The Asian Pacific American Legal Center, which recently persuaded Temple City, Rosemead and Garden Grove to stop restricting the use of foreign languages on business signs, has requested a change in the Arcadia city ordinance that allows only 1/3 of the area of a sign to be in a foreign language. The new ordinance is more restrictive than the law that was deemed unconstitutional in Pomona in 1989 which required at least 50% of a sign to be written in the Roman alphabet.
Many of the local Chinese community, including members of the Arcadia Chinese Association, said they support the city council's decision to keep an ordinance requiring 2/3 of any business sign to be written in Roman letters.
Bill requiring cities to pay businesses for signs that are condemned sparks debate. City officials from Duarte, Monrovia, Temple City and Arcadia have sent letters to local legislators opposing the bill.
The Arcadia City Council has rejected the Asian Pacific American Legal Center's request that the city revoke a rule limiting the amount of space foreign languages can occupy on business signs. Councilman Robert Harbicht noted that the ordinance has been on the books for several years and the city has not received a single complaint about it.
Oak Tree Racing Association's autumn season will begin October 17. The 25 day session offers 16 stakes races with record purses. Several new features including Pick Six wagering will be offered.
The Arcadia Unified School District is in the process of selecting an official logo from among 30 entries received from Nancy Cullison's Design Graphics class at Arcadia High School.
The Santa Anita Inn was purchased 2 weeks ago by developer Charles Bluth, who is already implementing plans to turn the hotel at the corner of Huntington Drive and Colorado Place into a four-star inn. Renovation (with a New Orleans motif) should be completed by January.
City Council delayed action on racetrack tax. Tucker Bill provides that a city with race track be given .33 of 1% of the parimutual wagers instead of charging admission tax.
30 people were injured on opening day at Santa Anita Park when two men became involved in an altercation. One dropped a gun and this was enough to cause a wave of panic which spread through the crowd.
The proposed new office building for the corner of Huntington Drive and First Avenue has run into a delay caused by a lack of tenants, according to Warren Lortie, president of the development firm WLA Arcon of Huntington Beach. Arcon requested and got a 90-day extension on its deadline.
Arcadia would lose approximately $472,268 yearly if Santa Anita Park race track were to close down and the 324 acre facility were to be developed with low density residential units. Losses would be partially offset by $190,750 in new property taxes and $278,482 miscellaneous taxes. New city services would account for a 6.18% increase in the city budget.
A "temporary" barricade installed four years ago at San Carlos Road will be removed for a six-month trial. Decision reached by City Council after lengthy discussion.
Santa Anita Companies has announced earnings for the year ending December 31, 1981. Revenues were up 23.5%. Shares of the two companies, Santa Anita Operating Company and Santa Anita Realty Enterprises, Inc., are offered on the New York Stock Exchange under the name Santa Anita Realty Enterprises.
The L.A. County Board of Suprevisors chose Santa Anita Associates to manage and make roughly $750,000 worth of improvements to the Santa Anita Golf Course. They are expected to renovate and expand the clubhouse and add a new banquet room and cocktail lounge.