LML_1-11-13

La Palma Intercommunity Hospital

We are a full service,general acute care

hospital and have been a part of the

community since 1971.

• 24-Hour Emergency Services• Behavioral Medicine • Maternity Services• Comprehensive Wound Care • Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

7901 walker street | la palma, ca 90623(714) 670-7400

0025

4.11

0909

0025

4.08

1611

00254.LPIH.AD.General_Ad_10x3.081611indd.indd 1 8/16/2011 10:16:36 AM

VOL. 2, NO. 1Delivered to 12,000 Homes Every Week LA MIRADA, CA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013

www.lmlamplighter.com

LA MIRADASTRATEGICPLAN Page 10

Candidate

for the 2013

Pulitzer Prize

COMMUNITY SPORTS Page 12

By Randy Economy

A six month investigation by Los Cerritos Community News-paper (LCCN) into the official ac-tivities of Los Angeles City Con-troller Wendy Greuel has shown

that, in possible violation of the Los Angeles Governmen-tal Ethics Commission

O r d i n a n c e , she has spent

a n overwhelming m a j o r i t y of her official schedule for the past three years attending lavish dinners, lunches, breakfasts, and social events in an effort to advance her 2013 mayoral campaign.

Greuel is in a heated four-way campaign for Mayor of Los An-geles in the upcoming March 5th Primary Election against fellow city councilmembers Eric Garc-

LA AUDITOR WENDY GREUEL CAMPAIGNS FOR MAYOR ON TAXPAYER’S DOLLARLAMPLIGHTER EXCLUSIVE

etti, Jan Perry, and former Fed-eral Prosecutor Kevin James.

LCCN released more than 640 pages of Greuel’s “official city appointment calendar” on Monday that was ob-tained through the Freedom of Information Act. Those FOIA re-q u e s t s went unan-swered for more than five months by Greuel and her office.

“We received tips from inside her office that Gruel was campaigning on county time, so LCCN requested copies of her 2009-2012 daily calendar,” Hews said. “LCCN was able to conquer a bureaucratic maze created by the Controller’s Office that in-cluded being told more than 15

times that our request was being “gathered” by personnel in her office.”

“The process to obtain the records was extremely ar-

duous and involved. As a public of-

ficial, whose calendar is open to the public, I ex-pected this process to be simple,

and for city staff to be

helpful rather than adversarial

toward releasing infor-mation about a public employee, especially to a community news-paper,” Hews said. “This treat-ment certainly raised some red flags.”

According to the California

See AUDITOR page 8

Record 58 Pound Sturgeon Caught by Cerritos Resident

Sheriff Reserve Commander Hangs Up Shield After 38 YearsBy Randy Economy

Local residents have been adieu to one of the most recog-nizable faces in law enforcement after Reserve Commander Pat-rick J. Cleary hung up his badge as a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after nearly four decades of em-ployment and service.

On Saturday, January 5, at 11:00pm, Cleary served his last shift at the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station.

He reflected on his storied career in an interview with Los Cerritos Community Newspaper and the La Mirada Lamplighter on his last “day on the job” for the last time he donned is work-ing uniform.

Cerritos resident Kay Fujimura has new bragging rights this week after landing a big fish, a REALLY BIG fish. Fujimura, and his friend Ray Lovell are seen here holding his new “huge sturgeon” that was caught at Irvine Lake. For the record, the fish was recorded at 58 lb 6 oz and was hooked on a 3 lb. test line which set a new lake record and could actually establish a new international Game Fish Association World Record for line class under 4 pounds. Fujimura, who caught the sturgeon released it back into the lake after lake officials took their measurements and pictures.

“I love this community, it is part of me,” Cleary said.

“I have loved every minute of my work with the Los Ange-

les County Sheriff’s Department and being able to serve the com-

Reserve Commander Patrick J. Cleary hung up his badge as a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after nearly four decades of employment and service.

See CLEARY page 8

8 JANUARY 11, 2013 www.HewsMediaGroup.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

AUDITORContinued from page 1

SponsorshipOpportunities

Available

Call 714-670-0186for more info

behind La Mirada Activities Center and the Fire Department on La Mirada Blvd.

