Gusty Santa Ana winds wreak havoc to local business and residents in Arcadia. The patio outside the restaurant Matt Denny's Ale House was destroyed by the heavy winds.
Back on track. Santa Anita Park resumes racing today, still minus spectators and with several precautions. The last time there was racing was March 27, when the track was shut down by Los Angeles County Health Department to slow the spread of coronavirus. Some of the most important protocols include: restricted zone that will house jockeys, valets and essential personnel, all trainers, employees and essential racing personnel must wear face cloths covering their nose and mouth and practice social distancing, all trainers, employees and essential racing personnel must wear a race-day wristband signifying they passed the daily health screening.
Ruixue "Serena" Shi, 36, of Arcadia, was arrested for allegedly swindling more than $20 million that was solicited for funding a condominium and hotel complex called Hyde Resorts and Residences in Coachella Valley. Shi was president and owner of Global House Buyer (GHB), a China-based real estate development company, and also was CEO of the Beverly Hills-based company Hyde Morgan Development, LLC.
Pasadena Showcase House of Design features the 1937 Federal country-style Locke House in Arcadia. The annual fundraiser is going virtual due to the pandemic lockdown. The house was originally built by Hollywood society architect Gerard Colcord in 1937. For this fundraiser, there were 17 designers who contributed to the renovation. This nonprofit supports music and arts programs in Southern California.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has identified the 23-yearold Hispanic male killed at an August 31 house party on the 2800 block of Caroline Way in Arcadia as Gustavo Lopez.
Housing grades. Every city and county in California is required to plan for adequate housing across income levels. This newspaper grades each jurisdiction in the state by looking at lower-income housing permits. Arcadia got an F.
Huge California conservation bill heads to vote in Congress today. The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, or House Resolution 803, seeks to preserve 1 million acres of public land in California. Part of it is the San Gabriel Mountains and Rivers Protection Act, authored by Rep. Judy Chu-D. to extend the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument designation by adding 109,143 acres of the western front-facing Angeles National Forest. This includes popular hiking areas within Chantry Flat, located just north of Arcadia.
House passes preservation bill on a bipartisan vote. The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, or House Resolution 803 seeks to conserve 1 million acres of public land in California, much of it in Southern California. HR 803 incorporates two local measures, including the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act that will protect the Angeles National Forest, located just north of Arcadia.
Tiny house homeless plan draws opposition. Council tables proposal to build shelters at park. The city will create a citizens committee to help study the issue. The city is looking into costs, infrastructure and grants for the proposed complex of tiny shelters, in response to the growing number of unhoused people in Arcadia. Homelessness in Arcadia grew from 85 in 2019 to 117 in 2020.
House of Representatives appropriations bill to offer money for shuttle system to forest area. Nearly
$1 million will provide for project to local areas. US Forest Service planning a shuttle to Chantry Flat, a
forest site north of Arcadia and Sierra Madre, that links to trails and Sturtevant Falls.
Mayors ask for zoning bill veto. 27 San Gabriel Valley cities urge Governor Gavin Newsom to kill legislation that changes single-family lots to allow zoning for up to 4 units. This is Senate Bill 9, introduced by Senator Toni Atkins. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments advocates for addressing the affordable housing shortage by rezoning vacant and nonviable commercial properties and providing incentives to affordable housing developers to build on that land. SGVCG's letter in opposition was signed by Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, and others.
Obituary/death notice. Arcadia leader Roger Chandler dies. Law enforcement professional (more than two decades in LA Sheriff's Department, Chief of Police for LA Housing Authority, created Hawaiian Gardens Police Department) and longtime resident served 24 years on Arcadia City Council.
Housing grades given by Southern California News Group. Every city and county in California has state-mandated targets for how much additional housing it needs across a range of affordability levels. Many are failing to meet those targets, especially for lower-income housing. Arcadia has received an overall D grade. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A14, November 28, 2021.
Congress--House of Representatives races heat up in the county in the primary election. District 28--Democratic Representative Judy Chu, who represented parts of the San Gabriel Valley since 2013, seeks to return in this redrawn district that includes Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead and Arcadia. Challenging Chu are Democrat Dorothy Carmona, Republican Wes Hallman and Independent Gio DePaolis. Chu had 66.5% and Hallman had 25%.
Pasadena City College Board. Three challengers hold leads over incumbents in the recent primary election. In Trustee Area 7, Incumbent Anthony Fellow and Alton Wang, a legal advocate focused on improving representation in government for communities across the country, hope to represent the city of Arcadia on the college's Board of Trustees. Wang led early in a tight race. Both Fellow and Wang recognize the importance of the issues of housing insecurity and increasing access to college courses in the wake of declining enrollment at PCC. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A8, June 9, 2022--Incumbent Fellow leads Alton Wang.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital changing names today as it partners with USC Health System. It is now USC Arcadia Hospital. The affiliation with USC will augment existing services at the medical center, tapping into the USC Keck's resources as an academic institution and high-level research and expertise. Dan Ausman is the president and CEO of USC Arcadia Hospital. The hospital has 348 beds. Ausman said the hospital has a 120 year history, dating back to its origins of 5 beds inside a two-story house on Hewitt Street in downtown Los Angeles. From there it moved to Hope Street (Los Angeles) and then to Arcadia, in 1957. The hospital delivers nearly 2000 babies each year and treats 50,000+ in its emergency department.
Another homeless village set to open in Baldwin Park. 16-unit tiny home complex will house families in need. It's called Serenity Homes, 13167 Garvey Avenue in Baldwin Park. Senator Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, celebrated the opening with elected officials from all over the San Gabriel Valley, including from Arcadia, Azusa, Glendora, La Puente, Monrovia, San Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City and Mount San Antonio College. It is the second tiny homes village opening in Baldwin Park within a year and serves as a model for how cities can expand homeless services.
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart's Hart House is open in Monrovia at 602 West Huntington Drive. This fast food is all plant-based, no additives or hormones, artificial colors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup and it's delicious. Karen MacNair of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce waas present at the ribbon cutting.
Arcadia resident, Ruixue "Serena" Shi, gets 20-year sentence for Coachella Valley fraud involving $22.8 million in funds for a condominium and hotel complex called Hyde Resorts and Residences Coachella Valley. Shi was president and owner of Global House Buyer (GHB), a China-based real estate development company, and also was CEO of the Beverly Hills-based company Hyde Morgan Development, LLC. Chinese investors in the Hyde project were falsely promised visas through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Housing grades for Los Angeles County jurisdictions. Every city and county in California is required to plan for adequate housing across income levels. This is Southern California News Group's fourth housing permit report card. Arcadia has received an overall D grade, same as last year.