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Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

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Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and RV's on streets

This is the argument that will appear in the County Ballot for the Nov 7, 2006 Special Election. There was no argument filed in opposition to either the RV or Trailer Measure. This was filed with the city on Aug 17, 2006:

The proposed trailer parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-5, which would prohibit the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

The proposed RV parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-6, which would prohibit the parking of motorized recreational vehicles on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

As Lakewood Homeowners and RV owners, we understand that it’s time to end LONG TERM storage of boats & trailers on our neighborhood STREETS. We believe that boats & trailers should be legally parked on our properties or in storage. This street parking issue has long pitted neighbor against neighbor reducing the neighborhood quality of life and creating many problems including:

A) FINANCIAL BURDEN to the City of Lakewood with hundreds of complaints each year

B) SAFETY RISKS to our CHILDREN due to poor visibility near driveways and intersections

C) TRAFFIC HAZARDS caused by choking already narrow streets

D) UNCLEAN STREETS due to the inability of street-sweepers to clean under parked boats & trailers

E) DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES when prospective buyers are scared off by large rigs stored nearby that are often poorly maintained with tattered covers and/or on blocks.

The Good Sam Club, one of the largest RV clubs, expressly discourages the long term parking of boats & trailers on neighborhood streets stating it will cause community resentment of RV’s and result in severe parking restrictions. We agree. The City of Lakewood has developed a system (similar to many surrounding cities) by which boat & trailer owners will be able to park on city streets with up to 16 three-day parking permits each year. Longer permits will be available for special needs. These permits can be obtained over the phone or Internet for FREE. Also, no permits will be required for rigs that are in the process of being loaded or unloaded. These provisions are more than fair. In the interest of preserving our rights to enjoy our boats & trailers, while addressing community concerns about the small percentage of discourteous RV owners, we encourage you to vote YES on Measures C and F.

Brandon Yung

Lakewood Homeowner

Lakewood RV owner

Lakewood Business owner

Fireworks offender Miller sentenced

Dear LAAG:

As you recall, Brian Miller took the unusual step of pleading no contest to the charges thinking that the judge's sentence would be a better deal than what the DA was offering. Apparently Millers attorney thought so too. Well they were both very wrong.

Thanks to all of you who showed up today to testify at the hearing against Miller. No one spoke on his behalf, but there were some letters written on his behalf, two from "neighbors" that apparently never lived near the rest of us, as they claimed they never saw Miller shoot off any fireworks!

Miller briefly apologized. His attorney made the comment that Miller did not intended to hurt anyone or cause this explosion. The judge agreed but did not feel that was the real issue. His attorney also argued that Lakewood was a city that allowed fireworks and so this sort of behavior (illegal fireworks use) was somehow expected or condoned. That was an interesting point and want all the "pro" fireworks people to think real hard about that at the election on Nov 7. I firmly believe that fireworks, legal or not, create an atmosphere where people are trying to outdo their neighbors’ displays. Miller trumped everyone.

I made the point that just as drug dealers are sentenced more severely than drug users, Miller should be treated accordingly as his business was selling illegal fireworks that he manufactured. I also said that Miller was a scofflaw and had had 4 years to clean up his act but didn’t even after dozens of law enforcement "visits". How can a person like that ever reform? Finally, I said that because of Miller and others like him taxpayers had to shell out $100,000 for extra law enforcement last July, and an example needed to be made of Miller for all the future [hopeful] Lakewood prosecutions of illegal fireworks users/sellers from July 2006.

The Judge was very sympathetic toward the victims who suffered property damage, and some who had pets die or get injured in the explosion. She said that Miller threatened an entire neighborhood, not just his wife and children. She was glad to see he had been taking parenting classes.

Judge Cynthia Rayvis sentenced Miller to a total of 12 years in state prison for all counts in the complaint. Most of that runs concurrent meaning that the sentence is really 5 years. He has spent 178 days in custody but given credit for 266 days (I suspect for good behavior). He will only serve 50% of that sentence (unless he misbehaves in prison). So that means he will likely be out in 2 years. The DA was suspecting he would get 4 years and Miller was hoping for 2 but he got 5. So clearly his ploy did not work. I think he would have been better off with the DA's offer which he refused.

The Judge also ruled that Miller could not ever return to the area one mile around the blast site for any reason. He must also make full restitution to all victims with monetary damage.

There will be a restitution hearing [for those that suffered damage] on 10/30/06 at 8:30 a.m. in Norwalk Superior Court, Dept. T before Judge Cynthia Rayvis. The address is 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650. Department T phone number is (562) 807-7248. Victims should contact the assigned DA Shelly Dominguez, her direct dial number is 562-807-7210.

LAAG wants to thank those who stuck with this and made an effort to follow this through to the end. From those in law enforcement that I have talked to it made a huge difference in the end result. I also want to thank the Press Telegram, LongBeachreport.com and all the local TV stations that made and effort to keep this case in the spotlight. It helps.

