Thursday, March 28, 2019 Vol. 17 No. 51 FEATURES PAGING DR. FRISCHER MAYOR’S CORNER OBITUARIES Dani Moreno Living with Update from Downey residents runs for success asthma the mayor mourned SEE PAGE 7 SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 2 Downey Maserati in negotiations to open restaurant grades Kelley’s Downey dealership 8148 S Firestone Blvd. Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Friday 73˚ Grade: A Weekend If negotiations are successful, voted to approve a memorandum Maserati vehicles the dealership will be operated of understanding with Champion immediately as it at a that authorizes them to 7 Eleven by Champion, which owns the works to design, Glance temporarily use their lot space to construct and 11853 Downey Ave. Dodger/Chrysler dealership. sell Maserati vehicles. open a permanent Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Saturday 6880˚⁰ dealership. Friday It’s anticipated Maserati will seek “Attracting a Maserati Grade: A economic assistance from the city dealership to the city of Downey The Downey of Downey. is a tremendous undertaking Maserati dealership Panera Bread for Champion and the city,” could draw 8900 Apollo Way Sunday 86˚70⁰ Community Development Director customers from the Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Saturday By Eric Pierce Aldo Schindler wrote in a report South Bay, Long Grade: Editor to the City Council. “Constructing Beach, and north Orange County, A and establishing the dealership officials said. DOWNEY – Maserati, will be just as monumental.” Walmart the Italian maker of luxury The nearest Maserati 9001 Apollo Way THINGS TO DO As negotiations progress, Cadillac dealerships, all in 2009. automobiles, is in negotiations dealership to Downey is currently Date Inspected: 3/26/19 it’s possible Maserati will “seek to open a new car dealership in in Puente Hills, 17 miles away. Since then, Downey has partnership opportunities with Grade: A Downey. added a Hyundai dealership and the city, in the form of economic Maserati currently operates Champion Dodge/Chrysler/Fiat. If negotiations are successful, development assistance,” about 17 dealerships in California Pick Up Stix the dealership would open at 9715 Schindler said. but is looking to expand in this Giant RV received $504,000 8855 Apollo Way Firestone Blvd. and share space state “to take advantage of in tax incentives to open at the “The execution of this MOU Date Inspected: 3/26/19 with Champion Chrysler/Dodge. California’s car culture,” said former Gemco site at Florence is the first step in bringing a Schindler. Avenue and Studebaker Road, and Grade: A Champion and Maserati have Maserati dealership to the city of Downey provided $2.25 million already signed a letter of intent to Downey,” Schindler added. The Great Recession took a in financial assistance to help CVS / Pharmacy establish the dealership. drastic toll on the local automobile Arc Walk With the MOU’s approval, industry a decade ago when Downey Nissan expand to its new, 8008 E Firestone Blvd. On Tuesday, the City Council Champion can begin selling Downey lost its Ford, Lincoln and larger location. Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Saturday - Stonewood Center, 8 am Grade: A The 23rd annual Walk for Independence to benefit The Arc, which provides jobs and services to people with intellectual Frantone’s disabilities. $35 same-day registration. 9148 Telegraph Rd. Two Downey parks Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Grade: A Chris’s Best to get renovations 9180 Telegraph Rd. Date Inspected: 3/26/19 this summer Grade: A Sunny’s Sushi and Grill Native American Festival Apollo and Dennis the Menace Restroom improvements 11531 Bellflower Blvd. Saturday - Long Beach’s Shoreline Date Inspected: 3/26/19 parks will see significant ► Parking lot ADA Village, 12-5 pm upgrades this year, including new improvements Grade: A Live Native American dancing, backstops, picnic shelters, and drumming, explanations, singing, ► ADA accessible path of travel Circle M Mini Market flute music, and story-telling. Free synthetic turf. to new amenities 12142 Downey Ave. admission. ► Irrigation system upgrades Contractors feud over Date Inspected: 3/26/19 By Eric Pierce Editor ► Rubberized surfacing on the Grade: A playground A & T Liquor Inc DOWNEY – Significant ► Two 12x20 storage sheds library renovation upgrades at a pair of Downey 12202 Downey Ave. parks are getting closer to reality. ► Construction of a trash Date Inspected: 3/26/19 enclosure The City Council on Tuesday is contract Grade: A expected to award a $5.6 million contract for renovations at Apollo Yoly’s Mexican Kitchen The following is planned for Hot Import Nights Park and Dennis the Menace Park. Contractors are fighting over who Corporation. Dennis the Menace Park: 9009 Gallatin Rd. Saturday - Los Angeles Memorial will complete renovation work at Construction is slated to begin “The fact that Robert Date Inspected: 3/26/19 Coliseum, 12-5 pm ► New community