Does Your Group Raise Money?Join us at our first informational meeting to find out how you can becomea “selling” group and raise funds for your not-for-profit organization. Thisis a simple and easy fundraiser to do. Nothing to buy or store.

Informational Meeting -- Wednesday, January 23rd at 7pm at SPLASH!

Thanks to our Sponsors!

Kiwanis Club of La Mirada presents its 6th Annual

Public Records Act (PRA) [GOVT. CODE 6250 - 6276.48] the responding agency of the government must fulfill the request for public records within approximately 24 days. Further extensions can be request-ed but should not go longer than three months.

“But in this case it took the Control-ler’s office six months and several phone calls to provide LCCN with Greuel’s cal-endar. That being said, whether or not the controller’s office is in compliance with the California Public Records Act is defi-nitely a big question,” Hews said.

Upon reviewing Greuel’s calendar, LCCN discovered numerous activities dedicated to advancing her mayoral cam-paign. “Within the first few pages, we quickly found out why the Controller’s office was so hesitant to give us Gruel’s calendar”, said Hews. “The activities we found appear to show that she is in vio-lation of the Los Angeles Governmental Ethics Commission Ordinance No. 172891 Section 49.5.5 (B).”

The ordinance states: “No City official

or employee of an agency shall engage in campaign related activities, such as fund-raising, the development of electronic or written materials, or research for a cam-paign or an elective office or ballot mea-sure during the hours for which he or she is receiving pay to engage in City business; or using city facilities, equipment, sup-plies of other city resources.”

Several times Greuel had her city staff scheduled to attend mayoral campaign-related events after hours. Greuel even had her Controller Executive Team brief her for a mayoral debate on the Thai Commu-nity Development.

Further, on at least one occasion dur-ing regular business hours, Gruel met with people such as Rick Jacobs, a political organizer and founder of the California Courage campaign and past California chairman of Howard Dean 2004 presi-dential effort; Eric Bauman, Chairman of the LA County Democratic Party and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party; Maria Elena Durazo, Chairman of the LA County Federation of Labor; Mi-chael Bustamante of California Strategies, a political advisory firm; Michael Mand of Creative Artist Agency (a Talent Agency); John Shallman and Marty Cooper, cam-paign strategists; LA Grant Communica-tions, a full service marketing, advertising, and communications firm; Donna Lucas, Lucas Public Affairs; Yashar Hedayat, known for fundraising for Hillary Clinton; Teray Stephens another local fundraiser; political consultant Lindsay Bubar; politi-cal consultant Myung Soo Seok; Douglas Herman a Democratic political strategist and direct mail specialist; Gary Belz, Pres-ident of the House of Blues; Arturo Var-gas of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; Antonio Gonzalez of the Southwest Voter Registra-tion Education Project.

Greuel even attended a wedding cer-emony at the posh Terranea Resort during

regular office hours.“According to the calendar, Angelinos

are paying for Wendy Greuel to run for Mayor. The names above are only a sam-pling. We found a majority of her time is spent fundraising, meeting for lunch, and attending parties all over town. Even more egregious is the appearance that she is using her Controller staff to advance her 2013 mayoral campaign,” said Hews.

Los Cerritos Community Newspaper was the publication that broke the story about the current criminal investigation inside the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office that has resulted in the arrest of As-sessor John R. Noguez, multi millionaire property tax Agent Ramin Salari, and two other members of the Assessor’s inner circle.

LCCN also sent requests to both Garc-etti and Perry on Monday to obtain copies of their official calendars as well.

As we ask other elected officials in Los Angeles who are running for office to exercise transparency, let’s hope they are less resistant to transparency than Greuel,” Hews stated.

“Los Cerritos Community Newspaper is also requesting that Los Angeles Coun-ty District Attorney Jackie Lacey review Greuel’s calendar to see if any possible laws were violated,” Hews said.

A copy of Greuel’s calendar can be found at lmlamplighter.com.

munity I live in has been an honor,” a jo-vial Cleary said.

Cleary began working for the LASD back in February 1974. The former gradu-ate of George Washington High School in Los Angeles in 1962 spent a number of year working as a patrol unit dealing with

day to day crimes in and around Norwalk, La Mirada and the Unincorporated Area of East and South Whittier and Los Ni-etos.

