Chinese firms donate $20,000 to City of Arcadia. Several city officials and employees might use it for business travel to China and Taiwan in hopes of fostering sister-city relationships. City employees plan to meet with government officials in China and Taiwan to learn more about government services, residential design and the culture in an effort to better serve Arcadia. The two companies that donated this money are Companhia de Comercial Dingyuan Limitada and Sichuan Arrow Recovery Technology Company Ltd. See VF Sister City.
Experts question donations for travel. Delegation from Arcadia City Hall given $30,000 from two Chinese firms and one local developer for trip to Asia, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in China and Taipei, Taiwan. Government and ethics experts say the cash donations to the City of Arcadia for this trip raises concerns about transparency and influence. The trips are designed study sister city relationships, learn about the culture and talk to Chinese and Taiwanese officials. Those traveling include Mayor John Wuo and his wife, Council Sho Tay and wife, Councilman Tom Beck, City Attorney Stephen Deitsch, City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto, Fire Chief Kurt Norwood, Recreation Director Sara Somogyi, Public Works Director Tom Tait, and George and Sandy Wuo, who are relatives of the mayor. See VF Sister City.
California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) warned City of Arcadia of gift limits regarding the trip to China and Taiwan that city officials are planning for cultural learning and sister city relationships. See VF Sister City.
Trip to China and Taiwan called off by Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto, in light of recent "questions" about city officials' motives. The $30,000 in donations to fund part of the trip will not be accepted. See VF Sister City. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, February 26, 2015.
Arcadia City Council members to submit nominees for John Wuo's vacant seat at next meeting October 20. Mayor Gary Kovacic and Councilman Tom Beck recommended former mayor Mickey Segal. Councilman Roger Chandler and Sho Tay wanted to take time to think of a few more nominees.
Arcadia City Council actions proving to be divisive. Charges of campaign finance misdeeds and board racism alleged. Arcadia finds itself a town divided with feelings split about Councilman Sho Tay, who was passed over last month when it came time for his ceremonial turn for mayor. On one side, several people are accusing Tay of campaign finance fraud for spending money, donated to him, on behalf of two other candidates. Others are accusing City Council members of racism for bypassing the selection of Tay for mayor during its annual reorganization.
Arcadia City Council has two new members and a former city councilman has returned, according to semi-official results of the all-mail ballot election. Tom Beck, a retired attorney, and Sho Tay, a retired businessman, are new. Roger Chandler is the returning councilman.
Arcadia residents and ex-mayor Mickey Segal threaten to recall city council members Roger Chandler, John Wuo, and Sho Tay for their decision to suspend a zoning code update last month. The issue involves a lawsuit, Arcadia Highlands Homeowners Association (HOA) and mansions. See hard copy in VF "City Council 2011-2020."
Newcastle, New South Wales, Arcadia's Australian sister city, walked away with all the honors in recent competition staged by Australia Sister Cities Association in Alice Springs. Reg Mason, vice-president of Newcastle Sister City Committee is in town for first reunion of Arcadia High School band members and other Arcadians who were in Newcastle last July.
Arcadia will receive a coveted international city award for its sister cities program with Newcastle, Australia, in ceremonies on Saturday, July 21, at the conclusion of the 24th annual Sister Cities International Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Arcadia's Gary Kovacic and John Wuo are the unofficial winners of the two City Council seats in the recent election by mail-in ballot. The final tally will be announced by early next week.
Arcadia City Council appoints ex-mayor Mickey Segal to fill seat vacated by John Wuo's resignation, until the municipal election in April. Wuo, who served on City Council for 12 years, resigned two weeks ago amid mounting allegations over his endorsement of USFIA and Gemcoin, in addition to an ethics investigation launched in September by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Segal is a CPA. Also the zoning code update resumes.
Arcadia is considering a cultural exchange with a new sister city. A contingent from Zehlendorf, Germany, visited Arcadia recently to explore the possibility of a mutual exchange and to discover common interests.
City of Arcadia to revisit divisive, delayed mayoral appointment. The California Fair Political Practices Commission started an investigation into two matters related to Tay even before the April 24 City Council meeting, at which his appointment to mayor was delayed due to allegations of campaign fraud. City Council will address the issue again tonight.
Mayor Robert Margett described his visit to Arcadia's sister city in Tripolis, Greece when he spoke to members of the International Affairs Division of the Women's Club of Arcadia.
Arcadia City Council candidates champion their causes. There are five candidates for two open seats. Their causes are: Gary Kovacic--maintaining a balanced budget with adequate reserves and a sense of community; Mary Dougherty--mansionization and residential guidelines; Sho Tay--traffic safety and opposing a new $12.2 million City Hall; John Wuo--reducing crime; and Henry Nunez--increase city revenues and create a real downtown in Arcadia.