restroom the Downey City Library. May 1 and continue through Nov. Mekikyan is listed by the Grade: A building Hundreds of modified show vehicles, 15. The contract is worth more than CSLB as the RMO of the major live entertainment, DJs, model ► New all-challenge fitness subcontractor for this project by competition, fashion walk, food and Apollo Park will see dozens of $5 million. Arco course AWI and also listed as the senior 11846 Downey Ave. beverages, and more. $12-$20 upgrades, including: project manager creates the ► Rubberized surfacing on the By Eric Pierce Date Inspected: 3/26/19 ► Synthetic turf at fields 1 and appearance, if nothing else, that playground Grade: 2 Editor there could have been collusion in A ► Irrigation system adjustment setting the bid,” Kamine wrote. ► Six new picnic shelters DOWNEY – The City Council Dollar Tree “Further, the address for AWI ► New trash enclosure on Tuesday rejected all bids it 8330 Firestone Blvd. ► Baseball/softball lighting at received for renovation of the listed on its bid is 7831 Paramount Date Inspected: 3/26/19 fields 1 and 2 ► Parking lot ADA Downey City Library after two Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA 90660. This improvements is the address listed for CCC with Grade: ► New backstops at practice companies began feuding in A competition for the contract. the CSLB. They are two companies fields 2 and 3, and new backstop ► New furnishings, benches, occupying the same location fencing fabric at field 1 and water fountain Stewart’s Liquor The public library closed sharing employees. This screams Shop Small Boutique last week in anticipation of an 11112 Paramount Blvd. ► Removal of shuffleboard The total cost of the collusion.” Date Inspected: 3/22/19 Sunday - La Mirada Golf Course, court (replaced with synthetic two renovations, including $8.5 million renovation that is 11 am to 4 pm AWI Builders denied any turf) construction, design, inspections, projected to take more than a year Grade: A allegations of impropriety. In Local crafters, artisans, home-based and engineering, is projected to complete. ► Lights in the west parking a letter to Downey assistant and small businesses owners will be at $7.29 million, which will be Candy Land Shop lot The renovation work is funded city manager John Oskoui from on hand for all your spring shopping financed by Measure S funding. by Measure S, a sales tax increase attorney Scott Lane of Lane & 122 Stonewood St. needs. ► New picnic tables, Measure S is the sales tax approved by Downey voters in McGowan, LLP, AWI Builders Date Inspected: 3/22/19 barbecues, benches, trash increase authorized by Downey 2016. labeled Cal-City’s protest as Grade: A receptacles, and drinking fountain voters in 2016. On Feb. 27, the city clerk having “no merit.” opened 11 bids from contractors “The protest relies on Noodles & Company interested in completing the work. speculative and unsupported 8908 Apollo Way The lowest bid was $5.091 million innuendo outside of the bid Date Inspected: 3/21/19 by AWI Builders. documents,” Lane wrote. “The Grade: A However, a representative protest tries to mask its weakness of the company that submitted by citing a slew of legal authorities Ralph’s (Market) the second-lowest bid, that simply do not support the Carnival of Champions alleged grounds for the protest.” 9200 Lakewood Blvd. Cal-City Construction Inc., Date Inspected: 3/21/19 Saturday - Warren High School, 8 am filed a bid protest, alleging The letter also cautioned Grade: A collusion between AWI and its Downey about its bid selection. Watch as about 500 fourth- and fifth- subcontractor, Construction graders compete in seven track and Contractors Corporation. “Whatever offence Cal-City Ralph’s (Deli) field events. takes from Mrs. Mekikyan’s 9200 Lakewood Blvd. Cal-City’s bid totaled $5.25 temerity to engage in the Date Inspected: 3/21/19 million. construction business, the City Grade: A In a letter to the city of of Downey ought to be cautious Downey, an attorney representing about denigrating her lawful role Cal-City accused AWI Builders as a woman business owner by Ralph’s (Bakery) of colluding with Construction insinuating that she is a mere 9200 Lakewood Blvd. Contractors Corporation to instrumentality of her husband or Date Inspected: 3/21/19 gain “an unfair competitive his separate business entity, not Grade: A advantage,” wrote attorney Marcia to mention her rights to the equal Haber Kamine of Kamine Law. protection of the laws,” the letter WonderCon states. Ralph’s (Meat) According to the letter, Anna 9200 Lakewood Blvd. All Weekend - Anaheim Convention PHOTO BY ALEX DOMINGUEZ Mekikyan is listed as president Council members decided Date Inspected: 3/21/19 Center of AWI by the Contractor’s State to restart the bid process, the The official sister show to Comic New backstops and synthetic turf are among the upgrades planned at Grade: A License Board, while her husband, results of which are expected to Con, celebrating comics, television, Apollo Park.