What happens when a city's first Asian woman mayor takes office during a time of significant challenges? Mayor Sharon Kwan joins former Mayor April Verlato for a candid, solutions-oriented conversation about Arcadia's future.
The homelessness crisis takes center stage as Mayor Kwan reveals how recent legal changes finally allow the city to address the issue effectively. "Now the law is in our favor," she explains, detailing how Supreme Court decisions have freed municipalities from previous constraints that limited enforcement of anti-camping ordinances. Former Mayor Verlato provides historical context on how the Martin v. Boise case had previously tied the city's hands, necessitating controversial solutions like tiny homes that are no longer required.
Tell me what you want to hear at https://ArcadiaFYI.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christine Zito (00:05):
Hello and welcome back to Arcadia.
FYI, I'm Christine Zito and Ihave a great show for you.
You're going to love it as wefocus on the things that are
happening here in the City ofArcadia.
I live in the city of Arcadia.
I'm a resident of the city ofArcadia.
I grew up here in the city ofArcadia at least my childhood
but my father lived here untilhe went home to Jesus here in
(00:26):
the city of Arcadia.
I grew up here in the city ofArcadia at least my childhood
but my father lived here untilhe went home to Jesus here in
the city of Arcadia.
And there's a lot of thingsgoing on, and that's some of the
things that we'll be talkingabout.
But I'd like to thank oursponsors Longo, Toyota, Lexus
and El Monte.
I know I've been telling youthat you have to go.
You have to go and just checkit out, because they do more
than just sell cars.
(00:46):
Say hi to Brooke, say hi toMike.
They will be waiting for you.
At least I hope so.
At least ask for them.
They'll come out and shake yourhand.
Star 7 Financial with FrancineChu.
She is like one of the manypeople Well, I should say it
this way she's like one of thefew people that I know that care
about your money, your future,your kid's future when it comes
(01:09):
to finances.
So you need to get a hold ofher.
The Santa Anita Park that's anicon here in the city of Arcadia
.
Do you like watching the horses?
I do.
It's really a lot of fun.
There's a lot of things goingon at the Santa Anita Park and
Pete will be here to talk aboutthat.
Hotel in Arcadia Next weekyou'll be hearing from Gabby, as
(01:32):
we talked about.
We'll be talking about a lot offun stuff and actually doing a
tour of that hotel.
It's really a lot of fun.
All right for your information,if you're watching on YouTube,
you'll see that I have a veryspecial lady in the studio.
She's an inspiration.
Why?
Because not only is she themayor of the city of Arcadia,
(01:55):
she is also the first Asianwoman to be mayor of the city of
Arcadia.
Welcome to the show, thank you.
And also in studio, formermayor of Arcadia and city
council, and it's we all knowwho she is April .
So you have to come in and talkright into that mic, april, and
(02:16):
you too, sharon, talk rightinto that.
Yeah, am I close enough.
You are close enough, I can.
I can see your levels.
All right, all right, first up,I can.
I can see your levels, allright, all right.
First.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (02:29):
Mayor Sharon Kwan, you've been in Arcadia for
how long now, since 1998.
Christine Zito (02:32):
So it's one, two , three over 20 years.
Yes, over 20 years, over 20,and you and and you love Arcadia
.
Right, I love Arcadia and youlive in Upper Rancho yes.
Yes, is that what that's called?
Because you were part of theassociation.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (02:48):
Yes, I'm part of the Upper Rancho Association
.
Christine Zito (02:51):
yes, I love that neighborhood.
I do my jogging there.
I'm getting ready for a halfmarathon coming up and I'll jog
through that neighborhood andI'll wave at all the houses.
I don't know where you live,but I just wave at that.
I know where April lives.
Former Mayor April Ve (03:05):
Everybody knows where I live.
Yes, so everybody drives bysome way of some you know might
be doing something else, butyeah but you were.
Christine Zito (03:12):
You were you born here in the city of Arcadia
?
I know you were born aroundhere.
Former Mayor April Verlat (03:24):
April .
So yes, my family lived herewhen I was born and your father
served in the military Correct.
He was in the Army drafted inWorld War II back in 1945.
Christine Zito (03:30):
So he didn't for some reason I thought he served
in Vietnam.
I'm wrong.
Okay, no World War.
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:35):
II World War II.
My father was older when I wasborn.
Christine Zito (03:39):
Okay, yeah, I see All right.
And your kids?
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:43):
go.
My kids were born and raised inArcadia, and your kids, they
went to the Arcadia schools.
The Arcadia school district.
My daughter just graduated fromArcadia High this past.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (03:55):
June.
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:56):
Yes , so she's the last.
My son graduated a couple yearsago.
All right, so yeah.
Christine Zito (04:02):
And Mayor Kwon, your kids are.
How many kids do you have?
I have four kids.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:06):
You have four kids Three boys and one girl.
Christine Zito (04:09):
Oh, all right, Three boys, wow, that's a lot of
men in your house.
Yes, and you also have dogs?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:16):
Yes, I do, I have two dogs, okay, I love your
dogs.
Christine Zito (04:18):
One's a German Shepherd.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:20):
German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd
.
Christine Zito (04:22):
I like that.
Well, my sister right now, lizUpnar, has two Australian
Shepherds and then one mutt.
I can't remember the other one,but they're so cute.
One thing I have to say,mariquan, is I didn't know this
about you until earlier thisyear, and I'm pretty sure
there's a lot of other peoplethat don't know this about you
(04:43):
is that you're the sister to anAcademy Award winning actor okay
, ki Hoi Kwan.
And just so that people will befamiliar, is that if you
remember Indiana Jones, theTemple of Doom, he was short
round.
I love.
You know what he made.
I'm just going to say he madethat movie.
He was so cute and because thatyou know, temple of Doom, that
(05:05):
was, you know, kind of a deepIndiana Jones and your brother
just did fantastic.
And then, yeah, he was alsoData and the Goonies and he won
his Oscar or the Academy Awardfor Everything, everywhere all
at once.
And I did see that movie andeverybody that won an Academy
Award in that movie deserved it.
(05:26):
It was just really good.
So are you and your brotherclose?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:31):
We're very close and you guys, he's number
seven and I'm number eight.
Christine Zito (05:37):
Number seven, number eight, how many?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:39):
We have nine in the family.
Christine Zito (05:40):
Wow, that's a baseball team.
Former Mayor April Verlato (05:42):
Yes , that's a large team.
Yes, we have a large family.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:47):
So because of age, very close.
Yeah, we're very close.
Christine Zito (05:52):
That is really cool.
And that is so cool that youhave a brother.
Does he support you in who youare and what you do?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:58):
Yes, he does.
Oh, that is great.
Christine Zito (06:00):
That is.
It's nice to have siblings likethat.
I will say that my sisters andI were very close.
I don't know what I would dowithout my sisters.
Former Mayor April Verlato (06:09):
Well , you have a twin, I have a twin
.
You guys were close from themoment you were conceived.
Christine Zito (06:15):
That's right.
We do come from the same egg.
