The California Redistricting Commission released reapportionment maps for the state's congressional and legislative districts that could change the political landscape of the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas. In the Assembly, this may mean that a new Asian-heavy district from Monterey Park to Arcadia is created. A final vote is required by August 15.
New congressional districts in the San Gabriel Valley, approved by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, reflects a significant change from current boundaries. (The new congress representatives will be voted in the November 2012 elections and take office in January 2013.) The new district lines have some local leaders worried about the region's ability to get federal dollars and attention to address local issues.
Dwight Chang of Arcadia is owner of a house on the 1300 block of South Palm Avenue in San Gabriel. The building has been operating as a makeshift maternity ward with 10 newborns and about 12 Chinese nationals, crammed into an illegally converted townhouse. Chang has been warned twice before for operating a business that primarily caters to Asian "maternity tourists." Chang denied any wrongdoing and was fined $800 for building code violations. Children born on American soil automatically become United States citizens, under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Maternity tourism caters to wealthy Taiwanese, Chinese and Koreans. Throughout the past decade, similar set-ups have been uncovered in Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, New York, and Quebec.
Thousands of San Gabriel Valley customers will be receiving refunds from Golden State Water Company after state regulators ruled the San Dimas-based company failed to properly oversee contracts that led to overcharging customers. The CPUC ruled that Golden State must refund Northern California and Southern California customers $9.5 million over the next 3 years and/or lower rates. About $400,000 in refunds will be given to 100,000 Southern California customers, including customers in Charter Oak, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Walnut, San Gabriel, Arcadia, El Monte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Temple City.
Four Chinese nationals were arrested on federal and state charges for their alleged involvement in brothels in Monterey Park and San Gabriel. Jian "David" Guo, 42, of Arcadia, Huagui "Candy" Lotto, 53, of Rowland Heights, Lotto's husband Phillip Fu, 47, of Rowland Heights, and Yibin Zhang, 45, of Monterey Park, were arrested. If convicted of the state charges, the maximum sentence would be 7 years and 4 months.
Hundreds of teachers across the San Gabriel Valley are facing layoffs again this summer and experts say cuts could be far more drastic if a solution to the state's budget problems is not reached. About 20,000 teachers in the state have been put on notice that they could be laid off if school districts do not receive the necessary state funding. Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) sent out notices to about 16% of its teachers.
Grades are in: San Marino Unified is still tops in state test. About 90% of San Marino Unified students met state standards in English and about 85% met state standards in math. In comparison, 79% of Arcadia Unified School District students met state standards in English and 76% met state standards in math.
California State Assembly member Anthony Portantino (Democrat-La Canada Flintridge), who represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Arcadia, was named Legislator of the Year by the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) for his public safety measure banning the open carry of unloaded handguns in public places.
A Los Angeles County report showed that life expectancy in Los Angeles County reached 80.3 years, an all-time high, according to the county Department of Health Services. Arcadia, East San Gabriel, Walnut and Rowland Heights had some of the highest life expectancy rates in the county. Arcadia's life expectancy is 84.7 years. Females of Asian-Pacific Islander descent have the highest life expectancy in the county and all four of the SGV communities with the highest life expectancy rates also have high populations of residents of Asian Pacific Islander descent. In general, the report found that people in affluent communities tend to live longer while residents of poorer cities in more urban parts of the county had some of the lowest life expectancy rates.
2010 U.S. Census data shows that 12 San Gabriel Valley cities, including Arcadia, saw the percentage of owner-occupied homes rise, something that experts said was extremely uncommon following the housing crisis. 63.1% of Arcadia's homes are owner-occupied, while 36.9% are occupied by renters. Other cities' figures are shown in chart. Arcadia's vacancy percentage is 5.3%. Vacancy rates are determined by the U.S. Census Bureau by sending out canvassers to homes that did not respond to Census mailers.
Democrat Ed Chau won the seat in California's 49th Assembly District. The 49th State Assembly District includes Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, San Marino, Arcadia, and Temple City.
State official views damage caused by last week's windstorm. California Emergency Management Agency's acting secretary Mike J. E. Dayton toured 8 San Gabriel Valley cities that were hardest hit, including Altadena, Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Temple City, San Gabriel and Alhambra, to assess the damage. He will determine whether state or federal assistance may be applicable.
California Governor Jerry Brown declares a state of emergency in response to the recent windstorm that caused about $75 million in damage, primarily in the San Gabriel Valley. The declaration allows city governments to be reimbursed for up to 75% of the cost of the damage through state and federal agencies. It also allows state agencies to assist in the recovery.
In a letter sent to Mayor Tom Beck, the HQH Chinese American Equalization Association demands district voting in Arcadia. The association claims at-large system dilutes influence. According to 2010 U.S. Census, Asians represent 60% of the city's population of 56,364 and about 46% of its registered voters. The letter points out that no more than 2 Asian Americans have served on Arcadia City Council at the same time. Beck said Arcadia doesn't have the problem of Asians being underrepresented.
New Gold Line Bridge a wonderful gift. The design of the Foothill Basket Bridge was inspired by the indigenous Native American people and wildlife in San Gabriel Valley. The project created local jobs and the bridge was constructed by Skanska USA.
Arcadia, Alhambra, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Gabriel, San Marino and Temple City public schools all showed improvement on California state API testing that measures English and math performance. Duarte Unified showed a drop from the previous year.
Arcadia resident Sylvia Miller (photo) will tell California Retired Teachers Association about her years as a human "computer" at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), as recounted in Nathalia Holt's book The Rise of the Rocket Girls. Miller was one of many women scientists hired to compute data used to chart the path for NASA's early space missions.
The windstorm that hit San Gabriel Valley on November 30-December 1 leaves lessons. Utilities and city officials study what went wrong to be better prepared in future emergencies and disasters. Southern California Edison (SCE) restored power to the last of its 433,925 customers by Thursday--one week after the storm--and is now the subject of public criticism and a probe by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for "prolonged power outages." Crews in Pasadena and surrounding cities are still clearing the streets.
Arcadia Unified School District fights for fair funding in Sacramento at the 2018 California State Parent Teacher Association (CA PTA) Legislation Conference.