March 3-9, 2010

(Hundred block given in place of exact address)

The Weekly Crime Summary is a list of reported auto thefts, burglaries, robberies and other activities occurring in the City of South Pasadena. An alert and well-informed citizen makes you less of a target to a criminal. Remember; call the South Pasadena Police Department to report any suspicious activity.

STOLEN VEHICLE

• 3-9-10, 7:10 PM, 1600 block of Fremont. ’05, Honda Civic. Victim has vehicle for sale and allows suspect to test drive vehicle. Suspect does not return with vehicle. SUSPECT DESCRIPTION: Male, Asian, 5′9″, wearing white polo shirt and blue jeans.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

• 3-5-10, 9 PM to 3-6-10, 8:30 AM, 1700 block of Mission (storage unit). Suspect(s) pry hasp lock off to gain entry. LOSS: Christmas decorations, clothes, misc. papers.
• 3-3-10, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, 1700 block of Hill. Suspect(s) enter through an opened rear window. LOSS: (2) laptops and bottle of champagne.

AUTO BURGLARY

• 3-7-10, 2 PM to 3-9-10, 6 AM, 900 block of Magnolia. ’97, Honda Civic. Suspect(s) smashes window to gain entry. LOSS: Portable GPS.

FALSE INFO TO OFFICER

• 3-3-10, 6 PM, Orange Grove/110 fwy. Officers respond to subjects selling shirts on the freeway off-ramp. Suspects provide false information to officers and also do not possess city permit. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 22, Los Angeles.

DUI

• 3-9-10, 6:23 PM, Orange Grove/Mission. Suspect is involved in a traffic collision and found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 60, South Pasadena.
• 3-6-10, 1:59 AM, Fair Oaks/Rollin. Suspect is stopped for a traffic violation and found to be under the influence of alcohol. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 21, Glendale.
• 3-5-10, 1:37 AM, Orange Grove/Charter Oak. Suspect is passed out behind the wheel of vehicle with the engine running when officers arrive. Suspect is found to be under the influence of alcohol. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 26, Arcadia.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC

• 3-6-10, 3:56 PM, 800 block of Park. Officers respond to a person stumbling along the sidewalk. Officers contact suspect who is intoxicated and unable to care for himself. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 48, Transient.
• 3-6-10, 2:58 AM, 200 block of Fair Oaks. Officer sees suspect passed out in vehicle. Officer investigates suspect’s condition and suspect becomes belligerent. Suspect is found to be intoxicated and combative. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 34, Monterey Park.
• 3-3-10, 9:27 PM, Meridian/Kendall. Officers respond to a person passed out on the sidewalk. Officers contact suspect who is intoxicated and unable to care for himself. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 51, Los Angeles.
• 3-2-10, 10:42 PM, Hawthorne/Pasadena. Officers respond to juveniles on the roof of a vacant building. Officers contact two suspects who are intoxicated and arrested. SUSPECTS ARRESTED: S1 – Male, Juvenile. S2 – Female, 18, Los Angeles.

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA

• 3-8-10, 5:37 PM, Huntington/Kendall. Suspect is stopped for a traffic violation and is found to be in possession of marijuana. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 35, Los Angeles.

THEFT

• 3-6-10, 7 PM to 3-7-10, 11 AM, 200 block of Hillside. Suspect(s) enter victim’s unlocked vehicle. Suspect(s) takes loss and damages passenger mirror. LOSS: Clothes and alcohol.
• 3-3-10, 2:05 AM, 1800 block of State (apartment complex). Victim is awakened by loud noises coming from the courtyard area. Victim goes outside and sees three suspects by the pond area holding a bucket. Suspects leave with bucket as victim attempts to talk to suspects. The bucket and a Koi fish are found in the driveway. LOSS: Koi fish (recovered). SUSPECTS DESCRIPTION: (3) Male, Blacks, wearing black hooded sweatshirt and a mask covering nose and mouth.

IDENTITY THEFT/CHECK FRAUD/CREDIT CARD FRAUD

• November 2008 to 3-4-10, 1100 block of Marengo. Suspect(s) uses victim’s personal information to open two school loans.

Since the original operator folded, who has been running the Farmers Market in the interim?

Raw Inspirations has been running the market since mid-October.

Why is the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce interested in running the Farmers Market?

The Chamber wants to keep the market local. We think that a Farmers’ Market run by the Chamber benefit from our roots in the community. For instance, we’ll work hard to complement neighboring businesses and restaurants, not compete. We’ll extend connectivity with the public schools through gardening programs, fundraising efforts and community service hour opportunities. And we’ll open up the Market to become a virtual town square for Green ideas by highlighting City and Community outreach on sustainability.

