Eric Pierce’s Blog

DUI checkpoints Thursday

This came in too late for last week’s paper, but the Downey Police Department will be conducting DUI checkpoints this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at various locations within the city.

“Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested,” Sgt. Dean Milligan of the Downey Police Department said in a press release.

A checkpoint earlier this year at Firestone Boulevard and La Reina Avenue netted five arrests.

The checkpoints are being funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Time to sign a budget

Courtesy SourceWatch

Fifty-seven days into the state’s new fiscal year, and California still doesn’t have a budget. Good grief. And that’s irking local officials, including Mayor Pro Tem Mario Guerra, who issued the following statement:

It’s time to sign a budget. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Compromise Budget has enough in it for both sides to agree on. It offers solutions and protects local government. Given the choice between borrowing from local governments and temporarily increasing the sales tax, it’s clear that the temporary sales tax — which is ultimately a tax decrease — is the fiscally responsible choice.

This proposal includes meaningful budget reform, $2 billion in additional cuts, protects Prop. 1A and Prop. 42, and funds Prop. 98 $1.2 billion above current year levels. It also includes a temporary (three year) 1-cent increase in the state sales tax, followed by a permanent 1/4-cent decrease below current levels.

It also includes a temporary shift in redevelopment funds — I know this has been a big concern, so here’s additional information: this 5 percent shift is for three years, 2008-09 through 2010-11. After that, the 5 percent stays local and doesn’t need to be shifted to ERAF (Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund). The proposal was structured to provide 5 percent or $225 million, whichever was greater. The $228 million assumed for 08-09 is what the 5 percent is anticipated to yield in the budget year.

The Governor is still opposed to increasing taxes but believes that it is fiscally responsible — as opposed to more borrowing or raiding local government. I agree with this position and urge everyone to let our legislators know that it is time to make the tough, but right, decision for our citizens.

Schwarzenegger so far seems reluctant to borrow money - at steep interest rates - from local governments, which would probably include Downey.

“When I stepped into this mess we had to borrow,” Schwarzenegger said. “But that hasn’t even been paid off. You can’t have a loan out that you haven’t paid off — can’t even find a way to pay it off — and you say, ‘Let’s borrow more.’ That is terrible business. That’s what gets people into trouble with their credit cards. All of a sudden they’re in bankruptcy.

“Just bite the bullet and get the revenue from the temporary sales tax increase.”

Good column on the subject in yesterday’s L.A. Times.

A mansion lurks ahead

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Villa Lubec, a six-bedroom, eight-bathroom Italian Renaissance estate that, barring a last-minute denial by the City Council, will soon be built in northeast Downey.

The two-story mansion, zoned for a single-family residence, encompasses more than 7,000 square feet and includes two separate two-car garages.

Blueprints for the mansion were approved by the Design Review Board in May, but local resident and teacher George Redfox appealed the decision, saying the new home violates the city’s municipal code, specifically section 9110.14 (”The architecture and general appearance of the building shall be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and such as not to be detrimental to the general welfare of the neighborhood in which they are located.”).

The Planning Commission rejected Redfox’s appeal, so he appealed again, this time to the City Council, which will hear the case at its meeting tomorrow night.

In a staff report, city officials urged the council to deny the appeal, claiming differing architectural styles already dot the Lubec Street neighborhood.

“The proposed project design features an Italian Renaissance architectural style. The surrounding neighborhood has been in transition with constructions from exterior modifications to a new single-family residence,” Deputy City Manager Gilbert Livas wrote in a staff report. “Additionally, the homes within the neighborhood have a variety of architectural styles ranging from California Ranch, Spanish, Mediterranean, and Contemporary styles, as well as several homes with an eclectic architectural style.”

Livas said the two garages would be concealed behind a front gate.

“Also, the front entrance has been enhanced with details rather than increasing in size to stay consistent with the neighborhood,” Livas said.

Damon Bottoms of Perris owns the property. Through his representative, Daniel Cano of Covina-based Premier Real Estate, Bottoms said he intends to live in the mansion with his family and mother.

