NorthPrimrose

Update From MPD On Burglaries and A Crime Prevention Tip

Neighbors:

We just got a call from CPT Hunt of MPD who was nice enough to give us a ring on his day off.

While he could only release limited information on the recent burglaries in the Scenic/Canyon area, he said there does not appear to be a tie between them, and there is no statistically unsual trend or a "rash" of crimes.  The most recent crime was investigated and that investigation is ongoing.

Apparrently some leads have been developed in the previous case in that area (involving a local realtor's family) and the two appear to be unrelated.

Special Crime Prevention Tip

CPT Hunt wanted to remind all of you that the holidays are coming, and that means special crime prevention measures are in order.  Primary be extra careful about leaving valuables in plain sight in your car during and after Christmas shopping.  In his words: "Crooks need presents too"

MPD usually sees a major spike in such crimes around the holidays, 99% of them involving items in plain site and/or un-locked cards.  He added that GPS systems, Ipods and cell phones are tempting targets, and should be hidden away when you park, lest they should be hidden in a thief's pocket when you return.

Thanks, always, to CPT Hunt for going the extra mile on his day off!

The Smartest Street in Monrovia?

Sunday morning, Robert and Teddy had a wonderful discussion with a neighbor who has lived in the area for several years. Karen McKenzie, who lives at Primrose and Hillcrest (technically on Hillcrest) passed along the interesting bit of news above, and then glowingly (if modestly) let us in on a bit of news we'd not heard before.

Daughter Megan McKenzie is presently in her Freshman year at Harvard University.  As impressive as that may be, consider this:  She is thought to be the only Monrovia HS graduate to ever attend the country's oldest university.

This is truly a great accomplishment, and forebodes great things for her future.

CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN!

Anybody know a GOOD gardener?

Someone on Primrose (who wishes to remain unnamed) has asked us to post the following:

Help! We need a good gardener!  Must actually do the weeding, not just cut the grass and blow it on the neighbor's driveway!

If you know of one like this, please email us at: northprimrose@gmail.com We will let the neighbor know. 

And, if you want the same referral, we'll pass it on to those who ask.

Toxic Waste on Primrose!

It is sad but true, neighbors, there's toxic waste on Primrose.

How'd it get there?  Who dumped it?  Well..... you.  Old cans of paint? Used motor oil?  Dead appliances from the 70s?  Yeah, they're all bad for the water, and the soil.  Not the kind astuff you want your kid playing with on a Saturday afternoon, is it!

So, here's a solution for you:

That's April 26, two weeks after the Primrose Avenue Yard Sale.  So, as you're cleaning out the closets to find stuff to sell, don't just trash that old CRT monitor that's full of mercury! Don't flush that glowing green..... stuff (??)!!!

Pack it up nicely and take it to the Toxics Round-Up.

Keep Primrose Avenue - and all of Monrovia - beautiful!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The North Primrose Neighborhood Yard Sale is Set!

We will be having a street-wide yard sale.  This will allow all of us to clear out our closets and garages, and combine marketing efforts so we attract a lot of customers.  That way we sell everything, for the best price possible, as fast as possible!

DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008
TIME: 8:00 A.M.
PLACE:  YOUR YARD, up and down Primrose

In preparation, we'll put up Craigs' List and Pennysaver ads, plus a couple of posters around town on the day of the sale.  Everyone will be responsible for their own items and their own yards, we'll simply coordinate marketing efforts to make it a success.

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Chris & Cara, and their two children - plus one on the way - are the newest Primrose neighbors.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

Signs & Sales!!!

1) The new signs are up!  If you see anything that makes you think a thief is around and about, please call Monrovia PD immediately!

2) If you're not on our email list, please email us ASAP! Our address is: northprimrose(as)gmail(dot)com  There is some news we are sharing TONIGHT via email only.

3)  If you are interested in holding a yard/garage sale, please let us know.  Other folks on the street have discussed as much, and we think it would be far more effective to have a joint, all-street event.  We could combine marketing efforts, and advertise as a "Whole Street Sale," thus attracting more demand for our left overs.

