Arcadia Politics Becomes Ever More Confusing. Arcadia residents tell us they are concerned that the redistricting rules have changed the city’s voting requirements so much that it is hard to vote for someone you are not familiar with. Therefore, some voters told Arcadia Weekly they simply don’t vote anymore.
The recent council meeting was, indeed, contentious, as one of my colleagues wrote last week.
It appears there’s a push to change the political environment back to at-large voting.
Arcadia firefighters raise funds to help fight pediatric cancer. Arcadia firefighters have been involved with Saint Baldrick's Foundation for over 15 years, said Arcadia Fire Chief Chen Suen. Arcadia firefighters are shown in photo.
Affirmative action vote splits Asian-Americans. Community members take part in a "No on Proposition 16" rally at Arcadia County Park on August 8. Prop 16 would legalize race-aware decisions in public college admissions, hiring, and contracting. This is a divisive issue among Asian-Americans. Some view it as racist. One banner reads, "Keep discrimination illegal."
Bridging the digital divide: Brenda J. Trainor to illuminate the importance of broadband internet access, at Arcadia Coordinating Council meeting on February 5, at Villa Catrina, 251 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia.
Arcadia calls for municipal electionon November 8, 2022 and seeks city council member candidates for electoral districts 2, 3, and 5. Eligibility, nomination period, and nomination petition qualifications are detailed.
Arcadia City Council elections to be held on Tuesday April 14, 2020. This will not be a district-wide election. Only registered voters in Districts 1 and 4 will receive a vote-by-mail ballot beginning March 16, 2020. Completed ballots must be postmarked by April 14, 2020. The candidates are District 1: April Verlato and Yuli Sira and in District 4: Paul Cheng and Peter Amundson.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta allows lawsuit over Arcadia City Council appointment to proceed. HQH Chinese American Equalization Association and Arcadia Voters Rights Group are suing to challenge the appointment of Michael Danielson, representing District 5, which was vacant after the death of Council Member Roger Chandler. Danielson's term expires upon certification of the November 8 election results.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón facing further opposition. Two more cities, Norwalk and La Habra Heights, are preparing to cast votes of no confidence in Gascon. So far, 18 cities have had similar votes, including Arcadia, Azusa, Beverly Hills, Covina, Diamond Bar, Hidden Hills, Lancaster, La Mirada, Manhattan, Palos Verdes Estates, Pico Rivera, Redondo Beach, Rosemead, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel, Santa Fe Springs, Temple City and Whittier.
Arcadia, the Community of Homes, starkly divided on helping the homeless. Residents are unhappy with homeless encampment at Second Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The City proposes helping unhoused people with the Tiny Shelter project. The plan involves building a village of tiny homes on county land at Peck Park access road site. Residents expressed opposition to that, too.
Ed Andersen of Arcadia Historical Society will present a program about Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin to the Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on March 2, 2020.
Arcadia's Senior Economic Development Analyst Tim Schwehr to discuss growth in the city at Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on February 3 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 400 West Duarte Road.
Arcadia announces City Council redistricting mapping tool and public hearing schedule. Residents can use this portal to draw a map and a community of interest for the city and submit it to City Council.
Arcadia Unified School District hosting community conversations regarding district's improvement needs. Community input is critical because it helps the school district plan how to use resources to educate and support all students. This is the seventh year of conducting this annual community conversation, via survey, through February 25 at 11:59 PM.
NASA Ambassador Rosanne Sachson to speak at Arcadia Woman's Club meeting on March 4, 2020. The topic will be Apollo: to the moon and beyond, about how Apollo 11's Moon landing on July 20, 1969 brings us to today's space accomplishments and where NASA is headed in their next missions.
City of Arcadia to place three measures on November 8, 2022 ballot. 1. Proposed City Charter Amendment Measure. The City Charter was last amended in 1998. The citizen-led Charter Review Committee recommends updates to mirror changes in state laws since 1998 and to reflect current local government standards, to include a) mirroring changes in state laws to increase voter turnout by moving the date of regularly scheduled city council elections from April in even-numbered years to the November Statewide General Election in even-numbered years. b) recognizing the city's change to by-district elections as required by California Voting Rights Act. c) Creating a rotation of mayor and mayor pro tem positions every 9.5 months to allow all council members to serve during their term. d) Change position of City Clerk from elected to appointed. e) other amendments to streamline government, utilize technology and increase transparency. 2. Two measures to increase locally controlled funding. One measure would increase Arcadia's local tax on stays at hotels and motels from 10% to 12%--similar rate to many neighboring cities. The other measure would enact a local tax on sports wagers if sports betting becomes legal in California through State Proposition 26, also on the November ballot
Arcadia kicks off 2020 City Council election. Final candidates in District 1 are Mayor April Verlato running for reelection and newcomer Yuli J. Sira. Verlato is currently on the last year of her first term on city council and she as elected mayor her last year. She is an attorney with Verlato and Roberts law firm in Arcadia. She is a native of Arcadia, with a long list of endorsements, including former mayors of Arcadia. Sira is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. District 4 has two candidates--longstanding council member and former mayor Peter Amundson and newcomer Paul Cheng. Amundson has completed three terms on City Council and served twice as mayor. He is an Arcadia native, with a long list of endorsements. Paul P. Cheng is a highly publicized attorney specializing in business operations and commercial realty transactions. He previously ran for Arcadia City Council in 2010. Also up for reelection is City Clerk Gene Glasco. He is running unopposed.
Arcadia officials attempt to expand dialogue around homelessness. Arcadia homeowners are concerned that increased homelessness numbers within the city pose a threat to their children and property values. Arcadia City Council's idea to install 15 or so tiny homes as emergency shelter for unhoused people is being discussed.
Arcadia High School takes first in the JPL Regional Science Bowl and is headed to nationals in April. See also Mountain Views News, p. 9, January 29, 2022.
Arcadia announces public hearing on city council redistricting, where draft maps will be reviewed. It will take place on March 1, 2022 at City Council Chambers, 240 West Huntington Drive, at 7:30 PM.