The Mansion

Blueprints show the mansion would be luxurious, if not outlandish, when complete. The home’s first floor would include:

•One bedroom
•Two baths
•Living and dining rooms
•Kitchen
•Family room
•Library
•Wine room
•Alfresco living area
•and a porte-cochere (carriage porch)

The second floor would call for:

•One master bedroom and bath
•Three bedrooms
•Five baths
•One guest room
•Theater
•Terrace
•and a laundry room

The mansion would be painted a cream color, with “yellowish cream” accents and a brown door. A clay tile roof would also be brown in color.

Inspiration

On June 24, architect Theron Pate submitted a letter to the city of Downey detailing his inspiration for designing Villa Lubec.

“Although the architectural inspiration for Villa Lubec came from a wide range of sources (including a neighboring Italian Renaissance structure located at 9489 Raviller Drive, Downey), it was Villa Philbrook, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that provided the initial spark that revealed the emotional essence of well proportioned Italian Renaissance architecture,” Pate said. “With Villa Philbrook being of such grand scale and truly representative of the most positive connotations of the word ‘mansion,’ the design objective with Villa Lubec was to take this aforementioned emotional essence and infuse it into a structure of much more appropriate ‘un-mansionlike’ scale befitting its location and surroundings. And in doing so, break the massing of the overall structure into individual elements of residential proportion sensitive to the architectural character of the neighborhood.”

Architects are a zany bunch. Here’s more:

“Upon approaching the main entrance, the sound of a fountain’s playing water can be heard through the ornamental iron gate, which upon entering leads to the architectural intrigue and tranquility of the entry portico and entry loggia. As for the vehicular entry, a motor court has been screened from view by a porte cochere element wide enough for only one vehicle to pass through at a time. Consequently, the garage doors themselves have been pulled away from the street as far as possible, in an effort to entirely eliminate their negative impact on the front elevation street scene.”

Council decision

The City Council will decide tomorrow whether or not “Villa Lubec” actually materializes from pipe dream to reality. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. inside City Hall.

Here are a few more blueprints:

The property as it appears today.

‘Tropic Thunder’ arrest

Sometimes protesters can go too far.

Three developmentally-disabled activists in Framingham, Mass. were arrested over the weekend as they protested the film “Tropic Thunder” at a local movie theater.

The protesters bought movie tickets and sat in the theater’s lobby “to urge moviegoers to boycott the film.”

Police arrested the three and charged them with trespassing while engaging in civil disobedience.

Arc of Southeast Los Angeles County has been vocal in their opposition to “Tropic Thunder” and their use of the word “retard.” But with the exception of the movie’s Hollywood premiere, officials have chosen not to protest at local theaters.

Downey Bob’s in the L.A. Times

Via L.A. Times

Apparently it wasn’t only me who noticed the sudden resurgence of Bob’s Big Boy restaurants.

The L.A. Times has a story today on the diner’s return to the American conscience. They also have a cool feature on the “hunt” for Googie architecture.

But how was the food?

Photo by Eric Pierce

The consensus among people I’ve spoken to regarding Nordic Fox’s impending closure has been:

“It’s a shame they’re closing, but the food there wasn’t that great.”

Nordic Fox’s lackluster menu is a tough thing to admit, because the restaurant’s management have been great stewards for the community…

Nordic Fox will close Aug. 31 due to slumping sales. Manager Joe Becker said he would need at least $30,000 to keep the restaurant open through the holidays, when he expects sales (and the economy) would pick up. His attempts to secure a small business loan were unsuccessful.

Nordic Fox was a favorite hangout of my old editor, John Adams. They treated him well there, and when his health and mobility skills faltered, they made sure he was always well-fed.

They treated John like a guest, not a burden. And for that I thank them.

We’ll have the full story on Nordic Fox’s closing in tomorrow’s paper, plus a heartfelt “letter to the editor” from the restaurant’s owner, Jane Hendricks.

Here’s what else you can expect:

• A judge denied bail for alleged investment scam operator Juan Rangel, calling the Mexican national a potential flight risk. And more alleged victims are slowly coming forward. Staff writer Mary Forney has the story.

•Mary also profiles a prison ministry that works in conjunction with Calvary Chapel Downey. The group travels to prisons throughout the country, speaking to inmates who hope for a reformed life.

