On June 6, the Rosemead City Council voted against letting a group of volunteers organize a revival of the city's traditional Fourth of July parade.  Voting for the parade were councilmember John Tran and Mayor Pro Temp John Nunez.  Voting against the parade were Councilmembers Margaret Clark and Jay Imperial, and Mayor Gary Taylor.  This is yet another shocking and disappointing action by our pathetically out of touch city council.

Rosemead City Council met in special session yesterday, Tuesday, June 6.  At that meeting, Councilmembers Jay Imperial and Margaret Clark were joined by Mayor Gary Taylor in voting to set the recall election date on Tuesday, September 19, 2006.  Councilmember John Tran and Mayor Pro Temp John Nunez voted no on the September 19 election date.  They preferred August 29, which was the date that the city clerk had reported she could have the city ready for an election, with a cushion of four days to meet any unforeseen developments.

On Friday, May 26, it was announced that Judge Klausner had lifted the preliminary restraining order against our recall election.  I haven't yet read his full decision (I don't even know if he issued a written decision).  So our much-anticipated election is probably going to be back on.  The story in Saturday's San Gabriel Valley Tribune is linked below:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3871783

Still no news on the Imperial v. Castruita litigation.  It's a little perplexing why Judge Klausner hasn't lifted his preliminary restraining order against our recall election.  With Padilla v. Lever removed as precedent, there is very little reason to expect that Imperial's lawsuit will prevail on the merits.  And with that, the preliminary restraining order should be lifted.

You'll recall that Imperial v. Castruita is the case in which Councilman Jay Imperial sued his own city to prevent the February 7 recall election from going forward.  In response to that suit, Judge Klausner issued a preliminary restraining order against our election.  But it's now been about three weeks since the city of Rosemead asked for "clarification" on the Imperial v. Castruita litigation in light of the Ninth Circuit Court's decision to withdraw the original three-judge panel's decision and grant an en banc rehearing in Padilla v. Lever.

No new posts in a while, so I'll go ahead with this one:

My wife and I saw a preview for "Over the Hedge" a few months ago.  Actually looked like something we might like (we're funny that way).  It seemed to be a story of suburban sprawl and its effects on local wildlife.

Then, a few weeks later, we started seeing "tie-in" advertisements on television.  Wal-Mart is apparently the official retail partner of the movie.  How's that for irony?  The epitomy of big-box sprawl wants to be associated with the wildlife that they destroy and displace?  And DreamWorks SKG, which has about as much money as God, selling out on their "message" for money.

Today, Al Mehlman was laid to rest.  Al and his wife, Jewel were supporters of the opposition against Wal-Mart since the formation of the grass root group called Save Our Community.  The work of Al and Jewel, both financially and through personal effort and dedication was outstanding.  Al will be greatly missed. 

Sorry to report the passing of another long-time SOC supporter, Al Mehlman.

Al and Jewel had previous suffered the loss of their son, Larry.  In lieu of flowers, Jewel asks that donations may be made in support of the Larry Mehlman Memorial Prize, which helps fund outstanding 4th and 5th year students in Biological Sciences at UC Irvine.  Click on the "read more" link below for giving instructions.