Tech grant DAOR’s In-N-Out for Old River Realtor of the Year expanding See Page 9 See Page 3 See Page 4 Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 Vol. 12 No. 31 8301 E. Florence Ave., Suite 100, Downey, CA 90240 Family of murder Food donations victim seeks CALN deRO URGED TO RESIGN needed • On 5-0 vote, Downey City DOWNEY – Donations are answers Council agrees to demand being accepted for a Thanksgiving food basket program that will senator’s resignation. benefit 30-50 needy Downey By Christian Brown, families. staff writer The Downey Lions Club needs By Eric Pierce traditional Thanksgiving items DOWNEY − It’s been a tough Editor such as stuffing, canned gravy, year for the daughters of Arnold green beans, dried onions, canned Salas Garcia. cranberries, rolls, potatoes and “They were very close to their DOWNEY − The Downey more. father,” said Alva Negrette. “It’s City Council voted unanimously The club is also collecting hard for them, it’s hard to explain Tuesday night to demand Sen. grocery store gift cards to purchase who would’ve done this.” Ron Calderon’s resignation, turkeys and pies. Last month marked the one- citing his involvement in a federal To make a donation, call year anniversary since the death Lenora Perri at (310) 283-9825. of 46-year-old Garcia, a resident of investigation for the alleged Downey, who was fatally stabbed solicitation of bribes. along the San Gabriel River after The motion was brought being approached by a group of forward by Councilman Alex Saab, young men last October. who said he was “disgusted” after Toy drive Downey Police found Garcia reading the leaked affidavit that in the 10300 block of Foster Road revealed the FBI’s investigation on the west side of the river bed into Calderon. to benefit after a bicyclist called 9-1-1 on Calderon was stripped of his Oct. 28. While several witnesses committee assignments Tuesday. needy kids have reported what happened that He was also removed as a board POH TO BY ERIC PIERCE DOWNEY – The Downey evening, the suspects are still at- member of the California Latino Lions Club is hosting a Christmas Local officials held a press conference outside Bell Gardens City Hall on Wednesday where they asked for Sen. Ron large, motivating Garcia’s family to Legislative Caucus. toy drive through Dec. 6, with Calderon’s resignation. search for their own answers. Below is the complete donations benefiting Downey “I’ve talked to people who lived statement that Saab read Tuesday: children. there and a lot of people seen what “The reason I asked this be state of California. wall and expect our kids to abide a stain on all elected officials and Toy donations can be left with happened, but didn’t want to get placed on the agenda tonight is “Enough with the by. These are a mantra we need to representatives entrusted to public any Downey Lions Club member involved,” said Negrette, Garcia’s because I felt so strongly that we smokescreens and enough with act upon in everything we do as a service. or dropped off at Coco’s (7900 partner for 24 years and the mother must take a stand against this the excuses. I have said time city and as elected officials. And as “The single most important Florence Ave.), U.S. Bank (8444 of his two daughters. “They’ve told kind of behavior by other elected and time again, we have certain leaders and elected officials of this aspect of being a public servant Florence Ave.) or Sunrise Realty me it was gang-related -- nine to officials, and that we demand that constitutional protections in place great city of Downey, must take a and representative is character (9031 Florence Ave.). ten guys were asking people to Sen. Ron Calderon do that right which are indeed our fundamental tough stance and lead by example and that includes the precepts of Monetary donations are also empty their pockets.” thing and step down from office. rights as U.S. citizens, but we do whenever we see wrongdoing. being honest, working for those welcomed. Checks should be Negrette believes the men only “The allegation, though yet not have a fundamental right to be I expect to be held to this same whom elected us, and doing made payable to Downey Lions intended to “rough people up,” but unproven, is serious enough an elected official and whenever standard as your councilman and I what’s right when nobody is Club and mailed to 12923 Barlin something may have gotten out of to warrant this response. The something this egregious, this hope that Sen. Calderon would do watching. Soliciting and accepting Ave., Downey 90242. hand between Garcia and the men. allegation that an elected official blatant occurs, there has to be the right thing and step aside for bribes to vote in a manner that For more information, call “He wasn’t violent, but he tried has accepted money and other outrage. The right thing to do is sake of poisoning the trust people would promote special interests is Lion President Lenora Perri at to be a peacemaker. I think some favors in exchange for official acts to step aside and allow the very have in our form of government dishonest, deceitful and shameful. (310) 283-9825. were talking to him and two or is the most serious breach of the residents whom you are suppose and in our democracy.” We need representatives in three chased him to the west side,” public trust and the oath which we to represent, and be a model to, to Mayor Mario Guerra, a Sacramento who understand the she said. “They didn’t take his bike have all taken. This negativity, this be properly represented without candidate for state senate, released true meaning of a public servant or his cell phone, but no money whirlwind of corruption and this having their elected officiala statement after the vote. as being someone who does what was in his wallet...it was an ugly embarrassment to his constituents distracted from their personal “The public must be able to is in the best interests of their Churches night.” was caused by Sen. Calderon and indiscretions. trust their elected officials to do constituents - not special interests. The owner of a localnobody else, and the very idea that “I have read the affidavit and the right thing. Ron Calderon “I will continue to serve collecting stuffed construction business, Garcia lived we should sit idle and do nothing frankly am disgusted by what has violated the public’s trust and the citizens of Downey, our on the west side of the San Gabriel and say nothing is simply not I read. Every elected official does not deserve to represent the region and State with the utmost shoeboxes River and would often cross the acceptable to me. takes a solemn oath to faithfully honest, hard working people of character and will do the same DOWNEY – Two Downey river bed to visit his daughters, “Clearly we all agree and discharge their duties and when this district. The residents not only for the constituents of the 32nd churches are serving as official ages 8 and 15. we all respect the constitutional this is jeopardized, when this oath deserve an apology, they deserve Senate District. “ collection sites for Operation “He was a people person -- he protections of the presumed becomes murky and a person is someone with the courage to do Saab and Guerra joined lived happy, telling jokes, helping Christmas Child, the world’s innocent until proven guilty by a unable to faithfully perform their what’s right no matter what. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia others,” Negrette said. “He was a largest Christmas project of its court of law, and clearly there may duties because of the distractions “We are a Character Counts and officials from Norwalk, Bell smart guy that just lived life...his kind that helps fill shoeboxes with have been some violations when they caused, then that elected community and our values and Gardens, Pico Rivera, Commerce daughters were probably the most toys, school supplies, hygiene kits the FBI affidavits were leaked, official must step down. ethics are important. We are and other surrounding cities in important thing to him.” and notes of encouragement for however, that does not take the fact “We are a Character Counts role models for our youth. We a press conference Wednesday To commemorate the needy kids around the world. away that the information which city: trustworthiness, respect, need to set the example. Senator where they collectively demanded Gift-filled shoeboxes can be anniversary of his death, a group responsibility, fairness, caring Calderon’s behavior is shameful Calderon’s resignation. of 100 family members and friends has been revealed is damning to dropped off at either Calvary and citizenship. These aren’t just and unacceptable. I hope he The embattled senator has gathered at the site where Garcia the residents of not only the 30th Chapel Downey or First Baptist words that were haphazardly decides to do what is right for the indicated he has no plans to step was killed, lighting candles to District, but to the entire region Church of Downey through Nov. crated or that we pinned on a fine people of this district. This is down. create a new memory of that day. including Downey, and the entire 25. “It helped -- I live down the The shoeboxes will be delivered street so every time I go on the over to needy children overseas. ramp, it’s right there,” Negrette said. For more information, call “But we made a better memory.