About 20 demonstrators organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested the perceived mistreatment of race horses in front of Santa Anita Park during the Breeders' Cup. Pictured is Natalie Stauffer of San Francisco.
Coyotes are suspected as pets vanish. Coyotes have been sighted in the Santa Anita Oaks neighborhood. The City of Arcadia forwards the wild animal complaints to the State Department of Fish and Game.
The expansion plan for Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita raises traffic concerns with City Council members. Kenneth Wong, president of Westfield America maintains composure as he answers. The proposed expansion is called The Promenade, an outdoor 100,000 square feet area that would be between Nordstrom and Macys.
Fish and Game officials met in Arcadia with members of area police to discuss dealing with increasingly visible wild animals, especially bears, who amble into cities bordering Angeles National Forest. Wildfires may drive animals from the mountains.
A parkland plan proposes linking 17 miles of trails and natural habitat in an uninterrupted loop running through the heart of the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier area. The two rivers, the "strands" of the necklace, would culminate at Whittier Narrows and be linked at the top by a "clasp"--a trail running through Hanson Quarry. The entrance to Peck Road Water Conservation Park, a former gravel quarry located in Arcadia may be made more inviting under the plan.
Arcadia would lose $1.2 million in revenue during the next two years under a California State budget plan proposed by Governnor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Also, a dog park at Eisenhower Park would open.
Adam Schiff has proposed a plan under which ten cities along the planned Gold Line extension route would gain effective control over the project's construction.
Competing measures will go to voters in May. Measure A, sponsored by Manny Romero, the owner of Rod's Grill, would prohibit automobile sales in an area bounded by Santa Anita Avenue, Huntington Drive, and Morlan Place for twelve years. Measure B would allow auto sales and related uses on the block and contains a provision to eliminate eminent domain as a tool to acquire property for future development in downtown area.
An outdoor courtyard, a 1220 space parking structure, and numerous shops would be added to Westfield Shoppingtown - Santa Anita under an expansion plan under review by the City Council.
The city is asking residents to vote by mail by July 15 on a plan that would change the way the city splits the cost of street lighting. The city expects street lighting to cost about $1.15 million next year. Single-family homes on lighted streets would pay the most, $25.70 a year. Under the proposal, the assessments would no longer be tied to the value of a home but rather to the benefits that residents receive from street lights. If voters reject the plan, the current lighting assessment districts will expire in 2010. If that happens, the city will be responsible for paying the entire costs of street lighting.
Arcadia Police Chief Dave Hinig outlined a strategic plan to improve the department over a five-year period, at a cost of $536,498. The proposals would involve adding 11 new salaried positions.
The City of Arcadia and Arcadia City Council are working on plans for a new civic center and multipurpose facility that would be located next to City Hall and the newly constructed police station. The project would use money from the capital construction fund and is not part of the city's general fund.
Plans for a Blue Line rail depot to be built on Santa Clara St. near First Ave. disappoints city officials who hoped it would be closer to main tourist hubs.
Hikers and scouts were briefly trapped by flames, and homeowners in Sierra Madre were given the option to evacuate, due to a brush fire which started in a wooded area about one mile north of Arno Drive in north Arcadia around 3pm yesterday. The fire has burned more than 100 acres.
Westfield Group has nominated Santa Anita Park to the National Register of Historic Places, claiming development plans by Caruso Affiliated constitute a threat to the racetrack. Magna Entertainment, owner of the race track, would have to agree to the track being placed on the register. However, placement on the list would not restrict development on the site.
The City of Arcadia wants to assist in the redevelopment of South Arcadia businesses around Live Oak and Las Tunas. The city will hold a hearing July 3 for the environmental impact report on a plan that has been proposed. The area in question covers 75 acres.
First Avenue zone change delayed. Owners of property at 1020-1026 First Avenue have three more months to work out a compromise for use of the property, with six condominiums in development, in an area zoned as single family residential. Arcadia staffers have found a number of areas where the city general plan and zoning map do not agree in designation.