Estimates by the Department of Finance say Arcadia's population has grown by 1000 people in the last year. The estimate is 54,900 people. Estimates for surrounding cities are included.
Dusty Gibbs, Arcadia High School student and 2008 Rose Queen, and her six princesses visited cancer patients at the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital to spread holiday cheer.
The Breeders' Cup, known as the world championship of horse racing, was held at Santa Anita Park last Friday and Saturday. The event has helped the local economy in Arcadia, with an estimated $50 million spent on restaurants, hotels, wagering, taxis, etc.
British food giant Tesco is going to open Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Markets in West Covina and Arcadia on November 8, 2007. Fresh and Easy stores are relatively small and lean heavily on fresh food offerings, including prepared meals and sushi.
California home prices continue to increase. Chart shows the change in median home prices from March 2004 to March 2005. The median home price in Arcadia went up 7.5% in the last year.
Arcadia held its 7th annual Law Day on Saturday, May 14, 2005. About 230 people attended this year-twice as many as last year. Lawyer and former Arcadia mayor Gary A. Kovacic founded the event and planned it in conjunction with the Arcadia Chinese Association.
Ryan Brock, 29, of San Gabriel, was shot several times in the chest Wednesday, April 13, 2005 in the parking lot of 99 Ranch Market and later died. Police believe it was not a random robbery gone bad but there may have been a relationship between the suspect and the victim. The suspect appeared to be Latino, around age 20. Police are seeking help from witnesses.
First Avenue zone change delayed. Owners of property at 1020-1026 First Avenue have three more months to work out a compromise for use of the property, with six condominiums in development, in an area zoned as single family residential. Arcadia staffers have found a number of areas where the city general plan and zoning map do not agree in designation.
Former Arcadia High School English teacher Phillip Morgan Sutliff was sentenced, under a plea bargain, to 12 years and 8 months in state prison for sex crimes against a female student. See also 30835AN.
Former Caltech graduate student William "Billy" Cottrell was re-sentenced to serve at least 18 more months in prison for participating in a vandalism spree in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003.
Owners of recreational vehicles (RV) have been given 3 months to move from Santa Anita Village, a trailer park on unincorporated land on East Live Oak Avenue. The trailer park does not have permits for RVs.
A new Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has opened in Arcadia. It is owned by Tesco, a British food giant. Tesco's labor practices have come under fire for relying on part-time workers, which may limit the ability of workers to earn a living wage.
The Victoria's Secret store in the Westfield Santa Anita Shoppingtown has been hit by thieves in recent months. $3,000 in merchandise was stolen in the past month. Thieves accounted for roughly $150,000 in losses last year alone.
In this ailing economy, San Gabriel Valley property values have dropped significantly, as reflected in the county's home assessments. The county property roll is at $1.1 trillion, a nearly 1% decrease compared to 2008. Homeowners will have smaller tax bills but cities are having to reduce services and employees as they lose businesses, sales tax revenue, and property tax revenue. See a chart of Los Angeles County Assessor's Office property values report showing Arcadia and neighboring cities. Arcadia is a city whose 2009 value increased 2.2% compared to last year.
As part of Arcadia's 2003 centennial celebration, each council member has served as mayor for a three-month period of time. Mickey Segal will lead the city for the last three months until after the April 13 City Council election.
A 30-year old man was shot in an apparent robbery in the parking lot of 99 Ranch Market on Wednesday, April 13, 2005. He was pronounced dead at Huntington Memorial Hospital. The suspect got away.