BILLBOARD in Toronto by Branded Cities LLC/ By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune A proposed moratorium on new “freeway oriented” billboards in order to modernize standards for such advertising devices failed at last week’s meeting of the Westminster City Council. The vote was 3-1 in favor of a “pause” in considering e-boards that face freeways, but because the moratorium was “an urgency ordinance” and required a four-fifths vote it was unsuccessful. Councilmember Carlos Manzo recused himself and Councilmember NamQuan Nguyen voted “no.” Existing regulations for billboards date back to 1999 ..read more

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL. By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune After a lengthy public hearing and much back-and-forth on the details, a conditional use permit and other actions for the development of 54 multi-family units – including 53 lower-income senior housing rental units – was approved by the Westminster City Council on Wednesday night. The vote was 4-0 with Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen recusing himself because he owned nearby property. The “Milton Manor” project will be located at 13800, 13802 and 13812 Milton Avenue. That’s located east of the San Diego (405) Freeway and north of Westm ..read more

ELECTRONIC billboard. A senior citizen housing project and a proposed urgency ordinance barring new freeway-oriented billboards tops the agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting of the Westminster City Council. Two public hearings are scheduled. The first is a review of the planning commission’s recommendation for the approval of a conditional use permit and other actions for the development of 54 multi-family units – including 53 lower-income senior housing rental units – at 13800, 13800, 13802 and 13812 Milton Avenue. That’s located east of the San Diego (405) Freeway and north of Westminster ..read more

A SUSPECTED SEX trafficking suspect was arrested in Westminster (Shutterstock). Sex trafficking of a young girl; the suspect runs; a SWAT team is called and he’s finally arrested. It may seem like an episode from a TV crime program, but it actually happened in Westminster recently. According to the Westminster Police Department the incident started on Thursday, March 28 when the WPD received information that a 14-year-old girl was being trafficked for the purpose of prostitution by a suspect out of a local motel. The girl had been reported as a missing person from Kern County. She was locate ..read more

THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in Westminster (Orange County Tribune photo). Two memorial observances of “Black April,” the month in 1975 when Communist forces conquered the  Republic of (South) Vietnam, will be held in the Westminster Civic Center later this month. Last week the city council approved the two events, both of which will be held at the Sid Goldstein Freedom Park, 14080 All American Way. The first event is a 21st Year Anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial/49th Year of Black April Event on Sunday, April 28. It will held from 9 a.m. to noon, and about 2 ..read more

WESTMINSTER police building (File photo). If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the police department asking for credit card information, be wary. It’s a scam. Last week, a Westminster resident received a call that appeared on their caller ID as “Westminster Police Department.” Claiming to be a police officer, the man knew the resident’s name, address and the first four numbers of the caller’s credit card. The caller wanted the rest of the credit card number to verify that the resident wasn’t involved in the purchase of illegal chemicals and threatened him with jail if ..read more

A “GOOD SAMARITAN” that tried to intervene in a stabbing attack was himself fatally stabbed (Shutterstock). One man is dead, another in the hospital and a third in jail facing a murder charge after an altercation in Westminster on Friday afternoon. According to Sgt. Alan Aoki of the WPD, Isaias Saquic-Saquic, 35, of Westminster is accused of the stabbing death of Alvaro Martin-Perez, 48, also of Westminster. He is also being charged with attempted murder. Officers were called to an apartment complex in the 7300 block of 21st Street (between Hoover and Goldenwest streets) around 1 p.m. on Fri ..read more

THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in Westminster (Orange County Tribune photo). By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune American veterans of the Vietnam conflict will be honored in Westminster on March 29 as American Vietnam Veterans Day. That’s the decision made by the city council on Wednesday night, rescinding a resolution passed at the previous council meeting that would have combined observances for American and Vietnamese veterans of the war in one ceremony. Another date, possibly June 19, would be selected to honor Vietnamese veterans, although that was not in the reso ..read more

THE VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in Westminster (Orange County Tribune photo). Should all veterans of the Vietnam War be honored with one ceremony, or two separate events be held recognizing the contributions of members of the South Vietnamese armed forces and another for American veterans of the conflict? At tonight’s (Wednesday) meeting of the Westminster City Council, a resolution that would rescind an earlier resolution and lead to separate observances will be considered. The new resolution has been requested by Vice Mayor Kimberly Ho and Councilmember Carlos Manzo ..read more

CLOCK TOWER at Westminster Civic Center. (OC Tribune photo). Are you – or do you know – a “woman of distinction” in Westminster? The City of Westminster is seeking nominations for the inaugural “Women of Distinction” 2024 Awards in observance of Women’s History Month in March. The program is intended to recognize women in the community who influence or impact the community through their leadership, work, activism, volunteerism or service. Nominees must be at least 18 years old and must live, work or volunteer in Westminster. City employees are not eligible and you can’t nominate yourself. Ge ..read more