On August 16 th, Friends of Daren Nigsarian hosted a very successful summer fundraising event. The speakers included Mayor Rose Espinoza, Assembly member Jose Solorio and Council member Steve Simonian. The California cuisine was provided by The Kitchen for Exploring Foods.

Council member and former Mayor Steve Simonian with Daren, explaining the importance of Daren’s law-enforcement background in understanding public safety issues in La Habra.  Steve was Chief of Police in Montebello and has over 40 years of law-enforcement experience.

The capacity crowd was treated to a surprise when Paul “The King” Goldenberg dropped-by to offer his support.

Daren and “The King of Big Screen” Paul Goldenberg.

Also joining the event was La Habra School District Superintendent Susan Belenardo, along with Danny Hanson, our Citizen of the Year. Commissioners Dan Casey and Jerry Callaghan mixed with many other friends and supporters as the full moon rose and the dessert station became very popular. Mark Sturdevant, Daren's neighbor and supporter emceed the event.

"Thank you for all your generous support and a very successful evening." Daren

60th Annual La Habra Corn Festival

The 60 th Annual La Habra Corn Festival was a tremendous success this year, with attendance figures expected to break records. The La Habra Host Lion’s Club managed this home-spun event with world-class skill, delighting folks from far and wide. Daren participated in the Saturday morning parade as Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission, and then dutifully took his place at a festival booth, expediting orders for cheeseburgers, pastrami sandwiches and chili fries. He also had time to chat with Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. Both Daren and the Sheriff began their public service as Deputies for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Daren congratulated the Sheriff on achieving her new, milestone position.

Daren and Sheriff Hutchens

 Issues

At the City Council meeting of August 4 th, several residents spoke on the issue of foreclosed homes that have become blighted from lack of maintenance. In previous years, Code Enforcement officers would focus on this issue; now, it is the responsibility of Community Preservation, a division of the Community Development Department. For the first time in several years, the division is fully staffed. Abandoned homes or bank-owned properties that are not being properly maintained should be reported to Community Preservation. Residents can e-mail the hotline at: code_enforcement_hotline@lahabracity.com

Maintaining the quality of life in La Habra means well-kept homes, clean streets and green lawns. As a Council member, Daren will want to know where the problems exist, and he will identify the cause and find the solution. That’s how we attract and keep families in La Habra , and that’s how we grow our local economy while maintaining property values.

Daren also feels La Habra residents should be aware of the housing development proposed by AERA Energy; a corporation formed by Shell ExxonMobil. This development in the Puente Hills Northeast of La Habra would build 3,600 luxury homes in a formerly pristine wildlife corridor. The resulting development is projected to add 40,000 car trips to local roads, many thousands of which would impact La Habra streets; streets already in disrepair and needing immediate attention. Daren is opposed to this negative impact on our community, and he also believes in the value of retaining recreational open space in the Puente Hills. He would join with the leaders of surrounding communities in resisting more pollution and traffic congestion that would result from this project as currently envisioned.

The Streets of La Habra

Our community has over 110 miles of roads, and 87 of those miles are residential streets. For years, there have been neighborhoods plagued by cracked, rutted, pot-holed streets that worsen with every hot summer day and winter rain-storm. These conditions ruin car suspensions, depreciate property values and most importantly, pose a safety hazard that is also a liability risk for the city. The current Pavement Management Plan provides for some street repairs through 2012, and even these repairs will be jeopardized by the lack of capital improvement funding anticipated in fiscal year ‘08/’09. The passage of the Vital City Services measure on the November ballot will offer hope for those neighborhoods with the worst streets, but Daren feels the planned schedule must be adjusted to help long-suffering residents with the streets that have failed. Also, sidewalks are frequently overlooked. Over 60 miles of sidewalks line our streets, and many stretches are broken, uneven and dangerous. This also exposes the city to civil liability. As your Council member, Daren will lead his colleagues in prioritizing sidewalk repair.