Temple City Voice

All the candidates running for School Board show up for organizations’ third forum.

Written by CHRISTINE KEUNG and CHRIS DU / Published October 30, 2009

The Temple City Voice and the Temple City High School Junior State of America (JSA) co-hosted a school board candidates’ forum, exposing youth, parents and citizens to the contenders of the November school board election.

The 2009 School Board Candidates’ Forum was held on Saturday, October 24 at Temple City High School.

Several dignitaries were present including Temple City mayor Fernando Vizcarra, councilman Tom Chavez, councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist. School Board President Robert Ridley and Vice-President Rachel LaSota also attended.

The three candidates, Kenneth Knollenberg, Matt Smith and Joe Walker are running for two spots on the school board.

“TCV and JSA wanted to give voters a chance to ask questions to the candidates,” said JSA Co-President Jacky Chan. “The forum is meant to be a tool to help residents make this decision.”

The forum began with introductions from Temple City Voice editor-in-chief Sophia Chang and JSA co-presidents Jacky Chan and Christine Keung. Each candidate was then given five minutes to introduce himself and speak on his platform.

Taylor Evanko, the vice-president of JSA, moderated the forum.

He posed questions covering specific projects such as what each candidate would do if elected, as well as the candidates’ priorities on what they want to accomplish. All candidates mentioned the data collector system and the renovation of Oak Avenue Intermediate School gym.

Following a brief intermission, the forum continued with audience-submitted questions. Knollenberg, Smith and Walker answered questions dealing with the need for special education, the superintendent’s recent contract renewal, parental involvement and fundraising.

“Despite the differences in their responses, the three candidates really showed that they wanted to improve the Temple City Unified School District,” Chan said. “I believe that all of them can make a positive difference on the School Board.”

Chan and Keung concluded the event by giving thanks to those who sponsored the candidates’ forum and presenting the candidates with JSA mugs.

A video recording of the entire forum can be viewed on the Temple City Chamber of Commerce website.

In the midst of high unemployment and a struggling economy, many Californians are looking forward to the California Gubernatorial Election in November of next year.

Written by TAYLOR EVANKO / Published October 23, 2009

The 2010 gubernatorial elections for California are just around the corner. Current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is term-limited and cannot run again.

Citizens will likely turn to a leader capable of reviving California’s economy. In August, the unemployment rate climbed to a record 12.2 percent and budget problems for next fiscal year are expected.

Five major candidates have entered or are expected to enter the race: three Republicans, two Democrats.

The Republican candidates are former CEO of eBay Meg Whitman, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Congressman Tom Campbell.

A few weeks ago, the Republican gubernatorial candidates addressed the GOP at its state convention.

Whitman called for additional budget cuts, totaling $15 billion and the layoff of tens of thousands of state employees. Poizner advocated for a reduction of state taxes by ten percent. Campbell, the most moderate candidate, offered a detailed plan to fix the state’s chronic budget crisis that included raising taxes.

All three Republican candidates support abortion rights. Campbell is the only candidate to support same-sex marriage.

On the Democratic side, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and former governor and now the California attorney general, Jerry Brown, are competing for the party’s nomination. Newsom is the only Democrat to have officially declared he was in the race. Brown currently leads the polls.

The Democratic and Republican primary elections will be held on June 8, 2010. The general election will occur on November 2, 2010.

UPDATE: Democratic candidate Gavin Newsom withdrew from the gubernatorial race yesterday, October 30.

The Environmental Club, Red Cross, and Kaleidoscope attended the annual Aids Walk in Los Angeles.

Written by JENNIE LI / Published October 23, 2009

The 25th annual Aids Walk-Los Angeles, sponsored by the Hilton family, Channel 4 News, Macys, Nordstrom and numerous modern industries occurred on Sunday, October 18, 2009.

Schools, celebrities, mayors, companies and over thirty thousand dedicated guests participated in the event.

Three Temple City High School clubs participated in the Aids Walk: Environmental Club, Red Cross and Kaleidoscope. Each donated $100 to the cause.

Cheers and bells rang loudly when $1000 was donated. Official 2009 Aids Walk T-shirts, caps, eco-friendly water bottles, duffel bags and pins were provided to guest.

The 2009 Aids Walk featured an aerobic and motivational warm-up exercise prior to the official start of the event.

Activists in support of the war against AIDS and celebrities also addressed the crowd with message of congratulations, encouragement and gratitude.

Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was a special guest speaker. Villaraigosa praised the involvement of so many activist groups and citizens as John Lloyd Young performed, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the background.

The Aids Walk formally began at ten in the morning.

The three checkpoints along the 6.2 mile route offered tasty, complimentary snacks and juice. Numerous performances energized and cheered on the crowd. DJs played music. Cheerleaders flipped in the air. Many activists rallied for the cause.

City Council holds special meeting to fill commissions’ vacancies.

Written by RANDY SHUN / Published October 23, 2009

Former city council candidate Peggy Miller fills an unexpected vacancy on the Parks and Recreation commission, while former School Board Member Ed Chen, Patrick Horton and Manuel Valenzuela III were appointed to the Planning commission.

All appointees were considered by the City Council on Monday, July 6, 2009 and will be sworn into office tomorrow, July 7.

Miller, a Temple City resident, was nominated by councilmembers Cynthia Sternquist, Judy Wong and Vincent Yu. She was approved by a 3-2 vote, with councilmembers Tom Chavez and Fernando Vizcarra casting the dissenting votes.

She replaces former Parks and Recreation commissioner Pamela Yugar, who submitted her resignation in June.

The term for Miller’s seat ends on June 30, 2010.

After selecting Miller to serve on the Parks and Recreation commission, the City Council moved to consider applicants for the Planning commission.

Valenzuela, the only candidate that received a unanimous confirmation, was nominated by councilman Yu. He previously interviewed for a seat on the Planning commission and now serves on the board of directors with the Temple City Chamber of Commerce.

Horton was nominated by councilman Chavez and won confirmation with a 4-1 vote. Councilman Yu cast the lone dissenting vote.

Former School Board Member Chen was nominated by councilwoman Judy Wong. Chen, defeated for re-election in 2005, won confirmation by a 3-2 vote. Councilmembers Sternquist and Vizcarra voted against his appointment.

Don Griffiths, a long-time Planning commissioner and past chairman whose term expired on June 30, was denied another term on the commission.

The terms for the Planning commissioners expire on June 30, 2011.

After the new appointees are sworn in, both commissions will finally be completely filled. Since the March election, a cycle of vacancies and appointments has affected the Parks and Recreation and Planning commissions.

Miller will join Parks and Recreation commissioners Dan Arrighi, Nanette Fish, Chris Goad and Andrea Olivas.

Chen, Horton and Valenzuela will join Planning commissioners Tom O’Leary and Jerry Seibert.

The 2009 School Board Candidates’ Forum will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2009.

Written by SOPHIA CHANG / Published October 23, 2009

The 2009 School Board Candidates’ Forum will take place tomorrow, October 24, 2009. It will be held in Room 601 at Temple City High School (TCHS) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The TCHS Junior State of America and Temple City Voice will be co-hosting the event. A bake sale and various fundraising activities will occur during the forum.

“We firmly believe it is important for the community to be informed and active,” said Matthew Wong, Founder of the Temple City Voice. “The forum is an opportunity for the voters to listen to the School Board candidates.”

He pleaded, “Please, take a few hours off to come to our forum and remember to bring your family and friends.”

There are three candidates running in the November 3rd School Board election: Kenneth Knollenberg, Matt Smith and Joe Walker.

The Temple City Voice has been publishing interviews with the candidates. This week’s issue was supposed to feature an interview with Joe Walker; however, the Voice was unable to reach him.

Payment guarantees the joint approval of the facilities use contract.

Written by RANDY SHUN / Published October 21, 2009 (ONLINE ONLY)

The city of Temple City has agreed to send a twenty thousand dollar payment to the Temple City Unified School District (TCUSD) as a condition for joint approval of the facilities use contract.

“The agreement includes wording that provides for the city to pay $20,000 to the District in fiscal year 2009-2010 for City use of District facilities,” wrote interim city manager Cathy Burroughs in the June 25, 2009 city manager’s report.

“As you are aware, the ad hoc committee has been meeting to negotiate an equitable fee,” she continued.

City councilmembers had reluctantly okayed giving the District a one-time lump sum amount at its meeting on June 16.

“Over the years, it seems that our uses outnumbered their uses,” admitted councilman Tom Chavez. “I believe after discussing it with them that it would be fair to pay something.”

