Property of Fullerton Public Library, Local History Room FULLERTON OBSRVR OBSRVR FULLERTON JAN 1, 1993 B usan’s % tB B iinQ S \ z M i Fullertonm.. Observer *W' Fullerton’s Only Local Independent Newspaper (prated on recycled paper) No. 208 January 1,1993 New Vista Shelter Family Needs Just a Little Boost to Get Dad - “On the Road Again” By Ralph A. Kennedy been letting Figueroa park his truck on his have been wonderful to us, and we couldn’t baby was bom,” he added. property on East Walnut; in return for which be more grateful.” David said. Anyone need a family to “invest” in this The first resident of New Vista’s recently David has been helping repair vehicles used “And I don’t know what we would have holiday season?? For more information on expanded shelter for homeless families is a in his friend’s landscape business. done without New Vista and Fullerton Inter­ how to help FIES and the Figueroas, please self-employed, independent trucker, his “Many o f our neighbors on East Walnut faith Emergency Service (FIES) after the call Barbara W. Johnson at 871- 3032. wife, and their new bom infant Pueblo. David and Connie Figueroa have been sharing part o f the recent New Vista addi­ tion, since Pablo was bom 9 weeks ago. Prior “First Night” Prior to that, the small family had been living in David’s truck, which a friend had been al­ Fullerton Dec. 31 lowing him to park on his property and use his bathroom facilities. If you haven’t made plans yet for New Work began to slow down for Mr. Year’s Eve, the City of Fullerton would like Figueroa last August, and by January 1992, to make a date with you. he was just plumb out of work. He had been The city is looking for volunteers to help hauling mostly perishable goods: oranges city staff in presenting its second annual from Riverside and grapes from the San “First Night Fullerton,” a family-oriented, Joaquin Valley to San Pedro for shipment to alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration set the Far East. for Thursday, Dec.31, featuring live enter­ “After we lost some hauling jobs, I began tainment, children’s activities and a fire­ to have trouble making the hefty insurance works finale. payments on my truck; then I got two quick The festivities will take place from 7 p.m. citations in a row; then everything snow­ to midnight, and will feature nearly 100 dif­ balled and I was completely shut down,” ferent events staged at more than 30 sites in Figueroa recalled. the streets, sidewalks, parking lots and build­ __“I was trying to get enough money to­ ings of historic downtown Fullerton. gether to make an insurance payment, when An estimated 10.000persons attended last the citations for lane violation and over­ year’s event. weight came due. When 1 was unable to pay Fullerton is the only Southern California them, my license was revoked, and my insur­ city to offer the program, which was begun in ance lapsed,” he added. Boston in 1976, as a cap to the nation’s Figueroa has been trying to float a loan, David and Connie Figueroa with their newborn, Pablo, and the truck which bicentennial. using his truck (which he fully paid off with they hope to get back on the road again as soon as possible. The Figueroas The program’s goal is to broaden public 6 prior years of hard work) as collateral; but lived in the compartment behind the cab for most ofthe past year. appreciation o f the visual and performing apparently banks won’t loan money on Continued on p. 9 moving property, justreal estate of which the Figueroas have none. Asked how much it would take to get him “on the road again”, David gave the Ob­ Molly McCIanahan Elected Mayor, Sa, server the following approximate figures: 1) Pay citations and renew license 600 2) Reinstate his truck insurance Bankhead, and Norby Seated on Council with a premium 1800 Her elevation to the Council may mean a 3) Pay Road Use Tax 700 Outgoing Councilmember Ackerman Lauded, new perspective brought to bear on old prob­ 4) New vehicle license 1000 lems — an infusion that is the essence and $3500 1993 Mayor pro-tem will be Buck Catlin strength o f democracy. Or, it may not. Re­ O f course, with the new baby and his time By Jack Harloe over a field of candidates possessing the turn of two incumbents to the council, join­ just about expired at the New Vista Shelter, more traditional values of dedicated service ing two others with lengthy service, may, in the Figueroas will also be looking for an National pundits have already proclaimed on city boards and commissions: the end, mean that Sa’s orbit, brilliant ‘til apartment they