Sex offenders launch series of lawsuits challenging residency restrictions. The California Supreme Court decided residency restrictions for some sex offenders violate the federal constitution. Arcadia's restrictions place more than 90% of Arcadia's residential property in exclusion zones that effectively banish registered sex offenders. Janice Bellucci says the law in Arcadia violates the 5th and 14th amendments and the Ex Post Facto Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Arcadia to amend sex offender registration to align more with recent state Supreme Court rulings. The amendment would repeal part of Arcadia Municipal Code, Chapter 9.4 of Article IV, which contains residency restrictions for registered sex offenders.
Registered sex offender Jaime Elvis Elizondo, who was convicted of assaulting a 5-year-old girl inside an Arcadia bookstore in 2008 and sent to prison in September, was beaten to death in his cell at High Desert State Prison. Prime suspect is Elizondo's cellmate Steven Cisneros.
Sex offender Jaime Elvis Elizondo, 35, of San Gabriel, was sentenced this week to 30 years to life in prison for molesting a 5-year-old girl at a mall bookstore in Arcadia in 2008.
Saving Arcadia, the anti-mansionization group, sues City over controversial two-story home proposed at 1101 S. Fifth Avenue. Lawsuit alleges the project violates California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
A class action lawsuit filed against the city of Arcadia and Extended Stay Hotels claims the city "improperly levied a daily room tax" on guests staying beyond 30 days and violated state and local law.
Yongjian "Richard" Zhang and Ruixia "Nancy" Zhang, the parents of Alice Zhang, have filed a lawsuit against the City of Arcadia and the driver who struck and killed Alice. The lawsuit, filed in August, alleges that "the dangerous condition" of the crosswalk on the 600 block of West Duarte Road was a significant factor in Alice's death. The Zhangs are asking for unspecified general and special damages. The complaint also alleges that driver Bowen Du's negligence was a "substantial factor" in the teen's death.
Dajin Tang, 52, employee of Arcadia-based Millennium Trucking Company filed a negligence lawsuit against his employer and his supervisor Xu Chen. Tang was involved in a crash near Rockwood, Tennessee. The suit alleges his employer forced him to wait a week to get medical care, after he was seriously hurt.
PETA sues Arcadia over cruel plan to snare, slaughter coyotes. In the lawsuit, PETA alleges that because City Council voted to approve the plan on February 21 without first performing an environmental impact assessment, which is required under the California Environmental Quality Act, its decision is illegal. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3, March 4, 2017.
Peacock Donuts on Duarte Road is being sued by plaintiff John Ho in regards to its handicap accessibility. While the Peacock Donut shop has 3 clearly marked handicapped spots, the lawsuit alleges that the rear access is not accessible to those in wheelchairs. John Ho has filed hundreds of such suits. Robert Chen, owner of the shop and Alan Wilson, owner of the building, are being sued.
Arcadia resident David Arvizu to challenge city on open meeting law. His letter gives city officials 30 days to respond to alleged open meeting law violations before he files a complaint with the D.A. or a lawsuit against the city. He offered two alternatives to litigation: the Council would either set aside the decisions made in closed session on May 5, or make the meeting minutes available to the public. In a closed session May 5, City Council voted to suspend comprehensive updates to the city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, excluding the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said officials did not violate the Ralph M. Brown Act when they voted on three "procedural" items in closed session because they were tied to pending litigation against the city.
PETA and City of Arcadia reach deal over coyote plan. Group had sued after city planned to start trap-and-kill program. Arcadia will pay $15,000 to settle the lawsuit that contended the city council approved the contract without an environmental report mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 10, July 6, 2017.
Experts say city violated Brown Act meeting law. Arcadia City Council made three housing policy decisions in closed session without public input. At the meeting last week, officials voted to shelve a comprehensive update to city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, sans the Highlands Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said the decisions came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the city targeting mansionization.
Arcadia settles building project lawsuit, paves the way to update residential zoning code and including Highland Oaks neighborhood in a citywide historic preservation survey.
Sex offender Paul Allan McQuown, 55, of Azusa, was found nude, armed with a knife, surrounded by pornography and a vibrator on the grounds of Arcadia Congregational Church at 2607 S. Santa Anita Avenue. He was arrested and accused of indecent exposure. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 16, March 19, 2015.