Because of budget cuts, the nearly 50-year-old Santa Anita Courthouse jail in Monrovia is expected to close. According to Arcadia Police Chief David Hinig, the closing of the Santa Anita Court will follow within months. Closing of the lockup will affect both Arcadia and Monrovia police departments.
The Arcadia and Monrovia police departments have been forced to increase overtime spending and reduce dayside patrol staffing because of the recent transfer of criminal cases from the Santa Anita Courthouse to Alhambra.
The lockup at Santa Anita Superior Court in Monrovia will close at the end of the month. The closure, due to budget cuts, will have a direct effect on the Monrovia and Arcadia police departments.
All the judges in Los Angeles County are in the process of voting on whether or not to consolidate the municipal and superior courts. Their decision would affect the local Santa Anita Municipal Court District.
Money from a $19.9 billion statewide transportation bond approved by voters in 2006 is being used for road improvement projects. Arcadia received $900,000 for the rehabilitation of Santa Anita Avenue, which is already under construction. Two photographs of Santa Anita Avenue with captions are included.
The Santa Anita Companies was dealt a blow when the State Assembly Appropriations Committee shot down two key bills that would have allowed Santa Anita to begin expansion into the casino industry.
Pasadena City College board candidate David Ma faces criminal charges for sign ordinance violation. His election signs were found on public property. The arraignment will be held November 25 at Santa Anita Municipal Courthouse in Monrovia.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, plans to sue the City of Arcadia and developer Caruso Affiliated to prevent The Shops at Santa Anita, the outdoor mall, from being built.
The Los Angeles Conservancy raises concerns about the work being done at the Santa Anita Park race track with the addition of the elevator towers. The city will respond to the issues raised.
A brush fire that started Saturday in Santa Anita Canyon is being referrred to as the Santa Anita Fire. The fire is still raging in the mountains above Sierra Madre and Arcadia. It has destroyed 400 acres, forced the evacuation of 1000 people, and forced Sierra Madre to close its schools. Officials say it could take 4-7 days to contain the fire.
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.
With the winter-spring racing season less than three weeks old, Santa Anita Park has laid off parimutuel and other workers, and track owner Frank Stonach is being publically chastised for his leadership style.