State officials have shut down 5 Arcadia massage parlors and fined one business $1.83 million for alleged labor code violations. Inspectors discovered that employees were not being paid hourly wages but got paid every time a massage was given. New Life Acupuncture at 610 E. Live Oak was fined $1.83 million for allegedly violating laws requiring employers to provide pay stubs and workers' compensation insurance. The four other locations fined were Ocean Health Center, C.H. Health Center, Arcadia Spa, and Best Health Center. The fines and closures continued a crackdown on massage-related businesses in Arcadia.
George Fasching, former city council member and owner of Fasching's Car Wash in Arcadia for the last 31 years, may have to stop selling gas at his business due to a state mandate, set to go into effect next April, requiring California gas station owners to purchase between $20,000 and $80,000 in new equipment to further reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
The Massage Therapist Regulations ordinance, approved November 5 by City Council, places regulations on the licensing of massage therapists and the activities of businesses offering massage services. It regulates business hours, uniforms, customers' bodily coverings and suggestive ads.
Illegal lot splits in the area of deep residential lots has been causing many headaches for the City. City Attorney Phillips feels that most illegal splits occur because of ignorance of the law by owners and buyers. The City does not learn of the deal until it has been finalized.
After 21 years with the Arcadia Unified School District, superintendent Mimi Hennessy, 63, is retiring. Her last day will be July 1, 2008, and Joel Shawn will take her place.
A package of new and increased city service fees designed to eliminate a potential budget shortfall will take effect on September 1, 2008. The higher fees are expected to bring Arcadia nearly $512,000 in the new fiscal year, by increases in fire services, swim classes, business licenses, plan checks and library services.
Arcadia City Council members voted to place a 45-day moratorium on all new license applications for businesses that supply massages as a secondary service such as spas, acupuncturists and chiropractors. Arcadia will also stop issuing new licenses to massage therapists. Arcadia is overwhelmed by the surge in license applications and concerned about the possibility of prostitution. The ban could be extended for up to one year.
A draft ordinance has been submitted to the City Council that would allow Arcadia residents to conduct businesses out of their homes if certain criteria are met and a permit is approved. According to current law, such businesses are illegal.
A draft ordinance has been submitted to the City Council that would allow Arcadia residents to conduct businesses out of their homes if certain criteria are met and a permit is approved. According to current law, such businesses are illegal.
The Arcadia City Council will decide on an ordinance to regulate massage therapy. Provisions will regulate massage therapists, practitioners or technicians, and require them to have identification cards from the police and a business license. The ordinance contains other restrictions.
Magna Entertainment Corp, owner of Santa Anita Park, is the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the State of California. The lawsuit alleges that the compacts between Governor Schwarzenegger and five Indian tribes is illegal.
Westfield, Santa Anita Shoppingtown, and Santa Anita Fashion Park, are the three plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the City of Arcadia, the City Council, and developer Rick Caruso, aimed at stopping the new mall The Shops at Santa Anita. Plaintiffs allege the environmental study done was flawed. Assistant City Manager Don Penman said the study was the most thorough one he had ever seen.
The Early Childhood Education program in effect at Camino grove School since last fall has been ranked 19th out of 800 in the State. The program provides funds to expand the program from K through 3rd grade. It is the ultimate goal of California State School Superintendent Wilson Riles that all schools will be able to have ECE.
January 12 was the first day that candidates for City Council could take out nomination papers. Those doing so were incumbents Charles Gilb and Jack Saelid. Don Pellegrino of Pellegrino's Restaurant has indicated that he will also file. Others are also considering running.
At the urging of Temple City mayor Lou Gilbertson, State Senator Richardson has set aside his bill SB 1287. It would have reduced petition requirements from the present 25% to just 10% of the registered voters. They want Governor Brown to appoint an Ad Hoc committee to study the whole picture.
Arcadia resident Bob Wieland, 62, lost both legs in the Vietnam War, but that didn't stop him from majoring in physical education at California State University Los Angeles. He has walked on his hands and biked across the United States, competed in 6 marathons, completed a triathlon, and set world weight-lifting records. He will be inducted into the California Powerlifting Hall of Fame today.
Massage therapists will have to pay a $265 fee to be licensed in Arcadia under a new city ordinance. A background check will be done on applicants and they will be fingerprinted.