Jan
26
Los Al Base to go in new BRAC round(s)?
Filed Under 2012 Issues, Planning & Zoning, The Base, Traffic | 2 Comments
(1/26/2012, Los Alamitos) Earlier today the word was that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (left, with General Martin Dempsey, Joint Chiefs Chairman) would seek two new rounds of military base closures, in 2013 and 2015.
Ultimately, Panetta’s announcement wasn’t quite a specific, but did include a strong recommendation for more military base closures. As the New York Times put it, “Pentagon Plan Includes Base Closings and Read more
Jan
25
Your 1/25 – 31 media reporting and comments post
Filed Under Community News, News Enterprise & other local media, Your reporting & comments | 5 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 1/25/2012) It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for our weekly post where you can report and comment on items of interest you come across in any of our local media.
Today’s News Enterprise’s front page story on the Council’s actions regarding Council Member Kusumoto’s alleged Brown Act Violations gave a detailed, balanced explanation that I thought showed a good grasp of the issues by Editor/reporter Apodaca. What do you think?
I was also impressed by Apodaca’s Read more
Jan
25
H.G.: Hello, Is Anybody Paying Attention?
Filed Under 2012 Issues, Crime & Police, Highlands Guy's Thursday column | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 1/25/2012) by “Highlands Guy:” Took a stroll through the city website and ended up taking a closer look at the Los Alamitos Police Department words and data. Let me share some numbers with you:
Stolen Vehicle: 19
Robbery: 3
Auto Burglary: 43
Commercial Burglary: 27
Residential Burglary: 30
Assault: 24
DUI: 29
Theft: 97
Misc: 191
Total: 463
These numbers were extracted from the Los Alamitos City website. They represent a portion of the statistics released on a regular basis by the Los Alamitos Police Department. More specifically they reflect only Read more
Jan
25
January 26, 2012 Los Alamitos food truck line-up
Filed Under Local events, Los Alamitos "Picnic at the Plaza", News you can use | Leave a Comment
(1/25/2012, Los Alamitos) Waffles de Liege (left), Rancho, Lime, Ragin Cajun, Flip . . eight trucks, some familiar, some newer. Looks good for this coming Thursday night’s Los Alamitos “Picnic at the Plaza.”
Only 8 trucks, but lots of quality. . . and 3 desert trucks ;-):
Jan 26
Piaggio
Jan
24
Trash settlement talks reach impasse
Filed Under 2012 Issues, City Council Meetings, Trash contraact | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 1/24/2012) At last night’s Special Los Alamitos Council Session, Mayor Edgar announced in open session that the City’s settlement talks with Citizens for a Fair Trash Contract have reached an impasse.
According to Edgar the Council plans to move ahead with the Read more
Jan
24
(1/24/2012 10 p.m. update:) Last night the Los Alamitos City Council moved forward on appointing a Deputy City Clerk to work for 20 hours a week, most likely through the end of the year.
The plan appears to be to not hire a full time City Clerk until next year, with the City Manager continuing to hold the formal title of City Clerk, with Department Secretary Windmera ”Windy” Quintanar and the new Read more
Jan
23
At last: Last Tuesday’s Council Video
Filed Under 2012 Issues, City Council Meetings, Decency, Teamwork | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 1/23/2012) I’m told downloading CSMP’s videos to YouTube take as long as the video, which means it took someone over four hours to put this online. Thanks, Larry!
You can click here for the Agenda, if you want to follow along or note the high (or low) points excerpted from the agenda below.
You can enlarge the size by clicking the rectangular box in the lower left corner, or go to full screen mode by clicking the icon just to the left of the rectangle.
Probably the items of greatest interest would be:
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to the Los Alamitos High School Girls Volleyball Team for winning the 2011 CIF Division 1 Championship
B. Presentation by Colonel Read more
Jan
23
Help wanted: Your January, 2012 Community Bulletin Board
Filed Under Community Bulletin Board, Community News, Local events, Los Al calendar, Your reporting & comments | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, updated 1/23/12)In case you haven’t noticed, we’re trying to turn this blog into more of a community effort, with more community input.
There are lots of easy ways to get involved, and this is one of three posts designed to make it very easy.
