Editorial

Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri

Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

The May election in California was the largest “Tea Party” held in the United States of America, as thousands of Californians said NO to new taxes.

Michael Reagan, son of the late Ronald Reagan, stated so goes California; so goes the nation. Another gentleman stated for a blue state (Democrat voting majority) they sure voted red (Republican).

American citizens as well as other citizens of the world are facing serious economic hardships. People are asking who has all the money? Where are all the jobs? How did this happen to us? Can we turn back the tide of greed and corruption? Should we throw good money after bad by bailing out industries that helped to trash our economy?

No one person has the answers to all these questions. We must pull together and help to solve our economic crisis.

Voters must demand that all of our politicians put aside their personal interests and help solve the economic issues that have turned our world upside down.

History was made in the 32nd Congressional District when the two major candidates Democrat Judy Chu and Republican Betty Chu garnished the most votes for their parties in a district that has 48% registered Hispanic voters and 13% registered Asian voters.

Long time residents remember when the lines of the 32nd district were changed to provide a larger voting base for a Hispanic candidate.

Now these Hispanic voters have chosen to support two candidates of Chinese ancestry.

Congressmember Hilda Solis, a champion of the labor unions, has chosen Judy Chu as her successor.

The unions went all out to help Judy Chu to win the seat. However with 11 other candidates and one write-in candidate they were not successful winning the seat.

So now we have another election in July to fill our Congressional seat. Judy Chu has the majority votes from her party and the support of the major unions in California.

Judy Chu began her political career in Monterey Park as a member of the Garvey School Board and served on the City Council. She also served on the State Assembly before she was termed out. She is currently the Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization.

Betty Chu began her political career in Monterey Park serving on the City Council. She is currently serving her second term.

Some pundits are predicting that Judy Chu will easily win the 32nd Congressional District seat.

I have been involved with Monterey Park politics since the early 1980s. I have seen both candidates in action during the City Council meetings. I have weighted the qualifications of both candidates and based my decision on the respect that each candidate shows their constituency and their employees.

I am supporting Judy Chu for Congress.

Finally the March Rosemead Council election is over. The courts have decided that John Tran lost his Council seat to Sandra Armenta by one vote.

Mr. Tran could not believe that he lost the election by five votes. He paid for a hand count and later sued contesting the results. He alleged that some of the minority votes were illegally disqualified by the Los Angeles County Register/Recorder.

According to news sources some of the ballots were submitted by people living outside of the Rosemead city limits while other ballots were not corrected signed by the voters. Several of the ballots were witness ballots where the voter marked an X in front of witnesses.

It is legal for a person to sign their name with an X that is witnessed by two people who sign under penalty of perjury that they witnessed the person who signed their name with an X.

While this practice is legal it does raise ethical questions whether the person signing the document understands the content of the document that they are signing because they either could not read it or are not able to sign their name.

The County Register/Recorder could not determine if these were legal ballots so they were not counted until a judge made a legal decision on the matter.

Council watchers remember John Tran was elected to his Council seat with the help of some elected officials and union leaders who did not want Wal-Mart (a non-union shop) to be built in Rosemead.

Now the cash registers in Wal-Mart are singing a rich tune for Rosemead as shoppers from far and wide spend their hard earned dollars in the store.

John Tran and his Council buddies, John Nunez and Polly Low, lost their credibility with several unpopular decisions that included not closing down a chicken slaughter house on Garvey Avenue and their desire to build mixed-used high rise buildings in town.

Council watchers have been asking what happen to John Tran’s union support in the March election?

Monterey Park Mayor Mitch Ing has determined that he does not want any personal attacks on Councilmembers to take place during the Council Meetings. He and Stephanie Sher, an interim city attorney, made reference to the Brown Act as their basis for restricting the criticism of elected officials. They said that speakers can only address items on the agenda or issues under the city’s jurisdiction.

Mr. Ing and Ms. Sher were challenged by Leon Karp, a long time resident during Oral Communications on May 20 who read into the record an additional paragraph of the Brown Act that allows public criticism of elected officials.

He was informed that Mr. Ing did not want to allow personal attacks on Councilmembers during his term as mayor.

Council watchers could not believe their ears when Frank Venti stated that he did not know that the Brown Act allowed speakers to criticize elected officials. They shook their heads at his statement and tried not to laugh at him.

We have a right to free speech and newspapers have a right to freedom of the press.

Council watchers are wondering why some of the Inflatable Water Slide Councilmembers who slandered and harassed city employees, other Councilmembers and residents are now extendeding an olive branch.

During the June 3 Council Meeting Mr. Karp spoke during Oral Communications. His attorney had received a letter from Ms. Sher stating the changes made to the Oral Communication regarding the Brown Act. However Mr. Karp circled a statement made by Ms. Sher about his remarks made at the last meeting. He has stated for the record that her statement was not the point he was trying to make to the Council.

He put Mayor Ing and Ms. Sher on notice that he was going to sue them for violating the Brown Act. He will take his case to the District Attorney and the Courts.

Mark Hensley, a new interim city attorney who has applied for the job, was present at this meeting. He also expressed his understanding of the Brown Act and supported Mayor Ing’s request to have the speakers address only the agenda items or issues that fall under the city’s jurisdiction. He stated that political issues are not under the city’s jurisdiction. He cautioned that Council should not sway the voters.