We were born in the KaiserHospital there on Sunset
Boulevard in Hollywood, so I wasborn a star.
I don't know about my sister,she's a princess.
It's identical.
We're identical.
We're four minutes apart.
I'm the oldest, so I just wantyou to remember that, okay.
Former Mayor April Verlato (06:33):
Good to know, yeah, good to know.
Christine Zito (06:36):
All right, let's get into this, let's talk about
.
Well, let me ask you this,Mayor Kwan what are you most
passionate about in the city ofArcadia?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (06:50):
Well, I'm so blessed I raised my family here.
I remembered when I wascarrying my eldest son, harrison
, I was searching for a place toraise my family, my first kid,
and then I was hoping to havemore to come.
(07:11):
And I googled and I said thebest place, the best city for
school and for safety.
And Arcata came up, and so Iimmediately researched the city
and also drove by and reallylove the cultural and talking to
the people and so I bought myhome here.
(07:32):
And so the people here areamazing.
Everyone cares about each other, especially.
I remember my first neighbor inArcadia, especially I remember
my first neighbor in Arcadia.
You know, they're very, verynice, they're very genuine and
it's the people, definitely thepeople in Arcadia, that makes me
(07:54):
feel like I belong here andthis is my home, and so I really
am very, very fortunate to findthe city, to be able to live
here and raise my families andgive me all the support and the
(08:15):
environment is amazing.
Christine Zito (08:17):
It is, and I and I failed to mention that you
even have a business here.
Yes, yes, yes.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (08:25):
I don't like to drive a lot, so wherever I
live I want my office to bewithin five minutes or 10
minutes distance.
So especially when I was havingfour kids and they're very
close in age, In 1999, my firstchild was born and then to 2005.
(08:46):
So six years I have four kids.
You can see how busy you know Iwas, and so I don't think I
could drive that long to commuteto a place where I have to work
, especially full time.
So I'm very happy and, you know, also chose Arcadia to be a
place where I run my businessand it's been now over
(09:07):
20-something years.
Christine Zito (09:09):
I know.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (09:09):
And a lot has changed.
Yes, it has.
I don't think the it's not.
I think the people are prettymuch similar, the support that I
get, and I think it's justmaybe the demographic changed a
little bit.
Yes, yes.
Christine Zito (09:29):
April also.
You have a business here.
Yes, you have to come right upon that microphone there.
We want to hear you.
You have a business here.
What do you do outside of?
I mean, people probably alreadyknow, but you're a lawyer.
Yes, yes, so that was my careerof choice and what is your
(09:50):
specialty?
Former Mayor April Verlato (09:51):
so I primarily do um personal
injury, so your car accidentcases, but then I also do estate
planning, wills, trust, probatetrust, administration.
Christine Zito (10:01):
So okay, that's stressful, okay, I'm already
stressed, just by you sayingthat I'm a very full practice.
Yeah, yeah, it's a very fulland and and.
April is like walking distancefrom me.
You're a stone's throw awayeither that.
Former Mayor April Verlato (10:15):
Yeah , not throwing rocks at me.
No, I'm not throwing rocks.
Christine Zito (10:18):
I know I.
I so apologize.
I said that at my grand opening.
I meant to say a stone's throwaway yes, yes, so it's great.
Very close by, all right, solet's get into this.
So, since both of you guys knowthe issues here in the city of
Arcadia, I'm going to bring itright up, because I'm a small
business owner here in downtownArcadia and one of the problems
that I see is homelessness.
It is so, it is such a problem.
(10:40):
And where do you, mayor Kwan,where do you stand on all the
homelessness here?
I mean, what solutions is theCity Council coming up, the city
coming up with to handle thehomelessness now here in the
city of Arcadia?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (10:55):
Yes, I have a business here, so I know I
resonate with you.
It's been a problem and I thinkwe are very fortunate nowadays
that we've got some state andfederal support.
Before we were not able toenforce no camping ordinance,
(11:18):
you know, and so now we're ableto do so it's because now the
state it's in our favor.
So I think what we need to dois we need to really ban camping
no camping at all as of today.
(11:40):
We still have it.
Our city allows people to campfrom 7 am to 8 pm, and so people
would come, you know, duringthe day.
Christine Zito (11:51):
And they still have that now.
They still have that now.
You know, it's not only justcamping.
They sleep on the sidewalk.
Yes, okay, you're not sleepingon the sidewalk, sleeping on the
benches, all that kind of stuff.
Former Mayor April Verlato (12:05):
So what it was is it's not that, no
, it's so right now we have aban on camping in certain parts
of Arcadia, right, so that wasbecause at the time when we
adopted that ordinance that wasback in 2021, before she was on
(12:26):
city council it was the law onlyallowed us to ban sleeping
overnight in certain areas ofthe city, so we were able to
pass that, or ban sleeping onthe streets because of the idea
that sleeping is a naturalfunction.
Christine Zito (12:51):
It's a function right.
Former Mayor April Verlato (12:53):
So it's a function that people
can't not do, right.
We can't not sleep, so peopleneed to sleep.
But you know, yeah, sleepwhat's sleep?
Yeah, so the idea behind thelaws that were coming out
originally was that it was crueland unusual punishment to
(13:16):
punish somebody for committing anatural function right of
sleeping.
And so they were limiting wherewe could prohibit this function
by saying, okay, you can limitit in some areas of your cities,
but you can't eliminate itcompletely unless you're
(13:39):
offering resources, meaningshelter, to them in your city.
And so the law now has slightlybeen adjusted by the Supreme
Court and you now see much morefederal support and state
support for cleaning upencampments.
Christine Zito (14:00):
Donald Trump, our president, just signed an
executive order yes, correctHelping that situation.
So is the city council, MayorKwan, taking advantage of that?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (14:12):
I want to.
I think we should definitelyrevisit the situation and
definitely create an ordinanceto combat that issue.
So yeah, I think it's importantbecause we've been very lenient
and, as our former AprilVallada was saying, you know, we
(14:36):
allow them to sleep at nightand so there's just restriction
they are able to camp at night,but during the day, really, we
don't have, we enforce that andit's camping in certain areas.
Former Mayor April Verlato (14:50):
In certain areas, too Certain areas
.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (14:52):
they're allowed to camp in Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (14:54):
But the idea is, yes, now we
revisit, or the city shouldrevisit, this ordinance, because
it doesn't seem like it'ssegregated.
Christine Zito (15:02):
It seems like they sleep everywhere.
Because it doesn't seem likeit's segregated, it seems like
they sleep everywhere.
Hey, I'm speaking from aresident, because I used to walk
to work, because I can walk towork.
I don't walk to work as oftenbecause I was walking with my
sister one day and we wereconfronted by a homeless person
who I thought was going to hurtmy sister and I was going to get
ready to defend and then atthat moment, just at that moment
(15:26):
when that happened, an Arcadiapolice officer drove by and we
called out to him and he cameover and and alleviate that
situation.
And that's where I feel, wherepeople feel like it's unsafe.
I feel it's unsafe.
If you can't, you can't.
I mean, what is?
