Wow, I see some prison time in a cop’s future.  Incredible.  I had remarked privately to friends the day of the shooting that even if the incident was real, which I had assumed it was at the time, the ridiculously long ‘lock down’ of the area was absurd being that I’m sure the assailant was long gone by the time back up would have arrived.  What kind of elaborate scam was this officer trying to pull off?

LA Times Blog writes:

A Los Angeles school police officer who was wounded last week in a shooting that prompted authorities to shut down a large swath of Woodland Hills concocted a story that he was the victim of the shooting, authorities said Thursday night.

The startling revelation came at a hastily called news conference by Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck, who said detectives became suspicious about the officer’s story as they investigated the case.

Police earlier had said that Los Angeles Unified School District Officer Jeff Stenroos was shot in the chest after he was confronted by a man Jan. 19 as he was attempting to break into vehicles in Woodland Hills, near the eastern boundary of the El Camino Real High School campus.

The incident generated a massive police response that inconvenienced thousands of people for the day as officers blocked roads, shutdown schools and refuse to let people in or out of a 7-square-mile area.

More than 300 officers swarmed the west San Fernando Valley, locking down nine schools and setting up the dragnet as they looked for a suspect described as a white man in his 40s, wearing a bomber or black hooded jacket and blue jeans.

While many expressed frustration and anger at the inconvenience caused by the size and length of the operation, LAPD officials defended the decision as necessary to protect the public. They noted that the incident was especially serious because it involved an attack against a fellow law enforcement officer.

Authorities had even offered a $100,000 reward for information of the case and compiled a composite of the shooting suspect.

From the August 26th issue of the Valley Vantage, with regards to the August 18th Woodland Hills Warner Center Neigbhorhood Council meeting:

Neighborhood Council Meeting Erupts Amid Cries of “Impeach Zine!”

A week ago, news stories and press releases proclaimed that Costco’s plan to move to Warner Center was a “done deal.” But it looks like residents and businesses in the West Valley have only just begun to fight that notion.

At a meeting of the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council Board (NC) on August 18, there were no specific items on the Agenda concerning the proposal for a Costco in Warner Center. Using the Public Speaker card, however, several representatives stood and challenged the NC to take the lead on community outreach concerning the proposal. Two speakers specifically demanded the recall of Councilman Dennis P. Zine over of his role in moving Costco from its existing site on Roscoe Blvd in Canoga Park to the proposed Westfield Village project at Topanga Canyon and Victory Boulevards.

Jim Anderson, the Neighborhood Council’s at-large representative, was the first to stand and demand the recall of Councilman Zine, saying “his actions are contrary to the area’s best interests, and he has deceived and manipulated the public.” Anderson questioned if the Councilman’s actions were contrived to gain financial support for his purported run for City Controller when his term ends. Anderson pointed at the Councilman’s efforts in helping Westfield massively alter their plans for the supposedly “upscale” Village project without ever opening discussion of potential problems with the community at large.

Echoing Anderson’s plea for Zine’s recall was Neighborhood Council representative Marty Lipkin. He was even more emphatic about Zine’s recall. “He has lied to his constituents. He has betrayed our communities. He has conspired with Westfield, Costco and the Mayor to push a hastily conceived and ill-advised plan down the throats of people who deserve at least some say in the future of their neighborhoods. Am I calling for Zine’s head? Absolutely—except I’m not sure there’s anything in it,” he said.

On a slightly different note, Shirley Blessing, a well-respected Woodland Hills leader, said that she has received dozens of calls from apoplectic neighbors who are incensed at the Councilman’s “utter lack of respect for the communities he supposedly represents.” She urged all to stand tall, and state their case to their representative; “Just say no. This plan lacks foresight and vision.”

Joyce J. Pearson, currently the Community Based Organization Board Representative for Area 2, called for a series of three Town Hall meetings with residents and business owners, paid for from the Council District’s coffers, but hosted by an impartial entity who could prevent the meetings from turning into PR events. “I’m sure our Councilman is open to ‘full transparency’ on this issue—and to picking up the tab for these hearings on what many consider proposed changes to our community too important to ignore. It’s an idea that could only prove to be beneficial to all,” Pearson stated.

Pearson pointed out that when concepts for The Village were first presented several town halls and seminars were held by both Westfield and the Neighborhood Council to introduce the concept of a retail/entertainment/commercial destination to virtually the entire West Valley. “Sure, the economy has changed,” she said. “But to disregard the public’s involvement in the project now would be unfortunate.”

