Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 Vol. 15 No. 38 FEATURES OBITUARIES ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES 2016’s notable Residents What’s new Get to know deaths mourned on Netflix George Redfox SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 9 SEE PAGE 2 Customers complain after Downey City Council reverses decision, being served votes Sean Ashton mayor pro tem bad masa FridayWeekend63˚ Ashton found a host of support in the form of several community at a DOWNEY – Amapola Deli Glance members who spoke up for the councilman during public hearing, and Market was faced with an hailing from within and outside of his district. Saturday 57˚⁰ angry mob seeking refunds for Friday 68 defective masa that was sold to When it came time for council to address the Mayor Pro Tem them over the holiday weekend. position, Saab made the first remarks. “I hope all of you were able to see, to have the opportunity to Thousands of unsettled and Sunday 59˚ view the video of the events of December 13th before jumping to 70⁰ unsatisfied customers lined any conclusions,” said Saab. “If you saw the video, you’ll see that on Saturday up outside of Amapola’s four numerous occasions the council was given the opportunity [to] ask locations for most of the day questions and no motion was made….” Monday, with some waiting several hours to receive their Saab then said that he made the motion to move the meeting along THINGS TO DO before turning his attention to Ashton’s accusations. cash back. “I do take great offense when someone makes allegations that we According to one of the somehow violated the Brown Act, which I think most people don’t know customers in line, the market the gist of the Brown act; what it is. announced that they had run “There was no collusion. There was no violation. It’s just simply false.” out of money sometime around 3 PM, and began handing out However, Saab also went on to say that he would be making a numbered tickets and forms to motion to appoint Ashton as the next mayor pro tem, despite any prior return at a later date. concerns. “You can imagine the way “There has been a concern for lack of confidence for Mr. Ashton’s L.A. Zoo Lights By Alex Dominguez abilities to understand some of the basic complexities at city hall,” said everybody was pretty upset about Saturday -L.A. Zoo, 6 pm Staff Writer Saab. “I think that the mere accusation of the Brown Act against us really the whole situation,” said Ruben Dinner buffet, carousel, games, DJ reflects that because it’s just not true. It couldn’t have been further from Escalante, one of the customers dance party, and live broadcast of the truth…some of the information that’s been dispelled that have been Times Square ball drop. – It’s official: Council member Sean Ashton will serve as seeking a refund. ”At the time DOWNEY incorrect, not the greatest of ability to work with others, and there has Downey’s mayor pro tem for 2017. that he told us that they had ran also been some situations where I think that there was just a lack of out of money, Carlos Galvan told Things have been seemingly uneasy within the city since the council’s basic understanding of some very important issues in our city which us fill out the form, turn it in and original vote to appoint Alex Saab mayor pro tem for the upcoming frankly I think he went the wrong way.” you’ll be given a phone call and year during the mayoral transition ceremony that took place Dec. 13. Saab went on to give Ashton the nomination despite his list of you’ll be reimbursed.” During the original vote, Saab – who has served as Downey’s mayor concerns in an attempt to move forward, saying that he hoped that The market is currently over the last year - nominated himself to once again take the reigns as Ashton does a good job because, “Obviously we’re all here to further reimbursing for the masa it sold, the upcoming mayor pro tem. Saab’s motion was followed by a quick the best interest of our city.” second by new council member Rick Rodriguez, who had been sworn as well as any ingredients that Ashton responded, saying he appreciated Saab’s comments, and in just moments prior. went into the making of the that he enjoyed working with the past council and looks forward to Gabriel Iglesias tamales, regardless if those were Traditionally, the positions of mayor and mayor pro tem have rotated working with the new council. Friday - Microsoft Theatre, 8 pm purchased at different location. on a yearly basis. The mayor pro tem – who fills in for the mayor when “Just to clarify where I was coming from, I don’t have a problem with Fluffy Guy and his friends stop in he or she is unable to fulfill their duty for any reason –usually takes over According to Galvan, any you passing me up…what bothered me was that no one said anything,” Los Angeles as part of his as mayor the next year, though there have been some exceptions. #FluffyBreaksEven world tour. other expenditure outside of that said Ashton. To this point council member Ashton has not had the opportunity to directly connected to the making Ashton also clarified his Brown Act accusations. of tamales will be negotiated on serve in either capacity since being elected in November of 2014. “When two people on this council talk about anything that could be On Dec. 13, Ashton also took the opportunity to nominate himself a customer to customer basis. on the agenda, that’s not a Brown Act violation. You were allowed to moments after Saab’s nomination; however, this went by the wayside as At a press conference held do that,” said Ashton. “But as soon as a third person gets involved, then there was no second to support Ashton’s move. later that evening, Amapola SVP/ that becomes a Brown Act violation because then you have a majority of CFO Carlos Galvan Jr. apologized Saab’s motion passed unanimously in a 4-0-1 vote with little to no the council that can talk about an issue before it gets to public comment for the incident. discussion – and no opportunity for public comment – with Ashton and make a decision.” abstaining. “The Galvan family and I and Ashton went on to apologize for “bringing this up,” but that he felt The decision drew some backslash from the community, as some WAR our extended family of over 350 that “something needed to be done.” felt that Ashton had been snubbed for reasons that the council may employees are saddened and “Passing me over, that’s one thing. I’ve got my big boy pants on, Friday - Grove of Anaheim, 8 pm have been withholding. sorry that many of our loyal that’s no big deal,” said Ashton. “But the way it was done I thought Multi-platinum selling band WAR The already tense situation only intensified in the following days, as was disrespectful to not me, but to the citizens of Downey…if you have perform hits including “Lowrider,” customers were disappointed “Cisco Kid” and “The World is a Ghetto.” with our product and had a Ashton publically announced that he had filed a complaint with the city issues with me being in a position that I am as far as my ability to be bad holiday experience with over what he alleged were two Brown Act Violations, and threatened to mayor pro tem or mayor, I would like to know what they are. sue the City of Downey. our masa,” said Galvan. “…As “I would love to be able to talk to you guys just to make sure that promised from the moment we Saab and the council quickly responded, denying any Brown Act we’re all on the same page, because we do need to move forward.” Violations and moving to address the issue at what would become discovered the incident, we have The motion to appoint Ashton as Mayor Pro Tem was made by Tuesday’s meeting. been taking corrective measures Saab and seconded by council member Rodriguez, and was passed and will continue to provide Tuesday’s council meeting could easily be described as awkward unanimously with a 5-0 vote. you with a full refund of your as council members proceeded normally with agenda items before purchase.” addressing the elephant in the room. It is currently unclear as to WWE Live what exactly caused the bad Friday - Staples Center, 7:30 pm masa. The WWE Holiday Tour featuring “Our company is currently DUI, driver’s license checkpoint a triple main event, highlighted by engaged in a detailed Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens. investigation to find the cause Friday night in Downey that created this incident. So DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department will conduct a DUI and far we have concluded that the friday, DEC. 16 driver’s license checkpoint Friday night, Dec. 30, starting at 8 p.m. at an defective masa was sold between At 11:35 PM, officers were dispatched to the downtown undisclosed location in Downey. December 23rd and December area regarding a stolen vehicle. Officers located the Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol or drug impairment 24th,” said Galvan. “Our evidence while also checking for proper licensing. continues to point to defective stolen vehicle on Firestone at Wiley Burke, occupied by corn bought from a national a lone female driver.