Altadena Town Council rundown

by Timothy Rutt

Among the activity in Tuesday night's meeting:

• The state shifting 30,000 prisoners to county lockups was a recurrent theme.  Assemblyman Anthony Portantino said that Los Angeles County will be getting 8,000 new prisoners, but there were only 4,600 beds available, meaning most will get released.  Portantino said that "with 70 percent recidivism, it doesn't save the state money when most return."  It also doesn't help the individual inmate when training programs are cut, too, he said.
  
  Earlier, Altadena Sheriff Lt. Joseph Dempsey said that so far 300 parolees were released into Los Angeles County, two in Altadena.  Dempsey said that the sheriff's station was getting information on local parolees before they are released, and that Altadena sheriffs and Pasadena police would be closely monitoring them.
• Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean announced that Dempsey would be making a career move to the sheriff's narcotics bureau.  Dempsey has been commander of the Altadena station's detective bureau and the station's public information officer.  His replacement is Lt. Duane Allen from the Carson station, a 24-year veteran who spent eight years in Altadena as a deputy and detective.
  
  
• Another recurrent theme was the Sacramento Street/ Raymond Lane neighborhood, which has been a concern of neighbors and law enforcement.  Lt. Dempsey said that the Altadena Sheriff's clergy council has taken on the mission of trying to provide resources and outreach to individuals in the neighborhood.  The New Guide Baptist Church, 2162 N. Summit Ave., (corner Summit and Woodbury)  will hold a "Neighborhood Resource and Opportunity Fair" on Wed., Nov. 16, from 10 AM-2 PM to provide resources and referrals for such things as tattoo removal, job skills development, health screenings and testing, GED or high school completion, substance abuse services, educational and vocational training, and other resources.

Councilmember Amy Cienfuegos also complimented Athens Services for removing bulk trash and old furniture that had accumulated on the street. Cienfuegos said that she had been walking the neighborhood with community relations Deputy Ronny Manier to hand out fliers to start a neighborhood watch group in the area and assure residents that the sheriffs are working on cleaning up the neighborhood.

The county Department of Public Works made a presentation on a landscaping and roadway improvement project to begin in late summer 2012.  Woodbury Road from Windsor to Santa Anita Avenue will see reconstruction of the medians, landscaping with an irrigation system, and installation of a bikeway along the stretch from Windsor to Glenrose.

The council also announced the debut of its new website, and councilman Doug Colliflower who announced the revamped Altadena Chamber of Commerce site.

Council chair Sandra Thomas announced the chairs of a ballooning number of subcommittees:  executive committee, Thomas,; land use, Mark Goldschmidt; emergency and preparedness, Techumseh Shackelford; public relations, Greg Middleton; Altadena beatufication committee, Michele Zack; traffic, streets, and roadways Okorie Ezieme; education, Amy Cienfuegos; arts, Sandra Thomas.

Bernardean Broadous and Richard Moon, Altadena members of the Pasadena Unified School District's redistricting task force, made a presentations and answered some questions.  PUSD is changing from an "at large" board to one where board members are elected by district.  They said they are developing a list of upcoming meetings for public input, and are preparing a period of "aggressive outreach to the community," according to Broadus.  Tom Hubbard, a member of the Altadena Library District governing board, made a plea to the task force and the public to let the library be a central source of information as to when meetings will be held. "We don't have a newspaper ..." Hubbard said, "and communication is difficult."

Phlunte Riddle, a spokesperson for the Abundant Harvest Christian Center, thanked the community for its participation in their Sept. 10 event on Mariposa Street.  According to Riddle, 2,500 people attended, the USC medical center provided over 500 dental checks and made referrals, and City of Hope had 29 people donate blood.

Melissa Hernandez of the county Parks and Recreation department said there were still spots open for Farnsworth Park's new Tiny Tot program for ages three to five.  The parks department was also opening a "mighty mites" soccer league for the same age group.  Registration for soccer is at Chalres White or Loma Alta park, fee is $45, $50 after Nov. 5.  There was also going to be a Tues-Thurs. night basketball league program for adults at Loma Alta Park, call 626-398-5451 for more information.

Hernandez also said that Supervisor Antonovich gave the parks department an extra $1 million to fund a REACH program for recreation services leaders ages 16-24.  Must be a high school junior or senior or in the first two years of college to qualify.  Hernandez said that the funds will support five leaders at each Altadena park and five in the Antelope Valley.  Find application information at dhr.lacounty.gov and look for "recreation services leader."