“I have seen it all. Crime goes up, it goes down, but we have to always remem-ber that a real person is affected each and every day,” Cleary said.

He said that one of his biggest accom-plishments was busting up a car burglary ring in which 27 vehicles had their car ste-reos stolen. “We found the guys who did it and we had each and everyone of those stereos returned to their proper owners and all of them were reinstalled. That was amazing when you stop and think about it,” Cleary said. For his efforts he was presented the Departments Meritorious Conduct Medal that he pointed to on his uniform during his last shift.

Cleary had huge praise showered on him by Captain Patrick Maxwell, of the Norwalk Station. “Reserve Commander Cleary has proudly worn the Sheriff’s uni-form for 38 years all of which have been at the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station. For the past 27 years he worked as Unit 45R, serving the residents of the City of Norwalk every Friday and Saturday night,” Maxwell said in an interview.

Prior to his Norwalk assignment, he spent 11 years serving the residents of un-incorporated Whittier as Unit 48R.

“Reserve Commander Cleary’s dedi-cation and exemplary work ethic will con-tinue to influence many deputies, past and present, at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station. He has built a legacy and I am forever grateful for his service,” Maxwell said.

“I have grown children and two grand-children, and it is a good feeling to know that I can do whatever I want from now on,” Cleary laughed.

Cleary also said that “Norwalk is a safer place today that back when I started here in the 1970’s.”

CLEARYContinued from page 8NEED AN AD?

Call the Lamplighter

562.407.3873

www.HewsMediaGroup.com JANUARY 11, 2013 9TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

Underwater Homeowners Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Congress Extends Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

La Mirada, California– January 10 – On January 1, 2013, Congress passed an extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act as part of tax bill H.R. 8, the bill addressing the “fiscal cliff.” Originally passed in 2007, this act exempts struggling homeowners from pay-ing taxes on debt forgiven in a short sale, foreclosure, or loan modification.

The bill extends the act through December 31, 2013, allowing underwater homeowners to once again pursue alternatives to foreclosure, such as short sales or loan modifica-tions, without the fear of owing thousands and taxes.

“For distressed homeowners, the extension of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act is amazing news. Before this act, homeowners would negotiate a loan modification or avoid foreclo-sure through a short sale only to find they owed an equally unmanageable tax debt after-wards,” says Kevin Raisch, CDPE, Coldwell Banker Olympic.

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Kevin Raisch is specially trained to help homeowners who find themselves facing foreclosure. “I’m committed to helping home-owners who are struggling,” Kevin Raisch said. “Too often, homeowners facing foreclo-sure believe there is nothing they can do, but there is.”

“In fact, the options available to homeowners are better than ever. Lenders realize how much foreclosures cost, and increasingly favor short sales and other alternatives over letting a home go to foreclosure. Lenders are more willing than ever to work with home-owners,” said Kevin Raisch.

Kevin Raisch has developed a free report with more infor-mation on the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and the options available to homeowners facing foreclosure. This report, entitled, “Attention: Distressed Homeowners! Congress Renews Critical Homeowner Relief Program,” is accessible from his website, http://www.cdpe.com/profile/view/2143, click on “Useful Links”

For more information, please contact:

KEVIN RAISCH 562-572-5555

[email protected]

This is a paid advertisement

Underwater Homeowners Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Congress Extends Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

Los Cerritos Community Newspaper once again was the focal point of media outlets throughout Southern California this past week after they released an on-line expose article that featured the public calendar of controversial Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel who is hoping to become the next Mayor of the second larg-est city in America.

Publisher Brian Hews and Investiga-tive Reporter Randy Economy released Greuel’s official city calendar late Monday afternoon on its website www.loscerritos-news.net and within hours their coverage became the top reported news program for a 48 hour period on this week.

Reporting from the LCCN news room (located on Artesia Boulevard and Shoe-maker Avenue) was Fox News Anchor Su-san Hirosuna, NBC Southern California Reporter Patrick Healy, as well as CBS2/KCAL9 Investigative Reporter Dave Lo-pez.

