Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
Bella Ballard of Altadena is the Rose Queen of the 2023 Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Sahanna Rajinikanthan, one of the Royal Court, is an Arcadia resident and a senior at Arcadia High School. Royal Court. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 14, October 27, 2022.
Unveiling of Anita May Baldwin statue brings peace and beauty. Anita May Baldwin was dedicated down the road from the statue of her father, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue was unveiled yesterday at the official grand opening of the Le Meridien Hotel on Huntington Drive in Arcadia. The statue is called "A Legacy of Charity," made by artist Alfred Paredes.
Woman ahead of her time honored. Anita May Baldwin statue to debut at Le Meridien Hotel. She was philanthropist, key figure in racetrack. The statue is named "A Legacy of Charity," by artist Alfred Paredes.
ChapCare opens weekend COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Westfield Santa Anita. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) stresses the importance of getting the vaccine at a press conference last Thursday.
Anita Baldwin statue to be unveiled at Le Méridien Hotel in Arcadia
The Anita May Baldwin statue at the Le Méridien Hotel will be unveiled on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. Anita is the daughter of city founder, Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue will be featured on the opposite end of the Huntington Drive islands’ hotel property.
“We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia,” said Mayor Sho Tay in a statement released by the city. “I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.”
“On behalf of the Baldwin family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Arcadia City Council, the Arcadia Historical Society, the Le Méridien Hotel and all those who have supported this effort to pay homage to my great-great grandmother, Anita May Baldwin,” said Margaux Gibson. “This magnificent statue of Anita will showcase a strong woman who was ahead of her time. I am proud to call Anita May Baldwin my great-great grandmother, and I am truly proud to be a part of this historic project.”
The Anita statue was sculpted by local artist and southern California native Alfred Paredes — who created the Lucky Baldwin statue on the corner of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue — and is aptly named, “A Legacy of Charity” in honor of Anita’s contributions to life in early Arcadia and throughout California.
Mayors ask for zoning bill veto. 27 San Gabriel Valley cities urge Governor Gavin Newsom to kill legislation that changes single-family lots to allow zoning for up to 4 units. This is Senate Bill 9, introduced by Senator Toni Atkins. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments advocates for addressing the affordable housing shortage by rezoning vacant and nonviable commercial properties and providing incentives to affordable housing developers to build on that land. SGVCG's letter in opposition was signed by Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, and others.
A statue to honor Anita M. Baldwin, daughter of Arcadia's founder Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, will be built at the new Le Meridien Hotel, a luxury hotel in Arcadia. The artist/sculptor is Alfred Paredes, who also created the Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin statue.
Los Angeles County - Congressional races include some on national stage
District 27: Judy Chu (D) vs. Johnny Nalbandian (R)
The District: District 27 encompasses parts of L.A. and San Bernardino counties including Pasadena, Arcadia, Rosemead, Glendora, and Claremont. Home to approximately 709,231 people, this district has been represented by Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) since 2013. Most residents of District 27 are Asian (37.94%), White (29.22%), or Hispanic (26.88%).
Back on track. Santa Anita Park resumes racing today, still minus spectators and with several precautions. The last time there was racing was March 27, when the track was shut down by Los Angeles County Health Department to slow the spread of coronavirus. Some of the most important protocols include: restricted zone that will house jockeys, valets and essential personnel, all trainers, employees and essential racing personnel must wear face cloths covering their nose and mouth and practice social distancing, all trainers, employees and essential racing personnel must wear a race-day wristband signifying they passed the daily health screening.
Gold Line has a new name. Now it is called the L Line, but it will be split to become the A Line or the E Line in 2022 after Metro's Regional Connector Project is finished.
Le Meridien hotel by Marriott in Arcadia is taking shape. Photo. The site of the former Santa Anita Inn, now razed, is the site for an ambitious new $300 million hotel and mixed-use condominium project opposite the Santa Anita Park racetrack. Contruction has been swift, but delayed a bit this week due to the rain. Developer Chateau Group USA held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project on June 27, 2018.
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020
Bradbury man Steve Chen, CEO of U.S. Fine Investment Arts, Inc. Gem Coin, and other companies, allegedly conspired to commit fraud with his Arcadia-based marketing company, to plead guilty. He promised potential investors gemstones from their mines along with valuable digital currency. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 4, February 27, 2020.
District Attorney Jackie Lacey finds no crime or wrongdoing in horse deaths. Prosecutor says there is no evidence owners, jockeys or trainers knowingly raced injured animals at Santa Anita Park over the past year. Since July 2018, 56 horses have died at Arcadia race track. Of those, 34 died while running on Santa Anita's main dirt track. Santa Anita Park averages about 2.04 deaths per 1000 racing starts, according to the Jockey Club. The national average in 2018 was 1.68 deaths per 1000 starts. The District Attorney's report includes 27 recommended changes to improve safety and reduce fatalities. See also same story at Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, December 26, 2019.
Ex-boyfriend of Arcadia woman charged with kidnapping. The ex-boyfriend's name is Robert Michael Mendez, age 27. The woman was hospitalized. Doorbell camera footage showed a man dragging a woman.
Santa Anita Park opens Friday September 27 for 23-day Autumn Meet. A team of equine veterinarians, including Dr. Dionne Benson and Dr. Dana Stead, will oversee every aspect of Santa Anita Park's training and racing operation.
Arcadia Unified School District Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall gives a district update each month in this column. The district celebrated Arcadia Unified Teacher of the Year Jan Dickson.