What is the city council doingabout the safety when it comes
to the homeless?
I mean I give kudos to theArcadia Police Department
because anytime that I've calledthem they were on it, but still
(15:50):
it's still a, I mean at myapartment.
I mean they've I've had so manythings stolen.
I mean they come into theapartment complex and steal
things.
So I mean I know that's a bigproblem, but how do you police
that?
I mean, what is the citycouncil doing?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (16:03):
that and giving us.
Well, it's going to be verydifferent now.
It's because I think prior tonow was that you know, people,
when you think about addressingthe homelessness issue is about
sheltering, you know, like tinyshelter, and so every time the
community doesn't want that, Imean there's a lot of voices
(16:24):
about that.
But now it's very differentbecause before I think, if you
remember the verdict of Martin vBoise, you can't enforce that.
You have to allow them to bewherever they want to.
Former Mayor April Verlato (16:39):
Yes , unless you had shelter in your
city, and that was the wholepoint of tiny homes, I know I
want to talk about tiny homes.
Christine Zito (16:45):
Yes, and then.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (16:46):
So that's why the public is pretty much
against that, and so now the lawis in our favor.
We don't need to have shelterto enforce no camping ordinance,
you know, and so I think thatwould definitely.
It's a big improvement and itreally allows us to do a better
job.
I think we need to readdressthe issue and come up with a
(17:12):
more enforceable way where wecan.
To me, my opinion is just thatwe should ban completely.
It's because they're using a lotof our resources our police
officers, the fire departmentand recreational Everyone is
addressing the issues, and it'sa lot of manpower and a lot of
(17:35):
money being spent, and so Ithink that we should redirect
that resources to something moreimportant, and it hasn't been
effective.
Something more important, andso I think, and it hasn't been
effective, and so I think it'simportant to revisit and then to
come up with something where wecan, you know, provide better
safety.
As you were saying.
You know, you, when you comeacross to someone like that,
(17:56):
you're frightened, you know, andyeah, that is not just a story
coming from you, but a lot ofconstituents has, you know,
brought this question up to meand asked me how I'm going to
address it.
So I think this is a good timeto talk about it, because I
think we have more options todaythan before.
Christine Zito (18:16):
Let's talk about tiny homes.
April, okay, I mean, that's, Imean, that was a huge challenge
for you, yes, okay, so talk tome about the whole purpose of
the tiny homes when you firstthought of it?
Former Mayor April Verlato (18:34):
how did it come to fruition in your
mind?
I was serving on the SanGabriel Valley COG their
homelessness committee.
San Gabriel Valley COG is theSan Gabriel Valley Council of
Governments.
Cabra Valley COG is the SanGabriel Valley Council of
Governments.
It's a regional body thatbrings together elected
officials from 30 citiesthroughout the San Gabriel
Valley and we brainstorm right,we're basically a brainstorming
(18:55):
committee and you know we werelooking at all these different
shelters and you know we weretaking a deep dive into martin v
boise and and the requirementsand how.
We were basically up against awall that if our cities wanted
to be able to enforce ananti-camping ordinance, we had
(19:16):
to have shelter in our city,otherwise you had to let people.
Christine Zito (19:21):
Basically you know, sleep in there yeah, and
so um.
Former Mayor April Verlato (19:25):
so with that, uh, we were looking
at different shelters and I mean, everything was so expensive.
It was ridiculous.
I mean the the amount of moneythat, uh, lasa was spending.
Um, it was just horrible.
And you, they'll spend 500, 600, 700, maybe 800.
I think now they're talkingabout it's closer to a million
(19:48):
dollars per unit, per bed, tobuild these shelters for housing
, and that's just the building.
We're not talking about theservices that come in addition
to the actual structure and theactual facility.
So the expense was ridiculousand so our only choices we were
(20:11):
faced with was letting peoplecamp on our streets, and to me
(20:31):
that was unacceptable.
This new innovative idea ofusing what was once FEMA product
for disasters that had come outof Hurricane Katrina, when over
100,000 people had beendisplaced, they developed these
very portable little tiny homes,basically, or shelter spaces,
to house all of those people,and so that company that had
(20:51):
done it for Hurricane Katrinawas now repurposing their
shelters as shelters forhomeless.
Christine Zito (21:02):
Well, the tiny homes, I think that people were
against is where it was going tobe located.
Former Mayor April Verlat (21:07):
Right and a lot of people didn't
understand where it was going tobe located.
Yeah, I mean a lot of peoplethought it was going to be right
, smack dab at the you know nextdoor to their homes.
Christine Zito (21:18):
Well, it's interesting because I do want to
say, on a personal level, thatI feel bad for people who are
homeless.
When they're displaced andthey're you know, they, they
have nowhere to go, um, becausemy, my heart wants to help them,
but I don't know how to helpthem.
Right and it's it's, it's likea catch-22 you want to help them
(21:40):
, but yet they don't want to.
Some of them, not all of themdon't even want to help
themselves, and so now they'rein this place where, um, it
brings this situation, and Ithink what I've seen, um, and I
think, from what I hear from thepeople, is that the homeless
(22:00):
just seem to there's no sense ofsolution, and when the city
talks about it, there's still noaction.
So how would you address that,mariquan?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:15):
Because I think it's so sensitive.
You know, and I think it'sactually now, it's very
different.
As I'm saying, right now thelaw is really in our favor.
We can do a lot, a lot more.
Christine Zito (22:31):
With the law in your guys' favor, will tiny
homes be brought back up?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:37):
No, because you have to understand.
The purpose of having the tinyshelter homes is because we need
to have that in order for us toenforce or to mandate a no
camping ordinance.
Okay, it's a requirement fromthe state law.
That was the previous law.
That was the previous law.
Former Mayor April Verlato (22:55):
It's no longer.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:57):
It's no longer that law, and so now the
state, and now even federal,with the Trump administration,
now the state and now evenfederal.
Christine Zito (23:06):
With the Trump administration, do you think
your other council people willagree with what you guys are, or
at least Mayor Kwan, becauseyou're on the council now, will
agree with what?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (23:12):
you're saying .
I think so because we all careabout the safety of this
community, I mean before, Ithink, with APO's.
You know she's trying toaddress that and trying to find
a solution, and the onlysolution that we have to have is
to have shelter in Arcadia, toenforce no camping ordinance,
(23:35):
but now it's no longer the law,and so I think this issue has
been a problem for us and ithasn't been addressed, because
we're basically very muchhandcuffed.
But now this is not a situationanymore, so we can now revisit
the issue and then come up witha better ordinance where we can,
(23:57):
you know, provide a solution toaddress the homelessness issue.
A solution to address thehomelessness issue, I think it's
now it's going to be.
There's going to be more andmore options for us to do it now
compared to before.
Former Mayor April Verlato (24:10):
Well , there's more opportunity to
pass a law like that, becausebefore, if you passed an
ordinance that completely bannedThen you must have shouted yeah
.
If you completely no.
Well, before, if you had anordinance that completely banned
overnight camping anywhere,everywhere throughout your city,
(24:32):
you would.
