Welcome To La Habra Heights . Net
News, Information & Analysis on the City and the Issues
Established 1999

Still Amazing After 40 Years

La Habra Heights Fine Artists & Artisans Reception Sat., March 6th from 2 - 5pm, La Habra Art Gallery, 215 North Orange Street in La Habra Admission is free

Mayor Vipperman Spends $20,000 to Sue Residents - Story

Los Angeles Times Story about undue influence in Planning Department - Story

Legislation Introduced to Exempt LHH From High Density Housing

Exclusive - Sexual Harrassment/Termination/Pay Lawsuit against
City Settles for $375,000 - Story

Listen Live! - LHH Fire Dept, Fire Watch, Sheriff Dept, LA County Fire Courtesy of Unisat See Live HeightsCam View
February 2010 Newsletter December 2009 Newsletter November 2009 Newsletter See October 2009 Newsletter


Quick Links

City Council Minutes 1998-2010

*New* City Council Minutes - See the minutes for past meetings 1998 - 2008

Note: Detailed City Council minute were discontinued in Dec 2008, over residents objections.

Planning Commission Minutes 1998-20010

*New* Planning Commission Minutes - Minutes for 1998-2009


Current Issues

Longtime Resident and Community Leader Margarita McCoy Blasts Proposed Code Changes

"Why the hell are we doing this!"


3 minutes long
See Quicktime or Windows


Dog Days of Summer

A Great Day of Fun & Activities - see here
August 1, 2009


Uncommon Bird Visits the Heights, June 2009


Blackthroated MagpieJay


Avocado Festival 2009


Saturday May 16, 2009


Spring 2009

La Habra Heights in Springtime


New Strategy to Bring Urban Estates to the Heights?

Ray Fernandez echoes National Association of Homebuilders 2008 "Threat" Letter to the City


Mayor Vipperman Proposes Aerial Surveillance of Residences for
Code Enforcement, Weed Abatement, Observing, etc
Other Council Members Appear Baffled Jan 2010
Fire! Above Construction Site on Hacienda, Spreads up Hill toward Panchoy
5 Acres Burn 11/23/09 - Pictures and Video
Brad Cooke & Jeff Heintz Win Water Board Election - See Results
Large Turnout - Gap Between Heintz and Edwards Narrowed to 25 votes in Late Returns
Council Approves Commercial Facilty 3-2

Majority 3 Vote Against the Community; More concerned with Tower Owner Profit
25 Story Tall Antenna Owner Gets CUP for Commerical Tower

2004 Agreement called for tower removal this year.

Important Story details here.


Fire Tax Exceeds Voter Approved Maximum for Second Year in a Row

No Public Comment Allowed


Board Takes Improvement Association Out of Members' Control

Members Now Play No Role Other than Paying Dues


Focus of Improvement Association VP arrest story shifts to LHHIA

Read here


La Habra Heights Improvement Association
Vice-President Arrested on charges including Identity Theft & Forgery

See Story on Topix


Recent Planning Approvals have resulted in Resident's losing views and property rights described in the General Plan.


New City Seal?


New Planning Commissioners Appointed

Dominic DiMario
Ray Fernandez
Judy Stefflre

November 4, 2008 LHH Election Results

Is the Howard Vipperman Re-Election Campaign Effort in Trouble? Story
Vipperman Lawsuit Against Residents Dismissed 12/30/09
Mayor Vipperman Files Lawsuit Against Resident for Defamation
Claims Resident "harbored a secret hatred and ill will" towards him
Law Firm shown as contributing $1000 to Vipperman 2007 Campaign - Nov 2009

Follow-Up Improvement Association Story - "That is definitely Mail Fraud."- Nov 09
Contributors to Improvement Association at Risk - Organization May Not Be as Claimed - Oct 09
Water District Board Wines and Dines at Your Expense - Story Here
Follow-up - 40 More Pages of Water Board Hotels & Meals, including $1000 Weekend in Long Beach - Story here
Hacienda Closure an Awakening for All October 2009
Investigation - Water Board Candidate Jeffrey Heintz Under Investigation by L.A. County Recorder for Ballot Designation - Too Late to Change - Update: October 7th

Too Close for Comfort?

Improvement Association, City Council, & Water Board Axis of Influence?


