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.
Arcadia's new city manager Dominic Lazzaretto is ready for the job. He starts March 26 and replaces Don Penman who retired last November. He comes to Arcadia from a City Manager position in La Palma.
United States government may be shut down but not Arcadia High School Constitution Team. Kevin Fox (photo) teaches and coaches the Constitution Team. The program is called "We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution."
Fireworks are illegal in Arcadia and most cities. Arcadia Municipal Code 3124.8 says no person shall use, light, fire, discharge, explode, set off, sell, display for sale, possess, store, or manufacture any fireworks.
Officials rip San Gabriel Valley area massage parlor growth. Solicitation arrests haven't kept up pace. There are 9 times as many massage parlors in the San Gabriel region as there were 10 years ago, but arrests for prostitution has not spiked.
Mayors of seven San Gabriel Valley cities that were hard hit by last year's ferocious windstorm are making a plea to Governor Jerry Brown for state disaster relief. The seven cities include Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Temple City, San Marino, South Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge.
City Council revoked the business license of IFitness & Beauty Spa due to a number of violations. It is located at 133 E. Huntington Drive and is the 10th massage service establishment to have its license revoked for code violations since January 2009 as part of a crackdown on code compliance and to eliminate prostitution and other illegal activities. Michelle Ma, the manager of IFitness and wife of the owner said they have been trying to comply but needed more time.
Power still out in parts of Pasadena. The California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike Dayton is touring the cities most impacted by the windstorm. His visit is considered a precursor to a state declaration of emergency, which would pave the way for state and federal assistance. Arcadia City Manager Don Penman said damage to public buildings and recovery efforts are expected to top $2 million, and that damage to private property could run several million more.
City Council denied a move by Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners' Association to stop construction of a large new home in its neighborhood. Mayor Bob Harbicht commented, "This is the land of the free."
Arcadia City Council members to submit nominees for John Wuo's vacant seat at next meeting October 20. Mayor Gary Kovacic and Councilman Tom Beck recommended former mayor Mickey Segal. Councilman Roger Chandler and Sho Tay wanted to take time to think of a few more nominees.
Arcadia Police Chief Charles Mitchell, in a speech to the legislative committee of the Chamber of Commerce, discussed crime and law enforcement in Arcadia.
Sierra Madre mail carriers will be consolidated into the Arcadia branch, effective October 26. The aim is to cut costs. The post office in Sierra Madre is not shutting down, but mail carrier drivers will instead report to the Arcadia post office at 41 Wheeler Avenue.
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.
Temple City hires Don Penman, former City Manager of Arcadia, as Interim Temple City Manager, while city officials search for a permanent replacement for Jose Pulido, who was terminated January 13.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency recently made several changes in its relocation rules that serve as guidelines to move residents and businesses to comparable sites when the city purchases their locations for redevelopment purposes. The new rules, which go into effect January 1, were prompted by new changes in state law and the need for smoother transition periods during relocations.