Although councilman Fernando Vizcarra also approved the City paying the District, he stated, “We can’t forget about the fact that we do a lot for the schools already.”

Vizcarra cited the City’s contribution of crossing guards and sheriff deputies. “From a monetary standpoint, it’s not like we haven’t done anything.”

“One emotional problem I had with the discussions…was that they were treating the kids that we provide a service to as if they were aliens from another planet,” complained Vizcarra, “when in fact they were the exact same kids that they take care of in school every day.”

“I understand that the city uses the school district facilities significantly more than the school district uses the city facilities; however, this has been a very longstanding relationship,” said the interim city manager when asked what she thought about the City contributing to the TCUSD, “…there have been, as some councilmembers have pointed out, many other expenses the city does cover.”

“But I’m also realist to know that I think the time has come and gone when we’re going to be using the facilities free of charge.”

“I would like to see a lesser amount,” Burroughs added. “We probably should have accepted the $5000 if it was offered last year.”

In 2008, a dispute emerged between the City and the District over the facilities use agreement.

District officials demanded the City pay for the variable costs associated with an imbalanced use of District facilities, and refused to sign the facilities use contract without any changes.

The unusual request for payment prompted tension among the council and school board members, especially since both the City and District have always allowed one another to use each other other’s facilities free of charge.

As a good-will gesture for contract negotiations, the School Board extended the contract to June 30, 2009 and an ad hoc committee was later re-formed in April 2009.

According to city officials, the School District originally came up with a sum of $80,000, but decreased the amount to $30,000. Councilman Chavez then negotiated the total down to $20,000, a figure the City Council had budgeted in June.

The City Council is expected to sign a new facilities use agreement on July 7. The School Board agreed to the new terms at its meeting on June 24.

City officials will consider applicants who previously applied.

Written by RANDY SHUN / Published October 16, 2009

Temple City councilmembers unexpectedly voted to shake up the composition of the Planning commission at its meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

“I would suggest that we hold a special hearing,” said councilman Vincent Yu, after learning a new individual had filled out an application to serve on the Planning commission. Yu stated he wanted to hear from the applicant, Patrick Horton, and “would still like to consider new people.”

The terms for Planning commissioners Don Griffiths and James LeBerthon expire on June 30.

Commissioners are normally reappointed to another term, especially if they express a desire to remain. Terms for city commissioners last for two years.

After discussing Yu’s idea, councilmembers unanimously voted to declare three vacancies on the Planning commission.

Besides the seats Griffiths and LeBerthon occupy, the commission had an additional vacancy due to Cynthia Sternquist’s appointment to the City Council.

The City Council then collectively voted to re-confirm all the appointees on the Parks and Recreation. The terms for Dan Arrighi, Nanette Fish and Andrea Olivas were extended until June 30, 2011.

Interim city manager and parks and recreation director subsequently announced that there would be an unexpected resignation from one of the commissioners on the Parks and Recreation commission. (The Temple City Voice believes this individual is Pamela Yugar.)

The city will advertise the vacancies over the next ten days. Interviews will occur on Monday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m. and will be conducted in the City Council chambers. Previously applicants, who would like to be considered, must be re-interviewed.

Also on Tuesday night, the City Council passed its annual budget. City staff predicts that Temple City will have approximately $31.6 million in reserves, in additional to the $4.3 million owed by the Community Redevelopment Agency, at the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The forum will now take place from 4:30 to 6:30 PM on October 24. The last day to register to vote is October 19.

Written by SOPHIA CHANG / Published October 16, 2009

The 2009 School Board Candidates Forum, originally planned to be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., will now take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

It will still be held on Saturday, October 24, in Room 601 at Temple City High School.

The forum was moved due to a scheduling conflict with one of the candidates.

To provide citizens with the most complete forum and to give the candidates an equal opportunity to address the public, the Temple City High School Junior State of America (JSA) and the Temple City Voice (TCV) rescheduled the forum to an earlier time.

JSA Co-President Christine Keung comments, “JSA and TCV really wanted all three candidates to be able to attend the forum, because both organizations hope to provide the best experience possible for the citizens of Temple City. Both organizations have done their best to accommodate all the schedules.”

“First, I would strongly encourage everyone to make an effort to attend the candidates’ forum. Both JSA and the Temple City Voice are working hard to inform the entire community about the time change,” says Matthew Wong, founder of the Temple City Voice. “I would also like to apologize in advance for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.”

