Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

At the April 6 Monterey Park Council Meeting Betty Tom Chu voted against honoring Verne Heitman with a memorial tree because he was a member of RAMP. An organization that campaigned against the proposed high density of condos in Monterey Park. She accused RAMP members of being racists against the Chinese.

I reminded her longtime residents remember that Betty Tom Chu’s husband and former Councilmember Frank Venti are two of the three developers of Monterey Views. They were not successful in trying to build condos on that site. The residents were concerned that our town would be over built with condos.  Their campaign to reduce the number of condos was successful. It was not a race issue but a quality of life issue.

Betty Tom Chu became angry with City Manager Paul Talbot when he said that Monterey Park was one of five cities under investigation by the District Attorney’s office.  She said that it was a civil investigation, not a criminal investigation during the April 20 meeting.

Of course the DA will be investigating our town since Mr. Venti had several spiteful articles printed in the local newspapers against former City Manager Chris Jeffers, former Police Chief Jones Moy, Councilmember Anthony Wong and former Councilmember Sharon Martinez.

Mrs. Chu, Mr. Ing and Mr. Venti have been using our Council Meetings to harass, intimidate and slander our employees, Councilmembers, business owners and residents.

I have warned these Councilmembers several times that their actions would bring legal difficulties to our city.

Now our Fire Chief Cathy Orchard is suing our city, Councilmembers Chu, Ing and Venti for discrimination, harassment, retaliation and intentional inflicting of emotional distress.

Now we have to pay the legal fees to defend our hometown but I do not want one penny of our tax dollars to be spent to defend them.

I hope that Councilmembers Lau, Real Sebastian and Wong vote to settle the lawsuit with Cathy Orchard in Closed Session and vote to approve her request for workers’ compensation.

I strongly suggest that this Council majority investigate the actions of firefighter Frank Padilla and the two paramedics who falsified their report regarding the young man who was injured in an accident with a Monterey Park Police officer.

The young man filed a claim against the city and we paid for his injuries.

Now is the time for Mrs. Chu and Mr. Ing to resign their Council seats. Their vicious attacks have become a real liability to our hometown.

The Council majority can appoint Bob Gin and Hans Liang to complete their terms.

Monterey Park residents need to unite to protect our hometown. It is time for this Council to remember that you work for us.

At the May 4 Council Meeting the Council spoke about their Strategic Planning Retreat facilitated by Snyder and Associates that was held on April 12. The Department Directors, City Attorney and City Manager also attend this even to discuss and develop the three-year goals and objectives for the city.

Mayor Chu announced that Paul Talbot, the city manager had suggested that the Councilmembers do not take up time repeating the same opinions as their fellow Councilmembers.  They also did not respond to the speakers, which saved a great deal of time. The meeting began a little after 7 PM and ended at 8:50 PM.

It was great to see our City Council attend to city business and leave the personal attacks out of the room.

Thank you Marilyn Snider for bring peace to our hometown.

On Memorial Day please remember all of the men and women who fought and died to protect our country and us. May God bless them, their families and all Americans.