Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail address: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax number: 626-307-9081

I am the editor and publisher of The Citizen’s Voice newspaper. I took on the role after my husband’s sudden death on July 3, 1996.

At the June 16 Monterey Park Council Meeting I asked for more information on the status of the Market Place. I requested an all hands meeting to bring the residents up to speed.

Councilmember Betty Tom Chu said that issues were under discussion and they could not have a public meeting at this time.

I did request more information from staff.

The request for the approval of the cleanup on the site has been sent to the EPA office in Washington D C.  A new commercial appraisal would have to be done to establish a fair market value.  A sales price must be set. The Edgewood Properties, the developer must own the property before the Market Place can move forward.

So we wait and wait for our American shopping center.

Item 16 on the agenda “Investigation of Mayor and President with regard to Alleged Conflicts of Interest” (Requested by Betty Tom Chu)

Mark Hensley, the city attorney and Donald McIntyre, the interim city manager advised Council they believe that it would not be appropriate for them to undertake or supervise an investigation.

Mrs. Chu did state that she understood that an investigation was already underway with the District Attorney’s office.

I suggested the whole Council be investigated by the D.A.’s office for any wrongdoing.  Betty Tom Chu, Benjamin “Frank” Venti and Mitchell Stanley Ing have been using our Council Meetings and our tax dollars to harass, intimidate and slander other Councilmembers, employees, business owners and residents for years.

It will be interesting to hear the D.A’s response to their actions and activities.

Mitch Ing and Frank Venti again produced back copies of “The Voice” written by my husband to try to silence me.

In fact Frank Venti first stated that he never advertised in my newspaper.  He remembered that he did when I reminded him.

During the July 7 meeting I spoke to Council. The speakers were advised not to use any names when addressing Council so I didn’t but showed the camera and Council Mr. Venti’s ad.

Frank Venti must have thought this paper was very special when he took out a full-page ad on page 14 in the February 1999 issue. He was running for Council.  Mitch Ing has not gotten over the fact that my husband, Frank, caught him in a lie when he interviewed him as a Council candidate.  Mr. Ing was telling the voters that he was from the Midwest, the Breadbasket.  He finally admitted that he was from Manitoba, Canada.  His failure to speak the truth cost him that election. That is old news.

The residents want transparency from this Council. We have many questions about the Market Place that have not been answered. We own the property surrounding the site. We want a public meeting with all hands. You spent $200,000 of our money to have consultants advise us on how to bring in more businesses. We want a public report on their suggestions. You spent $80,000 of our money to have an audit done on Athens. We want a public report on the results of this audit. You gave our firefighters your approval to have Los Angeles County do a study on our city going county. We want a public report on the feasibility of this merger.

Anthony Wong and David Lau did not want to layoff our employees yet Betty Tom Chu, Benjamin “Frank” Venti and Mitchell Stanley Ing voted to reduce 24 jobs and layoff 19.   Most of our employees tried to work with the city.  Some of the general employees voted to have their salaries and hours reduced to help keep everyone employed.  They also asked that their incomes be made whole after the crisis passed. The Council majority told them no on their request. The Police Officers’ union and Firefighters’ union kept them employed. Their civil staff was reduced by this layoff.

Residents are waiting for the next round of layoff.  It has been said that the Council majority will be laying off 35 more of our employees.

Betty Tom Chu and her cronies Frank Venti and Mitch Ing voted against our employees and the taxpaying voters.  Yet we have reserve funds that would have helped pay salaries until the economy turned around.

You would think that Mitch Ing would have had compassion for our employees after his experience with Golden Security Bank.  Frank Venti was the Chairman of the Board and Mitch Ing was the Vice President of Loans when the FDIC issued a “Cease and Desist” Order on May 7, 2009. The bank was charged with making bad loans and being under capitalized.  Mitch Ing’s loan department was terminated and he was out of a job.

We are sure that our employees did not get a large severance package.  The $450 weekly unemployment insurance will not help them pay their bills and provide for their families.

Now that the Council majority has decided that they need to cut salaries, benefits and layoff our employees. We have decided that it is time to cut off the Council’s salaries and benefits that include medical insurance.  After all Mr. Lau, Mrs. Chu and Mr. Venti can collect Medicare benefits. Mr. Wong is self-employed so he has his own medical insurance. Mr. Ing and his family should be receiving their medical insurance from his wife’s employer, Edison.  We cannot afford to pay the salaries and benefits of Councilmembers who have no respect for our employees and the taxpaying voters.

Residents are asking why they have not seen all of Miss Monterey Park’s Court at city events?  Miss Monterey Park Liwen Tsai and Princess Jasmine Sunda participated at the 4th of July event at Barnes Park.

Miss Monterey Park Liwen Tsai, Princess Jasmine Sunda and Princess Paola Loera attended the Play Days Parade and the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Princess Miriam Garcia and Princess Brittni Bell have been no shows at the city events.

Residents are wondering if they were only entered the Beauty Contest for the scholarship money.

Well ladies what is your excuse for not representing our city as you pledged you would do when the Chamber of Commerce crowned you?

We are waiting for your answer.