Measure A, an $8 million bond measure to fund a train bridge over Santa Anita Avenue, will need a 2/3 vote to pass. Citizens will need to form a committee to build support for this measure, to be voted on on April 11, 2006.
Stephen Deitsch, Arcadia's City Attorney, wants residents to know he has not taken a position on ballot Measure N or Measure P. Westfield Group has published campaign materials that might lead residents to believe Deitsch has taken a stance.
Less than one week remains before voters decide on ballot measures I, N, and P. A lot of money has been spent by Westfield Group and Our City, a committee headed by George Fasching, on Measures N and P. Measure I is an unopposed bond campaign.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, has proposed two ballot measures for the November election. Westfield is gathering signatures for the two initiatives: 1) to mandate free parking at all large retail projects and 2) to ban large billboards. A poll of 300 registered Arcadia voters in February showed 74% support the free parking initiative and 62% support the billboard measure.
A full page advertisement authorized by Arcadia First! speaks out against Caruso Affiliated's plans to build a mall on the parking lot of Santa Anita Park race track.
Arcadia voters will decide on ballot Measure I, Measure N, and Measure P on November 7, 2006. Measure N has to do with billboard-type signs. Measure I calls for residents to finance a bond if the district wants to erect new buildings for public schools. Measure P has to do with charging for parking at The Shops at Santa Anita.
Alhambra city mayor Mark Paulson weighs in on Arcadia ballot Measure P, regarding parking at the proposed Shops at Santa Anita mall. Arcadia City Hall feels he has crossed a line.
Voter turnout was unusually high for Tuesday's election. 34 percent of the electorate turned out to vote. 72 percent approved Measure A, the bond for a train bridge over Santa Anita Avenue. The article includes the vote count for candidates who won council seats.
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.
George Haines, General Manager of Santa Anita Park race track, writes an open letter in support of the Caruso Affiliated development called The Shops at Santa Anita.
Two inches of hail forced the cancellation of races at Santa Anita Park yesterday. More rain is expected over the next few days. Maintenance on the Cushion Track will begin when the rain stops.
Since Magna Entertainment Corp., the owner of Santa Anita Park, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The race track will be auctioned off in September. That land is zoned for horse racing. Jason Kruckeberg, Arcadia's Development Services Director, said it will remain as a race track.
Horseracing TV (HRTV) is the only national television network in the San Gabriel Valley. It is run out of a small studio at Santa Anita Park race track and shows 15 hours per day of live racing content from Santa Anita and 14 other tracks.
Two new issues brought up by Westfield Group against the Caruso project may go to Arcadia voters in a special election in November. One issue is to ban paid parking and the other is to prevent Caruso from erecting large billboards at the mall. Any election could cost the city up to $80,000.
Drainage problems with the Cushion Track cause the cancellation of races. Santa Anita Park race track executives weigh options including shutting down and moving races to Hollywood Park, or installing a completely new surface.
Santa Anita Park has come up with two options to solve its drainage issues caused by the Cushion Track. Santa Anita Park president Ron Charles will announce his decision Thursday. Santa Anita had to cancel three consecutive days of horse racing for the first time in its 71-year history, due to heavy rainfall.