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The opinions expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent the views of this newspaper.

Letters can be sent to: editor@cerritosnews.net. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar.

Letter to the Editor

Ruffled Feathers after City Council Meeting

As reported in the June 8 Edition of the LCCN, a tense discussion after a recent City Council meeting between two politi-cally active individuals ended with harsh words and physical contact leading to ac-cusations and threats of possible legal ac-tions.

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[See LETTER TO THE EDITOR page 16]

OPINION

One Does Not Have a Claim on Life Only the Right to Use itBy Jerry Bernsteineditor@cerritosnews.net

Sometimes I think my Friend from Fruitcake, Florida has a crystal ball, which he looks at, and it tells him

what is going on. A few days ago, for in-stance, he walked into the office and asked, “ What’s going on in Hawaiian Garden?”

I looked at him and said, “What do you hear?”

Not one to beat around the bush, he said, “Back in Fruitcake when a candidate runs for office and makes a commitment to his/her supporters, it’s kept.”

“That’s understood,” I replied, “but sometimes circumstances prevents a can-

didate from keeping his promises.”“That’s true,” he said, “but back in Fruit-

cake, the candidate tries to explain why he can’t keep his commitment.” He paused for a moment, “but when he doesn’t even try to explain and just keeps silent, it begins to look like he only made the promises just to gain support.”

My Friend from Fruitcake had a point.“You know what happens? He asked.

“His supporters eventually turn against him and he suddenly finds himself mar-ginalized.” He paused a moment. “His so called new friends are just using him under the guise of harmony. We had that happen a few years ago. A candidate running for the Fruitcake city council promised his supporters he would straighten things out in city hall.”

“What happen?” I asked.“He took the easy way out and didn’t

do a thing. Nothing changed.”“What did his supporters do?“They turned against him and pulled

their support away from him. The next election three seats were open. His former

supporters backed three reformed candi-dates. When the election was over and new majority took over a he was marginalized. When his term was ended he failed in his bid for re-election.

I sat back in my chair, silently going over in my mind what he had just said. “What doe that has to do with Hawaiian Gardens?” I asked.

“If you don’t know, I certainly don’t know,” he replied.

My Friend from Fruitcake, Florida got up to leave, then sat back down in his chair. “You know, “ he said, “Politics is the same no matter where you live. If you don’t keep your promises or at least try to keep them, you wind up alone. No one will trust your word again. It’s true in Fruitcake and here in California. I think Hawaiian Gardens voters know what is going on.

This time my Friend from Fruitcake, Florida got up from his chair and said, “Well, I have to go. I’m having lunch with our friend, “VAL LYNDER, DEFENDER OF ALL THAT IS TRUE.”

Barrows Alleged Assault Case Headed to DA’s Office Hearing Program

The Los Angeles County District Attorney has decided not to seek felony charges against Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Barrows after an alleged altercation involving resident and city council critic Jay Gray, but the embattled official is not out of the crosshairs of legal au-thorities.

Mario Trujillo, Assistant District Attorney confirmed to Los Cerritos Community News-paper on Monday afternoon that his office will not move forward on the matter after Gray

filed a “failure to prosecute” procedure last Friday.

“The District Attorney will not file charges against Mayor pro tem Bruce Barrows,” Tru-jillo told LCCN.

“The DA will refer the case per policy to a Office Hearing Program. The case will be handled internally and informally in our of-fice,” stressed Trujillo.

According to one website, Open Hearing is an administrative hearing that is conducted as an alternative to a misdemeanor criminal prosecution in Los Angeles County. The City Attorney Hearing Program is used as an al-ternative to criminal prosecution. A hearing officer (not an attorney) conducts this type of administrative hearing and there is no judge or jury present at the hearing. Witnesses for the defendant and or the alleged victim may testi-

fy at the hearing. Evidence presented by either side is considered by the hearing officer. At the end of the hearing, the hearing officer will determine whether to recommend to the City Attorney to proceed with criminal prosecu-tion, dismiss the matter, or the hearing officer could leave the case open for one year before completely closing out the criminal case.

Gray and Barrows went head to head in a heated exchange at the Monday June 4 Cerri-tos City Council Meeting during public com-ments. Barrows said he was “defending the honor of his wife Teresa.”

Gray said the he was a “victim of assault” and that Barrows needs to admit “the truth” to “himself” and “the community.”

Cerritos resident Chris Fuentes lashed out at Barrows at the meeting and demanded the

[See BARROWS page 19]

Publishers Rant

Barrows calls resident A**hole

A**hole! A despicable word when, used towards a person, will likely initiate some kind of negative response.

But that is what Cerritos Mayor pro tem Bruce Barrows said to a resident of Cerritos because Barrows disagreed with him during a conversation after the June 4, 2012 council meeting.

This statement is in the Cerritos Sher-iff’s police report. A report that interviewed the Cerritos resident, Barrows and a wit-ness. Actually the witness reported Barrows called the resident a F***** A**hole.

Analyze the statement. What kind of person-who is a public servant no less- would call a resident-an active resident-

that in public. With witnesses present?Even if you are in a disagreement with

someone, calling them an A***hole will increase the chances that things are not go-ing to go well after that.

In two witness statements, which in-cludes Barrows, after Barrows called the Cerritos resident an A**hole, the resident said, “at least your wife likes me”.

Which is where the incident went awry.

Barrows admitted in the report that he “lost control” after the wife statement, pushed the resident on the shoulder and then “walked away”.

Yet, the resident and witness both said it went farther than that, with Barrows grabbing the shirt and tie and pushing him against the wall. In the fluff Press Tele-gram story dated 6/5/12 "Barrows denied allegations by Gray that he had made other physical contact."

So there is no question that Barrows

called the resident an A***hole and as-saulted him. The only question is the level of assault.

Can you imagine what would happen if an LA County Supervisor called a resident an A**hole after a meeting?

Can you imagine what would happen if a California Assemblyperson called a resi-dent an A**hole after a meeting?

Can you imagine what would happen if a Congressperson called a resident an A**hole after a meeting? And they did this with witnesses?

Why is it OK that Barrows did it? Where is the outrage Cerritos? If Cerritos mayor pro tem Barrows can

call a Cerritos resident a A**hole for a simple disagreement and then accost that person, what is next?

We can all just F***** imagine.The Cerritos Sheriff’s report of the

incident can be viewed at loscerritosn-rews.net.