Let me demonstrate. It’s now 4:00 p.m. on Monday. I’m going to get last Wednesday”s News-Enterprise.
Got it. Opening to page 2, and scanning the weekly “calendar” for something in Los Al this week. . . . I’m striking out, but I did find Read more
Jan
20
Red Tails: A movie for black teens, Dean Grose, & all Americans
Filed Under Dean Grose, Decency, Inspiration, The Base | 1 Comment
(1/20/2012, Los Alamitos) Why did it take a Hollywood legend like George Lucas 24 years to make and market his movie about America’s Tuskegee Airmen?
Lucas said part of the problem was America’s studios reluctance to bet on a film where all the good guys are African American and all the bad guys are white.
Sadly, another part was our studio’s reluctance to produce something besides a “music video Read more
Jan
20
(Los Alamitos, 1/19/2012) These tips were posted on the Los Al P.D.’s blog shortly after yesterday’s attack. They’re good advice for all of us, even here in “Mayberry:”
The following are some general personal safety tips:
• Be aware of your surroundings. Headphones and other distractions divert your attention and you may not hear or notice persons approaching you.
• Trust your intuition. If you feel threatened or Read more
Jan
20
4 Los Al High students robbed in 3 instances Thursday
Filed Under Community News, Crime & Police, News you can use | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 1/20/2012, adapted from Los Al P.D.) If you were near Bloomfield just north of Katella or Sausalito (aka Briggeman) west of Los Al Blvd. between 2:45 and 3:05 yesterday afternoon, you may have some information that could help solve three robberies.
Last night at 10:28 p.m. Los Alamitos Unified School District Superintendent Sherry Kropp broadcast an e-mail to most Los Alamitos U.S.D. parents with the surprising news that ”there were three strong-armed robberies this afternoon” of four students on their way walking home from our High School.
Additional details, from the Los Alamitos Police Read more
Jan
19
Movie filmed in Rossmoor airs this Saturday – Tuesday
Filed Under Community News, Local events, News you can use, Rossmoor | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 1/19/2012) Written and photographed by Diane, Los Al Resident : “Untouchables,” a LifeTime movie featuring Rob Lowe flimed in Rossmoor last summer airs this Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (January 21, 22, 23, & 24, 2012, at 8 p.m. each night on Lifetime & Lifetime HD (140 & 640 on Fios).
The movie is based on the story of Drew Peterson, who is charged with the death of his third wife after the mysterious Read more
Jan
19
(1/19/2012, Los Alamitos) Once again our Thursday columnist brings wisdom and practicality to an important topic. by Highlands Guy: I think the folks I’m directing this to are not only the City Council, but also the voting public.
Our City Council Members are elected at-large and the positions of Mayor and Mayor pro-tempore are put in place by the sitting Council Members. So, even though we do not directly elect the Mayor, it is reasonable to assume that anyone we do place on the city council will probably become mayor at some point during their four year term.
A beloved Mayor
During a visit to Hawaii last year I read various articles about a former Mayor who had recently passed away. He was liked and even more, was Read more
Jan
18
Los Alamitos’ “Council Member Cellophane”
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Decency, Teamwork | Leave a Comment
(1/18/2012, Los Alamitos) From J.M. Ivler’s Council Comments last night:
There is a wonderful song from the musical Chicago called “Mr. Cellophane,” where a man laments that he can’t be seen, and is non-existent.
We have Council Member cellophane here in this chamber. When this council member speaks, it is as if nothing has been spoken. When a request is made, it is as if nothing has been said.
The words exist, because we can see them in the meeting minutes, but alas, it’s like attempting to get light from a black hole in space, it just never happened.
If Mr. Edgar says “I want Read more
Jan
17
Your reporting and comments on tonight’s Los Alamitos Council meeting, 1/17/2012
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Your reporting & comments | 26 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 1/17/2012) Tonight’s 7 p.m. Los Alamitos City Council meeting may get off to a bit of a late start, since the 5 p.m. meeting to appoint Commissioners has the last 15 minute interview set for 6:45. . . and they were running late when I left around 5:30.
In any case the agenda (linked below) has several interesting items which have generated a fair amount of discussion here already (see links below).
So set your DVR for LosAl TV 3 from 7 – 10 or so, and/or show up in person, & let us know Read more