Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri

Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

Monterey Park taxpaying residents are still waiting for a status report on the re-branding of Monterey Park. This study cost $200,000 of our hard earned tax dollars. Mayor Ing asked staff for a report.  At the November 4 Council Meeting Councilmembers Frank Venti and Anthony Wong advised the residents that Town Hall meetings would be held with the results of the study for the public to review.

Most of the residents of Monterey Park and the surrounding cities would like to see more brand names shops in our neighborhoods.

So far Wal-Mart is very busy and drawing more and more people into their Rosemead location.  The Rosemead City Council made a very good business decision when they voted to approve the Wal-Mart store in their hometown.  Many Councilmembers and residents who were against the store have been spotted shopping for bargains.

On October 21 certain Councilmembers asked that information regarding the process of conducting a Los Angeles County Fire Department study be discussed. Two studies would be done, one by the county and one by a private firm. It was pulled from the agenda and tabled by Councilmember Betty Tom Chu.

What possessed certain Councilmembers to put this request on the agenda?

In 1998 the taxpaying voters said NO to going County.  The vote was two to one to keep our hometown fire department.  85% of us said NO to paying higher taxes to the county for their fire service.

We want to keep our hometown fire department with our four-minute response time from our paramedic ambulance service and our fire trucks.

Los Angeles County Fire Service has an average response time of 12 minutes.  That is a very long time to wait when a family member is severely injured or dying. If your home is on fire it could be a total loss in their 12-minute response time.

Why are certain Councilmembers favoring the firefighters at the expense of the taxpaying voters, the general employees and the police officers?  Is it payback time for the firefighters supporting them in the local elections?

If some firefighters want to Go County then they should update your resumes and apply for a county job just like the rest of the employees in corporate America.

The taxpaying voters of Monterey Park are not willing to give away our hometown fire department.

Montebello taxpaying voters overwhelming approve their Measure M on November 3 that would require that 55% of the voters approve their city giving away their fire and police departments.

3,552 people voted Yes and 790 people voted No on the measure.

Montebello residents wished they had set up a law on the books like Monterey Park residents for an independent study to be made on the issue of going county. The study would have to validate that going county would save money.

The Montebello residents have voted to protect themselves from three Councilmembers voting to give their fire and police departments away.

Hard working taxpayers do not believe that dealing with big corporations is always for the best.  Some companies like banks have gotten too big to be properly managed and the consumers get a raw deal.

Going County would require cities deed their fire stations to the county and give away all their trucks and equipment to them too.

Going County would require the cities to pay the current pension plans to the county.

Going County would require the cities give a blank check to the county each year for their fire service.

Going County would delay rescue by 12 minutes or longer.  Their own website gives their response time as 12 minutes for a fire truck.  They make no mention of their paramedic service.

How many more times will taxpaying residents have to tell the Los Angeles County Firefighters Union and some of their local firefighters NO?

Why are the unions pushing to control all of the local bouncy castle for sale fires departments?  Why are the unions supporting more government control over our lives? Why are the unions demanding a larger piece of the financial pie at the expense of their fellow Americans?  Why are our politicians pushing unions at the expense of our personal freedoms?

I wonder if the unions are one of their means to creating a one-world government.  After all union members pay dues through their paychecks just like income taxes. And just like income taxes they don’t have any say on how the unions spend their money.

I am beginning to believe that unions are a branch of the government used to control the workers.

I hope my observations are not correct. If I am right like many of my fellow Americans believe then our personal life, as we know it, will be changed forever and not for the better.

Please keep our personal freedoms in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

Please remember the men and women who fought and died for our freedoms.  Don’t let their sacrifices be in vain.

We are facing hardships in our world but we should still be grateful for all of our blessings.

Please ask for God’s blessing on yourself, your family, your friends and your America this Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!