You would be sued, right, thestate of California would come
out and would come well, itwould be a homeless
organizations or whatever.
They would sue you.
So now you're not going to getsued if you pass an ordinance
like that that completely bansbut you know we still have to
look at other problems withaddressing homelessness and
(24:53):
because they come off the metroright.
Christine Zito (24:55):
So how you're going to police the metro?
They?
Come in and you know, becausethey're just right up the street
.
Former Mayor April Verlat (25:02):
Right , but what you do is you start
with, you know, preventing thetents from being erected, right?
I mean that right now, what westill have and what we still see
is people are setting up theirtents and you have that a lot at
Second and Colorado or anywherealong our wash Right.
Christine Zito (25:21):
I mean yes.
Former Mayor April Verlato (25:22):
You know, because they can hide.
Yeah, and you know the city hasdone things in the past.
They hired three case managers,which I was really happy about.
They have done an amazing jobat housing people and you know,
the first year they housed maybelike 50 people and then the
second year it was like 100people.
(25:42):
But what we saw is theyconsistently make contact with
new unique individuals that arehomeless, that are found here in
the city of Arcadia, orcontacted here in the city of
Arcadia that are finding placesto sleep in the city of Arcadia.
I mean, it's a pervasiveproblem that is very complex
(26:19):
because there are so manydifferent reasons why someone
could be homeless.
Christine Zito (26:23):
There's so many different reasons why someone
could be homeless right.
Former Mayor April Verl (26:25):
There's so many different circumstances
.
Christine Zito (26:27):
And that's why it's such a sensitive issue,
because you don't want to bemean, you know, but you have to.
Former Mayor April Verl (26:33):
There's some people who are down on
their luck and have medicalissues that have basically, you
know, used up all of theirsavings and now they find
themselves on the street becausethey had a medical issue.
But there's now more and moreresources.
So one of the things that theCOG did, the San Gabriel Valley
(26:54):
COG did while I was on the COGand actually it was like right
when I got onto the COG wecreated what's called a regional
housing trust fund and we'reable to collect funds from the
state, from the federalgovernment, from the county, and
build shelter, housing,affordable housing and different
options for people to housethem.
(27:16):
So there's more resources outthere and what you'll find is a
lot of people complain like, oh,but you know, the homeless,
they don't want to take yourhousing, they don't want shelter
, and that's the crux of theproblem.
Yep, right, the resources areout there.
Before we did not have amechanism to enforce people to
(27:39):
accept those resources.
That's where the rub is right.
That's where the rub is right.
That's that's the problem is,we've got to have a way to force
people to accept resources.
We're trying to help, I know,and so there's a big battle
because you've got to understanda lot of a lot of people, um, a
(27:59):
lot of your homeless servicescase managers.
They'll say, but you can'tforce people to accept the
resources, to accept help,especially when you're dealing
with somebody who's using orabusing drugs and alcohol, right
.
But so you know, there'sstudies out there that say, oh,
(28:23):
you know, it's not effective toforce people into rehab, but
then there's other studies thatsay, no, it actually has good
results.
So it's that conflict of.
Should we be forcing peopleinto rehab?
Should we be forcing people toaccept resources, resources?
I side with you know, forcingthe help, because I, you know, I
(28:49):
see it as a parent.
You know, when you have kidsand you're dealing with them and
dealing just with the simplethings in life, like dinner, and
you say, hey, you know what doyou want for dinner?
And if you ask them, they'dtell you like chocolate cake,
right.
So you never ask your kids whatdo you want for dinner and
leave it open.
You say, what do you want?
(29:11):
Broccoli or carrots?
Right, you give them a choice.
That's a good choice.
You can't leave it open ended.
And that's what happens a lot,and to me it's.
You know, the system isenabling homelessness and we
need to stop doing that.
We need to fix all of thatbecause we've been trying for
(29:31):
years.
Everybody knows the homelesscount numbers go up and up every
single year and people say, oh,the problem is the housing
first policy.
That's a federal policy thatcomes from the federal
government.
Those, those federal taxdollars are going to be tied to
a housing first policy andthey're going to have it as a
requirement that if you usethose funds you've got to have a
(29:55):
housing first approach.
Christine Zito (29:56):
You know, and I think you know, and I think you
know for me it's always alearning experience and how all
of this works and how it worksin a city, how it works with the
city government, how it workswith the state government and
how it works with the nationalgovernment when it comes to
these type of issues.
So, because everybody has theiropinion, because for me it's
just like come on, mayor Kwan,just fix it, fix it all.
(30:18):
I mean you guys, you guys havepower, just fix it.
And I don't think it's not that, it's just not that easy.
You guys, you brought up um,affordable housing.
You guys, the city council backin april I think it was you
guys approved affordable housing.
So does the affordable housingmean what?
(30:39):
What does that mean?
Because I would like to move onfrom my situation into like
another apartment, but you can'tlive anywhere in the city of
Arcadia, it's too expensive.
So the affordable housing, Imean, what does that mean for
people that want to afford abetter place?
Mean for?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (30:59):
people that want to afford a better place.
Yes, I think it's the housingelement that you know we, you
know it's required by state thatwe need to have certain you
know building that comes in sothat makes more supplied for the
community, and I think we'vebeen addressing that and we've
(31:20):
been approving a lot of projects.
Now you can see there's a lotof construction going on, so
there's going to be moresupplied but, as you were saying
, completely affordable.
It's very difficult becausewhen you have a developer that
comes in and they want todevelop a home in Alcadia, just
(31:42):
the land itself is veryexpensive, so it needs to be
made sure that it's profitablefor them.
But we have a certain mandatenow to require for them to build
a certain percentage that isconsidered to be affordable for
the community.
Christine Zito (31:58):
Like the apartments growing here Growing,
being built here on Wheeler.
Yes, I want to live there.
So I mean, will I be able tomaybe afford that, maybe some of
it?
Of course I want the suiteupstairs.
It's completely affordable.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (32:14):
Yes, so sure, we hope so.
I mean, it's now these buildersare coming in.
They need to make sure thatthey have that when they're
building the units, that there'scertain units that's affordable
by percentage.
So I think that's a good start.
I think it's a good start, it'sa very good start, but I don't
(32:35):
think like completely affordable.
It's pretty.
I think the definition is verygeneral.
You know, it could be a beaffordable for some people, but
not other people.
But, um, yeah, I I think it'sthat one.
Christine Zito (32:48):
we're just getting started and so we'll see
how everything plays out allright, we can talk about this
for hours, because I have somany things I want to talk to
you guys about, but I do want toaddress some, some questions
that I got from from people fromFacebook and from emails.
Now I am going to mention toyou that I'm only going to ask
questions that address the cityitself.
(33:10):
I'm not into, like you know howcome you walk your dog
backwards.
Okay, so we're going to stickto only the issues here in
Arcadia now.
But one of the issues that cameup like more than a couple of
times is this whole surrogatestory.
You know this harvesting that'sgoing on.
I mean, how, how is the cityaddressing these places where
(33:35):
homes are using surrogatemothers and this harvesting so
we can, I guess, create?