Gordon Murley of the Woodland Hills Home Owners Organization offered another insight. “There seems to be a lot of ‘City of Bell’ in the development – especially dumping Costco on the community. There were no meetings with the community to refine what was being proposed.  All of the dealings have been behind closed doors and all the deals worked out between the various City entities, Westfield and Costco. Nowhere were there any invitations to have the

community sit in with Costco or those in the City to voice concerns since there is a Warner Center Specific Plan. We would hope that planning is more than telling a community what they are going to get. Woodland Hills and especially Warner Center deserves planning that will not lower the quality of the visual development that would bring a sense of a place people want to visit and invest. And, the fact that they have not yet revealed just how much they’ve given away to Costco in terms of tax breaks and subsidies from the City, creates concern.”

In a follow up interview, according to Pearson and Blessing, many of the residents and businesses that have contacted them keep asking why there isn’t an Ikea going in instead of a Costco? Ikea is also a big box store, but it is willing to have second or third stories. Anderson and Lipkin said that many of the people they’ve talked to have been calling for some sort of “impeachment” hearing that would force the
Mayor and the Councilman to bring all the details of the Costco deal into the spotlight.

“People aren’t happy about this,” Anderson emphasized. “They know they’ve been kept in the dark and misrepresented by their so called representatives. They want someone they can trust, and they don’t seem to trust Councilman
Dennis Zine anymore.”

From the August 26, 2010 issue of The Valley Vantage:

Editorial by Joyce Pearson
It’s Time for Councilman Zine to Provide a Forum to Discuss Costco!

It’s time for the community to stand up for what’s right in Woodland Hills, and its time for Councilman Zine to provide a forum to discuss Costco!

LA’s Mayor says it’s a done deal. Westfield says it’s a done deal. Costco hasn’t even relocated yet, but it is already turning what Westfield once promised as an “upscale shop/dine/work destination” into a strip mall with a wholesale arm behind it, that is destined to hurt traffic, surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, not to mention leaving blight behind in Canoga Park, just blocks away.

With the threat of Los Angelinos voting with their feet as more Woodland Hills constituents vacate to Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks to maintain their quality of life, it’s time to reflect on what needs to be done to stem that tide.

What is being asked of Councilman Zine is that he commit to a series of three Town Hall meetings where the community can toss the hardball questions and voice legitimate concerns they have over this plan. Moreover, outreach for these open Town Halls must be paid for out of the Council District’s budget, along with a series of mailings to every address within 2 miles of the Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Victory Blvd. epicenter.

Calling the meetings will enable the Councilman to explain why he appears to be promoting Westside traffic congestion here in the West Valley; and to be scrapping pedestrian walkways, green belts, parking on the roof of Costco and many other key items that Westfield had proposed and promised the public in its original plans for The Village. The Councilman could even address disregarding the new Warner Center Specific Plan before it is even off the drafting table.

Most importantly, Councilman Zine can shed light on the “ proposed increases” in jobs and tax revenue; the traffic congestion that is destined to ensue; and any financial incentives that may have been advanced by relocating the Costco and its employees. In addition, it would be great to have Costco’s President at those meetings with him to tell us how the new Costco will bring value to our community.

What say you Woodland Hills, are you ready to meet your Councilman? If you want to know what is going on in your community and are interested in participating in Woodland Hills:

1. Sign one of the petitions (Just say NO) or (Here’s the way to go) on the Website at: www.CommunityRedevelopmentAdvocate.com;
2. Volunteer to walk your neighborhood to get petitions signed;
3. Volunteer to circulate information about the upcoming Town Hall meetings;
4. Write letters;
5. Ask for speakers to present information at your school or community organization;
6. Learn what you need to do to have your own impact when the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) is presented by Westfield;
7. Find out what the Warner Center Specific Plan is all about;
8. Review what the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council says about the matter by going to their Website at: www.WHCouncil.org, as well as finding out about their upcoming meetings on this important topic.

Look for the upcoming dates of the Town Hall meetings, and attend. You can send a clear message and help the Court of Public opinion weigh in on your community.
Joyce Pearson is Chair of the Greater West Valley Coalition and Chair Emeritus of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council She can be reached at 713-8600

I’m not exactly sure I get the all the high-fiving in this article.  The child was delivered at the hospital.  I think the law is more geared towards the teens who give birth at the prom then toss the baby into a dumpster instead of turning it in to the authorities.  But, either way I suppose this is good.

NBC Los Angeles writes:

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe to announced Tuesday the County’s Safe Surrender Program “celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of another safely surrendered newborn.