He explains that the changes were made “for full representation from all the candidates running for School Board.”

 “We firmly believe it is important for the community to be informed and active. The forum is an opportunity for the voters to listen to the School Board candidates. Please, take a few hours off to come to our forum and remember to bring your family and friends! To the Asian (and Asian American youth) community, I strongly urge you to come out and ask questions.”

The three candidates, Kenneth Knollenberg, Matt Smith and Joe Walker are running in the November 3, 2009 school board elections. The Voice is also publishing school board candidate interviews, which can also be found online.

Monday, October 19, is the last day to register to vote for this election.

For more information, please contact the Temple City Voice at (626) 377-2837 or at templecityvoice@yahoo.com.

The Temple City Voice will be publishing a series of candidates’ interviews for the November 2009 School Board election. This interview is the second of three we have planned.

Matt Smith, incumbent school board member running for re-election this November, is no stranger to Temple City.

Written by TAYLOR EVANKO / Published October 16, 2009

Prior to serving on the school board for a total of 11 years, Smith has always been involved in the community, participating in activities ranging from coaching little league and soccer teams to being involved with Parent Teacher Association (now the Parent Teacher Student Association) and serving on the school site council for Longden Elementary School. He was appointed to the school board in 1998 as a replacement for a retiring board member and has served on the board ever since.

When asked about how long it took for him to completely settle in as a board member, Smith responded by saying, “At least a good year into it, if not more.”

Smith realized early on that being a good board member required far more than the minimum duties of public service. “It’s a commitment of time,” he said.

Smith was able to become a more informed board member by communicating with school board members from other districts through School Services of California Inc., a company aimed at assisting educational agencies across California.

Over the years, he has learned a great deal about issues that other districts have faced and occasionally meets someone dealing with problems similar to those that the Temple City Unified School District (TCUSD) is facing.

“Some issues them are very fun, some issues are more difficult than others, but they are always interesting,” Smith reflected about the issues that frequently come up during board meetings in Temple City.

Two issues that are often discussed are the budget, a problem that school districts all across the state are dealing with as well, and Temple City’s aging facilities. These two issues are not completely independent of each other.

“There are problems that are waiting to happen,” Smith commented on the infrastructure of Temple City’s schools. However, due to the tanking economy, now may not be the best time for Temple City to invest in renovating its schools, something that Smith is very aware of. TCUSD’s shrinking budget does not exactly allow room for projects, such as revamping facilities, that may be needed in the near future.

The budget grew in years 2006-2008, but started to shrink in 2009. It is now down to the size that it was back in 2006. Smith commented on the budget, saying that, “[The] consensus has been that are not out of the woods yet.”

When asked about the upcoming school board elections and his chances of being reelected, Smith responded by saying that he was “optimistic” but isn’t taking anything for granted. “You never know what’s going to happen,” he said.

Temple City was the only city in the San Gabriel Valley not affiliated with COG.

Written by RANDY SHUN / Published October 14, 2009 (ONLINE ONLY)

After expressing much interest, the City Council unanimously agreed to rejoin the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGV COG).

“We’ve requested the Council formally approve rejoining the COG,” said interim city manager Cathy Burroughs at the June 16, 2009 city council meeting.

Founded in 1994, the COG is a regional organization that supports and lobbies for governments in the Los Angeles County.

The COG encompasses 31 incorporated cities and 3 supervisorial districts, which represent the unincorporated county areas of Los Angeles.

On its website, the COG mission statement reads, ‘the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is a unified voice to maximize resources and advocate for regional and member interests to improve the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley.’

“I think it’s better we’re in than out,” said councilman Fernando Vizcarra. “I think it’s valuable for us to belong.”

In May, Temple City became the only city in the region not a part of COG after the city of Bradbury rejoined the organization.

Temple City withdrew from the COG in 2005. To rejoin, the city must pay past membership dues. City staff stated the total would be about $60,000 in previous dues.

The plan is to pay for 60 percent of the membership dues with Proposition A funds.

“I feel a little more comfortable over the fact that we have found some funding for it,” commented councilman Tom Chavez, “that was my biggest complaint as I felt it was a bit expensive.”

Fortunately, funding has been approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, according to Burroughs in the June 18, 2009 city manager’s weekly report.

Councilman Vizcarra will be the delegate representing Temple City. Newly appointed councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist will be the alternate.