$2 million in funding to help provide more homes. San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust gets state award for affordable, transitional housing. About 2 dozen cities have partnered, including Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, and others, to develop affordable housing.
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla seeks wilderness protections, introduced in a bill covering 1 million acres of land and 500 miles of rivers. Padilla's bill incorporates the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, written by Representative Judy Chu, D-Pasadena. Under this provision, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, established by President Barack Obama in 2014 will be expanded by 109,143 acres to include front facing portions of the Angeles National Forest north of Sierra Madre and Arcadia and into the forest's western edge near Santa Clarita.
Public lands: additions sought for San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, push bid to expand area by 109,000 acres by designating the western Angeles National Forest as part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The San Gabriel Mountains are north of Arcadia.
Cities of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments assess plan for coyote population management. Those involved in a regional management effort must decide on renewal by November. The council anticipates the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Covina, Irwindale, Montebello, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino and Temple City, will continue with the program. In 2018-2019, Arcadia received 300 calls or emails regarding coyotes in neighborhoods. By 2019-2020 that number dropped to 120. In 2017, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sued for trapping and killing coyotes. In response, Arcadia developed its own coyote management plan focused on non-lethal alternatives.
With the House of Representatives leaderless and legislation going nowhere, President Biden has been urged to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. More cities, elected officials, ask president to use his executive power to add acreage to the area, including Alhambra, Monterey Park, Santa Clarita and South Pasadena. The proposed addition of 109,000 ares to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument includes forest sections just above the cities of Monrovia, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre, and up to Santa Clarita.
Bill seeks addition to forest landscape. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, hopes to expand San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by 100,000-plus acres with the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act, written by Representative Judy Chu. The San Gabriel Mountains are north of Arcadia.
Huge California conservation bill heads to vote in Congress today. The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, or House Resolution 803, seeks to preserve 1 million acres of public land in California. Part of it is the San Gabriel Mountains and Rivers Protection Act, authored by Rep. Judy Chu-D. to extend the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument designation by adding 109,143 acres of the western front-facing Angeles National Forest. This includes popular hiking areas within Chantry Flat, located just north of Arcadia.
House passes preservation bill on a bipartisan vote. The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, or House Resolution 803 seeks to conserve 1 million acres of public land in California, much of it in Southern California. HR 803 incorporates two local measures, including the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act that will protect the Angeles National Forest, located just north of Arcadia.
California Governor Gavin Newsom appoints area legislator, Assembly Member Ed Chau, as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. The move will require a special election to fill the San Gabriel Valley seat for the remainder of Chau's term. Chau would've been termed out of the Assembly in 2024. Chau represented the 49th Assembly District, which includes Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino and Temple City and parts of Montebello and South El Monte. It's the only legislative district where people of Asian descent account for a majority of the population at 54%.
San Gabriel Mountains-Veterans seeking expansion of forest. Advocates ask White House to add acreage to federal protection. Iraq War veteran Steve Dunwoody leads veterans struggling with PTSD on hikes through the Angeles National Forest. The veterans group joins legislators, cities, tribal, and environmental groups in support of adding forest land to the San Gabriel Mountains monument. The proposed addition borders the cities of Santa Clarita, Monrovia, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre, as well as Los Angeles communities of Sylmar, Tujunga, and Sunland. Twin bills from House of Representatives Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena and U.S. Sentor Alex Padilla, D-Calif. propose an expansion that would grow the monument by one-third.
Bobcat Fire, on its 9th day in the San Gabriel Mountains, continued to grow north of the San Gabriel Valley. It had charred 38,299 acres Monday with containment at 3%. The fire has crossed to west side of Santa Anita Canyon. On Sunday, residents in Arcadia and Sierra Madre who live north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue were ordered to evacuate. About 305 homes were in the evacuation zone. Most are in Arcadia and 32 are in Sierra Madre.
National monument expansion possible. Report claims United States President Joe Biden plans to add a third more land to the protection of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Native American tribes seek expansion of national monument with more than 100,000 acres. Indigenous leaders say more parts of the San Gabriel Mountains are "sacred lands." They are calling on the Biden administration to go further in protecting the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
San Gabriel Mountains: Bobcat Fire grows, but Arcadia lifts evacuation warning. The fire has burned more than 19,796 acres. as of yesterday evening. It was 0% contained.
President Biden sending official to hear public views on the proposed expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Chantry Flat, a hiking and picnic spot north of Arcadia and Sierra Madre, closed for several years, is proposed for inclusion in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Vote centers open for San Gabriel Valley's 49th Assembly District special election. Vote centers will remain open from 10 AM to 7 PM every day for in-person voting or to drop off completed vote-by-mail ballots. The seat was vacated by Democrat Edwin Chau or Arcadia when California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Chau to serve as judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Democrat Mike Fong runs against Republican Burton Brink in this race. The 49th Assembly District includes Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City, and portions of Montebello and South El Monte. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 10, 2022.
Bobcat Fire continues to wreak havoc. Nearly 24,000 acres burned above foothill communities, north of Monrovia, and still spreading out of control yesterday as firefighters contended with powerful winds. The fire has burned 23,890 acres of pristine forest lands. It was 6% contained. Evacuation warnings are still in effect in Monrovia, Arcadia, Azusa, Sierra Madre, Duarte, Pasadena, Altadena & Bradbury.
210 Freeway closure creates 5-mile backup for 5 days. 605 Freeway also affected by work on a bridge. Caltrans is repairing a 50-year-old concrete bridge on the 210 Freeway spanning the San Gabriel River. Most affected were motorists and truckers from eastern Los Angeles County and Inland Empire, driving the preferred route into Irwindale, Duarte, Arcadia, Monrovia, Pasadena, and San Fernando Valley.
San Gabriel Mountains monument expands. United States President Joe Biden OKs sabout 106,000 acres added to federally protected area with promise for more resources.
La Verne's mayor Tim Hepburn to lead as President of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. The other newly elected leadership includes: Claremont Mayor Ed Reese, first VP, Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem April Verlato, second VP, and City of Industry Mayor Cory Moss, third VP.