Citizen About Town

By Nancy C Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

Email: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

I attended the Monterey Park City Council Meeting on January 18^th.

Shawn Igoe, our Director of Public Works gave the Council and residents a brief update on the storm damage generated by the heavy rain fall.

He advised all of us that we had 3 landslides on private property and had several trees that fell onto the roads  from private properties. The city helped the residents to remove the trees that were blocking the roads.

Councilmember Vinh Ngo asked about the Goodview’s Estate hills that the city is repairing.

Mr. Igoe said there were no problems at the property site.

The meeting was closed in memory of Patricia Reichenberger, a longtime resident who served on our City Council from 1986 to 1990 and on other commissions. She died on January 5^th at the age of 77 years old.

I attended Monterey Park’s Lunar Celebration on January 21th on Garvey Avenue. The event was set up on Garvey Avenue from Garfield Avenue to Alhambra Avenue.

This is the first New Year celebration since the Pandemic that closed down almost all public and private events.

I arrived at 10 AM and joined the large crowd of people in front of the stage located at Russell Avenue.

We all enjoyed the dancing and Rock music played by members of Pop Rock Academy and DWP Dance.

We were very happy to attend the Opening Ceremony and listen to the many elected officials who wished the audience a Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

The crowd enjoyed shopping and eating the delicious foods sold by the vendors.

Every one was in a festive mood and enjoying the “Year of the Rabbit”.

I left the event at 2 PM after seeing the Lion Dancers and the Golden Dragon dancers.

I had a wonderful time at the party.

I went to bed at 10 PM and heard the sound of fireworks that filled the air in my side of town.

I also heard the noise of the helicopters later that night.

I did not know about the horror that took place at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio later that night.

I am still very upset that violence had visited my hometown that took the lives of 11 people and 9 people were wounded by a person who had no respect for their lives.

I am praying for the victims, their family members, their friends, my police officers, my firefighters, my city employees and all of us.

I want to thank Police Chief Scott Wiese and his staff and Fire Chief Matt Hallock and his staff for savings lives with their quick response to the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

I want to thank Los Angeles County Sheriff Luna, his staff, the Alhambra Police Department and Fire Department and the Torrance Police Department  for their quick response to solve this crime.

I want to thank all of the Elected Officials who showed their support of our hometown.

I also want to thank Brandon Tsay from the Lai Lai Dance Studio for his bravery in helping to report the crime to his police department.

I have asked God to please help us to love each other as we love ourselves.

May God have mercy on all of us and protect us from violence.