I don't know what they're doing.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (33:44):
So yeah, we okay that doesn't want to be a
safe haven for something that is, you know, so unethical and
that exploitations.
I really think it's just veryshameful.
But I think this is reallyboils down to when people they
try to get a permit and or youknow to, you know for for these
(34:10):
businesses.
So I don't think they got apermit for that home to do it,
and so and nobody knew about.
Former Mayor April Verlato (34:17):
They did not.
Yeah, yeah, that's what it'sthey did.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (34:21):
I think it's pretty.
It's very difficult to discoversuch, you know, that kind of.
You know when people have thatintention, of course everything
is pretty much strategicallyplanned out, so it's going to be
hard.
It's definitely.
What is important, I think, forme is your neighbors.
(34:42):
I think your neighbors know youbetter than anybody.
If you see something, you saysomething, I think it's
important.
I'm sure, like for that home,the surrounding neighbors
probably see, maybe like morenoises, or like you, you know
things that are going on.
Christine Zito (35:01):
So you know it's that we need community
engagement yeah, I think thecommunity does need to do that.
I think we need to.
We need to get past togetheryeah, come together get over
your fears, past your fears.
Don't feel intimidated.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (35:16):
Yes, you know , this is if you see something
suspicious, you know, call thepolice, you know, and find out,
and so let them do the job to goinvestigate, because I think
something like that.
It's so hidden, I mean likeI've been here so long and I've
never, but even the thought ofhaving these kids in there is
(35:38):
just.
I cannot imagine this.
You know, I don't know what'sthe intention.
Now there's a lot of likequestion marks is like why would
they do that?
So you know, when you don'thave a criminal mind, you cannot
have this imagination or visionof doing that you can only
speculate as you speculate, buteven I would not speculate,
(36:01):
because who would do that tohave 21 kids?
Well, you got close.
Former Mayor April Verlato (36:07):
You had four, yes, but the story
goes deeper.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (36:14):
That's why now it's under investigation
with the FBI.
They have to tell us what'sgoing on, because now I've
contacted the city managers andasked and questioned them, but I
think because it's been givento the FBI to handle it, so
there's a lot of things thatthey cannot disclose to me.
(36:35):
But me, I mean, I'm just it'sjust the thought of it it's
giving me goosebumps.
Christine Zito (36:42):
Yeah, it's really.
When I read about it, I justthought wow, I was thinking my
heart goes right to the kids.
Yes, I mean, it's these kids.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (36:52):
Yes.
Former Mayor April Verlato (36:54):
It's like come home to me, I'll take
care of you.
But I think it is important toplug Neighborhood Watch.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (37:00):
I think Neighborhood Watch is the best
thing.
Former Mayor April Verlato (37:02):
That is what we need to do.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (37:04):
We need to step up and do it, don't be
intimidated, because if you havelike for me.
If I have the intention of doingthat, I would go to get my
permit or whatever.
Of course I'm going to hide allmy information and have very
strategically planned out how itcould be a success, so you
(37:24):
can't like prevent these kind ofthings happening.
Yeah, so I think your neighboris so important and I'm sure now
it's coming out that a lot ofthe neighbors on the block are
saying like, oh, I thought thatwas very suspicious, but nobody
said anything you know.
Former Mayor April Verlato (37:41):
But see, a neighborhood watch group
would have been able to.
You know, on an annual basis youget together, you have your
block parties, but you also youtalk to one another.
You know you'll meet up andyou'll say, hey, you know what's
been happening at that houseacross the street from you, and
people will start to have aconversation.
It, I think, just facilitates alot more um, safety within a
(38:07):
street, within a block, becauseit's the, it's the, you know the
micro part of it getting in,you know, to the, the smaller
group, because you know, policedepartments have limited
resources, police officers.
We can only hire so many policeofficers, you know, and you can
only have those police officersat any given time in so many
(38:28):
spaces and there's only so mucha police officer can do.
So something like this whereyou have your neighbors watching
, I mean, that's why, years ago,the city council, back when I
was on city council, we startedto subsidize people getting ring
cameras and it was with nostrings attached, but the idea
(38:49):
was people are going to put upall these ring cameras and then
we're actually going to haveaccess, potentially at the
police department, to video whena crime is committed or when
something happens, we can goback to that street and find out
is that right now?
Christine Zito (39:06):
well, we don't do the subs.
Former Mayor April Verlato (39:07):
We don't do the subsidies anymore,
but we were for a while and Ithink we gave out 50,000, maybe
a hundred thousand subsidies forpeople to buy ring cameras it
was more expensive to buy it,but now it's more cost effective
.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (39:23):
You can go to Costco and get a system,
anybody can get them.
So a few years ago it was notthis situation.
Former Mayor April Verlato (39:29):
Oh, I see, Okay, but now it's been
you know.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (39:32):
Now it's mass production, so things are more
affordable.
Well, what about there?
Christine Zito (39:36):
has to be some way where we can encourage
people to feel safe about beingbold and in reporting these type
of things.
I think people are so quietthese days in neighborhoods.
Okay, I'm just going to saywhen I grew up in the city of
Arcadia, I mean the front yardshad no fences I mean we played
in each other's yards, we hadpeople who sat out on their
(39:58):
porches and said hi to theneighbor across the street and
you know, we had barbecue.
It's nothing like that rightnow.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (40:04):
I can tell you like, when I moved in on my
block, all the information I gotwas from my neighbors.
It's like they like encouragedme and they give me the
information and they said, oh,sharing that house, what they do
, they have how many kids,because your neighbor is
watching.
And when it comes to these kindof terrible intentions, having
(40:29):
these kids, I think it's just.
And also you have to haveprivacy.
There's just so much that thepolice officers can do.
So the best strategy is reallyto have neighborhood watch and
to be more actively involved and, you know, say something, you
know when you see somethingthat's so important and that's
how you know what's going on.
(40:51):
And so involvement, I think forthe north side of Arcadia, we
take neighborhood watch veryseriously.
We have constant meetings, youknow, but on the south side of
Arcadia, I think some of themthey have not implemented these
plans you know these strategiesof having Neighborhood Watch
(41:15):
because they don't have anassociation, and so we have an
association.
On the north side we have fiveassociations and all the
associations have been veryactively involved in getting the
community to understand howimportant it is.
Christine Zito (41:27):
All right, our city of Arcadia.
We need to be smart about ourown safety because we can't just
rely on everybody else.
We can step up and be safe andbring community together and we
can be an example to othercities and how people can come
together I don't and and dropall the racism, drop all the
(41:48):
discriminatory stuff and let'scome together as people right
and to be able to help eachother and be safe.
You know, gosh, that was agreat.
That was great.
So, okay.
So many things I want to talkabout here.
Let me drink another drink.
Don't think that this is justcoffee.
It is just coffee, okay.
(42:10):
Another question this is fromEmily.
That was from Lance and MarthaOkay, so I'm not going to say
last names, but here's one fromEmily.
She had all kinds of stuff, butI'm'm just gonna focus on this
because I think this is.
