David &  Rebecca Lara of the Rossmoor Preditor Management Team (break-in info follows the two coyote reports):

CalTrans has lifted the coyote grates along the I-605 and behind Martha Ann. We have notified Public Works requesting that they be lowered back into position. Until this has been done, Please Do Not Leave Kids or Pets Unattended in Backyards.

Coyote Sightings:

Hi Rebecca,

FRIDAY 2/3/12: We were driving down Los Alamitos Blvd about 8:30pm and saw a coyote strolling across the boulevard from the high school area to the parking lot at Sizzler. We turned into the parking lot and it ran off when it spotted us. Coyotes are still around so please spread the word so that everyone is vigilant and safe with their dogs. There hasn’t been much coyote activity in Rossmoor but we all should still keep our dogs inside and a close watch on them when outdoors. Connie K

TUESDAY 1/31/12: Hi All! We live on Foster and Walker Lee. Our neighbor across the street on Foster said his wife heard some noise out by their trash cans on Monday or Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and yelled for whoever it was to “get out of there!!” She opened her window and looked out in time to see a big fuzzy tail going over their 6 foot gate. She’s pretty certain the tail belonged to a pretty large coyote. Also, their next door neighbor lost one of their small dogs some time ago. I think they didn’t tell me about it because I personally walked over to tell them to keep their dogs inside after we lost our Blackie. Sooo, be warned dear neighbors. Theeeyyy’rrreee Baaaccckkk!!! Connie G.

Old Mill Road Burglary:

My neighbor R across the street from me says that she found out from the neighbor in back of her on Old Mill that the house on the same street next to her was ransacked yesterday….first they broke into a vehicle in the front before breaking into the house (that’s why all the glass on the street I guess) through the sliding patio door. They took their time and just stole everything of value. Also the owner of the house had several GUNS and the criminals stole all of them, which is pretty scary!

As always, your thoughts, reports, and/or perspective, diplomatically expressed, is encouraged.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a list of needs and wants or even a list of goals set forth by our esteemed City Council. So I thought I would offer a bit of fodder that they could incorporate into the process of developing a simple list of rational and achievable goals for the coming year.

A sidelight of this process, is that it might help the voters make a more informed decision in choosing their elected representatives, apart from campaign ads and opinions from neighbors.

These are not in any particular order, and obviously not comprehensive, but could offer those in City Hall some insight into the thoughts of those they govern.

Balanced Budget:

Our brethren in City Hall must absolutely treat the City budget like it is their own personal account. And unlike the next levels of government bodies, the City must not be allowed to spend more than they have, as well as be accountable for every penny.

As an offshoot of the budget process, I would really like to see them wean off our dependence on local businesses and organizations for activities and programs that the City should be fully funding. I firmly believe that the community needs to deal with the reality of the budget, and ties with outside funding has the potential to open up the door to special favors.

The Face of the City:

To most of the world, the face of our city is our website. The few folks who reside, pass through, play, or spend money, here are inconsequential when compared to the numbers who interface with us on line.

So, what needs to be done? In a word, or three, update, update, update.

The look is old. Some of the content is either wrong or really outdated. It is not user friendly. And it should incorporate a feedback feature without having to reveal the source email address. This is less intimidating for many folks.

Connect the Dots:

It’s nice that our City Councilmen (women) attend local events and activities. It’s nice that they get appointed to boards and commissions. But I would like to know the real time spent at the various venues, exactly what our representative does there, what their goal is, and the ultimate effect to me, as a citizen. I think it reasonable for me to see that direct link.

Carry Out Mandate:

The City Council needs to focus on doing what they have been elected to do in the best, most efficient and effective way. From time to time they need to be reminded of their core responsibilities and determine if they are carrying out their mandate as well as any campaign promises. Someone needs to keep score.

Insure Individual Rights:

I would like our civic leaders to monitor and communicate to me any new rules, regulations, or laws that would affect a myriad of personal choices including, but not limited to: those related to roads and transportation, my housing prerogatives, how I spend my money, roles of the first responders, animal regulation, and other areas with personal options.

