Working for Education at the Fireworks Booth

Working hard and having fun making money for scholarships at the Duarte Education Foundation fireworks booth at Fresh and Easy in Duarte. Thanks to a great crew tonight. Please come down and buy from us!

SCAG Lobbying Trip to Sacramento

Our SCAG officers delegation went to Sacramento to find out how our region, the most populous in the state, could improve the scenario for receiving Cap and Trade funding. We met with Senate Pro Temp Kevin de Leon and received some good advice.

Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner

I had a wonderful evening at Westminster Gardens, meeting with many community members. I am shown here with some of my favorite people ever - Fabrizio and Patricia and their darling daughter. Their family owns one of the most successful businesses in Southern California, D'Aquino Imports.

Representing Duarte and SCAG at the ASPA Awards

Congratulations to Sharon Neely of SCAG and Randall Lewis of Lewis Homes on receiving ASPA (American Society for Public Administration )awards today. They are both outstanding public servants that have been innovative and insightful in helping to improve the quality of life for many.

Presenting Certificates to Outstanding Volunteers

Tonight we presented awards to our CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Volunteers. We appreciate the time that they put into this 8-week course. At 66 graduates, this the largest group trained in Los Angeles County. Congratulations to all of them.

Lobbying for Transportation and Freight Movement

These past several days, the SCAG Executive Committee and staff have been on Capitol Hill lobbying Congressional members for new transportation legislation that will alleviate congestion at the ports and also on our roadways. Hopefully both sides of the aisle will get together and get this done.

SCAG Exec. Committee Meeting

I am honored to work with these outstanding people in the pursuit of better transportation, housing and a cleaner environment for the 18 million citizens of the 6-county (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino) Southern California Association of Governments region.

Tour of Mexicali Honeywell plant

Visiting Imperial County on the SCAG tour - the Naval Air Facility for the Aviation Task Force meeting and also an aerospace plant in Mexicali

Cal American Partnership

Thanks to Cal American Water Company for the $8000 donation for drought tolerant landscaping around our city hall.

Former Presidents

This last week about 20 past presidents of the California Contract Cities got together to discuss current issues facing CA municipalities. I have been honored to serve the citizens of CA with these dedicated public servants.

SCAG Speaker

Just spent the afternoon talking about the recovery of California with Kish Rajan from the Governor's Office on Budget and the Economic Development.

Giving $55K to the Duarte Unified School District

I am President of the Duarte Education Foundation and we made the decision to provide funding for the music program in our schools. The board, led by Chairperson Lisa Magno Marino, raised the $55,000 by putting on a very successful dinner at the City of Hope in October. Nice job to all who worked so hard on it. Our children will be the beneficiaries of this tremendous gift.

Busy Day is Sacramento

I am up here in the state Capitol lobbying for cities. Cities are having to provide more services with less funding due to past mandates. Hopefully, the new legislators will understand and try to help. Cities are on the frontline helping to improve the quality of life for our communities.

Beautiful remodel in Duarte

Today was the ribbon-cutting at Hernandez Optometry in our city for the remodeling of their office. Thanks, Diane and Ed, for reinvesting in our city. You have real vision!😄

Water Problems Everywhere

Other Western states are facing drought issues like California. Listening to how other states are addressing these issues was one of the more interesting educational seminars.

Goodbye to my LAFCO friend

His wit and intellectual acuity will be missed by me on the LAFCO board but termed-out LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky can leave office knowing that he has done much good for many in our county. Good luck and all the best to you, Zev.

City of Duarte Halloween Party is the best!

Tonight the City of Duarte put on another exciting and fun-filled evening with hundreds in attendance. Many thanks to the employees, especially Teesha and George, for their creative ideas and clever implementation. This is just one of the many reasons that Duarte is Our Kind of Town.

CJPIA Conference

We had terrific speakers that gave good instruction on hiring the best people and limiting risk for municipalities.

Harvest Festival at Royal Oaks School

I met this young man today and he is truly an eloquent speaker. Outstanding festival, Royal Oaks Student Council!

Red Ribbon Drug Week

Thanks to all those that came out to kick off Red Ribbon Drug Week.