Group Challenges School Bond Measure
A San Gabriel citizens group, worried that a proposed high school would mean a loss of homes, increased traffic and higher taxes, has challenged a special election for the approval of bonds to build the school.
In a complaint lodged with the governing board of the San Gabriel Unified School District on Monday, the Save Our Homes committee claimed that it was denied the chance to submit arguments on the sample ballot. The group demanded that the March 2 election be canceled or postponed if its views are not included.
“They’ve raised some very serious issues,” said Joseph B. Crawford, a district assistant superintendent. “These issues will have to be looked into.”
Members of Save Our Homes said Tuesday that they were unaware of the formal deadline for offering a rebuttal to arguments in favor of the $29.9-million bond measure because election officials published the required legal notices in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, which no longer circulates in San Gabriel.
“We were looking for the notice in the (Pasadena) Star-News or the (Los Angeles) L.A. Times,” said Grace Carlos, chairwoman of Save Our Homes. She said the group represents about 100 residents.
The Star-News took over the Tribune’s subscribers in San Gabriel last July. The notice publicizing the deadline for ballot arguments was published in the Tribune on Nov. 26, according to an employee in the paper’s legal advertising department.
Halvor Melom, principal deputy counsel for Los Angeles County, said Wednesday that the registrar-recorder’s office, which is responsible for publishing the legal notices, was looking into the homeowners’ complaint.
For now, he said, the registrar’s office plans to proceed with the election.
A court order would be required to include new arguments on the sample ballot, which has been printed, Melom said.
The proposed high school would be built at the current location of Jefferson Intermediate School, 1440 Lafayette St.
Carlos said at least five homes would be removed to expand the site.
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