We’re also interested in ploughing proceeds from an effective Farmers’ Market back into the community by promoting the market as well as the community.

What, if anything, would the Chamber like to improve in the Farmers Market?

The Chamber hopes to expand the produce and agricultural offerings, especially in the organic arena. We want to retain the festive environment and the food because families and friends love it. But we think it has perhaps become a bit too much of a food court over the years, and not enough of a mecca for foodies and healthy living devotees.

We’d also like to see the Market become a gathering spot and an idea exchange. This is why we’ve made inroads with PCC, USC, California School Gardens Network and others to prepare the “Environmentality Tents” where new ideas and green living products and services can be introduced.

Finally, we’d like to offer local business people a spot in the Market. The Farmers are essentially guests for a day on the local business doorstep. Yet they pay no local sales tax, property tax or Business Improvement Tax, or any of the freight that local merchants do. So we hope that operators who want to take an evening away from their usual storefront and set up a tent to talk to the Farmers’ Market patrons will do so.

What kind of timeline are you looking at for this application process? Is there another step if you get approval from the citizens committee?

We made the first cut for interviews, so we’ll do that on April 1, alongside two others. After that there are negotiations, and a public meeting at City Council. Whoever is selected will probably assume control of the Market — or retain control of it as the case may be — starting in May 2010.

South Pasadena Council PTA Invites You to a Rally for Our Children

Thursday, March 4, from 3-4 p.m., in front of the SPUSD Administration Building: 1020 El Centro Street

The governor’s budget proposal makes devastating cuts to schools, in the amount of $2.4 billion over the next two years, despite his pledge to protect education. The budget will also decimate children’s healthcare and family services.

For SPUSD these cuts translate to an additional $1,100,000 cut, or 5% of our total budget. This is on top of a $2,000,000 cut in 2009-10 and $3,500,000 that was cut over the last 2 years!

Our children have already lost  instructional assistants and other support positions.  If this proposal goes through, our children stand to lose even more teachers, counselors, arts specialists, and additional support staff!

The System is Broken!

Budget Reform is Crucial!

The Time to Act is NOW!

Letters to our legislators demanding a change in the number of votes necessary to pass a budget and a demand for a stable funding stream for education will be on hand.

Feb. 24–March 2, 2010

(Hundred block given in place of exact address)

The Weekly Crime Summary is a list of reported auto thefts, burglaries, robberies and other activities occurring in the City of South Pasadena. An alert and well-informed citizen makes you less of a target to a criminal. Remember; call the South Pasadena Police Department to report any suspicious activity.

RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE

• 3-1-10, 8 PM, 4000 block of Collis. ’06, Ford E150. Officer is alerted to a stolen vehicle by the Automated License Plate Reader. Officer stops vehicle and suspect is arrested without incident. Vehicle is found to be stolen from Lynwood. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 34, Los Angeles.
• 2-27-10, 2 AM, 600 block of Fair Oaks. ’05, Cadillac SRX. Officers attempt to stop suspect vehicle for a traffic violation, but fails to yield. Suspect leads officers on a vehicle pursuit before pulling over on Avenue 58, Los Angeles. Suspect flees on foot and officers attempt to contain suspect. Because of rainy weather, officers are unable to locate suspect. Vehicle is found to be stolen from South Pasadena on 2-21-10. SUSPECT DESCRIPTION: Male, Hispanic, 25, shaved head and wearing a light colored shirt.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

• 8-2-09 to 2-1-10, 1700 block of Virginia Place. Suspect(s) enter by unknown means. LOSS: Jewelry and flatware.

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY/SHOPLIFT

• 2-24-10, 3:15 PM, 1200 block of Fair Oaks (Pavilions). Suspects enter store and takes loss, then exit store without paying. LOSS: Beer. SUSPECTS DESCRIPTION: S1 – Male, Hispanic, 17-21 years, heavyset, wearing blue checkered shorts and a gray and black sweatshirt. S2 – Male, Hispanic, 17-21 years, mustache, wearing white t-shirt, blue jeans and black baseball cap.

AUTO BURGLARY

• 2-26-10, 9:30 PM to 2-27-10, 9 AM, 1200 block of Blair. ’09, Toyota SUV. Suspect(s) smashes window to gain entry. LOSS: Portable GPS.