Hews and Economy where also fea-tured on several radio talk shows in South-ern California this week including a live in studio interview with hard hitting journal-ist David Cruz, with the popular “David Cruz Show” on KTLK AM 1150.

Economy was also a guest on 790 KABC Talk Radio’s Peter Tilden Show on Monday night.

LCCN’s coverage into Controller Greuel’s highly controversial calendar was also featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Daily News, Pasadena Star News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The LA Weekly, The Huffington Post, KFI’s Bill Carroll Show, CityWatch, and dozens of other me-dia outlets.

Los Cerritos Community Newspaper is being considered for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for its groundbreaking investigative work that lead to the arrest of Los Angeles County Assessor John R. Noguez, Prop-erty Tax Agent Ramin Salari, as well as two others who are accused of hundreds of collective counts of money laundering, ac-cepting of bribes, and criminal forgery.

Controller Greuel’s Calendar Puts LCCN/Lamplighter Into Media Spotlight

[l-r] LCCN Investigative Reporter Randy Economy, NBC's Patrick Healy, and LCCN Publisher Brian Hews.

Hews and Economy with CBS' Dave Lopez.

Fox News Anchor Susan Hirosuna and Randy Economy in the LCCN newsroom. A video of the Fox report can be found at www.loscerritosnews.net.

10 JANUARY 11, 2013 www.HewsMediaGroup.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

Albertsons 15200 Rosecrans Avenue Amy‘s Cafe 14228 Imperial HwyAsian Palace Buffet 15028 Rosecrans AvenueBeauty Supplies Too 15864 Imperial HighwayBest Care Dental 15651 Imperial HwyBestway Supermarkets 12721 Valley ViewBig O Tires 13920 Valley View AveBonjour Bagel Cafe 15010 LA Mirada BlvdBreezewood Village Senior Apts 16000 Grayville DrCamping World 14900 Firestone BlvdCardinal Liquor 12309 La Mirada Blvd.Carriage Coffee Shop 14871 Imperial HwyCasa Garcia 13926 Imperial HighwayClearman‘s North Woods Inn 14305 East Firestone Blvd.Cross Roads Barber15844 E Imperial HwyFamily Orthodontic Center 14930 Imperial HighwayFarmers Insurance 15901 East Imperial HighwayGleason Law OfficeHarbor Freight Tools14345 FIRESTONE BLVD 15651 East Imperial HighwayIHOP Restaurant 15140 LA Mirada Blvd

La Mirada Adult Resource Center13710 La Mirada Blvd.La Mirada City Hall 13700 La Mirada Boulevard La Mirada Community Dental 14930 Imperial HighwayLa Mirada Family Dentistry 15071 East Imperial HighwayLa Mirada Golf Course 15501 East Alicante RoadLa Mirada Landmark Adult Community 13710 Avenida Santa TeclaLa Mirada Public Library13800 La Mirada Blvd.La Mirada Sheriff‘s 13716 La Mirada Boulevard La Mirada Splash 13800 La Mirada Blvd.Martin Meats15850 East Imperial HighwayMike‘s Classic Burgers15738 Imperial HighwayOlive Lawn Memorial Park 13926 La Mirada BlvdPanera Bread 15220 Rosecrans AvePepboys 14207 Rosecrans AvenuePopular Community Bank 12333 La Mirada BlvdRay‘s Western Toggery14265 East Imperial HighwaySugar and Spice Bakery11523 La Mirada Blvd.The Audio Shop 14953 Leffingwell Rd.

Find our paper at these convenient locations

A Strategic Plan that builds on La Mirada’s record of success and sets future goals is being finalized by the City Council.

The plan sets forth six broad priori-ties for the City to focus its efforts on in the coming years. A series of 31 specific goals and more than 100 sepa-rate actions to be taken are identified in the plan. Target dates for complet-ing all of the work by the end of 2015 are also included in the plan.

The Strategic Plan, which has been in the works for more than a year, was reviewed by the City Council earlier this week. Members of the City’s Planning, Public Safety, and Com-munity Services Commissions have also reviewed the document in recent months.

