TorranceTribune The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 2, No. 33 - August 16, 2012 Inside National Night Out EventNeighbors Come Together to Support This Issue A Student’s Perspective...8 Business & Professional.....................16 Calendar.......................... 2 Classifieds .................... 17 Crime Reports ............. 4,5 Crossword/Sudoku....... 17 Donation Station ............ 4 Food................................. 9 People ............................. 3 Pets................................ 15 Politically Speaking....... 5 Real Estate .............. 18,19 Walteria families gathered for their 9th Annual National Night Out event. Neighborhood Watch Block Captains, residents and the members of the Torrance Police Department have been working Seniors .......................... 16 together for years in an effort to promote public safety. Photo courtesy of Robin Lomas, Walteria Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. Read more below. Smile Awhile .................. 2 Council Vows to Keep Meetings Transparent TerriAnn in Torrance 12,13 By Dylan Little said Scotto. “I’m very pleased this council cuts, but not at the cost of the citizens. This Up and Adam ................. 6 Tuesday’s meeting of the Torrance City has elected to support this idea.” the Brown Act is solely for the benefit of Council saw the lawmakers approve a Councilmember Bill Sutherland also the people and the fact that our state wants Wheel Deal.............. 10,11 resolution that would prevent the City strongly supported maintaining the policies to discontinue great things to save a little from taking advantage of a new State law laid out in the Brown Act. His opinion was money, I find very disheartening. Information that would relax the rules for holding open that the money the State will save by relaxing is about the only thing we can give citizens public meetings. The Council also approved the law isn’t worth the cost of keeping voters on a regular basis.” the 2012-2013 Torrance Youth Council class in the dark about public policy. “It keeps The Council also approved the newest and discussed a right of way agreement with us honest,” said Sutherland. “Apparently on class of Torrance Youth Council members. the Torrance School Board. the State level, they think that since there The Torrance Youth Council is comprised of Weekend California’s open meetings law (the Brown citizens informed. It’s very important to make high school (and one El Camino CommunitySee Council, page 8is a money crisis they don’t need to keepIn the wake of a State Assembly bill (AB1464) that would suspend certain parts of Forecast its commitment to continue abiding by the Residents Show StrongAct) for three years, the Council thought itwould be wise to adopt a resolution stating suspended provisions of the law. AB 1464 Response to Local Friday would allow government entities in the state Partly meetings with a summary of the topics to National Night Outto forgo providing an agenda 72 hours beforebe discussed and would allow governments Cloudy not to disclose what they are discussing in By Cristian Vasquez truly just builds partnerships and shows the 85˚/68˚ closed session during open meetings. The Residents throughout Torrance made an criminal element that we are banded together Council unanimously voted to decline to appearance in their neighborhoods during and fighting crime in our communities.” use this leeway as it would interfere with National Night Out. The nationwide event National Night Out is “America’s Night engaging residents and could undermine took place Tuesday, August 7 and had a Out Against Crime” and was introduced by Saturday support for public policy. strong response from neighborhood watch the National Association of Town Watch in Partly Mayor Frank Scotto asked for concurrence Uyeda with the Torrance Police Department crime prevention organization, thousands of1984. Through the efforts of this nonprofit,groups throughout the city. Sergeant JenniferDuring the Council’s last meeting, Cloudy on adopting this resolution. Management indicated that there were a total of 18 block crime watch groups and law enforcement 84˚/67˚ for keeping the now optional provisions the national crime prevention event, with and developed relationships in an attemptagencies across the country have grownparties organized that evening celebratingAssociate Viet Hoang stated that the goals of the Brown Act were to ensure that the officers having a presence at each of them. to keep their neighborhoods safe. public has adequate time to attend and speak “We are really proud of the relationship “It is extremely important to have com- Sunday actions transparent. Scotto was pleased to just kind of the largest event of the year are very proactive in the City of Torrance,”munity involvement because typically wethat we have with our community--this isat meetings and to keep city government Partly see the Council agree to follow the open and it helps with that relationship,” Uyeda Uyeda said. “Our officers are out there do- Cloudy that other cities near Torrance haven’t also relationships with the community. It also own investigations, but really the majoritying their own traffic stops, conducting theirsaid. “This is just a great way to buildmeetings law. He was, however, dismayed 81˚/66˚ confirmed that they will be abiding by the helps give more exposure to the officers of the crimes that we solve and the crooks Brown Act. “I’ve talked to other councils that don’t get a chance to get out into the that we catch are based on phone calls that close to us--they aren’t voting to do this in neighborhood watch meetings as much. It See Residents, page 7 other councils around us and I’m shocked,”
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