PASADENA -- DEC. 1 -- (VCT)In a column in the Opinion section of the November 24 edition of the PasadenaStar News, John Irby, vice president and executive editor of San GabrielNewspaper Group, which includes the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, PasadenaStar-News and Whittier Daily News, announced that he was leaving SouthernCalifornia. Citing crime statistics and the recent publicity about the 18thStreet Gang, "As you may have guessed, our decision to leave is basedin large part on our family and what we believe to be an important lifestylechange.""Unfortunately for me and my country, it is time to leave SouthernCalifornia," Irby said in his column.Irby will be relocating to the Midwest.