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TOP STORY - MAY 26, 2010
County Shuts Down Marijuana Dispensary In Unincorporated South Whittier |
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A medical marijuana dispensary operating illegally in unincorporated South Whittier was forced to close last week, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.
County officials shut down the dispensary in the unincorporated Whittier area on Friday because it didn't have the proper County permits and licenses. The dispensary, located at 11331 La Mirada Boulevard near Leffingwell Road, was discovered to be operating illegally in late April by County officials who initiated immediate action to close it down.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the County's medical marijuana ordinances in 2006, which allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate within most commercial and manufacturing zones in the unincorporated areas of the County with a conditional use permit and a business license. Dispensaries cannot be located within a 1,000-foot radius of sensitive uses, such as schools, playgrounds, parks, libraries, places of religious worship, child care facilities, etc., and they may not be located within a 1,000-foot radius of other dispensaries unless a variance is obtained from the Regional Planning Commission. The County requires dispensary operators to have all required permits and licenses prior to opening their doors for business.
Representatives of the County Departments of Regional Planning and Treasurer and Tax Collector conducted on-site inspections of the dispensary in late April and issued notices of violation to the dispensary operators for not having the proper permits and licenses. The dispensary closed its doors after County Counsel contacted both the dispensary operators and the property owners, and told them that civil action may be pursued against them if the dispensary did not cease operations immediately.
“This is a big victory for the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This is not about whether medical marijuana is right or wrong – the voters have already answered that question. What is most important is ensuring the safety of our children and our communities, and ensuring that properly-permitted dispensaries operate within the law. Closing this dispensary was a high priority and ensures we are keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Useful Whittier Links
 City of Whittier
Whittier Chamber of Commerce
Whittier College
Rio Hondo College
Whittier Union High School District
East Whittier City School District
Los Nietos School District
Lowell Joint School District
Whittier City School District
Whittier Library
Whittier Police Department
Whittier Courthouse |
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Supervisor Knabe tours the new teen center, "The Club", at the Whittier Boys & Girls Club. |
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Contact:
Andrea Avila
Field
Deputy
12720 South Norwalk
Norwalk, CA 90650
aavila@lacbos.org
Tel: (562) 807-7350
Fax: (562) 929-9051 |
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Don Knabe. Working for Whittier. Whittier
Accomplishments |
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Providing Opera for Children at Los Nietos Library
 The highly-acclaimed Opera Tales program returned to Fourth District County Libraries. Opera Tales is a LA Opera program that introduces children and families to the world of opera at local libraries. Supervisor Knabe established the partnership between the LA Opera and the County of Los Angeles Public Library, and provided funding to bring Opera Tales to libraries in the Fourth District. |
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Opposing Whittier Greenway Trail Transit Plan Light rail trains will not be running down the middle of the Whittier Greenway Trail in the future, Supervisor Don Knabe announced. Metro will be abandoning any further consideration of the Greenway Trail option after significant community opposition and the opposition by Supervisor Knabe, who serves as First Vice Chair of Metro’s Board of Directors. In addition, technical analysis indicates that the route has several fatal flaws that renders it infeasible for construction. Funding Fourth District Paratransit Shuttle Services The Board of Supervisors approved $664,000 in funding for the continuation of paratransit shuttle service for eligible patrons in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District for Fiscal Year 2009-2010. The program will include the following paratransit shuttle services: La Rambla, Marina del Rey, Rancho Los Amigos, Teen Mother, and the Whittier Islands.
Renewing Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in Whittier The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.
Resurfacing Lambert Road in Whittier
The County of Los Angeles will provide $200,000 in the form of Highways-Through-Cities funds to the City of Whittier for their resurfacing project on Lambert Road. The project, which is entirely in the City of Whittier, will resurface Lambert Road from Washington Boulevard to Leffingwell Road, and cost an estimated $1,800,000, of which $200,000 will be financed by the County. The funding for the County's contribution is available from the Fourth Supervisorial District's Road Construction Program in the Fiscal Year 2008-09 Road Fund Budget. |
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Upgrading Street Signs in East Whittier
Supervisor Knabe unveiled new street signs that will be placed throughout the unincorporated community of East Whittier. The project is part of a Countywide program to increase the visibility of street name signs along roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or greater. These new signs will have larger lettering and will be easier to read at night, increasing safety and mobility on the major streets of the East Whittier community.
Funding Fourth District Paratransit Shuttle Services
The Board of Supervisors approved $608,000 in funding for the continuation of paratransit shuttle service for eligible patrons in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District for Fiscal Year 2008-2009. The program will include the following paratransit shuttle services: La Rambla, Marina del Rey, Rancho Los Amigos, Teen Mother, and the Whittier Islands.
