These Are The People in Your Neighborhood

As most readers of CV Weekly have noted, we try to point out the positive that goes on in our neighborhoods, highlighting people who make an extra effort. These include decorating during the holidays, volunteering at nonprofit events and raising money for people or areas in need … reminders of why it’s great living in the Crescenta Valley.

This does not mean that CVW doesn’t also share the darker side of things going on around town. The crime blotter and other hard news stories can also be found on the pages of the paper.

During the COVID crisis we want to share with you those local businesses and organizations that have “positively pivoted;” that is, they have been able to take these horrid circumstances and work within them so they can stay in business and, in some cases, even attract new business or find innovative, and sometimes better, ways to serve their clients. I welcome your suggestions, too, of people, businesses and organizations that need to be spotlighted.

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Then there are the people in your neighborhood who should be given a chance to serve their clients – but, again, have been shut down by government officials. I am specifically referring to our hairdressers and nail salon owners.

I shared with you before that the nail lady I go to – Amy’s Nail Place on Foothill in La Crescenta – is an owner-operated shop. She is the only technician on-site. When I returned to her shop months after she was closed due to directions from Sacramento, I saw that at her station she had installed a Plexiglas barrier with a cutout at the bottom so I could slip my hands under and she could work on them. She and I both wore masks as well. No other people were in the salon and after clients left she spent a great deal of time sanitizing the space. Even before COVID hit her place was so clean you could eat off the floor.

But apparently that wasn’t good enough for Sacramento and she – again – had to shut down her shop.

This back-and-forth is crippling her business, and businesses like hers. I wrote a note to the governor to modify his edict; I’ll let you know if I hear back.

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And finally, the people in your neighborhood may include … Cary Jay Smith. The 59-year-old self-defined sex offender has said repeatedly in the 21 years he has been in a mental institution that he wants to go by the name of Mr. RTK – rape, torture, kill – and would target little boys, if he was released. Well, Mr. RTK was released this week from an Orange County mental hospital. And he won’t have to wear any kind of monitor meaning – yep – he can be in anyone’s neighborhood.

According to Orange County DA Todd Spitzer the governor has been asked to intervene on Smith’s release but so far, it appears Gov. Newsom has turned a deaf ear to the request.

  robin goldsworthy