69-year-old Arcadia resident David Tran is the owner of Huy Fong Foods, the maker of Sriracha hot sauce. Huy Fong Foods should be operational in a new $50 million, 650,000 s.f. factory in Irwindale, by September. The factory is moving from Rosemead.
An activist group called Save the Arcadia Highlands is suing the City of Arcadia over two residential developments that Arcadia City Council approved in February, citing possible violations to "specific provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Planning and Zoning Law, filed March 12. The addresses involved are 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, March 19, 2015.
Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo resigned, citing health and personal reasons. He had served on council for 12 years, including as mayor for 3 terms. His resignation comes on the heels of a lawsuit and intense scrutiny of his alleged involvement with GemCoin (digital currency) and alleged violations of the Political Reform Act's statement of economic interests disclosure requirement and conflict of interest.
Arcadia Councilman John Wuo's ties to GemCoin (digital currency) draw scrutiny. The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating him for a potential violation of the Political Reform Act. Arcadia resident David Arvizu filed the complaint with the FPPC.
Arcadia resident David Arvizu to challenge city on open meeting law. His letter gives city officials 30 days to respond to alleged open meeting law violations before he files a complaint with the D.A. or a lawsuit against the city. He offered two alternatives to litigation: the Council would either set aside the decisions made in closed session on May 5, or make the meeting minutes available to the public. In a closed session May 5, City Council voted to suspend comprehensive updates to the city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, excluding the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said officials did not violate the Ralph M. Brown Act when they voted on three "procedural" items in closed session because they were tied to pending litigation against the city.
Arcadia resident David Tran, the founder of Huy Fong Foods, which makes Sriracha chili hot sauce, was on hand at the first ever Sriracha Festival in Los Angeles. Tran founded the company 33 years ago, after emigrating as a refugee from Vietnam.
Arcadia Unified School District superintendent David Vannasdall will be paid $205,000 annually, agreed to for a 3-year contract. Vannasdall, 45, was named the district's new chief after Joel Shawn retired. Vannasdall had been deputy superintendent and previously principal of Arcadia High School from 2005 through 2012. His car allowance is $850/month, $150/month for expenses, and a $1,000 annual salary increase if he completes his doctorate degree.
Battle heats up over odors coming from Huy Fong Foods' (maker of Sriracha chili sauce) Irwindale factory. The City of Irwindale demanded the company curb smells coming from the Azusa Canyon Road factory or cease operations. If production is halted due to a court order, the price of Sriracha will likely go up. Residents have complained of headaches and irritation to eyes and throats. Adam Holliday, Huy Fong's director of operations, is committed to solving the problem. The company's owner David Tran is an Arcadia resident.
Breeders' Cup: Sport of Kings shines in Southern California at Santa Anita Park. The main attraction on Saturday, the second day, was the Classic, a 1 1/4 mile race that featured California Chrome and several other top thoroughbreds, including Jim Rome-owned horse Shared Belief, Robert Evans-owned horse Tonalist and Bob Baffert-trained Bayern. In photos: fans Quela Ransom and Daniel Ferguson of Los Angeles, David Bryant of Houston, jockey Martin Garcia riding Bayern to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, while Jamie Spencer and race horse Toast of New York follow in second place. See also p. A3 and fashions p. A7.
Commemorating the 85th anniversary of the death of Arcadia Police Department officer Albert Edward Matthies, the Arcadia Police and Fire departments will have a service at Live Oak Memorial Park, where he is interred and a commemorative monument will be unveiled at his grave site.
Congressman David Dreier, Republican, who has been representing the San Gabriel Valley and parts of San Bernardino County for nearly three decades in the House of Representatives, announced he will not seek re-election. Dreier represents the 26th District, which includes Arcadia. Article includes biography and legacy.
David Tran, the owner of Huy Fong Foods (makers of Sriracha hot chili sauce), defends his factory, saying, "We don't make tear gas here." Superior Court judge Robert H. O'Brien on Tuesday, ordered Huy Fong Foods, Inc. to cease operations believed to be causing a smell that the City of Irwindale said has created a "public nuisance" and immediately changes to mitigate the odor. David Tran, CEO and founder, is an Arcadia resident.
Deyun Shi of San Gabriel, pleads not guilty in attack on his wife in La Canada Flintridge and in the beating deaths of his two nephews William Lin and Anthony Lin, in Arcadia. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 15, May 19, 2016.
Event honors country's youngest veterans. Veteran Stan Pinta of Arcadia (photo) and others attend the 95th anniversary event of the conclusion of "The War to End All Wars" at Pasadena City Hall on Veterans Day.
Experts say city violated Brown Act meeting law. Arcadia City Council made three housing policy decisions in closed session without public input. At the meeting last week, officials voted to shelve a comprehensive update to city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, sans the Highlands Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said the decisions came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the city targeting mansionization.
Four Chinese nationals were arrested on federal and state charges for their alleged involvement in brothels in Monterey Park and San Gabriel. Jian "David" Guo, 42, of Arcadia, Huagui "Candy" Lotto, 53, of Rowland Heights, Lotto's husband Phillip Fu, 47, of Rowland Heights, and Yibin Zhang, 45, of Monterey Park, were arrested. If convicted of the state charges, the maximum sentence would be 7 years and 4 months.