But this saga is not over. We still have the November election regarding fireworks. Also. we still have next July 4th. We need to focus on "cost effective" enforcement for all future July 4ths. March 5th was in many ways a "9/11" for Lakewood. It was a wake up call and a clear signal that lawlessness and lax enforcement could not continue any longer. And like 9/11 the further we get from the March 5 explosion the more people will forget. LAAG will not forget. And we will not let the City Council (current or future) or the Sheriff's department forget either. Our new website www.LAAG.us will keep these and other issues in the forefront.

Prohibiting the on-street parking of non-Lakewood-registered trailers and RVs.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Council Recap: Restrictions on non-Lakewood RVs and trailers adopted; enforcement begins September 21

At its Tuesday evening meeting, the Lakewood City Council took the final steps to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the on-street parking of non-Lakewood-registered trailers and RVs. The new parking ordinance will go into effect on September 21.

The parking limitation on non-Lakewood RV and trailers is part of the framework for regulating on-street parking adopted by the city council at its August 8 meeting. The city council also placed on the November 7 special election ballot two additional measures that would limit the parking of Lakewood-registered RVs and trailers.

The RV and trailer parking ordinance adopted on Tuesday does not require further voter approval, however.

Under the new ordinance, RVs and trailers (attached and detached) not registered to a Lakewood address can be cited if parked on a Lakewood street. To accommodate "short-term needs" while out-of-town family or friends visit, Lakewood residents will be able to request a free, city-issued permit for their guests.

Non-Lakewood vehicle owners cited under the new ordinance face a $40 fine for each day of on-street parking (plus additional costs assessed by the courts).

Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets

This statement was filed by LAAG on Aug 17, 2006 for the Nov 7, 2006 ballot but Mr. Yung's statement was chosen.

The parking situation is out of control in Lakewood. Part of the problem is that most people no longer park in their garages. Also, the number of cars per house has increased as well as the size of their vehicles. Cars and small trucks are competing for street parking with RVs and trailers which take up to two or three times the parking space as a car (in length and width). They are rarely moved, turning streets into campgrounds.

Lakewood must deal with the parking problem now or parking regulations will be thrust upon us by State and County agencies that govern the water runoff issues into the San Gabriel and LA Rivers. Gutter runoff pollutants increase without proper weekly sweeping and debris removal which in turn pollutes our beaches and surrounding rivers. If Lakewood does not remedy this, our property taxes will increase dramatically to pay for outside remediation efforts. Regulating long term RV and trailer parking on public streets Lakewood will ease implementation of citywide mandatory no parking on street sweeping days. Having to shuffle RVs and trailers around every week will be difficult. Voting YES on Measure __ will remedy this.

Most residential streets are 25 feet wide. RVs and trailers can restrict the passage area to less than 9 feet. This impedes the flow of traffic and even with ONE vehicle traveling down the street, impairs safety. Large RVs and trailers create blind spots (a hazard for pets and children who play near them) and make it difficult for residents to enter and exit driveways safely. They also make trash collection more difficult and time consuming as even more thru traffic blockage occurs with trash trucks present.

Vote YES on Measures C and F.

See additional arguments in statement supporting the RV parking measure

Lakewood Accountability Action Group | www.LAAG.us

Statement in favor of measure prohibiting the parking of RV’s on streets

This statement was filed by LAAG on Aug 17, 2006 for the Nov 7, 2006 ballot but Mr. Yung's statement was chosen.

Cities surrounding Lakewood have limited street parking; most cities in LA and Orange counties have limits (and have done so without costly taxpayer funded elections). This has turned Lakewood into a parking lot for non-resident RVs and trailers. A minority of RV and trailer owners create the majority of problems for their neighbors, but unfortunately the only way we can deal with this problem is to put laws into effect that govern all equally. This rationale is true for all zoning and parking laws.

The city council has not effectively dealt with this issue for 30 years and is no excuse not to resolve the problem now (like all other cities did before us). This is the reason the we have the current problems. Some RVs and trailers are increasing visual blight, which is only going to increase with more RVs and trailers. Ownership of a “second home” entails responsibilities just like a regular home. Owners need to find off-site parking or build parking space for it their lot--not dumping it on the street and making it your neighbors’ problem. Measure C does not ban proper parking of RVs and trailers on your property. If there is no room to park on your lot then you need to make room or get off-site parking.

RVs and trailers on the street for months also invite crime. Vehicle theft and vandalism is one of Lakewood’s biggest crime problems. RV’s and trailers are even bigger targets due to all the valuables they often contain.

Measure C does not ban all street parking. A free resident permit system will be created. Lakewood is falling behind on dealing with this problem. Vote YES on Measure C and lets catch up with everyone else.

See additional arguments in statement supporting the Trailer parking measure.

Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and RV's on streets

This is the argument that will appear in the County Ballot for the Nov 7, 2006 Special Election. There was no argument filed in opposition to either the RV or Trailer Measure. This was filed with the city on Aug 17, 2006:

The proposed trailer parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-5, which would prohibit the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

The proposed RV parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-6, which would prohibit the parking of motorized recreational vehicles on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

As Lakewood Homeowners and RV owners, we understand that it’s time to end LONG TERM storage of boats & trailers on our neighborhood STREETS. We believe that boats & trailers should be legally parked on our properties or in storage. This street parking issue has long pitted neighbor against neighbor reducing the neighborhood quality of life and creating many problems including:

A) FINANCIAL BURDEN to the City of Lakewood with hundreds of complaints each year

B) SAFETY RISKS to our CHILDREN due to poor visibility near driveways and intersections

C) TRAFFIC HAZARDS caused by choking already narrow streets

D) UNCLEAN STREETS due to the inability of street-sweepers to clean under parked boats & trailers

E) DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES when prospective buyers are scared off by large rigs stored nearby that are often poorly maintained with tattered covers and/or on blocks.

The Good Sam Club, one of the largest RV clubs, expressly discourages the long term parking of boats & trailers on neighborhood streets stating it will cause community resentment of RV’s and result in severe parking restrictions. We agree. The City of Lakewood has developed a system (similar to many surrounding cities) by which boat & trailer owners will be able to park on city streets with up to 16 three-day parking permits each year. Longer permits will be available for special needs. These permits can be obtained over the phone or Internet for FREE. Also, no permits will be required for rigs that are in the process of being loaded or unloaded. These provisions are more than fair. In the interest of preserving our rights to enjoy our boats & trailers, while addressing community concerns about the small percentage of discourteous RV owners, we encourage you to vote YES on Measures C and F.

Brandon Yung

Lakewood Homeowner

Lakewood RV owner

Lakewood Business owner

Rebuttal in favor of Measure "D" Banning all Fireworks in Lakewood

This is a rebuttal to the argument against the fireworks ban. This rebuttal was filed with the city on Aug 17, 2006:

The statement that banning all fireworks will lead to increased use of illegal fireworks is unsupported. How can any fireworks be safer than no fireworks? Enforcement IS needed to control illegal fireworks. The increase in illegal fireworks in Lakewood in the last 10 years has been during the time so called safe and sane fireworks were sold, so it seems that safe and sane fireworks create a demand for larger illegal fireworks. Sheriff patrols would be more effective at catching illegal users if all fireworks were banned because trying to spot legal versus illegal fireworks can be difficult under the time pressure of the 4th.

This past July was not an accurate indicator of the future as the Dunrobin explosion was still fresh in peoples’ minds. Taxpayers should not be forced to pay $100,000 every year in addition to the current budget just to create a haven for legal fireworks. The opposition wants you to believe that fireworks companies helped the city with enforcement yet there were no funding offers from the companies or the clubs selling fireworks to defray the cost of the extra enforcement.

In 2005 approximately 73% (over $32,000) of the sales revenue went from the Jaycees to the fireworks company. Multiply this by the 28 groups selling fireworks in Lakewood. That huge profit does not go to the clubs or Lakewood. It goes to fireworks companies (none of which are located in Lakewood) and they are using your children to make it.

VOTE YES ON MEASURE "D"

Statement Supporting Measure "D" Banning all Fireworks in Lakewood

Nov. 7, 2006 Election

Shall Ordinance No. 2006-4, which would impose a ban on the sale, offer for sale, possession, use or discharge of fireworks, be approved?

The real reason fireworks sales are allowed is money. If we were talking about cigarette sales for fundraising, we would not need to hold an election. Civic groups have not made an effort to wean themselves off fireworks because they had the support of the city council and the fireworks companies who rely on this desire for quick money to peddle their smoke and noise. Lakewood groups will need to do the same thing all the other clubs and parents have done in other cities: Find other sources of funding. They’re there, just look around.

Fireworks may seem sane but they are not safe. Almost 10,000 people a year (mostly children) are injured with fireworks, not to mention all the fires and property damage.

If only pets could vote in this election. Some pet owners have to leave the city with their pets, board them, drug them or risk loosing them as they break out of yards to escape the noise. This would not be as bad if the fireworks did not go on for days before and after the 4th.

With global climate change looming, can we afford to have a “pollution day”? The pollution Lakewood makes on July 4 must equal car emissions for a month. Not to mention all the hazardous chemicals, like deadly perchlorate, washed down into the storm drains and oceans after smoke clears.

Can the City continue to spend $100,000 in tax revenues every year to support policing fireworks? Can we risk another explosion like Dunrobin?

Do we want to move towards the future with progressive, forward looking cities like Long Beach, Cerritos and Signal Hill that ban all fireworks, or do we want to side with the shrinking minority of California cities that allow them?

VOTE YES ON MEASURE "D"

LBreport

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