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TOP STORY - DECEMBER 10, 2009
Marijuana Dispensary In South Whittier To Close After County Wins Legal Effort |
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A Medical Marijuana dispensary operating illegally in unincorporated South Whittier will be forced to close immediately after Los Angeles County successfully won a preliminary injunction against the dispensary’s operators.
The Starlight 420 Center had been operating at 15640 Leffingwell Road for more than six months. The County sought to close the dispensary because of multiple code violations, including proximity to children’s play areas. The dispensary opened without obtaining or applying for a legally required business license or a conditional use permit. Additionally, the dispensary was operating 285 feet from a McDonald’s playground and 595 feet from a child care center. The County’s zoning ordinance for marijuana dispensaries was adopted in 2006 and prevents dispensaries from operating within 1000 feet of facilities for children.
The County began legal action against the dispensaries operators after receiving complaints from neighbors in July 2009. Complaints included comments about noxious odors because of poor ventilation and children having to pass by the dispensary in order to reach the playground next-door. Additionally, neighbors said they witnessed adults handing marijuana purchases to children waiting outside the dispensary.
Judge Ralph Dau of the Los Angeles Superior Court granted the County’s request for a preliminary injunction against the dispensaries operators. This injunction prohibits the owners and their employees from operating a marijuana dispensary or possessing, giving away, or selling marijuana at their location on Leffingwell.
Judge Dau also granted an extension on the prohibition in all of the County’s unincorporated areas, meaning the owners of the Starlight Center won't be able to pick up and move into another unincorporated area without a proper license or permit. This injunction will remain in effect until a trial date. This ruling will shut the facility down once the plaintiffs are officially served.
“This is a big victory for the County,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. “This ruling is not about whether medical marijuana is right or wrong – the voters have already answered that question. What is most important is ensuring the safety of our children and our communities, and ensuring that properly-permitted dispensaries operate within the law. Closing this dispensary was a high priority and ensures we are keeping our neighborhoods safe.”
Useful La Mirada Links
 City of La Mirada
La Mirada Chamber of Commerce
Biola University
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
La Mirada Library
Norwalk Sheriff’s Station
La Mirada Sheriff’s Substation
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
La Mirada Golf Course |
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Supervisor Knabe attends the 50th Anniversary Luncheon of La Mirada's Youth-in-Government Program, hosted by the City of La Mirada and the La Mirada Ebell Club. |
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Contact:
Andrea Avila
Field
Deputy
12720 South Norwalk
Norwalk, CA 90650
aavila@lacbos.org
Tel: (562) 807-7350
Fax: (562) 929-9051 |
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Don Knabe. Working for LA MIRADA. La Mirada
Accomplishments |
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Providing Opera for Children at the La Mirada
Library
 The
highly-acclaimed Opera Tales program returned to
Fourth District County Libraries. Opera Tales is a
LA Opera program that introduces children and
families to the world of opera at local libraries.
Supervisor Knabe established the partnership between
the LA Opera and the County of Los Angeles Public
Library, and provided funding to bring Opera Tales
to libraries in the Fourth District.
Renovating Fire Station in La Mirada
The
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the
first phase of a project that will renovate fire and
lifeguard stations throughout the County.
Renovations are needed in over 90 of the County’s
fire and lifeguard stations to meet code
requirements and give female employees privacy when
sleeping, dressing, and changing. Twelve facilities
will be renovated in Phase 1 of the program,
including Fire Station 49 in La Mirada.
Preventing Graffiti Vandalism in La Mirada
Supervisor
Knabe in partnership with Helpline Youth Counseling,
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the
Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe
Springs, Whittier, and Unincorporated Whittier
launched the Aware Teens Against Graffiti or A.T.A.G.,
which is an innovative delinquency prevention
program that targets first time tagging and
vandalism offenders between the ages of 9 to 15 and
their parents. The weekend-long program focuses on
the parents receiving an intensive two-day
skill-building training, and the youth offenders
participating in community service projects and
group discussions while being supervised by law
enforcement. |
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New
Funding for Park Projects
Supervisor
Knabe dedicated $1.7 million in Proposition A Park
funds to be used for various projects across the
Fourth District. In La Mirada, a portion of the
money will be used for the installation of an
18-person therapy spa at the City’s Splash that will
feature a hydrotherapy bench and specialized jets
for muscle and joint massage.
Synchronizing Traffic in Local Cities
A
new Traffic Signal Synchronization Project has been
approved for the cities of Bellflower, Cerritos, La
Mirada, Long Beach, Norwalk and Whittier. The
project will synchronize 35 traffic signals on
Artesia Boulevard between Alameda Street and Valley
View Avenue; 15 traffic signals on Central Avenue
between El Segundo Boulevard and Victoria Street;
and 36 traffic signals located on Whittier Boulevard
between Paramount Boulevard and Valley Home Avenue.
This project is part of the County’s ongoing program
to enhance traffic flow and safety for drivers and
pedestrians. |
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La
Mirada Regional Park Playground Replacement Project.
County
Land Transfer approved for the City to build Aquatic
Center.
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Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
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Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
BEST
Foundation created in partnership with La Mirada
Chamber and La Mirada High School.
Supported
Lupus Walk at La Mirada Regional Park.
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Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
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La
Mirada Golf Course Construction and Irrigation
Project – Construction and renovation of the number
ten hole and improvements for a new irrigation lake.
La
Mirada Regional Park Lake and General Improvement
Project – Lake refurbishment, group shade shelter
with amenities, Americans with Disabilities Act
access from parking lots, walkway improvements,
tennis court resurfacing.
Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
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Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
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Hosted
Knabe Katch Fishing Derby.
Sponsored
La Mirada Tennis Tournament.
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