By Nicole MOORE

At the June 7 meeting of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., Jackie Barlow, Economic Development coordinator for the City of Glendale, responded to qualms raised regarding unlicensed food trucks. Barlow informed MSPA board members that food trucks soliciting business in the Montrose Shopping Park must have adequate permits and adhere to all parking regulations.

Sgt. Patrick Magtoto and Officer Minas Tsolakyan of the Glendale Police Dept. then updated the board members on recent criminal activity in the local area. On May 1, during closed hours, Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant had an attempted burglary. Despite the glass door being shattered, nothing of note was stolen. Police have been unable to identify the perpetrators. Office Tsolakyan also mentioned the arrests of two subjects for being intoxicated in public and one individual for the possession of narcotics and paraphernalia. Sgt. Magtoto invited MSPA board members to participate in active shooting training sessions.

Drew Sugars, Glendale Community College director of Communication and Community Relations, returned to the MSPA meeting to further discuss the development of the vacant Citibank property. Glendale Community College purchased the building for classroom use earlier in the year, causing alarm for some MSPA members due to limited parking.

“With 200 students and teachers and only 23 parking spots, it’s going to be a problem. I would like to have an [environmental] impact report,” said director Ken Grayson, owner of Grayson’s Tune Town. “Without that I don’t see that you are looking at the problem.”

Sugars responded that while the college will consider the MSPA’s concerns, the focus of the new classrooms is the betterment of community education.

“We are for the greater community, not just Montrose. For those of you who did not know, The New York Times had a piece discussing upward mobility and the impact colleges have for lower income families,” said Sugars. “GCC is the number one community college in America for upward mobility. It says a lot about our school but I would argue also [it says a lot] for our community. For the greater good, our college creates an economic engine.”

“Your involvement says a lot,” replied MSPA president Andre Ordubegian. “We can have open communication. The fact you are addressing [the issues] means a lot. Hopefully we can find a solution for everyone.”

Desiree Portillo Rabinov, CV Town Council member, member of the Walk by Glendale Committee, and Senior Transportation Planning Manager for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, presented a draft of a proposed Metro event. This event would take place through the La Crescenta/Montrose area with various street closures for participants to skate, walk and bike, said Rabinov. The event would also be an opportunity for participants to become more familiar with public transportation.

The MSPA supported the endeavor.

The next MSPA meeting, open to the public, will be on July 5. The meeting, held at Glendale Community College’s Personal Development Center, 2340 Honolulu Ave., begins at 8 a.m.

  Nicole MOORE