I'm a mental health, I lovemental health.
I nobody knows.
I'm a caregiver to a disabledveteran and they struggle with
mental health.
And her question was will willArcadia host its first city of
(42:36):
Arcadia, city of Arcadia, mentalhealth Resource, fair Mental
Health Seminars?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (42:43):
Yes, we've created a new health commission
and so they are thinking aboutputting together these programs
and I think it will be startingthe beginning of 2026.
Christine Zito (43:02):
That is great See.
Emily there?
Yes, I think I think that's.
I mean we talked about homeless, we talked about these deep
issues and it'd be great to haveto be educated.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (43:11):
Yes.
Christine Zito (43:11):
To go beyond what we had just talked about?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (43:14):
Yes, and also , this coming September we're
gonna have our health fair soyou have a lot of doctors in
different kind of theirspecialties.
They volunteer the time so theycan address when you have a
problem.
Yes, exactly, the health faircoming up, she's got the flyer.
Yeah, I'm going to talk aboutthat, yes, so I mean, you know,
(43:37):
there's these amazing doctors inour community.
They volunteer their time, soplease come out and then you can
talk to them, you know,casually, and if you have any
questions, it's free.
The event is free.
It's free, you know, and I doencourage for people to go, you
know, if you have any healthquestions.
Christine Zito (43:57):
Yeah, and I will promote this now.
The first one is going to beSaturday, augustust 10th, from 9
am to 12 pm at the arcadiacommunity center.
Okay, so that's right there onit's.
It's 365 campus drive and itwill be on arcadia fyicom.
I'll have these resources there.
The second one will be inseptember that mayor kwan just
talked about.
Uh, september 20th, from 9 amto 1 pm at the Arcadia Community
(44:21):
Center, and I will have this onthere.
And so there you go, emily.
They're already.
The city of Arcadia is alreadyproactive in this particular
issue.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (44:30):
Yeah, and just in addition to that, is
that every month the HealthCommission invites a doctor to
talk about different topics.
You know and so, and it's goingto be on the website in City of
Arcadia.
Everybody can just go searchand find out the location and
the time and the topic matter,and so they can.
Christine Zito (44:50):
And I did get this right off the City of
Arcadia website.
So I'll have that link on therealso.
So all right.
So here's some other stuff thatpeople were.
I'm not going to ask thatquestion.
I won't ask that, okay.
So what are you going to doabout what can you do?
He says what can she do aboutour hard water?
It is hard.
(45:13):
I mean, do we get watersofteners?
So what do you think?
Mariquan, come on, you have allthe answers to this.
Well, I think April can, but Ithink our water comes from our
groundwater.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:25):
Yes , we have groundwater and also
we do purchase some waters fromoutside vendors From.
Christine Zito (45:32):
Colorado River, but yes, it's basically.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:35):
yes , we have hard water.
If you want it softened, youhave to buy your own softener.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (45:41):
Yeah, your own system, yes, and now it's
not expensive too.
If you go to Costco, they haveall kinds of Is everything
available at Costco.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:52):
What is it with you?
Christine Zito (45:52):
and Costco I am a bargain person or Amazon Well
yeah, Target, Walmart, Okay so.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:01):
Well, I need to physically see the product,
you know, and I mean I don't buymuch from Amazon, but yeah, you
know.
Christine Zito (46:09):
I am a show me.
I really should live in thestate of Missouri.
Show me state.
Yeah, you know, I am a show me,I really should live in the
state of Missouri.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:13):
Show me state yeah, Because I got to
see it.
Christine Zito (46:14):
But you know I love sunshine, so I'm here in
California, so all right In fact, I think we're having a meeting
that's coming up regarding toour water supply.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:26):
So I mean, if I get more information and it's
something that's new, I woulddefinitely share.
Christine Zito (46:32):
Oh, I know one thing we were talking about.
There was a question here aboutwith April.
Here, Let me see if I can findit.
Talk among yourselves here.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:40):
What do you mean?
Christine Zito (46:41):
talk among ourselves, yeah just talk among
yourselves here.
Former Mayor April Verla (46:44):
Should we talk some more about Costco
and what else?
Christine Zito (46:46):
is available at Costco.
Go ahead and talk about.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:50):
Do we all shop at Costco?
Go ahead and talk about I don'tthink we all shop at Costco.
I don't shop at Costco, oh,because I have a lot in my
household, a lot of people youhave to buy in bulk.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:59):
I get in bulk and it's at a
discount.
With three boys Well, actuallyfour, because you include your
husband You're buying in bulk.
Christine Zito (47:07):
This is from Lance.
Former Mayor April Verlato (47:09):
He says okay, so ignore the beeps,
ignore the beeps, ignore thebeeps.
Christine Zito (47:16):
It's just one of my cameras.
Okay, he says.
First of all, he says thank youvery much for your service.
This is from Lance.
I would love to know themayor's opinion about redoing
the downtown Arcadia area.
I know what he's doing.
He's comparing us probably toMonrovia downtown, which happens
(47:36):
often.
But are you going to doanything with changing up
downtown Arcadia?
We?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (47:43):
have our founder of Downtown Arcadia
Association.
She's doing an amazing job.
Former Mayor April Verlato (47:48):
Yeah , I think it's come a long way.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (47:50):
Yes, come a long way.
You can see there's more foodtraffic.
But if you ask, is there moreimprovement?
I mean I would thank God I waspart of the board member as well
for previous years and so I Ithink it's, it's, it's been more
you, you know, foot traffic,you know.
(48:12):
But if you say more like betterimprovement, of course there's
always room for improvement.
Christine Zito (48:18):
And when are we going to see that happen?
I'm kidding.
Former Mayor April Verlato (48:21):
So this is, I think, we are seeing
it happen, I mean you're gettingmore and more restaurants
coming into downtown.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (48:27):
Arcadia A lot of new restaurants.
Yes, Like All.
Christine Zito (48:30):
India Cafe.
I love it there they're gonnabe here on FYI.
Former Mayor April Verlato (48:35):
If Arcadia FYI told great, tell
them okay, I'm gonna.
Christine Zito (48:39):
I'll say this I I'm Mexican, I'm Italian or
Mexican and I'm not really intoother cultural type foods,
except for Taiwan.
I like Taiwanese, but the, theIndian Cafe, their food I'm
addicted to their food.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (48:56):
It is so good I'm going to try it this
weekend.
Christine Zito (48:58):
Oh my gosh, yeah , it's really good.
It is so good.
But we have a lot of greatrestaurants and more and more
are coming right.
Former Mayor April Verlato (49:04):
More and more are finding downtown
Arcadia.
They're coming.
It's about being able to bringin those businesses.
It also is tied to, you know,reducing our homeless population
, because a lot of businesseslook, they come, they, they,
they scout it out and if theysee people sleeping on the
benches, sleeping in front ofbusinesses, they're going to be
(49:26):
deterred from coming to downtownarcadia so that's why I'm so
passionate about addressinghomelessness is because it does
affect the business communityand what kind of businesses are
going to come into your city oryour business districts if
you've got a large homelesspopulation?
