Yearly Archives: 2009

Board Establishes $10,000 Reward For Information Related To Murder Of 20-Year Old Man In Artesia

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10,000 reward today, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to a shooting incident that led to the death of a 20-year old man in the City of Artesia.

On September 29, 2002, Gabriel Steven Salazar, 20, was shot in the head while driving his vehicle with three companions on the 16700 Block of Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia. Gabriel was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, and he later succumbed to his wound.

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau are investigating the murder; however, to date, they haven’t received any viable information related to the incident. Despite the murder of Mr. Salazar occurring several years ago, investigators now believe it would be beneficial to offer a reward in this case, which may prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward and provide information to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime.

It is important for the County of Los Angeles to display an unwavering stance against random acts of violence, said Supervisor Knabe. In order to bring these suspects to justice, and demonstrate our intolerance to such deplorable crimes, I believe this reward should be established, hoping someone will come forward so that we can bring these suspects to justice.

Reward Established For Long Beach Double Murder

A $10,000 reward has been unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, to assist in the investigation of a double murder that claimed the lives of Sarith Em and Vannaly Tim in the City of Long Beach on New Year’s Day.

On January 1, 2009, at 12:39 a.m., Sarith Em, 25, and Vannaly Tim, 24, were both found with multiple fatal gun shot wounds at the 1800 Block of Gardenia Avenue in Long Beach. According to family members, the victims went outside to move a car and did not return.

Long Beach detectives are currently investigating the incident, and believe it would be beneficial to offer a reward in the case, which may prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward and provide information to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime.

Anyone having any information related to this accident is asked to contact Detective Patrick O’Dowd or Detective Russell Moss at the Long Beach Police Department’s Homicide Division at (562) 570-7244.

Local Children Lose Out On $162 Million In Child Care Funding

Thousands of local children are losing out on access to millions of dollars in free child care funds because of non-flexible rules in how this funding can be spent. Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, unveiled a plan today that includes changing these funding rules in order to ensure that local children fully benefit from all the child care support they are entitled.

Child care providers in Los Angeles County, both in-home and private provides, have access to millions of dollars in child care funding from the State of California every year to provide subsidies that allow children from low income families access to child care. The problem is that child care providers face antiquated contracting processes which impair their ability to serve as many children as possible at the highest level of quality.

The result is that between 2005 and 2008, over $162 million in unused child care funds were sent back to the state from providers in Los Angeles County. The need for those dollars is well documented. In the 2008, only 11,000 infants who qualify for subsidized care were served, out of an eligible population of 116,000. Only 28,000 qualifying school-age children were served, out of an eligible population of 260,000. Only 32,000 of preschool aged children are served out of an eligible population of 110,000. There are also over 51,000 children on waiting lists for subsidized care in this County, 60 percent of who are in need of full time care.

The fact that we are sending even a single dollar back to the state is unacceptable, and this situation is but one example of the inefficient, silo approach we have in place on this issue, said Supervisor Knabe. Clearly the rules for how this child care funding can be spent are not aligned with the needs of our children locally.

With my motion today, we are going to be looking closely at why this is happening and how we can fix it so that our children have access to all the child care they are entitled to have.

Dredging Of The Marina Del Rey South Entrance Channel Has Begun

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announced that the United States Army Corps of Engineers began dredging the south entrance channel to Marina del Rey on January 2, and will continue until the approximate completion date of March 15, 2009.

The $3 million dredging project will remove 50,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediment using a hydraulic dredge to remove a tip shoal area at the south entrance of the Marina harbor. Upon completion of the project, the dredged portion of the south entrance will return to the design depth of -20 feet mean lower low water. The sediment will be pumped to a temporary sand separation plant situated on parking lot # 3 located at 8600 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey. Utilizing a new application, the treatment facility will separate sand from other materials and contaminants, resulting in sand suitable for nourishment at Dockweiler State Beach. The material unsuitable for beach placement will be trucked to an inland landfill.

For more information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office at (213) 452-3925 or click here.