Citizen About Town

By Nancy C Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

Email: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

During the October 19^th meeting I thanked Karl Berger and Ron Bow for explaining the Eminent Domain process  the city used against CCI, the current owners of the hill side property known as Goodview’s property during the October 5^th City Council Meeting.  They also explained how CCI would be paying our city back for the money we spent to stabilize this hill side.

The Eminent Domain proceeding reminds me of a property foreclosure used against parties who fail to honor their legal commitments.

Our city tried working with CCI for several years to help them build homes on that site. CII failed to meet their legal obligations on this property. Our city has legal documentation and Court approval to begin the process.

I want to thank Peter Chan, Hans Liang, Yvonne Yiu and Henry Lo for voting for Eminent Domain so our city can stabilize this property for our health and safety.

One speaker during Oral Communications lied when she said our new sales tax would be used to stabilize this hill side.  She then left the meeting before the discussion of this agenda item.

Another speaker who had already served on our Council for 9 or more years questioned why we are using the Eminent Domain process? What is the public good? She must have been aware of the dangerous hill side that had closed down Garvey Avenue many times over the years since the 1970s. She stated that the cost to stabilize this hill side could cost $20 million.

Maybe she should have suggested that the city check out the cost to stabilize this property while she served on Council. I am sure the costs for this project would have been less that $12 million several years ago.

I am very happy that our current City Councilmembers understood the legal processes  used to keep our residents and the many people who travel on Garvey Avenue safe from dangerous mudslides.

During the October 19^th meeting three candidates campaigned for themselves.

One said she was a mother and an attorney. She stated that our city budget for 2022 & 2023 could not pay for the $12 million required to stabilize the hill side on the Goodview’s site. She did not like the cost figures. She wanted the city to cancel their plans for Eminent Domain.

As an attorney  I wondered why she did not review the current legal documents about this project found on the city’s website before she expressed her concerns that our staff  and Council made a mistake on this project?

Another one asked where will the money come from? She is also an attorney so she should have reviewed the current legal documents about this project found on the city’s website.  Why are we taking on CII’s liability? She also stated when she served on the Council that the city sued the current owner.

Since the Council sued the current property owners why was the hill side still sliding down on Garvey Avenue several years later?

Another one has stated that she is a mother. I was not sure what she was selling since she was dressed for a hot date. She demanded people vote NO on our Ballot Measure as she thinks our additional sales taxes will pay to repair this hill side.

She has a very angry attitude as she seems to think she is smarter than the rest of us.

Two mothers and one aunt have put a price on human life since they do not want to city to use Eminent Domain to fix a dangerous project to save the lives of people who maybe injured or killed by a mudslide on Garvey Avenue.

The former Councilmember demanded what the City’s Employment Emergency is all about.

City Manager Ron Bow explained that the city is using a new method in their hiring practices since it is an employee’s market. The city has 56 job openings so they are trying to fill these jobs as soon as possible with good people.

The former Councilmember also demanded to know why we are accepting funds from METRO for additional bike paths in our city. She stated that we would be taking on another liability from METRO.

I recall that she was serving on the Council that approved the city’s Master Bike Plan.

During the November 2^nd Council Meeting I thanked Councilmember Peter Chan and Councilmember Hans Liang for their many years of service to our hometown.  You helped to save our city during the Pandemic by the Grand Opening of our Market Place that provided us with sales tax dollars to keep our city in business.

I thanked City Clerk Vince Chang for his many years of service to our hometown. He kept our residents informed about our city’s business with Council Meetings during the Pandemic that were on Cable television.

I thanked City Treasurer Joseph Leon for his many years of service to our hometown. He kept our sales tax dollars and property tax dollars in safe investments and provided a monthly report for all of us to read.

I voted in person on October 30^th and I recalled my parent’s advice to me and my seven brothers and two sisters. They said to always vote for the candidates who shares the same values as you have.

I live in District 5 and did not vote for any of the three women on my ballot. They do not have the same values as I have.

I did not vote for Teresa Real Sebastian to be my Councilmember in District 5.

I did not vote for Amy Lee for my City Treasurer.

I did not vote Maychelle Yee for my City Clerk.

These three women do not have any respect for us the taxpaying voters in Monterey Park or for our city staff.

They are on a power play that may destroy our hometown and will cause many of our good staff members to quit working for our city.

These women stated that our city could not afford to stabilize the Goodview hill side. They discounted the facts of the Eminent Domain process that will pay for the necessary repairs on that property.

These three women have put a price on a human life. If the hill side slides down and someone is injured or killed our hometown would be liable.

Ask yourself what is the price you would put on a human life?

I also voted YES on our sales tax measure. Monterey Park needs the additional funds to keep up our valuable city services.

Congratulations to Thomas Wong, Jose Sanchez and Vinh Ngo for winning their City Council seats!

Monterey Park has three new Councilmembers to help run our hometown.