Renovating Fire Stations in Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the first phase of a project that will renovate fire and lifeguard stations throughout the County. Renovations are needed in over 90 of the County’s fire and lifeguard stations to meet code requirements and give female employees privacy when sleeping, dressing, and changing. Twelve facilities will be renovated in Phase 1 of the program, including Fire Stations 17 and 96 in Whittier.
Preventing Graffiti Vandalism in Whittier
Supervisor Knabe in partnership with Helpline Youth Counseling, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Unincorporated Whittier launched the Aware Teens Against Graffiti or A.T.A.G., which is an innovative delinquency prevention program that targets first time tagging and vandalism offenders between the ages of 9 to 15 and their parents. The weekend-long program focuses on the parents receiving an intensive two-day skill-building training, and the youth offenders participating in community service projects and group discussions while being supervised by law enforcement.
Providing Homeless Families in Whittier with Housing and Services
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1 million grant to the Whittier First Day Coalition, for a new transitional housing program in the City of Whittier. The Families Together Transitional Housing Project, which will be run by Whittier First Day, will provide transitional housing and intensive services to homeless families for up to two years. The funding for the project comes from the Fourth District’s allocation of County homeless funds, along with support and funding from the City of Whittier, foundations and the local business community.
Working to Reduce Violence
Supervisor Knabe and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce hosted the inaugural Southeast Summit on Youth & Violence. The purpose of this summit was to bring forth a conceptual framework for reducing violence in our communities. This framework will focus on a strategy that encourages cooperative, coordinated efforts among elected officials, law enforcement, educators, community organizations, outreach and intervention workers, health and mental health workers, faith based representatives, businesses, government agencies, and local nonprofits all working toward the common goal of reducing violence levels in neighborhoods and communities. Reward for Attempted Murder of Whittier Sheriff’s Deputy The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Emigdio Preciado, the primary suspect in the shooting of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap. |
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New Funding for Park Projects
Supervisor Knabe dedicated $1.7 million in Proposition A Park funds to be used for various projects across the Fourth District. In Whittier, a portion of the money will be used for the installation of interpretive panels and interactive exhibits along the Whittier Greenway Trail and the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses.
Santa Comes to Parks in Whittier
Supervisor Knabe joined Mr. and Mrs. Claus and other special passengers on board the “Here Comes Santa” Holiday Train – an annual event that brings presents and fun in the snow to parks in the Whittier area.
Upgrading Traffic Signals in Whittier
Damaged traffic signals and equipment in Whittier is being replaced with new equipment. The $192,260 project is located at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard, and involves the installation of conduits, conductors, pull boxes, retrofit kits and lamps to convert the existing out-dated, poorly functioning street light system to a more modern and reliable system.
Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in the City of Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.
Synchronizing Traffic in Local Cities
A new Traffic Signal Synchronization Project has been approved for the cities of Bellflower, Cerritos, La Mirada, Long Beach, Norwalk and Whittier. The project will synchronize 35 traffic signals on Artesia Boulevard between Alameda Street and Valley View Avenue; 15 traffic signals on Central Avenue between El Segundo Boulevard and Victoria Street; and 36 traffic signals located on Whittier Boulevard between Paramount Boulevard and Valley Home Avenue. This project is part of the County’s ongoing program to enhance traffic flow and safety for drivers and pedestrians.
Providing South Whittier Residents Access to the Beach
Supervisors Knabe and Molina provided funds for the South Whittier Summer Beach Bus service, which allows the residents of South Whittier and other unincorporated areas in the vicinity to have the opportunity to climb aboard the Summer Beach Bus and go to Long Beach.
Creating Permanent Housing Opportunities for Homeless
Supervisor Knabe introduced a pilot program that will create permanent housing opportunities for dozens of homeless individuals and families. The primary goal of the Access to Housing for Health Pilot Project is to dramatically improve housing options for homeless men and women who seek care at County hospitals by connecting them with permanent housing opportunities once they leave the hospital. |
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Provided funding for the Construction of the Parnell Park Senior Center.
Supports various community-based organizations like: Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross, Greater Whittier Youth Tennis Tournament, Whittier Public Library Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, Hispanic Outreach Taskforce. |
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Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
Provided
funding to save Probation Officer Bruce Sakamoto
from being released due to the city’s budget
restrictions.
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Contributed
to the opening of a youth center operated by the
Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project.
Funded
building of a new youth boxing/community center that
will serve underprivileged youth at the STAR Academy
in Whittier.
Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
Supported
and Served on Advisory board for First Day of
Whittier, a cutting edge transitional housing
center.
Supported
the renovation of Pio Pico State Park and Served on
the Advisory board.
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Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
Provided
Funding for Pio Pico Historic State Park.
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Amigo
Park Development Project.
Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
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Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
Amigo
Park Redevelopment Project - New building,
ball-field, landscape, irrigation, amenities,
parking, Americans with Disabilities Act access.
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Sponsored
Here Comes Santa at
Parnell Park.
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