical journalist acts with integrity. I will never compromise.

I do not want to dwell on the past, but I do want to celebrate my accomplishments.

I do understand how one reporter at a small unknown community newspaper can truly impact the world around us.

I am also being true to my personal principles. 

I am a proud Investigative Reporter.

Enough said. Stay tuned. 
  

Randy Economy

Saturday, November 08, 2014

Man Shot, Killed in Norwalk on Gridley Road

Breaking news out of Norwalk and it isn't good.  A man has been shot and killed over on Gridley Road this morning at around 6 a.m.  Details are a tad sketchy right now. Investigation under way.  No name of the victim.

If you have any information on the death, please call the Sheriff's Department at 323 890-5500.

Hit my comment section below if you live in the area.


Tuesday, November 04, 2014

I Voted for Mario Guerra for California State Senate.....and so should you!!!!

It is ELECTION EVE here in California.  It is 6:12 p.m. and I went to the polls today and proudly voted for Mario A. Guerra for California State Senate here in the 32nd District.

I live in the EPICENTER of POLITICAL CORRUPTION ROW and enough is enough.

We need a change, a real change.

Mario Guerra is that change.



BTW,,,,, I am no longer working over at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper.

More about that later.

First....get out and VOTE, just like Mario did today in Downey....