Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

Monterey Park Council watchers are asking why Councilmember Betty Tom Chu still thinks she is the mayor and chairing the meetings from the far side of the dais?

She has been taken over the meetings like Mayor David Lau is not sitting the mayor’s chair.

Councilmember Chu should remember to treat Mayor Lau with the same respect as Mayor Pro Tem David Lau treated her.  He did not take over the chair when she was the mayor.

I attended the Monterey Park’s Harmony Car Show and observed that our Police Officers had an information booth with information on DARE as well as other important data to share with the public.

Two of our K-9 units showed the public how they train our police dogs to seek out hidden drugs and stop a suspect.  The officers also answered many questions from the audience.

I walked over to our Firefighters who were manning our jointly owned Search and Rescue truck. We share this truck with the city of San Gabriel.  I did not see an information booth for our Fire Department.  I asked the men stationed at the truck about why they did not have an information booth that could have provided information on inflables safety tips for Halloween, the smoke detector that should have their batteries changed when we spring forward or fall back our clocks, the carbon monoxide detector that should be installed in every home and our Paramedic Ambulance Service membership service. One firefighter stated that they were told to report to the truck.

I asked one of the firefighters about the Paramedic Ambulance Service membership service.  He responded that he did not think that this membership service was still available.  I said I hoped it was as I just paid $50 to renew my membership with the city.

For all of you who would like to move our fire service to the county you should recall the 3-alarm fire in Carson on October 28.  A County Fire Service Spokesperson advised ABC-Channel 7 that they received the first call for help at 5:01PM and they were on the scene at 5:10PM.

The County fire trucks took nine golden minutes to arrive and called for more back up.

Nine minutes is a very long time to wait for help for a loved one, neighbor or stranger as they maybe bleeding out from an injury, suffering from a stroke or heart attack or a young child is choking to death or your home is burning down to the ground.

Time is very precious in an emergency.

Currently our Monterey Park Fire Department is on scene in four minutes or less.

Just food for though!

I asked Fire Chief Jim Birrell why his department did not have an information booth and if our Paramedic Ambulance Service memberships are still valid. I also asked him why it took County Fire Service nine minutes to reach the scene in Carson.

He stated that it was a last minute request for his department to be at the Harmony event.  He apologized for his staff not having an information booth.

I said that I wanted his department to stay with our city, as our health and safety are very important to us.

Stuff can be replaced but no amount of money can replace a lost life.

The residents of Monterey Park must be vigilant to protect our city, our loved ones, friends and ourselves.

In fact all Americans need to be observant and speak up to protect our country, our loved ones, friends and ourselves from people who want to destroy our American lifestyle.

Please remember to thank all of the veterans for their sacrifices that allow us to live in a free county.

On Thanksgiving Day as you celebrate with your family and friends take a moment to thank God for your good fortune.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!