Commissoner Ray Fernandez states checking plans for Code compliance is
"Above My Pay Grade"Commission also votes 3-2 to allow a Fire Hydrant to be behind a private gate. Aug 09
Story here


Crackdown Escalates
New City Policy:
Residents prohibited from submitting correspondence to Planning Commission Prior to Meeting
Serious concerns of legality

Park Trail & Parking Area Dedication

August 19, 2009
Crackdown Continues
Bike Ban at Park Passed
August 13 Council Meeting


Don't Cross the Improvement Association?


Water District Board Election November 3, 2009
All Elected Offices are important for Voters to become educated about candidates and issues.

See Candidate Statements


Vipperman Files Papers Initiating 2011 Re-Election Effort - July 09

Announces intent to run again at August 13, 2009 CC Meeting


Back to the Future

Residents Suffering Again Under Planning Process

Commissioner Ray Fernandez Says That Residents should defend themselves against excessive runoff from new development.
Commissioner McCoy "shocked"

See Story and Video here


Council Majority 3 Unhappy With Simple "Call for Review" Process to Correct Planning Approval Errors which violate Residents' Property Rights.

Will They Change it to Protect Builders?


Vipperman Chronicles

News Stories about the Outrages & Exploits of Mayor Vipperman moved here


City Council Axes Public Works Committee 3-2

In Another Blow to Citizen Oversight of City Spending

July 2009



Power Line Expansion Through the City and Powder Canyon

Last Chance to Do Anything. Deadline for Comments to Draft EIR April 6, 2009

Quiet Overhead

Have you noticed that the planes inbound to LAX are much quieter than they used to be?

That is because they are silently gliding in now, not descending and repowering in steps.

Read the story in the February 28, 2009 Los Angeles Times

City Council Election

March 3, 2009 Results

Congratulations to

Stan Carroll

Brian Bergman

Carl Westerhoff

Plans for Harbor Blvd to be widened to 6 lanes, with Bus Route.

What Did City Officials Know?

Council Unanimously passes opposition Resolution at Jan 15 Meeting!

Fire Tax Increase Double That Allowed by Codes

What do residents think about $25,000 overcharge?

Fires Burn November 15th
in Brea, Yorba Linda

Vehicle is Likely Cause

Hacienda Rd not closed to reduce Fire Danger

City Committees in Limbo

Council passes Handbook at Feb 09 meeting.

Update July 09
All Commissions abolished except Parks & Rec, which changed from an oversight committee to event planning, chaired by Mayor's wife

Residents Seek Solutions To Reduce Hacienda Traffic
View Protection Under Attack A Simple Way to Prevent the Most Likely Wildfire

Public Records Requests City Council Meetings Broadcast Live on Internet Starting November 13 Effective "Poll Tax" on City Council Candidates?

Invasive & Unwanted Vegetation


A Special Place & Special People

La Habra Heights is defined by the rural environment, lack of street lights, and low density.

La Habra Heights residents have vigorously and successfully defended our community against threats to our rural environment from within and adjacent to our community.

Residents have fought off high density housing, the 39 Freeway, condos in the hills of Whittier, development in Powder Canyon, the widening of Hacienda Blvd. and many others over the years.

As stated by a prominent resident, one of the most insidious and damaging threats is the one by one exceptions and variances to our Zoning Code which slowly, but surely, erodes the rural environment and quality of life.

Those interested in the history of the City can borrow the tape or DVD "The Story of La Habra Heights" at City Hall.


 "Beware of those who tout "individual property rights"

"Beware of those who tout "individual property rights" because that usually translates into"let's destroy the zoning and make this place look like the rest Los Angeles County". Experience has taught me that those people usually want no controls on their development, but want to tell everyone else what to do."

The first part of the Mayor's column written for the April 1990 Heights Life, by the outgoing four time mayor, who was instrumental in the founding of the City.

This was read into the public record by Julia Higgs at the August 12, 2002 GPAC Town Hall Meeting

 

MAYOR'S COLUMN

THE BATTLE IS NEVER OVER

Time and people have been kind to La Habra Heights. Always, it has seemed that we are in the right place at the right time to save this special place from high density development and preserve it for future generations. One needs only to look at Hacienda Heights to the north or the newly emerging Shea development in Rowland Heights to the east to understand why we became a city. This hillside village is too beautiful to allow it to go the way of neighboring communities.