•Results from the California Standards Tests have been revealed, and it’s mostly good news for Downey schools. Most scores are up from previous years, with the exception being third grade reading and speling.

•The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band closes out the summer concerts Wednesday at Furman Park. (This means Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not far off.)

Plus: A new travel basketball team begins operation, Dr. Alan Frischer talks hot/cold medication, and Soroptimist International of Downey is our featured “Downey in Action.”

Hope you enjoy the issue.

Nordic Fox is closing

Flickr photo courtesy Googiesque

The Nordic Fox restaurant at Paramount Boulevard and 3rd Street in Downey is closing later this month, manager Joe Becker confirmed today.

Becker cited rising food prices and a decline in customers as the reason. The restaurant’s last day will be Aug. 31.

I’m on my way to Nordic Fox right now. We’ll have a complete story this week.

A tad inappropriate?

Forgive me for sounding prudish, but isn’t the outfit pictured above a tad bit inappropriate for a teenage beauty pageant, let alone Hollywood Boulevard?

Nancy Pelayo, above, was crowned Miss California Latina at a pageant July 12. Downey High School junior Ashley Campuzano, wearing a beautiful (and much more modest) ensemble, was named Miss Teen California Latina at the same event.

Speaking strictly as a guy, I don’t understand why some women choose to continually cover their natural beauty with gobs of make-up and provacative clothing. It’s not attractive.

And the fact that pageant winners are looked up to by little girls as supposed role models should be further reason for these young women to cover up.

Congratulations to Ms. Campuzano, a former Miss Teen Downey, on her coronation. We’ll have a short article and pictures in this week’s paper.

West Covina wants their meetings online

Interesting story in today’s Whittier Daily News: residents of West Covina are circulating a petition to protest their City Council’s decision to stop broadcasting meetings on TV and online.

The West Covina City Council is facing a $7.9 million budget deficit, and eliminating the broadcasts will save $180,000 annually.

The Downey City Council voted 4-1 to record and broadcast (online) meetings last year, with Councilwoman Anne Bayer dissenting.

“Downey’s not ready for it,” Bayer said at the time. “When I see that all the seats [in the council chamber] are filled, that’s when we’ll be ready for it. But right now they’re empty most of the time.”

I’m on the record as a supporter of broadcasting meetings; I think it enhances transparency in government. The $1,500 monthly cost (not including start-up fees) is a drop in the bucket compared to what other cities are paying.

Unfortunately, the city has been slow to implement the technology. Static cameras have been installed in council chambers, but it’s unclear if they’re functioning. Nothing is streaming on the city’s website, although Granicus, the technology company Downey contracted with, lists Downey as a client.

I know it takes time to integrate ideas and technology, but a whole year seems like more than enough time to start recording council meetings.

Al Sanada, fiery salsa artist, dies

Al Sanada, a popular jazz artist and big band leader who on many occasions electrified the Downey community with his sizzling salsa sounds, has died.

Sanada passed away July 25 at a nursing home in Seal Beach, just three days short of his 88th birthday, and not long after the death of his wife.

Here’s what the Downey Eagle had to say about Sanada in a 1998 concert review:

Sanada is a longtime local favorite, and always draws a number of local fans to his appearances here. He did not disappoint Tuesday.

Kathy Bee e-mailed the Patriot with the news.

“Al had a big heart, great smile, ear for great music and a love for the audience that people could easily feel when they listen to him perform or lead the band,” Bee said. “I, for one, will miss this true Downey celebrity.
I want to honor him by saying, ‘Thanks for the great memories and your wonderful music! Rest in Peace My Friend!’”

Sanada married his wife, Helen, in 1948. They raised two children in Long Beach, but moved to Downey in 1971. The couple lived in the same home until January/February of this year, when health complications forced them to a Seal Beach nursing home.

Helen suffered from from emphysema, Sanada from Alzheimer’s. Helen died just recently.

Funeral services for Sanada were held July 31 at Mariners Church, followed by internment at Good Shepherd Cemetery. He is survived by his son Shelly (Donna) Sanada; daughter Donna (John) Carney; and many grandchildren and step-grandchildren.