Pictured: El Patron restaurant owner Alex Cortez is honored by the town council for CT 4602. From left to right, councilman Okorie Ezieme, Cortez, chair Sandra Thomas, and councilman Greg Middleton.
by Timothy Rutt
In other town council business:
- Street repairs: The council heard a report from the Department of Public Works on work that will be done on several streets next summer. Maiden Lane and Holliston Ave. between Mendocino St. and Altadena Drive, including the El Corto cul-de-sac, will be repaved. Speed humps on Holliston and the arroyos (stone-lined drainage) along Maiden Lane and Holliston will be retained.
There will also be concrete repairs and repaving on Hill between New York Drive and East Calavaras, and Lexington Avenue west of Holliston and Atchison Street west of Mar Vista Avenue. A water capture feature will also be installed on HIll to capture rain runoff rather than let it drain down the street. - New committees and website underway: Chair Sandra Thomas said that the council was still forming and revitalizing town council committees. The council has also launched a new website (which is still in progress) at. http://altadenatowncouncil.org/.
- Sheriff: Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean introduced two new officers: Sgt. James Wilson,who will work patrol; and Ronny Manier, an Altadena resident who will be the new community relations deputy.
Lt.Joseph Dempsey said the last month found an uptick in property crimes, i.e. burglaries: 23 in the last four weeks, all spread out around town. Deputies have also arrested suspects in numerous burglaries in progress, Dempsey said.
There were several occasions when burglars broke into occupied houses after knocking on the door and receiving no response. Dempsey said that residents needed to show some indication that the house was occupied -- he suggested just saying “i’m not interested” to whoever’s at the door, or telling children who are at home alone to tell solicitors that “mom’s on the phone and can’t come to the door.” Dempsey said that there were no incidents of burglars hitting a house when they know someone’s home. - Citizen/Business of the Month: The council is also starting a “Citizen or Business of the Month” award for each census tract. The first winner, for Census Tract 4602, is Alex Cortez, owner of El Patron restaurant on Lake Avenue.
- White Park remains open: Marissa Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Dept. of Parks and Recreation said there was no truth to a rumor that Charles White Park would be closed. Hernandez said that Parks was not starting any new programs at White or Farnsworth Parks, due to staffing cuts, but existing youth sports programs would continue.
