Arcadia city officials are cracking down on "maternity tourism" boarding houses by dedicating a full-time police detective to investigate the issue. Maternity or birth tourism is a phenomenon in which women, often from China, pay a handsome fee to have their babies in the United States, so the children can be citizens. While that is not illegal, at least five establishments have been shut down for violations, such as unlawfully operating boarding house businesses in residential zones.
An ancient Chinese maternity tradition, from the Sung Dynasty (960-1275 AD), known as "Zuo Yue Zi," is translated as "doing the month."It refers to the care of a Chinese woman during the first month after giving birth. The practice is explained here by Wei-Chen Tung, a former registered nurse at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and now an assistant professor of nursing at University of Nevada, Reno. The practice requires new mothers to follow a strict diet and rest for 3-4 weeks following a pregnancy. Tung says a lot of Chinese women still practice this, so hospitals should be aware of this part of Chinese culture. Maternity tourists--women who want to come to the United States to give birth to a full-fledged American citizen, have given rise to businesses that cater to them, such as the maternity home that was shut down in the 1300 block of South Palm Avenue in San Gabriel on March 8. It had been 5 townhomes illegally converted into a maternity home.
Arcadia Police close 13 maternity homes in a crackdown months after a full-time detective was assigned to address calls about pregnant Asian women living in groups at residences around the city. The pregnant Asian women come to the U.S. so their babies receive U.S. citizenship. Detective James Trabbie became the quality-of-life detective.
Dwight Chang of Arcadia is owner of a house on the 1300 block of South Palm Avenue in San Gabriel. The building has been operating as a makeshift maternity ward with 10 newborns and about 12 Chinese nationals, crammed into an illegally converted townhouse. Chang has been warned twice before for operating a business that primarily caters to Asian "maternity tourists." Chang denied any wrongdoing and was fined $800 for building code violations. Children born on American soil automatically become United States citizens, under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Maternity tourism caters to wealthy Taiwanese, Chinese and Koreans. Throughout the past decade, similar set-ups have been uncovered in Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, New York, and Quebec.
Steve and Yan-Fen Lin, a couple possibly of Arcadia, have been running the illegally modified townhome in San Gabriel, owned by Dwight Chang of Arcadia, as a maternity home for Asian tourists. They violated building codes for setting up a makeshift maternity ward.
Three women were violently robbed in a span of a week in the 99 Ranch Market parking lot at 1300 S. Golden West Avenue. In two of the incidents, a passenger leaned out of a car to grab purses, and in the other incident, two men pushed a woman to the ground, kicked her in the face and stole her purse.
Circus Vargas will be coming to Santa Anita Park for the first time this fall. It will run for 11 days starting Thanksgiving Day in the southwest parking lot. It is an animal-free circus.
Bobcat Fire - Most Chantry Flat cabins survived - 62 of 80 structures, historic Adams Pack Station did not burn down in massive Bobcat Fire which broke out September 6.
Mike Smith (photo) wins second Bill Shoemaker Award as most outstanding jockey at Breeders' Cup. He had three wins over the weekend at the 30th annual Breeders' Cup, held at Santa Anita Park. Lists past Bill Shoemaker Award winners.
American Association of University Women (AAUW)-Arcadia Branch Collection, 1950-2000s The Arcadia branch of AAUW was founded in 1950 and disbanded in 2016. First of three boxes.
Chronological Folders 1950-2000s
AAUW Bulletin (newsletter), Arcadia Branch 1950-1971 (various months and missing years)…
American Association of University Women (AAUW)-Arcadia Branch Collection, 1950-2000s
The Arcadia branch of AAUW was founded in 1950 and disbanded in 2016. First of three boxes.
Chronological Folders 1950-2000s
AAUW Bulletin (newsletter), Arcadia Branch 1950-1971 (various months and missing years)
The folder for each fiscal year (July through June) 1972-2000, may contain the following items (some items and months may be missing):
Bulletin (newsletter)
Membership directory
Annual report
Installation program pamphlet
Newsletters AAUW Arcadia Jan 2009-May/June 2015
AAUW Arcadia Branch membership directories 2001-2004
Misc. booklets-AAUW and other women’s organizations
A rich history. Ghosts appear and pull away from the pack as memories of Breeders' Cups past point to the most lucrative sports event in North America. Breeders' Cup takes place today and tomorrow at Santa Anita Park. Other related stories.
Arcadia City Council approves Rusnak Mercedes-Benz land sale. The automobile dealership plans $10 million in new construction on its six acres. It will include a new 25,000 s.f. showroom on Santa Anita Avenue.
American Pharoah's trainer Bob Baffert and his wife Jill donated $150,000 to three charities. Jockey Victor Espinoza, who rode American Pharoah to win 2015 Triple Crown, donated all his earnings from Belmont Stakes race to City of Hope.
46th Annual Mayor's Community Breakfast to honor women of Arcadia, on February 21, 2020. Mayor April Verlato will give the State of the City Address. Dr. Jasmine Sharma will give keynote address
Caltech graduate Tyler Johnson, who had been identified as a suspect in the firebombing and vandalism of more than 130 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) at automobile dealerships in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003, has died in an avalanche while hiking in the Corsian mountains in France on December 26, 2009. Johnson has been a fugitive for the past six years. Surveillance cameras captured Johnson and William ("Billy") Cottrell spray painting environmental slogans on the cars at Rusnak Mercedes Benz in Arcadia in 2003. Cottrell was convicted.
Arcadia City Council poised for historic changes. In a pair of firsts, the Arcadia City Council will have majority of women and three Asian-American members on the dais. New council members are:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
See hard copy in VF City Council (2020-2029)
Arcadia aims to increase tourism and makes breakthrough in residential burglaries. Recap of Arcadia City Council meeting. New Arcadia tourism video was presented to promote Arcadia, with the goal of bringing new business investment to the city. Arcadia Police Chief Bob Guthrie gave a report on crime in the city and has recently uncovered a ring of burglars in the county through the cracking of codes on a captured burglar’s cell phone and has a couple of those criminals in custody.
Women are stronger together. The Wandering Foot Quilt Guild meets in Arcadia. This group of women teaches quilting and gives back to the community by giving 50-70 items a month to USC Medical Center for low income people with illnesses.