Happy New Year!

First off, Happy New Year! May 2019 bring you joy and prosperity. We are the community that cares and it is my hope that we live up to these words.

As we look back at 2018, the completion of the medians on Foothill Boulevard in the unincorporated area is one major point of pride. While they’re not perfect, as the trees grow I’m personally enjoying them and appreciating them daily.

Few of you know this because it has not been widely reported – during the Montrose Christmas Parade, one of our Town Council members (who shall remain nameless so as to not draw attention to the councilmember) found some hateful words written on the councilmember’s vehicle. The message was clear and racially motivated. It is too explicit to share in this family newspaper. The message included both the council member’s ethnicity and the ‘F’ word.

Such incidents of bias should serve as reminders that our community is not immune to racism and that we should remain vigilant against hate. The incident was reported to the LA County Sheriff, which referred the matter to the Glendale Police Dept. (because of where it happened – a strip mall parking lot off of Verdugo Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue). Video footage was retrieved from a nearby camera showing the perpetrator(s) in the act.

While the footage has not been publicly released, to protect the guilty (who are said to be teens), and to any and all who would commit such hateful acts: It’s wrong and completely unacceptable; your actions are not welcome in our community; there are video cameras everywhere – but that’s not the point; whether or not a video camera is watching or there are witnesses, don’t do it. Don’t even think it or think about it!

Now on to more pleasant happenings. Beautification of Two Strike Park continues. As you are aware, the Council has been involved for more than five months – since August 2018 – with this project, which is centered on the parking lot medians being redone. Mercy Santoro, deputy director for the Los Angeles County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, has appeared at our general meeting to brief us extensively on this. We have previously posted the renderings of the project in social media.

Looking at what’s happening this month: On Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in the La Crescenta Library (2809 Foothill Blvd.), the Town Council will hold a town hall about 5th Generation (5G)-related technology that may be coming to the community via small cell towers. Everyone is welcome to attend. Ayala Scott will be representing the Los Angeles County Dept. of Regional Planning along with other invited guests. Help Metro design its new bus system and get a free TAP card while supplies last. Metro wants the public to help it improve bus service. You’ll meet with Metro staff and share your thoughts on how to improve LA’s bus system. Metro wants your thoughts on bus routes, frequencies, days and times of operation. For more information, visit metro.net/projects/NextGen/upcoming-meetings or view the workshop notice to find a location near you. One of the meetings will be held on Jan. 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena. Accessible via Metro Gold Line Memorial Park Station; Metro Local Lines 177, 180/181, 256, 260, 267, 686, 687; Metro Express 501; Metro Rapid Lines 762, 780; Foothill Transit Line 187; Pasadena Transit Lines 20, 40, 51/52; LADOT Commuter Express 549.

Let me close by reminding you once again of our monthly general meeting on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in the La Crescenta Library community room. We will be swearing in the newly-elected and re-elected Town Council members and electing officers for 2019.

Harry Leon is president of the Crescenta Valley Town Council..

  Harry LEON