“This most recent safe surrender occurred at a hospital in Woodland Hills.

“The mother delivered the baby girl at the hospital on Thursday, August 5 and told hospital staff that she would like to surrender the infant. The baby is reported to be in good health.

“As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of him,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.”

A news release issued from Knabe’s office noted “this is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2010, and the 80th since the program began nine years ago.  The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.  It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.”

Um, okay.  I don’t know what to say about this other than how the Hell are they holding raves in public venues.  Raves are all about drugs, people.  There is so much stupidity and ignorance to go around in this incident, I don’t even know where to go with it.

LA Times writes:

A 15-year-old girl died Tuesday of a suspected drug overdose after attending a rave over the weekend at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that had a minimum age requirement of 16.

The girl, identified by family members as Sasha Rodriguez, was one of two rave attendees who were in critical condition at California Hospital Medical Center after the 14th annual Electric Daisy Carnival.

As Sasha’s family decided whether to remove her from life support Tuesday, her mother, Grace Rodriguez, told the CBS Evening News: “I was supposed to be planning her Sweet Sixteen party. Now I have to plan her funeral.”

Visit the LA Times’ site to see the full article.

MLB.com writes:

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers made the most costly cut in franchise history on Monday when they released increasingly ineffective right-hander Jeff Suppan with more than $10 million left on his contract.

Suppan, 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA this season in two starts and 13 relief outings, mostly in mop-up duty, was in the final season of a four-year, $42 million deal that was the richest in club history when he signed it on Christmas Eve 2006. Suppan’s 2010 salary was $12.5 million, and he’s also due a $2 million buyout of his $12.75 million club option for 2011.

“I think we all wanted to try to extend this as long as we could because of our respect for Jeff and what he’s done for the organization and the kind of person he is,” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. “He’s one of the classiest guys I’ve been associated with. In the end, it does come down to performance.”

Suppan, 35, is expected to seek a chance to start with another Major League team. He did not participate in interviews on Monday but did release a statement through the team.

“I want to thank [Brewers principal owner] Mark Attanasio and Doug Melvin for all they have done for my family and me, especially how they handled this situation,” it read. “I’ve played with a number of organizations and the Brewers are one of the classiest.

“When I signed in 2007, I was committed to winning and to this day I still am. Nobody is more disappointed with how things have turned out. I enjoyed my time here in Milwaukee, as both a player and a member of the community. As such, I will continue my involvement with the [Brewers Community Foundation] for the remainder of the 2010 season. My commitment to this cause and the people it serves is unwavering.”

As many of you know, Jeff Suppan is a west San Fernando Valley native and owns Soup’s Sports Grill on Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills.  I guess being fired sucks, but it sucks a whole lot less when you’ve been paid over $40 million.  Check out the rest of the story on MLB.com.

Who are the people that phone in this crap? I miss the good old days when if you found a lost bag at the bus stop you checked it for valuables then tossed it in the bushes.  I guess I’m old fashioned.

Daily News writes:

The intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue in Woodland Hills was reopened at about 11:30 a.m. Monday after LAPD’s bomb squad checked out a possible suspicious package near the corner, authorities said.

The incident closed down the intersection near the Warner Gateway corporate park, barring workers from reaching or leaving their offices for almost 2 hours. Eastbound Burbank Boulevard traffic was rerouted to Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

LAPD’s bomb squad examined an unattended bag that had been left near a bus stop at the intersection’s southeast corner, said LAPD spokesman Kevin Maiberger. Police got the call about the bag at 9:43 a.m. and reopened the intersection at 11:35 a.m., he said.

Daily News (and not Nixle) writes:

Police were checking out what they called a possible ’suspicious package’ near the intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue in Woodland Hills around 10 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

The incident closed down the intersection near the Warner Gateway corporate park, barring workers from reaching or leaving their offices. Eastbound Burbank Boulevard traffic is being rerouted to Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

LAPD’s bomb squad was on its way to the scene to examine an unattended bag left near a bus stop at the intersection’s southeast corner, said LAPD spokesman Officer Kevin Maiberger. Police got the call about the bag at 9:43 a.m., he said.

I find it cool that Daily News linked to my blog in the right hand media/reference bar on this article.  General consensus seems to be he fired at officers and they shot him.  Article mentions bullet holes visible in the walls of the Best Buy, but I drove by today and didn’t see them – however I wasn’t really looking.  I did take some pictures, which I will review later.  I have previous pictures of the external facade of the Best Buy and there are defects in the tile that appear to be bullet damage that were already there weeks ago.