ROBBERY

• 2-27-10, 3:25 PM, 800 block of Fair Oaks (Radio Shack). Suspects enter store and points gun at employee, then demands money. Employee complies and opens register and suspects take loss, and then run away. LOSS: Cash. WEAPON USED: Black, semi-auto pistol. SUSPECTS DESCRIPTION: S1 – Male, Black, 509, 170, 20 years, wearing hooded, black sweatshirt and blue jeans. S2 – Female, Black, 14-18 years, 502, 100, wearing a multi-colored sweatshirt with hood and yellow sweatpants.

FALSE INFO TO OFFICER

• 3-1-10, 5:35 PM, Huntington/Maple. Suspect is a passenger in a vehicle that is stopped for a traffic violation. The driver was arrested for having no driver’s license and outstanding warrants. Suspect gives officers false information to hide his identity. Officers discover true identity of suspect, which reveals an outstanding warrant, a suspended driver’s license and on probation. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 40, Alhambra.

DUI

• 2-28-10, 3:30 AM, 1200 block of Fair Oaks. Witness is driving behind suspect and sees suspect weaving in traffic lanes. Witness calls police and officers locate suspect. Suspect is found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 45, South Pasadena.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC

• 3-2-10, 8 PM, 500 block of El Centro. Officers respond to a subject sleeping on victim’s front porch. Subject is contacted and found to be intoxicated and unable to care for himself. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 40, Transient.
• 2-28-10, 1:47 AM, 400 block of Fair Oaks. Officers sees suspect staggering and found to intoxicated, and unable to care for himself. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 35, Fountain Hills, Ariz.
• 2-28-10, 11 PM, 700 block of Mission. Officers respond to a subject yelling at pedestrians. Upon arrival, officers locate subject sleeping on a walkway of a business. Subject is found to be intoxicated and unable to care for himself. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 42, Inglewood.

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA

• 3-2-10, 3 PM, Huntington/Bushnell. Suspect is stopped for a traffic violation and is found to be in possession of marijuana. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 29, Los Angeles.
• 3-1-10, 1:20 PM, Huntington/Fremont. Suspect is stopped for a traffic violation and officer smells an odor of marijuana coming from driver. Driver is found to be in possession of marijuana. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 18, Cathedral City.

SOLICITING WITH NO PERMIT

• 2-26-10, 1 PM, 1200 block of Huntington. Officers respond to a subject going door-to-door soliciting magazines subscription. Officers locate subject and subject does not have required city permit. SUSPECT ARRESTED: Male, 23, Harbor, Wash.

THEFT

• 3-1-10, 8 AM to 8:03 AM, 300 block of Raymondale (apartment complex). Victim is carrying numerous items to apartment unit, which requires several trips. Victim leaves loss on staircase landing during one trip and suspect takes unattended loss. LOSS: Case containing digital camera, flash and (2) lens.

VANDALISM

• 2-25-10, 11 AM to 2:40 PM, 1800 block of Hardison Place. Suspect(s) punch a small hole in victim’s bathroom window, but no entry was made.

• Sometimes there’s a fine line between news and advertising. Sometimes that line gets trampled.
• The death of SPHS student Aydin Salek prompts a bill proposal from Assemblyman Anthony Portantino that would “grant immunity from criminal prosecution to teenagers who seek emergency medical attention for someone possibly suffering from alcohol poisoning.”
• State Assemblyman Mike Eng pushes Caltrans to sell all the homes along the aboveground 710 route. It’s an odd about-face from the guy who opposed Portantino’s bill last year, which kinda would of done the same thing.
• iamnotastalker.com, well, stalks Kaldi’s.
• Via The Source: “Full-time students attending Pasadena City College (PCC) will soon be eligible to receive heavily discounted Metro passes – $30 for unlimited travel on all Metro bus and rail lines for an entire semester. Part of Metro’s I-Pass program, this new partnership will bring affordable transit to 8,800 community college students.”

The ambiguously titled blog Friends for Fullerton’s Future reports that Fullerton School District Superintendent Mitch Hovey played this video at a recent school board meeting. The blog suggests it might have been used to float the idea of a parcel tax. One gem from the post: “Enjoy the manipulation of children by the same mindless fools who put our current legislature in office.” Not exactly sure what that means.

Related: I’m really, really tired of bringing up No Cuss Kid, but yeah, thanks to Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, the first week of March is now possibly at some time in the future Cuss Free Week in the state of California. And yes, McKay Hatch is now the national youth spokesperson for the Parent Television Council, which is the org that protests pretty much anything on television.