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.
Obituary/death notice. Arcadia to celebrate life of City Council member Roger Chandler on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00, prior to the City Council meeting at 7:00. Chandler served on City Council for almost 24 years.
Lawsuit filed against the City of Arcadia seeking an injunction against Mayor Sho Tay running for re-election on the November 2022 ballot. The City of Arcadia Charter limits City Council to two consecutive terms. He was appointed to City Council in 2018 when he ran unopposed for District 3. The suit challenges whether or not the term limits apply to Mayor Sho Tay, who is running for a third time.
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.
Officials offer words of condolence for Monterey Park shooting victims. As Monterey Park grieves lives of 11 victims of a mass shooter who shot people at Star Dance Studio on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve (Chinese New Year eve), President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom, and local officials such as Arcadia Mayor Paul Cheng, Rosemead Mayor Sean Dang, Duarte City officials, Los Angeles City Council, among others, offered condolences.
Arcadia City Council approves a temporary permit for an inflatable Fun Box play area in the parking lot of The Shops at Santa Anita mall (formerly Westfield Santa Anita mall, name was changed in 2022). It will run from March 1 through May 23. The Shops at Santa Anita is at 400 S. Baldwin Avenue.
Arcadia City Council poised for historic changes. In a pair of firsts, the Arcadia City Council will have majority of women and three Asian-American members on the dais. New council members are:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
See hard copy in VF City Council (2020-2029)
Arcadia city considers ban on some restaurant takeout containers (polystyrene, aka Styrofoam). Restrictions on straws, utensils also under review. Arcadia Council Member Tom Beck introduced the idea and Council Member Paul Cheng is enthusiastic about it. Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager and Development Services Director, said the City will work with restaurants and the Chamber of Commerce to implement the ordinance. The Cheesecake Factory is already using eco-friendly containers and utensils.
La Verne's mayor Tim Hepburn to lead as President of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. The other newly elected leadership includes: Claremont Mayor Ed Reese, first VP, Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem April Verlato, second VP, and City of Industry Mayor Cory Moss, third VP.
Monterey Park shooting aftermath. Ex-tenant: Attack suspect hated his dance instructors. Huu Can Tran harbored a deep hatred for fellow instructors at Star Dance Studio where he killed 11 patrons and wounded 9 others on Saturday, January 21, the Lunar New Year eve. Tran's tenant, a man who formerly rented a small home from the gunman said Tran distrusted people and could become very angry. At one time, Tran had lived in an apartment in Arcadia. The former tenant describes other aspects of Tran's personality.
The USC Arcadia Hospital helds its Crystal Ball fundraiser on October 7 to honor cardiologist Dr. Heiner Vogelbach for his 40 years of dedication to USC Arcadia Hospital (formerly Methodist Hospital). The entertainment was by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Some of Vogelbach's career information is included.
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 Living celebrates grand opening of assisted living community. Located in the previous
location of Vista Cove, 601 Sunset Boulevard, Arcadia Living provides assisted living services,
hospice care, respite care, and adult day programs. Arcadia Mayor Sho Tay (in photo), Mayor Pro
Tem Paul Cheng, and Council member Tom Beck attended.
Santa Anita Park officials hail dramatic drop in horse fatalities. Officials called the safety record a 62.5% improvement over the previous year and 74% improvement since spring of 2019, when 42 horses died, sparking debate about safety issues at the track and about horse racing in general.
Opinion piece by Roger Nemrava. He writes that Mayor Sho Tay is putting his personal agenda above Arcadia's citizens in regard to redistricting and filling of the city council seat which was vacated due to Roger Chandler's death.
CEO Ikenna Mmeje begins managing USC Arcadia Hospital. Ikenna "Ike" Mmeje will lead expansion of access to specialized healthcare and research to the San Gabriel Valley while overseeing all management and operations of the hospital. The hospital was formerly Methodist Hospital of Southern California and is now run by Keck Medicine. Mmeje replaces former president and CEO Dan Ausman, who has retired. Mmeje served as CEO of both Memorial Care Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's and Women's Hospital in Long Beach. He previously held CEO and COO roles with Tenet Healthcare.