Christine Zito (49:45):
Yeah, because they sleep in front of those
doors.
Yes, people need to feel safeto come out at night.
Former Mayor April Verlato (49:50):
Back to downtown Back to the
businesses that are coming in.
We're seeing a lot of reallygreat new businesses and it's
just a matter of then.
We've got to make sure thatwe're supporting them, Make sure
that we have the parking.
Parking is always huge.
A lot of businesses they come.
Christine Zito (50:06):
I love the parking here, I know At least we
can park for free.
Yes, not talking about theother cities, but okay.
Former Mayor April Verlato (50:10):
Okay .
So yes, that's very importantto businesses.
They want to make sure thatthere's ample parking.
They want to make sure that,you know, there's a good like
base of pedestrians walking, youknow, because that helps to
improve and increase sales.
Christine Zito (50:26):
All right.
So what we need to do, not onlyget our community watch going,
let's start walking downtownArcadia, Right, Okay, yes, and
because I see like I don't wantto neglect another part of
Arcadia Baldwin and Huntington.
There it's busy there.
Former Mayor April Verl (50:43):
Baldwin and Duarte.
Christine Zito (50:44):
yeah, baldwin and Duarte you know it's busy
there, but here in downtownArcadia, where it's downtown
Arcadia, okay, I do want to sayOkay, so we have the restaurants
.
I just want to kind of gothrough in my mind here we have
All Indian Cafe, we have MattDenny's yes, we have Denny's yes
Outback.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:01):
We have Japanese food too.
Japanese food, I was going tosay.
Former Mayor April Verlat (51:06):
We've got Goki.
Christine Zito (51:07):
Goki Cafe.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:08):
Love Goki Goki Cafe.
We've got White Springs, whiteSprings Cafe.
Christine Zito (51:17):
Okay, if you have not tried White Springs
Cafe, that is such a greatfusion.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:22):
It's vegan, it's vegetarian.
It is such great food run byMama.
We've got Manjotai Kur.
I can never pronounce that one.
That's the one that took overwhere the sprouts was Bean
sprouts or whatever it wascalled.
Christine Zito (51:34):
Oh, yes, I know exactly, they have good food
there too.
Yes, my sister and I, my twinsister and I we went there and
they thought it was really goodand people love Chengdu.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:42):
Oh, Chengdu impression.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:44):
That's like a higher end, like fine dining.
Christine Zito (51:51):
Okay, so it's Beijing, fine dining Sichuan.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:52):
Beijing, I think Sichuan Beijing very
similar.
Christine Zito (51:55):
There's Hyper Coffee.
Who's the one there?
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:58):
on Alta and First oh, the Shabu Lin
, shabu Lin.
Christine Zito (52:05):
Lots of hot pots that we have so come and
patronize these businesses andlet's eat and let's have fun.
Let's come, let's come and meettogether as a community in in
these places, you know um, Ithink, I think that's great, and
I mean, moffitt's just hadtheir re-grand opening yes, yes,
(52:25):
oh, that was great, I was atthe grand opening.
What a were at the grandopening.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:28):
What a great story.
I know, I love it.
I love Moffitt's.
Christine Zito (52:32):
We have such great small businesses here, in
Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:36):
I mean, it's the families that are
behind these businesses thatmake them so special.
Little.
Christine Zito (52:42):
Provence.
Yeah, oh yeah.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:45):
Love that place and again, the story
behind it, the family behind itright.
Christine Zito (52:50):
I love that place and again, the story
behind it, the family behind itright.
Former Mayor April Verl (52:56):
There's just such great culture here,
great food, great people.
Oh, and we can't forget tomention Did Taifun, just because
it's there.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:02):
Yeah, we can't forget, yeah, this city is
very business-friendly too.
Christine Zito (53:06):
I testify.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:07):
Yes, we encourage people to open the
business here Very very.
And I think that people there'sa lot of improvement and now
there's a lot of food traffic inthe downtown area, but I do
have to say that I think peoplestill have that thinking where
(53:29):
you just go and eat.
I think maybe we can have moreretail shops where there's going
to be more lighting where likeyou can you can go in and like
those mama pop-up shops now it'smissing.
You know where you can buy cutestuff, you know, so I think we
need amazon.
Former Mayor April Verla (53:47):
Amazon is taking over a lot.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:49):
But but these are the stores where you just
sometimes you don't see thetraffic as much because they
come in, they park and they gointo the restaurant and it's so
quiet outside the street.
But actually there's a lot ofactivities that people don't
know.
Christine Zito (54:04):
And there's a lot of choices too.
Yeah, I'm going to be havingDonna and MJ back.
I'm going to be talking aboutthe businesses and stuff in
downtown Arcadia and April.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:13):
You have to be there, okay, okay.
Christine Zito (54:17):
Now I do want to say that we should have in
downtown Arcadia a place wherewe can grow a vineyard and do
wine tasting.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:25):
Zito .
Christine Zito (54:28):
You know I'm going to talk about that.
Former Mayor April Verla (54:30):
That's why you don't get elected to
city council, because, if that'syour priority, vote for me.
Christine Zito (54:36):
I'll be running.
I'm going to get a vineyard inthe city of Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:41):
Wow , yes Van.
Christine Zito (54:42):
Dome will be the competition there.
So but thank you for being here,mayor Kwan.
Thank you so much, former MayorApril you for being here, mayor
Kwan.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, former mayor AprilVelardo being here.
You guys are doing a lot forthe city and, as we hear from
the other council, I think wecan come together and grow
(55:04):
together and work together,because that's what I mean,
that's what people really wantto see, is that?
So thank you so much and andyou'll definitely be coming back
on, I mean we only there's somany other things to be that we
can address.
So thank you so much thank you.
Former Mayor April Verlat (55:19):
Thank you for having us.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:21):
I know, thank you for having us it's great.
Christine Zito (55:23):
So all this information that we talked about
will be on arcadiafyicom so youcan go there and look at what
we talked about about the healthfairs.
I know that at Met Denny's theyhave summer concerts coming up.
I'm going to put that on thewebsite because if you ever been
to a concert at Met Denny's andyou haven't been, you got to go
(55:46):
.
I mean, they have some greatbands that come in there.
And oh, do you guys playpickleball?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:52):
Oh, yes, you do my children.
Christine Zito (55:54):
Yes, Well then, your children play, but you just
watch.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:58):
Well, now, a lot of my children are not here.
They're in Chicago, yes.
Christine Zito (56:03):
I didn't know this.
I announced this on the lastshow.
The pickleball has opened up atTierra Verde Park.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (56:09):
Yes, yes, I was at the grand opening.
On that, yes.
Christine Zito (56:14):
I hate to confess it.
I didn't even know it's so nice.
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:19):
They transformed the tennis courts
into pickleball courts.
Christine Zito (56:22):
I think that is so great.
Are you guys going to beopening up any batting cages
soon?
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:26):
Wow , this keeps coming back to you,
zito, somehow.
Christine Zito (56:30):
I'm trying.
I'm trying here.
