Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail:nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

The Monterey Park City Council has become more polite since their last teambuilding workshop. They now agree to disagree without any name-calling, harassment or intimidation of each other, the staff or the public.

Employees and residents are happy with the new Council.

At the May 18 meeting Hans Liang was nominated by Councilmember Anthony Wong for a seat on the Planning Commission.

Councilmember Teresa Real Sebastian stated that she could not vote for Mr. Liang because of an issue she had during the Council election with the 49 Assembly District Party. President Henry Lo, who chaired the meeting, advised all the candidates that he was Mr. Liang’s campaign manager so he could not vote to endorse any candidate. The club’s bylaws required him to chair the meeting.

Ms. Real Sebastian felt that she was not advised of the relationship before she accepted their invitation to present her campaign for a Monterey Park Councilmember. She called it a conflict of interest.

Councilmember Betty Tom Chu said she was not voting for Mr. Liang since she said it was a matter of ethics.

Longtime residents wonder if Mrs. Chu voted against Hans Liang since her husband’s cousin, Congressmember Judy Chu supported Mr. Liang’s run for the City Council.

Councilmembers Anthony Wong and David Lau supported Mr. Liang for the Planning Commission since he is a resident of the city and has talents to offer the city.

Councilmember Mitch Ing stated that this was an appointment to the Planning Commission. It has nothing to do with the Council election.

The vote was three to two. Hans Liang is now a member of the city’s Planning Commission.

Mr. Ing did discuss several previous candidates Stephen Lam, Anna Jung and Patricia Chin that Mr. Wong appointed to the Planning Commission. He felt that these people were not residents of the city.  He said that Mrs. Chin was not a resident in the city and had moved out of town while she was still a member of the Planning Commission.

Mr. Wong stated that all three of these people lived in the city at the time of their appointment and were well qualified for the job. When Mrs. Chin moved out of the city she resigned her commission seat.

Mark Hensley, the city attorney stated interested parties fill out a form in the City Clerk’s office. His office or city staff did not verify their residency.

An interest party could file a complaint with the District Attorney’s office if they felt a Planning Commissioner was not a city resident.

At the June 1 Council Meeting an attorney for the Patricia Chin’s family spoke during Oral Communications. He stated that he thought that the parking lot issue was settled with the city. His clients settled with the city in court for various infractions on their parking lot at Atlantic and Garvey for $200,000 in fines and court courts. He was speaking about Mr. Ing’ comments at the May 18 meeting. He assured Mr. Ing, the Council and residents that Patricia Chin was a resident of Monterey Park since 1988. Any issues that involved her family that she recused herself from the discussions.

He did sent a letter to the city attorney and Council requesting a retraction from them for their statements that Mrs. Chin was not a resident at the time that she served on the commission.

Mr. Hensley said the staff does not verify residency of any candidates that apply for any of the commission seats.

The issue appeared to be resolved.

The Council and residents were surprised to learn that the Council did not have the legal right to approve or deny permits requested for the fireworks stands in the city.

Ms. Real Sebastian spoke out against selling fireworks in the city. The city is having a financial crisis and the $214 fee per stand for permits and inspections would not cover the cost of staff’s time. Only 12 non-profit groups applied for the permits. She called the fireworks a health hazard for residents with asthma and a danger to pets. It is also a fire hazard since we live in a hilly area with dry brush.

She quoted a certain section of the city’s law that requires the sellers to use 50% of their proceeds to pay for activities for the residents. She said only two groups sent in their balance sheets from last year.

Mr. Hensley read the law and discovered that this item was not a Council action. It is an Administrative action. Mr. Hensley said that he did not see this part of the law last year. He apologized for his oversight.

Paul Talbot, the city manager, said he would review the applications and request the missing balance sheet.

A mandatory safety class for the people who will be working the stands and a $200 clean up fee is also required.

Any worker who violates the safety regulations risks their stand being shut down by the fire and police departments.

The non-profit groups depend on the funds raised selling fireworks to continue their good deeds.

The city will be spending $13,500 for the public fireworks display on the 4th of July in Barnes Park.

Donations of two bits (25 cents) or more are gladly accepted at city hall to reduce the cost to the city.

Celebrate the birthday of the USA safely.

Enjoy and have fun!

We are proud Americans who live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!