Citizen bout Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Vice Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian stated in November after Measure 57 passed allowing early prison release for criminals. It you voted for it and they attack you…then you asked for it.

According to the January Police Department Crime Status Monterey Park had 44 auto burglaries, 18 auto thefts, 11 commercial burglaries, 26 residential burglaries and 5 robberies.   The blotter only reports on property crimes.  Violent crimes like assault and murder are not reported in these stats.

Our police department is doing a great job protecting us but they need more staff and funds to keep on top of these criminals.

People who enter our country without applying for visas are already breaking and entering into our country. They are breaking our laws, which makes them criminals in the eyes of our legal system.

On February 1st in a 5:30 PM meeting in Room 266 just before a Closed Session meeting Teresa Real Sebastian presented a request for a resolution declaring Monterey Park a Sanctuary City. She was grandstanding by notifying ABC 7 and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. She had a few members from Trinity Church to support her.

Councilmembers Hans Liang, Peter Chan and Stephen Lam just received their packets on the issue and were not prepared to discuss it.  She also handed each of them six inches of additional paperwork at the table.

I strongly objected making a Monterey Park a sanctuary city because I am not willing to lose my personal safety by allowing immigrants who are not property vetted by our U S government into our country. I also stated that Monterey Park could lose much-needed federal funds.

Staff was still complying the amount of federal funds we receive each year. It could be well over six or seven million dollars that supports our hometown.

Governor Jerry Brown stated in his 2017-18 Budget: “The Budget also assumes the continuation of existing federal fiscal policy.”

Vice Mayor Real Sebastian your actions on this issue insults every person who has lawfully immigrated into our country.  Mayor Mitch Ing emigrated from Canada, Councilmember Stephen Lam’s family emigrated from Hong Kong, Councilmember Hans Liang’s wife emigrated from Taiwan, Councilmember Peter Chan emigrated from Hong Kong, City Clerk Vince Chang’s family emigrated from Ecuador, City Treasurer Joseph Leon’s family emigrated from Cuba and your husband’s family emigrated from the Middle East. Hundreds of vetted immigrants are busy studying English and taking citizen classes at our library to become American citizens.

Immigration is a federal issue that is too important to be decided by our elected officials. I suggest that you ask Governor Brown and our Sacramento elected officials to set up special election asking the California taxpaying voters “Should California be declared a sanctuary state?”

The voters should be advised if California is a sanctuary state then we could lose all of our federal funds for health, education, public safety and more. That will include emergency funds for earthquakes, fires, floods, mudslides and terrorist attacks.

California belongs to all of us. We, the taxpaying voters, should determine our future. If the voters say NO, then there should not be any sanctuary zones in our state.

On February 15th the City Council majority noticed the vice mayor had removed the word sanctuary from her resolution but the rest of her resolution remained the same.

Approximately 30 residents responded to this agenda issue. Nine residents were concerned that more criminals would decided to make Monterey Park their home and the possibility that the federal government would stop paying federal funds that include FEMA funds to sanctuary cities and states.

The other speakers sighted the Chinese exclusion act, the interment of the Japanese and the unfair treatment of the Hispanics over the years as their reasons for the Council to pass this resolution.

The Council did approve this new resolution with valid concerns. They asked staff to do more investigating and advise them if we could lose any federal funding. This resolution could be approved by July 4th.

We, the people, should want to protect our borders and require any people who want access to our country to obey our laws.  They should apply for visas and green cards at the US embassies in their native countries. They should be willing to become US citizens and share in our American dream.

Saul Alinsky would be very proud of you, Teresa Real Sebastian, for helping to over throw our government with open borders.

I am a longtime voting taxpayer. I give Teresa Real Sebastian my vote of No Confidence based on her “Sanctuary City” issue.

The issue of Public Safety was raised during the March 1st City Council Meeting when 13 speakers that included 7 members of the Monterey Park Police Officers Association requested the Council help them with negotiations on their contract that has not been approved by both parties.  They stated they have been working without a contract for the last 9 months and have not received a raise since 2009.

The residents asked the Council to help the police officers secure a new contract with substantial raises for their service to our residents and businesses.

City Attorney Mark Hensley advised the Council and the audience that the city representatives and the union representatives have met for 11 meetings and will continue to have more meetings until they agree on a contract.

He also told the audience that the Council couldn’t address this issue in public until a decision is made on the contract.

Councilmember Peter Chan requested the other Councilmembers to meet in a Closed Session to discuss the contract.

They set a date for March 8th at 12 Noon for this Closed Session.

I support all of my city employees and hope that the Police Officer’s Association receive a fair contract with much needed raises to help support themselves and their families.

I am also aware that Monterey Park needs more sales and bed taxes to support all of our employees.

We need to work together with our elected officials and city employees to help keep our hometown safe and secure.

You can help by dining and shopping in Monterey Park at the current restaurants and stores. Please plan to spend your money at our Market Place in 2018.

Your sales tax dollars are the lifeblood of our community.

Wishing you and yours a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

An Old Irish Blessing

“May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”