Six broad priorities serve as the foundation for the City of La Mirada Strategic Plan. Priorities include: •Secure a fiscally sound community; •Ensure a responsive City govern-ment; •Provide a safe community; •Promote a high quality of life; •Provide quality planning and infra-structure; and •Promote a strong local economy.

Following the unprecedented finan-cial challenges from the national reces-sion and State takes of local funds in recent years, local officials have identi-fied a number of goals that will con-tinue to stabilize the City’s finances. Actions taken in recent years to reduce

staff, expand the use of contract servic-es, and modify programs and services have helped the City through these

challenging times. As the economy continues its recovery, the City will continue to manage employee costs, use contract services efficiently, and budget conservatively.

City officials will remain respon-sive to issues affecting the community. Actions taken at the federal, state, and regional levels will be monitored to en-sure La Mirada’s best interests are ad-dressed. The plan calls for protecting local control of funds to continue as a high priority. Resident involvement in the City’s governing process by serv-ing on a City advisory body will con-tinue to be encouraged. Additionally, the City plans to enhance the amount of information available on its website, such as steps taken recently to post City Council staff reports online.

A number of actions are identified in the Strategic Plan in support of provid-ing a safe community, the City’s long-standing top priority. The City will be working with Sheriff’s officials to explore additional ways to fight crime in the area. Efforts to maintain the re-gion’s lowest crime rate will continue with special attention on gang and drug prevention activities in La Mirada’s neighborhoods. The La Mirada com-munity will continue to be called upon to serve as “the eyes and ears” in re-porting suspicious activity. Residents will also be asked to join the City’s emergency preparedness campaign.

La Mirada officials aim to remain a desirable, family-oriented community. The plan calls for the City to continue providing outstanding recreational and cultural opportunities, such as those of-fered at Splash!, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, and the City’s net-work of parks and facilities. Local of-ficials value the efforts of La Mirada’s community partners, including School District representatives, service clubs,

and volunteers to enhance La Mirada’s high quality of life. Building upon these relationships to make La Mirada an even better community is an im-portant endeavor. Popular community events, such as Summer Concerts and Chili Holiday Event, will continue to bring the community together.

Efforts to upgrade the community by improving housing conditions and op-portunities, and stimulating new com-mercial and industrial development are identified in the plan. Improvements to the Crossroads Shopping Center and other shopping centers in La Mirada will be completed this year. La Mirada is also poised to undergo significant in-frastructure improvements in the near future. The $65-million Valley View Grade Separation project is currently under construction. Additionally, a number of street resurfacing projects are currently out to bid, with work expected to begin this spring. Infra-structure repairs from voter-approved Measure I funds are being planned, and will be used to address a portion of the City’s nearly $67-million in infrastruc-ture needs.

The Strategic Plan aims to build upon local economic development ef-forts expanded in recent years to attract and retain quality business that create jobs and generate revenues. Building a strong local economy will be achieved through supporting business expansion, new development, and providing busi-ness assistance programs. While the State’s elimination of redevelopment agencies has eliminated the City’s best economic development tool, the City will continue its business outreach ef-forts, streamlined permitting, and cam-paign to shop locally. These actions are among the reasons La Mirada has been recognized as a five year finalist for the Most Business Friendly City award by the Los Angeles County Economic De-velopment Corporation.

“The goals and objectives con-tained in the Strategic Plan address the many challenges and opportunities facing our community in the coming years,” says City Manager Tom Rob-inson. “For over 50 years, La Mirada has been known as a safe and attractive community with a great quality of life. This Strategic Plan is designed to help La Mirada become an even better com-munity in the future.”

Once the Strategic Plan is adopted, several steps will be taken to ensure the document becomes a real part of the City organization and influences how the City carries out its mission on a daily basis. The plan will be dis-cussed with City employees, and made available to the public through the City’s website. Updates will be issued periodically on achievement of goals. The City Council will receive status reports on progress. Future agenda re-ports will identify the specific goals to which they relate. Annual reviews of the Strategic Plan will be done by the City Council and management staff, and necessary revisions and amend-ments will be made.

The City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider adoption of the proposed Strategic Plan at its meeting on January 22.

LA MIRADA CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS STRATEGIC PLAN