Back to the Basics:

Land use and community development. water supply, sewage disposal, trash collection, street lighting, public parks and recreation, libraries, road and pipe networks, safety. The ability to provide for local needs is the strength of local government. Our expectations are high. Is the council delivering the goods?

Reduce Crime:

I have been attending or viewing City Council meetings on LATV3 for years. I may be mistaken, but I have not heard any comments, either by Council members or the Police Chief, about increased crime in the city.

Please note that the statistics do reflect an increase. I believe it imperative that this situation is addressed now. This is important. This deserves working late into the night. This is basic to our quality of life.  A redirected focus needs to take place this calendar year.

In Conclusion:

I would submit that the Council’s focus needs to be on agreed upon goals. And to help with clarification, those on the dais need to delineate the “why” and “how” they plan on getting there. We need also to know how they plan on measuring their successes, and the steps to address adjustments to changes based on new, unforeseen issues.

And finally, let’s not let our local leaders (current and potential) take on the same attitude, and spew the same rhetoric as those on the State and National levels, or spend time and energy with in-fighting while important issues are passed over. Let’s not let that happen.

“What is a city, but the people; true the people are the city”.
- Coriolanus III, Shakespearean Play, between 1605-1609

…And that’s just the way I see it.

I, for one, liked the new look of the back sports page the News Enterprise introduced today, as well as the publishers explanation of the paper’s ongoing evolution.

I was also impressed the letter I sent in early Monday made it onto page 2:

Dear Editor,

Thank you for last week’s article clearly explaining the actions our Council voted to take regarding Warren Kusumoto’s letter about his recusal from trash litigation sessions.

I believe the investigation will eventually clear Council Member Kusumoto, but I was deeply saddened that Council Members Edgar, Stephens, and Poe voted to expend further time and taxpayer money on what was, at worst, an honest mistake by a rookie Council Member.

There are so many more important matters that time and money could be spent on. Issues that could bring us together instead of dividing us further, like reducing crime, increasing sales tax revenue, and planning for our future.

I was also saddened when, last Monday, Mayor Edgar announced that the trash settlement talks had reached an impasse and the Council planed to go ahead at this coming Monday’s Council Meeting to vote on changes to the trash law to leave the existing illegal contract with the fifth highest bidder in place.

That move will cost the residents and businesses of Los Alamitos millions of dollars in trash overcharges compared to any of the three lowest bidders. It also runs up additional thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Late last year Mayor Edgar spoke of working towards healing the long standing divisions in our small town. I hoped the opposing sides could begin the difficult search for middle ground that could finally bring us together. Instead, the recent actions by the Council’s majority only deepen the division.

I continue to hope and pray that Council Members Poe, Stephens, and Edgar will reverse course and seize the moment to reach out to their opponents in a dramatic way that could bring us together, focusing our energies on fighting for our community rather than fighting each other.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Sincerely,

Dave Emerson, Los Alamitos

Well, what do you think?

Whether it’s my letter or something else in  the News Enterprise, or the OC Register,, or  local websites like The Los Al Patch or OCNews360,this is the place to let the community know about it & to post your perspective, all at the speed of light!

Please briefly describe what caught your eye before commenting  diplomatically, & please include a brief topic in place  of your “name,”  giving your real name or handle in the comment itself.

So, if you’re aware of an event of local interest coming up this month, put it in a comment below & we’ll leave it up until the event passes.

For starter’s, here are the month’s Los Alamitos City Council & Commission Meetings, along with the days City Hall’s closed & one major city event:

Race on the Base:  Saturday, February 25

Click here for details:  RaceOnTheBase.com

City Council Meetings :

• Monday, February 6, 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 21, 5:00 p.m. Special Mid Year Budget Review
• Tuesday, February 21, 7:00 p.m (moved back,  Monday 2/20 is Presidents’ Day observance, making a 4 day weekend for city staff)
• Click here for Council Agendas, usually posted the last working day before the Council meeting.

Weekdays City Hall Closed:

• Alternating Fridays:  February 3 & 25
• Monday, February 20, Presidents’ Day observance

Commission Meetings (in Council Chambers, 7 p.m.):

• Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Arts:  1st Wednesday, 2/1
• Traffic:  Second Wednesday, 2/8
• Planning:  Second Monday, 2/13

Now it’s your turn. What’s going on this month  that Los Alamitos area residents  might be interested in?   Or what did you see on your way home?

