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ArcadiaWEEKLY
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On July 16, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will commemorate its 75th anniversary with a “Diamond Jubilee Celebration,” a series of events and activities designed to share the Chamber’s rich history
Arcadia General Plan Update Tries to Address State-Mandated Housing Increase
with interested guests. Arcadia residents, Chamber officials, and members of local businesses are scheduled to attend the historic occasion. Since its creation nearly a century ago, the Chamber of Commerce has been deeply rooted in
BY MORGAN CARPENTER -Photo By Terry Miller
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Local T.E.A. Partiers Seek “Change” in Economic Policy BY SUSAN MOTANDER
The Monrovia TEA party attendees ranged in age from pre-voting to senior citizens - all of whom had a united message no new taxes and no health care reform. - Photo by Terry Miller
They have been held all over the country: T.E.A. parties. One was held in Monrovia last weekend. T.E.A., in this case, standing for Taxed Enough Already. On Friday, July 3 more than 40 protesters appeared at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Huntington Drive in Monrovia. After a slow start, the group hit its stride about 6 p.m. For a solid hour there was a constant cacophony of horns blowing in support of the protesters. Only one negative reaction was drawn, and this from three young people who waved at the protesters, but did so with only one finger. The other reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Clare Chesley and Mary Winners were the principal organizers of this effort. They described their efforts as grassroots and locally based. “There is no hierarchy in this, “Chesley said; “We don’t agree with the fiscal irresponsibility of our legislators and feel it is time to fight back.” Chesley said their rally was designed to show support for those who are fighting to return America to its libertarian roots. “We are exercising our first amendment right to freedom of speech in an attempt to bring back our economic and individual liberties.” The signs the T.E.A. party attendees waved included those that explained they felt “Taxed Enough Already.” Other signs read ”Cap and Trade, Be Afraid,” “Where’s my Bailout?” and “Give me Liberty, Not Debt.”
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Caltrans to Bankroll Million Dollar SCAG “Congestion Study” BY MORGAN CARPENTER At the July 2nd meeting of SCAG, the executive administration committee authorized SCAG to accept $800,000 from Caltrans State Planning and Research Grant Funds. These funds will go to the Regional Congestion Pric-
ing Study, which is a multi-year, multi-phased project focusing on integrated regional solution is “reduce congestion, optimize productivity of the transportation system, reduce emissions, and identify more efficient means of revenue generation.” SCAG also accepted a dona-
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THURSDAY, JULY 9 - JULY 15, 2009 VOLUME 14, NO.55
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Diamond Anniversary BY NURIA MATHOG
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tion from Caltrans of $200,000 for the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget, bringing the total cost of the study to $1 million dollars. What is SCAG? It’s an acronym that’s been popping up lately a round Sier ra Madre. SCAG stands for Southern California Associat ion of Gover nment s,
and it calls itself “a forum to develop and foster the realization of regional plans that improve the quality of life for Southern Californians.” While membership is optional and requires dues, every city in San Gabriel Valley with the
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The Arcadia City Council met on Tuesday July 7 to discuss updates to the city’s General Plan. The revisions were compiled by staff, consultants, and an advisory committee, and called for increasing the maximum density in already high-density zoned areas and allowing further mixed-use development. These revisions must meet the requirements of SB 375, an “anti-sprawl” legislation that requires local agencies to minimize vehicular travel time through city planning in order to reduce carbon emissions. SB 375, formally known as Senate Bill 375, aims to reduce greenhouse gases in California by rethinking the way communities are designed and built. Because passenger vehicles are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 30% of greenhouse gases. According to its authors, SB 375 is an anti-sprawl bill intended to keep cities relatively compact and reduce the distance people travel in cars.At the same time, Arcadia must comply with the Regional Housing Needs Assessment Numbers (RHNA) assigned, which is assigned to allow communities “anticipate growth” in order to “enhance quality of life, improve access to jobs, promotes transportation mobility, and
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FIRST ANNUAL PEACOCK RELAYS COME TO ARCADIA The first annual Peacock Relays will be taking place on July 11 at the Arcadia County Park. It begins at 3 pm, and all kids aged 13 and under and their parents are welcome to attend a free day of recreational relays, including water balloon tosses and wheelbarrow races. The purpose of the event is to get children out and active this summer. Many local retailers, including BJs, Olive Garden, and Subway, will be providing prizes and other goodies. Popsicles will be handed out at the event. The event is hosted by Arcadia Girls Cross Country as part of an effort to reach out to the local community. Ruodi Duan, the coordinator of the event, has high hopes for the continued success of the event in future years. For more information about the event and registration, please contact Ruodi at emailcheckered@yahoo.com