As always, please keep in touch, and please drop us an email soon!

PS... The infamous 40 MPH picture has finally been added to our post about the radar trailer!

The City Speaks; Proves It Doesn't Listen

This evening's mail brings news that the City has got cold feet regarding their signage promises at our last meeting.  It seems some folks objected to the plan as circulated a few days ago.

No signs will be installed until after a new meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 5 at City Hall.

So, it seems, the City quickly reacts quickly to those who don't want action taken, but those who do want improvements have to kick and scream and put up their own signs.

It also seems the City has decided it will no longer communicate with us through this organization.  Multiple e-mails to several City officials regarding enforcement and meeting planning have gone ignored.  Clearly, this is an attempt to ignore our organized effort and divide us.  While we fully understand and support the City's fiduciary responsibility to communicate with every effected resident individually, ignoring our organized effort to facilitate the process tells us they don't really care what the residents want. They're going to do this their way!

This is he latest is a disturbing series of actions:
- Mis-reporting the results of our meeting
- Advising that we ruled out options when we specifically ruled out none
- Promising signs would be installed "within two weeks" and failing to deliver
- Promising enforcement for the full 30 days (we've not seen a cop lately, have you?)
- Telling the neighborhood that we agreed on rumble strips when they were hardly discussed
- Refusing to respond to our organized, polite queries and requests for a future meeting.

We will be announcing another meeting soon, at which we, as friends and neighbors, will explore the issue on our own, and settle on a course of action, taking into consideration everyone's desires.  This will require balance, compromise and negotiation.  The option is for the City to force a solution on us.

We will not tolerate it.  We hope you continue to stand with us.

From the Luconi Family!

As you probably know by now, Greg & Samantha Luconi and baby Sophia have returned home to Primrose Avenue, where everyone is getting settled in.

They recently posted a note for all of us to read!

Welcome Home!!!!!

Our First Big Meeting

Thanks to everyone who turned out last night!  But, hey, why'd you leave all the food?  Dave & Gayle will be eating donuts, chips and crackers for a month!  We are all quite grateful for their offering to host, as their home is quite well design for such purposes.

We had more than 30 residents from 23 homes turn out.  That's about 30% of the homes on the street, which is pretty good for a rainy weeknight.

Mayor Rob Hammond and City Manager Scott Ochoa brought representatives from MPD and the city engineering department.  It was a cordial, reasonably productive meeting.

Here are the highlights:

- The City will immediately install new speed limit signs and caution signs reminding motorists that this is a residential neighborhood.
- Additionally, similar cautions will be painted on the road way.
- The City will soon commence another traffic study to get the parameters for possible physical solutions.
- Greatly enhanced enforcement will begin immediately.

We identified that there are two groups of speeders on Primrose.  Careless/absent minded folks, and the truly offensive speed exhibitionists.  Passive measures will address the first group, but only physical limitations and strict enforcement will solve the latter.

If you spot a speeder, and get a license plate, please call LT Wagnon at MPD at 626-256-8000.  They will personally visit the offender and issue a warning (infractions have to be observed by a police officer to issue a citation).  If you spot someone and call it in, also email the information to us, as it will help us track MPD's enforcement measures. Use the email subject line "VIOLATOR!"

We are going to meet again with the City in about 30 days.  We will coordinate for that and let you know the time and place.

These are good first steps.  Credit to the City officials for stepping up and bringing resources to focus.  We are not the only street in town, and must play well with others.  But, at the same time, our homes are not on any other street and, as I said last Tuesday, we pay taxes.

On happier notes, we took up collections to cover some of the expenses we've incurred and to buy gifts for our newest neighbors: The Sachs family, who just moved in, and Greg & Samantha Luconi's daughter, who should be arriving any second now.

If you know a neighbor who did not attend, or who does not have email, please print this post and/or forward it to them.

Our success is rooted in our joint strength!  Thanks for making it possible!