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ARCADIAWEEKLY
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
Since 1996
VOL. 22, NO. 9
Arcadia’s Santa Anita Main Track to Reopen Today After Rash of Fatalities Mayor Pro Tem April Verlato listens intently to fellow councilmembers during the hearing last week. –Photo by Terry Miller/Beacon Media News
19 horses have died at Santa Anita Race Track since December 2018
Is Historic Preservation Important to Arcadia? Galen PATTERSON
Terry MILLER
galen.patterson303@gmail.com
tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
Arcadia’s most recent City Council meeting saw the consideration of the city’s most recent historic preservation ordinance proposal. Although the ordinance did not pass, it was not entirely dismissed. Several members of the council agreed that the city should adopt some sort of policy on historic preservation, but the concerns of the citizens that spoke at the meeting shed light on the fears Arcadians have on the issue. One of the most common concerns public speakers had was a genuine fear of home-
T
he main track will reopen for training on Thursday, Feb. 28. “We feel it is prudent to wait another day in order that we can more thoroughly analyze soil samples and make any adjustments, if necessary,” said Mike Willman, spokesman for Santa Anita Race Track. One day after Santa Anita announced it was closing the track Monday and Tuesday for surface and soil sampling amid a rash of racehorse deaths, another horse died during training Monday morning, the Los Angeles Times reported. Horse racing is a noble sport but also a precarious one for jockeys as well as the thoroughbreds they ride whether in a race or training. The death of any horse is very heartbreaking at Santa Anita. The latest victim, Charmer John, a 3-year-old gelding, was euthanized after he suffered a catastrophic injury to his left front fetlock. He was the 19th horse death at Santa Anita since Dec. 26, according to the Times. A statement from Santa Anita Tuesday said:
SEE PRESERVATION PAGE 13
Tale of Two Cities: Arcadia and Bygone Arcadia Noted historians slighted by longtime councilman’s remarks Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
SEE RACETRACK PAGE 13 Santa Anita has experienced 11.5 inches of rain and near-record cold temperatures this month which experts believe contributed to recent racehorse deaths. – Photo by Terry Miller/Beacon Media News
In many ways, one could describe the people of Arcadia by paraphrasing Charles Dickens. It was the best of times it was the worst of times, wisdom and foolishness, when discussing historic preservation last Tuesday at the council meeting. During last week’s epic Arcadia City Council meeting
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owner’s rights being infringed upon. The proposed ordinance had allowed the City Council to vote under extreme cases, to override the homeowner’s rights and designate the structure a historic resource, barring it from destruction. The council agreed that for the city to preserve a property in jeopardy, it should require a supermajority vote (4 votes out of 5) to pass. One Arcadian spoke about how people will not necessarily flock to Arcadia to see her house, which was on the list of potential historic resources. The list of potential historic resources was a list compiled by an outside
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on historic preservation, one councilman took great lengths to ridicule some highly respected local historians who have devoted their lives to preserving the history of Arcadia and when the councilman claimed the razing of Anoakia was due in part to an earthquake there was an audible gasp. “That place was destroyed by the Whittier earthquake. I don’t know if SEE TWO CITIES PAGE 12
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