Frank Venti said the Council never operated that way and the residents could speak at the podium on any issues. This will be a learning curve for the residents.

Mr. Hensley said the individuals could still criticize a Councilmember for their actions. They will address these items as the come up at the meetings.

Mr. Venti said the former city attorneys allowed personal attacks in the past. He asked if he could still have his five minutes at the podium.

Mr. Hensley stated that Councilmembers could also speak as residents at the podium.

For the record Mr. Venti has used the dais and the podium to threaten me and my newspaper as well as other residents.

Betty Tom Chu thanked the new attorney for his explanation on the Brown Act. She said part of the problem was the method of how the prior Council acted.

For the record Mrs. Chu has also used her five minutes at the podium to speak as a resident. She requested political support for herself. She also has used the dais and the podium to threaten my newspaper and me.

For the record Mayor Ing has spoken at the podium several times as the City Treasurer. He used the podium for personal attacks on the former city manager, Chris Jeffers.

He has supplied Mr. Venti with back copies of this newspaper written by my late husband to attack me from the dais.

I have gone on the record as saying “If my husband disagreed with you then you were front page news. If I disagree with you then I write about you in my editorial opinion.”

Many residents will not speak at Oral Communications because they are afraid that Councilmember Frank Venti will attack and threaten to sue them.

Frank Venti was allowed by former City Attorney Tony Canzoneri to speak at the podium as a resident to reduce the city’s liability in event that I file a lawsuit against Mr. Venti and the city.

Mr. Venti did not like my editorial opinion published in the newspaper when he was new on the Council. He told me in private that he was going to get me.

During the Mayor and Council matters of the meeting he proceeded to verbally attack me and tried to intimidate me for my opinion of his actions.

Francisco Alonso was the mayor, and the other Councilmembers were Fred Balderrama, David Lau and Mr. Venti. Judy Chu had left her seat to serve on the State Assembly.

Mr. Canzoneri acted swiftly as he ordered Mr. Venti to speak at the podium, ordered Mr. Balderrama to leave the Council Chambers and ordered Mayor Alonso to re-open Oral Communications.

Mr. Canzoneri effectively closed down the meeting because there was no longer a quorum. He also reduced the city’s liability by forcing Mr. Venti to speak as a resident.

Long time resident Ruth Willner said Oral Communications is for residents to say what they have to say. We have only disagreed with the length of time allowed each speaker and the time for Oral Communications set on the agenda. Over the last several years it has been contentious. We need civility and Robert’s Rules of Order.

She reminded the Councilmembers as politicians they would have to take a certain amount of flack during Oral Communications.

Mrs. Willner has long protested that Councilmembers have five minutes to speak as residents. Some Councilmembers have used this time to harass residents. Councilmembers make sure they are the last speakers so residents don’t have a chance for rebuttal.

She reminded Council that they couldn’t legislate the public speech. She requested that elected officials and residents stop fighting and try to get along.

It will be very interesting to see the legal opinions issued by the District Attorney and Courts on Mr. Karp’s lawsuit regarding the Brown Act.

I want to know when Mitch Ing plans to protect our residents and my editorial opinions from Council harassment.

Monterey Park had issued business licenses to flower vendors to sell their wares on the sidewalks. After several complaints from some of the local florists the Council rushed a 90-day moratorium to prevent the vendors from selling flowers on the Saturday before Mother’s Day at a Workshop Meeting held at 9 AM in the library.

John Wong voiced his concern that the vendors were not present and advised of this moratorium.

I witnessed the flower vendors being advised by police offices and code enforcement officers that they could no longer sell their flowers from the public sidewalk.

On June 3 four of the vendors attended the meeting. They advised Council they were not notified of this 90-day moratorium. They wanted to know why the city sold them licenses only to shut down their businesses without warning. They paid a fee of $100 for each license. They had also spent more money to buy pushcarts and purchase additional flowers to sell for Mother’s Day.

They requested that they be allowed to sell flowers for the rest of the year. They asked Council for a solution.

June Yotsuya, the city manager, stated street venting is a conflict issue for the city. The moratorium was set up to allow Council and staff to work on the issue. The business licenses were not regulatory but an income generator. She asked the city attorney if they could refund the fees. He agreed to refund the fees.

The vendors also requested compensation for their losses. Ms. Yotsuya said they would discuss it and call them at a late time.

Monterey Park Councilmember David Lau pledged to donate the funds raised during his Mayoral Fund Raising Dinner in 2007 for Youth Scholarships to nine public schools in Monterey Park and Mark Keppel High School.

Mr. Lau presented scholarship checks to students during the June 3 meeting. He also presented funds to several teachers to be used for educational purposes.

Long time residents remember David Lau served on the Garvey School Board. He also works with parents at the local schools to solve education issues.

David Lau supports the schools and our local library because education is very important.

I remember hearing from the older generation that a government may take your money and your property but they can’t take away your education.

David Lau is a true patriot who supports education!

Americans need to work together to protect our freedoms, keep our country strong and united in the face of adversity.

Please vote in the July election!