Maybe it’s an activity of  a group you’re involved with: school, club, church, business, the  Base, the Chamber.  Or  a neighborhood block sale.

Maybe it’s news of a break in or street closure.

Or a Los Alamitos business you think deserves a good word.  Or maybe something of interest in a local paper or website.

Just put up a brief description, with the 4 W’s:  What, Where, When, and Who, plus any other info you’d like.   We suggest using the title of  the event as your “name,” then including your name in the announcement if you wish.

You’ll help our readers know what’s coming up, & help the group get the word out.  Our comments become searchable on the web almost instantly, so it gives the event a greater online presence.

Now it’s your turn.   Right now, or  maybe next week.   Or when you hear or see something going on.  If you’ve got Community news, this is the place for it!

I’ll start it out, with something I usually don’t let people know about, in the first comment below.

With the days getting longer, and Daylight Savings returning March 11, this is probably your last month to avoid the daylight loving crowds (above).

Additional details follow the weekly line-ups

Feb 2, 2012

1. Rancho A Go Go
2. Lime Truck
3. Flip Truck
4. Home Skillet
5. Lee’s Philly
6. Fresh Fries
7. Bakery Truck – Morsels

Feb 9, 2012

1. Rancho A Go Go
2. Fresh Fries
3. LimeTruck
4. Komodo
5. Flip Truck
6. Chomp Chomp
7. Bakery Truck – Morsels
8. Tropical Shave Ice

Feb 16, 2012

1. Lobsta Truck
2. Piaggio
3. Rancho A Go Go
4. Fresh Fries
5. Lime Truck
6. Taco Maria
7. Chunk n Chip
8. Bakery Truck – Morsels

Feb 23, 2012

1. Ragin Cajun
2. Rancho A Go Go
3. Lime Truck
4. FlipTruck
5. Fresh Fries
6. Rolling Sushi
7. Bakery Truck
8. Trop Shave Ice

Mar 1, 2012

1. The Flip Truck
2. Lime
3. Fresh Fries
4. Rancho A Go Go
5. Brats Berlin
6. Komodo
7. Bakery Truck

Line-ups are subject to change.  Time’s about 5:30 – 9:00, tables available, U.S. Bank parking lot on Katella just east of Los Alamitos Blvd., wine  & beer to benefit St. Isidore’s Historical Plaza plus picnic tables & desert trucks across the alley at St. Izzy’s.

U.S.Bank, 10942 Pine St, Los Alamitos (click for map, directions), on north side of Katella just east of Los Alamitos Blvd.

See a truck you like?  Any recommendations?  As always, your comments, diplomatically stated, are welcome!

Ultimately, Panetta’s announcement wasn’t quite a specific, but did include a strong recommendation for more military base closures. As the New York Times put it, “Pentagon Plan Includes Base Closings and Smaller Raises.”

Bipartisan opposition sprung up immediately in Congress.  Michigan Democrat Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters that until the United States shut down some of its bases in Europe, “I’m not going to be able to support” closing bases in America.

The Republican Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, California Representative Howard P. McKeon went even further:

These cuts reflect President Obama’s vision of an America that is weakened, not strengthened, by our men and women in uniform.  To be clear, the impacts of these cuts are far deeper than Congress envisioned.

Nonetheless, the nation’s bloated budget deficit makes a more efficient, dare we say a “leaner, meaner” military a virtual certainty.

What’s it mean for Los Alamitos?

Our Joint Forces Base is run by the Army, and since the Army’s ground forces are to bear the brunt of the troop reductions Panetta is seeking, it appears that Army Bases are more apt to be closed, so closure of Los Al’s Base certainly can’t be ruled out.

In the last two rounds of “BRAC” Military Base Reductions, the desires of the local community played a significant part in the process.   An alert reader just posted a link to a report from The Patch of Seal Beach residents complaining about Joint Forces flight paths.

If nothing else, the impending BRAC III (or is it IV?) might provide motivation for the Base to more carefully address local concerns.   Or it might provide motivation to import more helicopters from the desert, L.A. County, or wherever in an effort to justify their existence.

