Real estate developer and Arcadia resident Henry Nunez (in photo) started a hunger strike on Easter to draw attention to the importance of Arcadia's upcoming City Council elections. He is fasting and drinking only liquids and wants "a record turnout" in Tuesday's election for three city council seats and he wants people to vote for his choices--Peter Amundson, Paul Cheng and Sho Tay.
Santa Anita Park. Task force to explore race horse fatalities. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey opens investigation to determine any criminal wrongdoing.
Legislation. In the wake of 23 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park, California legislators are pushing for a new bill that targets racetrack oversight. It would allow state to suspend a venue’s license over safety concerns. Senator Bill Dodd, Democrat-Napa, and Assemblyman Adam Gray, Democrat-Merced, introduced the legislation and announced plans to have a joint oversight hearing on horse racing safety in the next month.
Arcadia. Is horse racing addicted to drugs? Medication use is widespread, and critics say it contributes to deaths like those at Santa Anita Park. Half of the three dozen horses that died at Santa Anita Park in the 12 months before the current meet were on at least one anti-inflammatory medication, a major focal point in the investigation into equine deaths at the racetrack. Critics argue overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs, masks the injuries of horses and increases the chances of a fatal breakdown. The California Horse Racing Board’s research indicates 90% of breaks stem from preexisting injuries. Animal rights organizations say these medications likely contributed to the deaths of 23 horses at Santa Anita Park since the season began December 26, 2018.
Santa Anita Park. In another major reform growing out of the deaths of 23 horses at Santa Anita Park, California state regulatory agency to order thorough exams in future race horse deaths.
Arcadia City Council candidates champion their causes. There are five candidates for two open seats. Their causes are: Gary Kovacic--maintaining a balanced budget with adequate reserves and a sense of community; Mary Dougherty--mansionization and residential guidelines; Sho Tay--traffic safety and opposing a new $12.2 million City Hall; John Wuo--reducing crime; and Henry Nunez--increase city revenues and create a real downtown in Arcadia.
Mayor Gary Kovacic and former councilman John Wuo were leading yesterday in the early returns for two City Council seats, but former school board president Mary Dougherty was close behind. About 6,500 of the city's nearly 30,000 voters had already cast their vote as of early Tuesday evening.
Arcadia's Gary Kovacic and John Wuo are the unofficial winners of the two City Council seats in the recent election by mail-in ballot. The final tally will be announced by early next week.
Santa Anita Park. Jockeys’ Guild wipes whip plans. California Horse Racing Board accepting comments on ‘corrective safety measures.’ Jockeys’ Guild postponing an apparent stunt in which jockeys planned to ride without whips. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is currently accepting comments for a proposed statewide change that would limit the use of whips, or riding crops, to “corrective safety measures.” The guild is opposed to the change. Thoroughbred Owners of California asked the jockeys to cancel the plan, according to Terry Meyocks, guild president and CEO.