 

The battle to preserve La Habra Heights will continue. I remember turning to James Littlejohn when we had just won the incorporation struggle and saying, 'It's over, La Habra Heights is safe!." and James replied, "It will never he over, Jean, as long as there is money to be made here." And he was right! Often, people appear in front of the Council saying, "I love this community. I want to keep it the way it is - except for my home which I am going to build four stories high, in a stream bed, and by the way I am going to have to exceed the grading ordinance by 100%, and I would like to run an asphalt plant in the backyard- but I want to keep La Habra Heights the way it is"

 

Well, take it from an old mayor, you can't have it both ways my friends. Either you maintain your strict standards for development or you lose it all. The most beautiful communities in California; Santa Barbara, Rancho Santa Fe, Rolling Hills, etc., all have strict development standards. Beware of those who tout "individual property rights" because that usually translates into"let's destroy the zoning and make this place look like the rest Los Angeles County". Experience has taught me that those people usually want no controls on their development, but want to tell everyone else what to do. The future of this community depends upon you. It is your choice to make. But, I can assure you, I will always be there when I feel the community we first envisioned is in trouble...................


 


Republic

Our Country is a "republic", from Latin "res publica" - public thing.

It is up to each of us to learn about what your governments are doing, and be involved.

It is important for everyone to know their rights to participate in and find out about their governments activities. Find out the facts:

The Brown Act, also known as the "Open Meeting Law" or Anti-Corruption Act

The Public Records Act, another good Records Act link

"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist they may retain control over the instruments they have created."

Preamble to the California Public Records Act


As James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, said,

"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governers must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a tragedy or a farce, or perhaps both."


Find out what happened today in U.S. History - A Library of Congress site


Why does this even matter?.........Read these

The Declaration of Independence

The Constitution of the United States

The Bill of Rights - the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution

The Federalist Papers



There's A Lot Going On In Town - You Need To Get Involved To Preserve Our Rural Environment

Don't Take It For Granted Or We Will Lose It


Note: Links to Off-Site locations may become defunct or change content. This is not within our control. Please notify us if you find one. Webmaster

 

Site Search

Search this Site with PicoSearch


See the Wonderful Video "Story of La Habra Heights", telling the story that our rural oasis was hard fought for, and residents must continue to fight to protect it. Also available as a FREE DVD.

Be Inspired. Get Involved.


Does it snow in La Habra Heights?

Development vs. Over-development

GPAC Community Survey Results

City's Original General Plan

Lost Animal Network - Call 691-1920 if you lost an animal or found a lost one.

Phone Numbers
City Hall 694-6302
Fire Dept 694-8283
Water District 697-6769
Sheriff 694-5923
Lost Animal Network 691-1920
Gas Leak 800-427-2200
Edison Emergency 800-611-1911
Time Warner Cable 888-892-2253
Park Ranger 698-1446
Fish & Game 888-334-2258
To Report Illegal Grading or Building on Fridays & Weekends 694-5923
Waste Management Trash 626-960-7551
Haulway 323-721-0371
La Habra Post Office 714-992-0580



La Habra Journal 90631
News about La Habra & LHH

Back to the Future

Find out why LHH incorporated. In the 1990s, a publication called "The Sentinel" was the place for news and information about the Heights. Many of the issues are pertinent again today, as we face the same threats to our rural environment.
Read the Sentinel Articles here.

..........................................

From 1999-2003, Heights Town News published in-depth, researched articles on City issues, and news of interest to the community.

Read past Heights Town News Articles here


The History Of La Habra Heights Has Long Been Intertwined With The Avocado

An early version of the symbol for the city was the avocado

History Of The Avocado
Avocado Recipes
The Remarkable Avocado Flower
Avocado Fertilization
How To Prune An Avocado
Avocados In The Heights - 1972 (good reading, even in 2009)
The Original Haas Avocado Tree On West Rd.
Interesting Avocado Story from "The Vancouver Sun"


Find out about the original "Roads Project" from the City publication "Top of the Heights" that describe them.

This was a 5 year long project to restore the roads that ended in 2001.

We now pay the annual "Roads Assessment" to keep the roads maintained.


See More La Habra Heights controversies at www.theavocadoexpress.com

--------------------------------

Find Low Gas Prices at:

www.lhhfirewatch.com

......................................


See the 2007 Los Angeles Times Article about
La Habra Heights


See the 1990 Los Angeles Times Article about La Habra Heights