At this month’s Planning Commission Meeting The Joint Forces Training Base was listed as item H under the “Land Use and Aesthetics” in the preliminary list of issues to “serve as the foundation for discussion with the community at a future open house/workshop.”

Regardless of whether the community supports or opposes the continuation of our Joint Forces Training Base, it may well be closed down or dramatically reduced in scope and possibly land area.

It seems to me that a proactive approach would put a major issue for our future like this ahead of, say,  investigating  if  Council Member Kusumoto’s letter asking to be recused from the trash talks was a nefarious means of leaking secret data to Art DeBolt. (See “Does this letter violate the Brown Act?“)

Can City officials bring the community together for an open minded, respectful discussion of the possibilities?   Will they even try?   Can Troy Edgar put Los Alamitos’ best interests ahead of the larger Long Beach Congressional District he is running to represent?   What is in Los Alamitos’ best interest?  What is in the best interest of America given the spiraling deficit?

What do you think?

Today’s News Enterprise’s front page story on the Council’s actions regarding Council Member Kusumoto’s alleged Brown Act Violations gave a detailed, balanced explanation that  I thought showed a good grasp of the issues by Editor/reporter Apodaca.  What do you think?

I was also impressed by Apodaca’s announced goal of completing the Race on the Base’s 5 k in under 30 minutes, considering he has to walk part of that distance currently.   The Race is exactly one month from today, & Ted’s got me wondering if I could break that 10 minute mile barrier for three miles.  Hmmmm  if it weren’t for the all  concrete course, I’d probably do it.   For more info go to (you guessed it!) RaceOnTheBaae.com.

Whether it’s the News Enterprise,  The Sun, The L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, OC Register,, or  local websites like The Los Al Patch, The OC Breeze, or OCNews360 or the online versions of any paper, this is the place tolet the community know about it & to post your perspective, all at the speed of light!

If you found it interesting, or want to comment (especially on the local weeklies, where it won’t print for a week!), put it up here.

We put this post up every Wednesday, so this is the place for things you haven’t posted yet or you note over the next 7 days.

Please briefly describe what caught your eye before commenting  & please include a brief topic in place  of your “name,”  giving your real name or handle in the comment itself.

Stolen Vehicle: 19
Robbery: 3
Auto Burglary: 43
Commercial Burglary: 27
Residential Burglary: 30
Assault: 24
DUI: 29
Theft: 97
Misc: 191

Total:  463

These numbers were extracted from the Los Alamitos City website. They represent a portion of the statistics released on a regular basis by the Los Alamitos Police Department. More specifically they reflect only the time period of January through August 2011.  Please note that I did not include the statistics for these additinoal LAPD classifications: Drunk in Public, Possession of Controlled Substance, Municipal Code, Identity Theft/Credit Card/Check Fraud.

Please note that crime definitions do evolve and are sometimes customized to meet the various needs of reporting agencies. But I have no knowledge of changes by our local constabulary.  

Let me put a finer point on a couple of the categories:

• I would think that the local Chamber of Commerce doesn’t tout the Commercial Burglary figures to potential investors in our fine City.
• Also, when the County and Medical Center were glorifying the increase in customer traffic, they failed to mention the probable increase in DUI drivers in confluence with kids walking home from school.
• While “Misc.” might be passed over and misinterpreted as not important, here are some of the types of crimes included in those numbers:  Arrest for warrant, Suspicious Person, Window Smashed, Lock Cut, Graffiti, Criminal Threats, Aggressive Panhandling, Parole Violation, Traffic Stop Suspect Arrested, Restraining Order, Scratched Vehicle, and on and on. Perhaps the police think of them as “Misc”, but I would suggest they need to be more appropriately interpreted.

What does it all mean?

To me it is evidence of a slow, but sure, erosion of the basic quality of life issues that brought most of us to the area. I am not going to address causes or solutions, but just mention I have not read nor heard anyone on the Los Alamitos City staff, either elected or paid, take any responsibility or propose any remedies for the elephant in the room.

Please note that my comments are said with the utmost respect and admiration for the job our first responders do.  I certainly understand that they put it on the line for us everyday. But that does not negate the need for policy and procedure questions from the governed.

