Backers of an initiative that would bring slot machines to Santa Anita Park and other California racetracks now have five months to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Signatures supporting two ballot initiatives sponsored by Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita went to the City Clerk's office Tuesday for validation. Westfield's iniatives would ban billboards at The Shops at Santa Anita and require free parking.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, has proposed two ballot measures for the November election. Westfield is gathering signatures for the two initiatives: 1) to mandate free parking at all large retail projects and 2) to ban large billboards. A poll of 300 registered Arcadia voters in February showed 74% support the free parking initiative and 62% support the billboard measure.
Joe Borland, a physical therapy business owner in Arcadia, will not be running for City Council, even though he took out nomination papers and gathered more than enough signatures of residents. He changed his mind about running when he learned he might have to pay up to $2000 to have his ballot statement translated into Chinese and Spanish. He has issues with the erosion of English as the sole language of public affairs.
Arcadia voters will decide, in a special election next week, whether or not to approve ballot Measure A, which seeks to protect the city's right to collect taxes on cell phone usage. Measure A would not raise any taxes. The city already collects taxes on residential cell phone usage and is seeking to legally protect that practice by redefining what constitutes a telecommunications tax.
Phillip Sutliff is expected to tell a Pasadena Superior Court judge whether he will accept a plea-bargain ageement or stand trial for sex crimes with a minor, a former student of his at Arcadia High School. Their relationship happened over a 2 1/2 year period. He is currently on unpaid leave from his job.
Op-ed on the South Arcadia redevelopment and why the County should not be challenging the city's request for the area to be changed to a redevelopment zone in order to qualify for county funds.
Arcadia Police Department is warning senior citizens to avoid giving out personal information and credit card information to scam artists pretending to represent official agencies over the telephone. The scammers use intimidation as a tactic.
Measure A, an $8 million bond measure to fund a train bridge over Santa Anita Avenue, will need a 2/3 vote to pass. Citizens will need to form a committee to build support for this measure, to be voted on on April 11, 2006.
American Chinese Culture Association, an Arcadia-based group that promotes greater understanding between the U.S. and China through cultural exchange, will have members give a dance performance at the National Independence Day Parade in Washington DC. Artist Tao Haixin shows his work at Arcadia County Park.
Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to give the final approval on Rick Caruso's The Shops at Santa Anita mall. The City Council also approved an expansion project for the Westfield mall with one condition.
Arcadia wants to declare a section of Live oak Avenue and Las Tunas Drive in south Arcadia a redevelopment zone to qualify for county funding. The County says area is not blighted and does not meet qualifications for funding.
Two new issues brought up by Westfield Group against the Caruso project may go to Arcadia voters in a special election in November. One issue is to ban paid parking and the other is to prevent Caruso from erecting large billboards at the mall. Any election could cost the city up to $80,000.
Anoakia Estates model homes to open for viewing by this spring. The community is made up of 31 luxury homes. Developer is Tom Hover. The homes were constructed on the site of Anoakia, an estate owned by Anita Baldwin, daughter of Arcadia city founder, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, at Foothill Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue. The homes will be 2-stories, and 5,000-6,000 square feet.
Caruso Affiliated will give Arcadia $2 million in development fees and receive assurances from the city under the terms of a 63-page draft agreement released Friday. The agreement gives Caruso the assurance they can build what is approved. Caruso must dedicate a portion of the parking lot for City Hall to construct a water well. This was the topic of recent controversial closed session meetings held by City Council.
Westfield Group is funding a new "grass roots" coalition to oppose the Santa Anita Park race track mall development by Caruso Affiliated. The coalition is called Arcadia First! but includes Westfield representatives, Westfield tenants and downtown businesses, and not only citizens, as the membership in a grass roots organization might suggest.