Arcadia, the Community of Homes, starkly divided on helping the homeless. Residents are unhappy with homeless encampment at Second Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The City proposes helping unhoused people with the Tiny Shelter project. The plan involves building a village of tiny homes on county land at Peck Park access road site. Residents expressed opposition to that, too.
Tiny house homeless plan draws opposition. Council tables proposal to build shelters at park. The city will create a citizens committee to help study the issue. The city is looking into costs, infrastructure and grants for the proposed complex of tiny shelters, in response to the growing number of unhoused people in Arcadia. Homelessness in Arcadia grew from 85 in 2019 to 117 in 2020.
Tiny homes opponents appeal for reduction of Foothill Unity Center’s homeless services. Opponents protested outside Arcadia Councilmember April Verlato's home.
Arcadia officials attempt to expand dialogue around homelessness. Arcadia homeowners are concerned that increased homelessness numbers within the city pose a threat to their children and property values. Arcadia City Council's idea to install 15 or so tiny homes as emergency shelter for unhoused people is being discussed.
Updated homeless ordinance in Arcadia raises more questions than answers. Arcadia installs 65 "No Camping" signs within city limits. The anti-camping ordinance, updated in 2021, makes accommodations for people experiencing homelessness that are camping by necessity, but does so in a way that is consistent with case law and includes restrictions on where, when and in what manner camping is allowed on public property.
Homeless count has massive overtones. Canvass has huge expectations because of political pressure and new programs, including the governor's move to conect homeless population with mental health services in the CARE Courts. The Los Angeles County total homeless count is 65,111 in 2022, that is a 2% increase from the count done in 2020. Arcadia's homeless count was 106 in January 2020 and in February 2022, it was 174, an increase of 68.
Homeless numbers count due today. First tally since 2020 Pandemic start, affects nonprofit services, political races, and government. Karen Roberson, Founder and Director of Family Promise of San Gabriel Valley, a nonprofit that provides temporary shelter to unhoused families in Rosemead, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Monrovia and Arcadia, said finding homeless families can be a difficult task and believes that population is undercounted.
Arcadia residents, city officials grapple with homeless issue at a public forum at Arcadia Performing Arts Center. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said easing the homeless crisis comes down to two major areas--enforcement and services. Police Chief Roy Nakamura said the number of calls to Arcadia Police Department related to the homeless increased from 1493 in 2019, to 2067 in 2020.
Arcadia launches homelessness program and perception survey. It is designed to solicit feedback about homeless in the city and to help inform the City and residents on the community's preferences for homeless support services.
Homeless forum in Arcadia spawns communication and compassion. It was held at the Performing Arts Center and designed to provide information on homelessness in Arcadia and giving community members a chance to share ideas and concerns. The Homelessness Resource Hub, now closed, had been offering services such as showers, laundry, free WiFi, charging stations, food, clothing, case management, and more at the city's PAR 3 Golf Course parking lot.
Overall homeless numbers remain steady. A count has identified how many individuals are homeless in a city-by-city count. 4555 in all, in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, remained about the same as last year's count. Arcadia has 106, up from 77 last year.
Maps shift election shapes. Redistricting offers little for Democrats to fear but comes as retirements open doors. Final maps were released yesterday to redraw boundaries for California's elected seats in Sacramento and Washington DC. The 14-member independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission's maps set up newly drawn Assembly, State Senate and Congressional maps, which must be formally approved. The maps did little to loosen Democrats' hold on Los Angeles County's state and federal districts. On the State Senate level, where the Commission is tasked with creating districts with 1 million people each, state Senator Susan Rubio's vast San Gabriel Valley District 22 loses several heavily Asian American communities, including San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Arcadia. Those communities would join Pasadena, Glendale and Altadena in Senator Anthony Portantino's District 25.
Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
Landlords urged to help area's homeless. New program provides financial benefits and support to landlords willing to lease to those receiving financial assistance. Landlords with units in Arcadia, among several other cities, are eligible for the program.
2020 ELECTIONS - Outcomes for boards of college districts - Open seats draw range of challengers to lead local higher education. Citrus Community College
In Area 2, Laura Bollinger had an early lead over Joseph Hamer Salas for the Citrus Community College District race.
The Citrus Community College District encompasses Azusa, Bradbury, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora, Monrovia, and portions of San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Arcadia, Covina and Irwindale. The district enrolls more than 20,000 students.
Vote centers open for San Gabriel Valley's 49th Assembly District special election. Vote centers will remain open from 10 AM to 7 PM every day for in-person voting or to drop off completed vote-by-mail ballots. The seat was vacated by Democrat Edwin Chau or Arcadia when California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Chau to serve as judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Democrat Mike Fong runs against Republican Burton Brink in this race. The 49th Assembly District includes Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City, and portions of Montebello and South El Monte. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 10, 2022.
Peach Tree Park chosen as city's war memorial site. "Peppermint candy" peach trees will be planted on a 30 x 300 strip of land parallel to the rear of the City Hall in a tiny park to commemorate Arcadia youths who lost their lives in World War II.
San Marino's Li sets record at CIF-SS finals swimming championships. There were impressive performances from the San Gabriel Valley. Sophia Xu of Arcadia was a second place finisher in the girls 100 butterfly with a time of 55.88.