Daily News writes:

CANOGA PARK — A man who fled to the San Fernando Valley Monday after allegedly killing his estranged wife in Long Beach was shot and killed by LAPD officers outside Best Buy, sending customers and employees scurrying for cover inside the giant electronics store.

The 11 a.m. shooting in front of the Canoga Park electronics store ended a manhunt that began three hours earlier in Long Beach, where the the suspect allegedly shot his wife in the head in a parking lot after abducting her from a nearby apartment.

The couple’s 2-year-old son was found in the apartment with a family member.

Police said the suspect, identified as Donovan Morris and in his 30s, drove to Woodland Hills to meet with an uncle. The uncle phoned authorities after Morris told him he had “killed his family,” said LAPD Lt. Dave Storaker.

Morris then left the Woodland Hills home in the 6600 block of Glade Avenue and made his way to the Best Buy at Victory Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue.

It is unclear why Morris went to the store or what exactly happened when he got there. Some reports said Morris held a gun to his head, while witnesses at the scene said he engaged police in a brief firefight in front of the entrance to the store.

Shopper Tim Coyle, 33, of Winnetka said he was in the store getting his daughter’s laptop fixed when he heard police shouting outside.

“All of a sudden they (police) yelled `Shut the doors! Shut the doors!’ Then I hear gunshots,” Coyle said, adding a number of customers dove to the floor.

Coyle, who described himself as a gun aficionado, said he heard multiple gunshots from the suspect’s weapon as well as shots from police officers.

He said the customers were taken into a security room inside the building for safety.

Multiple shell casings and a handgun could be seen on the ground where the suspect’s body had lain and bullet holes peppered a wall of the building. The busy stretch of Victory boulevard was roped off to drivers and pedestrians for nearly three hours as officers scoured the crime scene.

Please visit the Daily News site to read the rest of this article.

Yesterday was the biggest day ever, as far as I can tell, for the Hills of Woodland site, with over 1,200 visitors and almost 50 new Facebook “likes” for the site’s FB page.  At least something good comes from this time of madness; people actually pay attention to what’s going on around them.

What’s also interesting, I feel, is all of the comments on this site and our Facebook page from people who lived here and left saying, “Wow this place has gone to ****.”  I don’t think that is true, but it does seem that some people are becoming increasingly desperate and violence is the result.

That being said, there was a good recap of an excruciatingly violent week in Los Angeles on the LA Times’ site today.

LA Times writes:

Homicide Report: 20 killings last week in L.A. County, 3 in Long Beach

Coroner’s officials reported 20 killings between May 4 and early Monday, bringing the year-to-date total to 242, according to data collected for the Times’ Homicide Report database.

The total was more than double the previous week and included several shootings that left two or more people dead. At least 19 involved guns. The cause of death in the most recent case, involving an unidentified Latino believed to be 25 to 30, was not immediately available.

At least four homicides were tied to family issues. Authorities said Diane Newlander, 73, was shot to death by her husband in Beverly Hills in an apparent murder-suicide.

Three members of one family in Hawaiian Gardens, a father, daughter and son, were gunned down in their home by the daughter’s ex-boyfriend. Joseph Mercado, 26, was charged Monday with three counts of murder in Los Angeles Superior Court. Authorities allege he went room by room targeting the mother of his child and her family. Mercado was shot and wounded by a sheriff’s deputy as he left the home about 4 a.m. May 6.

The city of Long Beach experienced three homicides over the week, all possibly gang-related, according to police. The three killings do not including the shooting death Monday of a woman on Ocean Boulevard in what authorities called a family dispute.

Lee Kinikini, 25, was shot to death Tuesday, May 4, in the 700 block of Harding Street, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly before 5 p.m. and discovered Kinikini’s body with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation found that Kinikini was standing in a driveway when he was approached by an unknown suspect and shot several times, police said. The assailant was last seen fleeing south down a nearby alley on foot.

Joshua Gaither, 30, died Wednesday, May 5, in the 2100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, coroner’s officials said.

Police found Gaither on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper and lower body in the early morning hours. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

And Mauricio Sotelo, 20, was shot to death Thursday, May 6, on the corner of 14th Street and Cedar Avenue, according to the coroner’s office.

Police responded to a shooting call about 1:11 a.m and found Sotelo suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Sotelo was taken to a hospital, where he later died, police said.

Investigators have neither a suspect nor a motive in the case.

The Times’ Homicide Report provides an interactive map and database of all homicides in Los Angeles County reported by the coroner since Jan. 1, 2007.