can afford to move into and 1992-93 the “year o f the woman,” and The city may have taken a long step toward now, could end channeled, not luminous. maintain the rent, overall a big challenge to Fullerton helped engrave that pronounce- a different way of viewing political office As a nation, and at the local level, we have this small, new family at Christmas time! mentTuesday evening, December 1st, when when it bade a fond farewell to Richard learned to display grace over the change of According to Jaim6 Gomez, resident man­ it seated Julie Sa as a new councilmember, Ackerman, he of the (what Buck Catlin calls) incumbents and administrations; it is part of ager of New Vista, David Figueroa has been and elected Molly McCIanahan Mayor. “enigmatic look,” close lipped, 12 year in­ the ongoing joy and challenge of democracy a big help at the Shelter, helping him and Fullerton ’ s actions were not precedent set­ cumbent, a lawyer, Bellflower High and that we keep melding new minds into the other residents with car repairs and other ting —there have been five women who have Perkily graduate, yachtsman, local “town process of solving old problems. tasks. served on the Council and as Mayor in recent and gown” enthusiast, political conserva­ What we need never forget to do is to strive In addition to trying to get a loan, David years; but Sa’s incumbency represents the tive; and said hello to Sa, assertive, bom in for a level playing field —to afford to those has also been hiring out for odd jpbs, to try first time a come-from-behind, little known Korea of Chinese parents, educated in Korea with less the opportunity to become more. If and make enough money to extricate himself candidate, and one o f Asian heritage, so and in this country, fluent by her own admis­ Sa will bring that to the city, and we have from his current situation. Another friend has resolutely and definitively seized victory sion in four languages. Continued on p. 14 MORE INSIDE ARCOSANTI: New Bicycle Route Configuration to Be Tested Page 2 Human Habitat Fullerton Observer’s New Y ear’s Wish List Page 3 of the Future President Clinton’s First Test - Health Care Page 13 Page 11 AIDS Day 1992 Commemmorated at CSUF Page 15 Bulk Rate Commentary Page 3 FULLERTON OBSERVER CAR-RT Sort Calendars Page 7-10 U.S. Postage PAID POST OFFICE BOX 7051 Permit No. 1577 Classifieds Page 15 FULLERTON, CA. 92634 Fullerton, Ca. Obituaries Page 16 Property of Fullerton Public Library, Local History Room Page 2 FULLERTON OBSERVER NEWS January 1, 1993 Bicyclist of the Month for December ‘If We Build Safe, Convenient Rosie Walcek of Fullerton is the Fullerton Observer’s Bicyclist of Routes, the Bicyclists Will Come’ the Month for December 1992. We met her at the November The development of a viable Bicycle Plan “This end o f Commonwealth is part o f a meeting of Fullerton’s new Bi­ for Fullerton may well hinge on the success main east-west route to Commonwealth cycle Users Committee, a sub­ o f a small segment of the Plan which the School, Ladera Vista Junior High School, committee of the City’s Transpor­ City’s Transportation and Circulation and Cal State University, Fullerton, and tation and Circulation Commis­ Commission has recommended for implem­ beyond to Associated Road,’’ she said. sion. Rosie had ridden her bicycle entation over the next two months. Commenting on questions regarding the to the meeting. The City Council is expected to decide, at number o f bicyclists currently using the Her bicycle is Rosie’s sole mode their January 19 meeting, onanexperimental proposed route, she added, “If we build it, o f transportation, and she rides it street configuration for East Commonwealth they will come.” about 50 miles a week around Avenue, which includes four standard traffic Helena Jacobson, owner of apartments on town and to and from her work lanes plus a 5-foot, no-parking bicycle lane the south side of Commonwealth, made an place in Placentia. on the north side and a 13-foot, with parking, impassioned plea for retention o f parking, No wonder that she was inter­ bicycle lane on the south side. which she said her tenants depend on. ested in the deliberations of this This unique configuration was suggested “My apartments have been half empty the committee as they were reviewing by city engineering staff when it was deter­ past two years when my tenants have been recommendations of the Fullerton mined that the 64-foot Commonwealth unable to use the Commonwealth on-street Bicycle Task Force and City staff Avenue right-of-way was insufficient to parking,” she said.