Montebello : Officials Discuss Ways of Handling Cruisers

Officials from four neighboring cities met with local and regional law enforcement representatives at Montebello City Hall in an informal session to discuss ways of combatting the local cruising problem.

Montebello Mayor Ed Pizzorno said he decided to call the session after repeated complaints from constituents. Pico Rivera, which bears the brunt of the cruisers, had the largest City Council contingent: members Garth Gardner, Rick Mercado and John Chavez. Also on hand were officials from Temple City and Rosemead and the CHP.

Montebello Police Chief G. Steve Simonian noted that cruising is an enduring problem. “In 1963, I cruised the city of Whittier. It was cheap entertainment,” he said. He added that cities have been able to push cruising from one municipality to another but that a comprehensive regional approach has never been attempted.

Officials of the affected law-enforcement agencies will meet to develop such a strategy. In about a month, officials will once again gather with them. In last week’s meeting, the group discussed plans including regional traffic-flow patterns and youth- and parent-education programs on the dangers from criminal activity associated with cruising.

Pico Rivera spends about $400,000 a year to manage as many as 10,000 cruisers who descend on the city on a given night.