Election Time Again
Measures F and H - Secession -
VOTE YES
by Tom Topping
Remember to vote this Tuesday, November 5. It is interesting to note that, historically, every time the Valley starts to push for its own city-hood, more services are delivered by the City of Los Angeles. I found it also typical, yet horrifying that in 1961, when invited to tour the Valley by local activists, only 2 out of the 15 Los Angeles City Council Members bothered to show up. I think that clearly defines the attitude of our city officials.
When Eagle Rock had its own secession movement in progress, we learned that of the 84 cities in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles had the highest taxes and the lowest delivery of city services of them all. Unfortunately, with the political and financial clout of the Mayor and City Council fighting the Valley secession, the odds are definitely against it. I'm voting for it though. I'm voting for it because practically every other little city in Southern California is a safer place to live than L.A.
It is illuminating that although Eagle Rock is probably the lowest crime area in the city, people who are originally from the area with intimate knowledge of, close ties to law enforcement prefer to live in Temple City because of its safety. How can the second largest city in the country justify only having 8000 police officers compared to New York's 40,000? On what solid basis do they claim valley secession is bad?
From what I've seen, the facts point to valley secession being a good idea, but the anti secession forces in L.A. have the backing and cunning of the slickest and slipperiest of L.A. politicians. Their campaign is right out of the propaganda text book; they play on folk's fear of the unknown, and constantly repeat a made up list of lies and untruths.
Remember, it was because of the Valley Secession effort, that the city gave us Neighborhood Councils. Neighborhood Councils that were supposed to have authority originally, but whose teeth were pulled at the last minute when they were made to be advisory only. Neighborhood Councils that are now being used to help generate support for programs city officials want, instead of the other way around. Yes, Neighborhood Councils and Business Improvement Districts, created by Los Angeles City Government, who work closely with City Officials to get what they want, are regularly being asked to show up at public hearings when the City needs public support for what they want.
That's the way our city works. Systems meant to empower us citizens, are perverted and turned against us.
Do not listen to the PERVERTS. Do not reward the PERVERTS. Send a message to those PERVERTS that you are mad as hell and are not going to take any more. Vote YES on Measures F and H.
Proposition 47 - VOTE NO
Education activist George Buzzetti is a speed reader with a photographic memory. He started to get involved in the LAUSD when his children were coming home with no books. He has acquired a greater command of the financial books of LAUSD than probably anyone who works there. He found out that only half the money budgeted for those books was spent on books. The other half simply disapeared.
We want better schools. We want better education. We don't want to give people any more money who not only waste it but steal it. Yes that's right. George has the documentation. We are talking hundreds of millions. Why should we give them more money when they do not give us anywhere near what we're paying for already?
He predicts that the education system and the coming privatization of it will be the next ENRON like scandal of the coming decade. He has found that it is, in effect, organized crime. Don't give those criminals anymore money until they account for every penny. Vote NO on 47.

Gothic Revival
Nicole Speed
Saint Dominic's Church, Eagle Rock's sole Catholic church, is undergoing a divine facelift. The construction, which is both renovative and restorative, began in October and is expected to be finished in time for Christmas Mass. Until then, Masses are being held in the Parish Hall behind the church.
Father Anthony Patalano, Pastor and Prior, says the reasons for the renovation are to restore the architectural integrity of the Gothic style church and provide long overdue maintenance. This maintenance includes replacing outdated electrical and sound systems, cleaning and repainting plaster walls and ceilings, restoring the Stations of the Cross and augmenting and restoring the pipe organ.
Saint Dominic's parish was founded in 1920. After initially using a vacant store as "parish Chapel," then some larger private homes, the Dominican Fathers and Brothers arranged for the purchase of two lots on Merton Avenue for a permanent parish site. A tent was erected on the property for the first Masses but was swiftly replaced by a temporary wooden chapel, DePorres Hall. (Although DePorres Hall only hosted Masses until construction of St. Dominic's was completed, it was used as an auditorium until as recently as 1995, when it was torn down and replaced by a library and science lab for the grade school.
The present church opened on Rosary Sunday (the first Sunday in October), 1941. Father Anthony recalls that the transepts were added in the 1950s, widening the church to form its current "cross" shape.
The new construction, according to Father Anthony, will "restore the unity [of the interior church design] lost in the 1960s and 70s." To this end, the plaster walls have been repaired, and a fresh white coat of paint is being applied, brightening the walls, creating a greater sense of space, and striking a contrast with the original dark wood support beams. The flooring in the entrance area has been removed, revealing the distinctive original Spanish tile. Fresh flourishes to the church include new Gothic-style chandeliers, a mosaic ceiling pattern in the dome, Italian ceramic tile flooring, and new solid oak pews and choir chairs.
Perhaps the most noteworthy change will be six new sets of stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of patron Saint Dominic. The first set has already been installed, and features stories from his early life. One panel illustrates the story of Blessed Joan of Aza, Saint Dominic's mother, who dreamt her unborn child was a dog who would set the world on fire with a torch he carried in his mouth. This symbolizes Saint Dominic's legacy, for he was the dog (God's loyal messenger) setting the world on fire (with the message of the Gospel).
The anticipated cost of the renovations is between $250,000 -300,000 and is being covered by the church's operating expenses. Donations can be made in any amount toward the new pews and choir chairs, cost $1,300 & $175, respectively.

It Takes a...
(Philippine?) Village
by Tom Topping
Organizers of a movement to designate part of Eagle Rock Boulevard from Avenue 40 to Norwalk Avenue as "Philippine Village" have set off firestorms of protests from the rest of the community. After a report of this effort appeared in the October 19 issue the Boulevard Sentinel, telephones in this diverse community of 30,000 were sent ringing off the hook. The Philippine Village Steering Committee, led by California Examiner (a Filipino Newspaper) Publisher Oscar Jornacion, has aggressively pushed for the "Philippine Village" designation from the City of Los Angeles. However, their unchecked aggressiveness has angered and alarmed many residents no matter what their heritage.
Petition gatherers had setup shop at both St. Dominic's and St. Bernard's Catholic Churches on Sunday October 20. Local businessman and parish member at St.Dominic's, Bob de Velsco, was handed one of these petitions as he entered the Parish Hall for Sunday Mass. "I rea