The response from the LAPD is on the same page as the Weekly Crime Summaries the source of  the crime numbers above:

The (crime) triangle is made of the following sides: 1. Victim/Target, 2. Criminal/Desire, 3. Opportunity.

It goes on to talk about the issues related to awareness. Sorry, but this response is not adequate in the face of three recent assaults on local kids. (see “Four Los Alamitos High students robbed.”

Add the numbers up.  Are you good with them? If not, let the City Council know.  (Click here for Council contact info.)

“The more extensive a man’s knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do.”
-Benjamin Disraeli, (1804-1881), British Prime Minister, Conservative Statesman,
parliamentarian.

…And that’s just the way I see it.

Only 8 trucks, but lots of quality. . . and 3 desert trucks ;-):

Jan 26

Piaggio

Rancho A Go Go
Lime Truck
Chomp Chomp
Ragin Cajun
FlipTruck
Bakery Truck
Waffles De Liege
Trop Shave Ice

I’ll put up the line-ups for February as soon as I get them.

Line-ups are subject to change.  Time’s about 5:30 – 9:00, tables available, U.S. Bank parking lot on Katella just east of Los Alamitos Blvd., wine  & beer to benefit St. Isidore’s Historical Plaza plus picnic tables & desert trucks across the alley at St. Izzy’s.

U.S.Bank, 10942 Pine St, Los Alamitos (click for map, directions), on north side of Katella just east of Los Alamitos Blvd.

See a truck you like?  Any recommendations?  As always, your comments, diplomatically stated, are welcome!

According to Edgar the Council plans to move ahead with the modifications to the City Code first discussed and passed by the Council on the day of Brad Sheridan’s funeral, November 7, 2012.

Here’s how I explained the code change prior to that meeting (edited slightly for clarity):

Last month, Superior Court Judge Alan Banks ruled that the Council “broke the law” by not awarding the contract to the low bidder,  declared the current contract with Consolidated “null and void,” and suggested several remedies.

The Council majority’s preferred remedy now appears to be to simply change the law so that they no longer have to award the contract to the low bidder, then continue with the current contract with Consolidated!

They propose to do that by amending the City’s Trash ordinance, “clarifying that professional services contracts need not be awarded to the low bidder,” thus allowing the existing contract with Consolidated Disposal to remain in place, in their opinion.

However, Judge Banks may have some problems with that approach, since he went out of his way to explain in his ruling that he did not consider picking up trash a “profession,” or even a “trade.”

The staff report indicates that “The  ordinance  is  not  intended  to  be  a  change  in  policy  but  rather  an effort to clarify the language so as to continue the existing practice and  intent.”

The staff report goes into great detail about the history of not giving the trash contract to the low bidder, as George Briggeman Sr. and his successors got contract after contract without ever even going out to bid for the first 50 years of the City’s history!  As best as I understood it, the intent of the Council in adopting the ordinance requiring the bid was to change that cronyism, not preserve it.

Click here for the full post.

Here’s excerpts from the Register’s report on the action taken and discussion at the November 7th meeting, taken from our “Your Reporting” post, which elicited 14 comments

To the council majority and city staff, the move is a simple housekeeping matter, clarifying that a contract doesn’t necessarily have to go to the “lowest bidder” and other factors, such as qualifications and experience, can be considered.That already is the existing practice in Los Alamitos, City Manager Jeff Stewart told the council. And it’s the practice in most cities, he said.

The new law “memorializes existing and historical practice,” Stewart said.

This was the first step in addressing the judge’s ruling, City Attorney Sandra Levin said. City officials have not yet decided whether to appeal Banks’ ruling, re-open the trash contract selection or take other steps.

But the move Monday night ripped the Band-Aid off old wounds in the city.

“They just incorporated their illegal actions into law,” J.M. Ivler, one of two activists who filed the lawsuit against the city, said moments after the split vote.

The assumption would be that the second reading would take place at the next Council meeting, where, unless there is a massive protest of some kind, the proposed code change appears headed to be approved on it’s second reading, probably on a 3 – 2 vote.

As always, your thoughts and comments, diplomatically expressed, are welcome.