You can hear arcadia fyi atarcadia fyi fyicom or on your
favorite podcast channel likeyoutube apple podcast, where we
broke.
We broke the top 200 on applepodcast.
You're awesome it made me sonervous that that happened.
(56:51):
But it's so great.
What do you mean?
Why are you nervous?
Top 200 in the category ofdaily news.
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:57):
Of course you're top 200.
Woo Spotify, of course you are.
Christine Zito (57:01):
I love you guys.
You're coming back on tomorrowSpotify, Amazon Music, iHeart
radio and again, if you haveanything to hear, like we did
here.
If you have any questions orconcern, please go on
ArcadiaFYIcom.
Fill out the form.
It comes right to me.
I'll look at it and, for thoseof you that have contacted me,
please I thank you for yourpatience.
(57:21):
I will get a hold of you andwe'll talk about your concerns
that you want to hear.
Again, I want to thank oursponsors, Longo, Toyota, Lexus
and El Monte, Star 7 Financial,Santa Anita Park, the Hotel in
Arcadia and Pasadena.
Until next time, please beblessed and make it a great day,
(57:44):
thank you.
Hello and welcome back to Arcadia.
FYI, I'm Christine Zito and Ihave a great show for you.
You're going to love it as wefocus on the things that are
happening here in the City ofArcadia.
I live in the city of Arcadia.
I'm a resident of the city ofArcadia.
I grew up here in the city ofArcadia at least my childhood
but my father lived here untilhe went home to Jesus here in
(00:26):
the city of Arcadia.
I grew up here in the city ofArcadia at least my childhood
but my father lived here untilhe went home to Jesus here in
the city of Arcadia.
And there's a lot of thingsgoing on, and that's some of the
things that we'll be talkingabout.
But I'd like to thank oursponsors Longo, Toyota, Lexus
and El Monte.
I know I've been telling youthat you have to go.
You have to go and just checkit out, because they do more
than just sell cars.
(00:46):
Say hi to Brooke, say hi toMike.
They will be waiting for you.
At least I hope so.
At least ask for them.
They'll come out and shake yourhand.
Star 7 Financial with FrancineChu.
She is like one of the manypeople Well, I should say it
this way she's like one of thefew people that I know that care
about your money, your future,your kid's future when it comes
(01:09):
to finances.
So you need to get a hold ofher.
The Santa Anita Park that's anicon here in the city of Arcadia
.
Do you like watching the horses?
I do.
It's really a lot of fun.
There's a lot of things goingon at the Santa Anita Park and
Pete will be here to talk aboutthat.
Hotel in Arcadia Next weekyou'll be hearing from Gabby, as
(01:32):
we talked about.
We'll be talking about a lot offun stuff and actually doing a
tour of that hotel.
It's really a lot of fun.
All right for your information,if you're watching on YouTube,
you'll see that I have a veryspecial lady in the studio.
She's an inspiration.
Why?
Because not only is she themayor of the city of Arcadia,
(01:55):
she is also the first Asianwoman to be mayor of the city of
Arcadia.
Welcome to the show, thank you.
And also in studio, formermayor of Arcadia and city
council, and it's we all knowwho she is April .
So you have to come in and talkright into that mic, april, and
(02:16):
you too, sharon, talk rightinto that.
Yeah, am I close enough.
You are close enough, I can.
I can see your levels.
All right, all right, first up,I can.
I can see your levels, allright, all right.
First.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (02:29):
Mayor Sharon Kwan, you've been in Arcadia for
how long now, since 1998.
Christine Zito (02:32):
So it's one, two , three over 20 years.
Yes, over 20 years, over 20,and you and and you love Arcadia
.
Right, I love Arcadia and youlive in Upper Rancho yes.
Yes, is that what that's called?
Because you were part of theassociation.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (02:48):
Yes, I'm part of the Upper Rancho Association
.
Christine Zito (02:51):
yes, I love that neighborhood.
I do my jogging there.
I'm getting ready for a halfmarathon coming up and I'll jog
through that neighborhood andI'll wave at all the houses.
I don't know where you live,but I just wave at that.
I know where April lives.
Former Mayor April Ve (03:05):
Everybody knows where I live.
Yes, so everybody drives bysome way of some you know might
be doing something else, butyeah but you were.
Christine Zito (03:12):
You were you born here in the city of Arcadia
?
I know you were born aroundhere.
Former Mayor April Verlat (03:24):
April .
So yes, my family lived herewhen I was born and your father
served in the military Correct.
He was in the Army drafted inWorld War II back in 1945.
Christine Zito (03:30):
So he didn't for some reason I thought he served
in Vietnam.
I'm wrong.
Okay, no World War.
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:35):
II World War II.
My father was older when I wasborn.
Christine Zito (03:39):
Okay, yeah, I see All right.
And your kids?
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:43):
go.
My kids were born and raised inArcadia, and your kids, they
went to the Arcadia schools.
The Arcadia school district.
My daughter just graduated fromArcadia High this past.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (03:55):
June.
Former Mayor April Verlato (03:56):
Yes , so she's the last.
My son graduated a couple yearsago.
All right, so yeah.
Christine Zito (04:02):
And Mayor Kwon, your kids are.
How many kids do you have?
I have four kids.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:06):
You have four kids Three boys and one girl.
Christine Zito (04:09):
Oh, all right, Three boys, wow, that's a lot of
men in your house.
Yes, and you also have dogs?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:16):
Yes, I do, I have two dogs, okay, I love your
dogs.
Christine Zito (04:18):
One's a German Shepherd.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (04:20):
German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd
.
Christine Zito (04:22):
I like that.
Well, my sister right now, lizUpnar, has two Australian
Shepherds and then one mutt.
I can't remember the other one,but they're so cute.
One thing I have to say,mariquan, is I didn't know this
about you until earlier thisyear, and I'm pretty sure
there's a lot of other peoplethat don't know this about you
(04:43):
is that you're the sister to anAcademy Award winning actor okay
, ki Hoi Kwan.
And just so that people will befamiliar, is that if you
remember Indiana Jones, theTemple of Doom, he was short
round.
I love.
You know what he made.
I'm just going to say he madethat movie.
He was so cute and because thatyou know, temple of Doom, that
(05:05):
was, you know, kind of a deepIndiana Jones and your brother
just did fantastic.
And then, yeah, he was alsoData and the Goonies and he won
his Oscar or the Academy Awardfor Everything, everywhere all
at once.
And I did see that movie andeverybody that won an Academy
Award in that movie deserved it.
(05:26):
It was just really good.
So are you and your brotherclose?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:31):
We're very close and you guys, he's number
seven and I'm number eight.
Christine Zito (05:37):
Number seven, number eight, how many?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:39):
We have nine in the family.
Christine Zito (05:40):
Wow, that's a baseball team.
Former Mayor April Verlato (05:42):
Yes , that's a large team.
Yes, we have a large family.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:47):
So because of age, very close.
Yeah, we're very close.
Christine Zito (05:52):
That is really cool.
And that is so cool that youhave a brother.
Does he support you in who youare and what you do?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (05:58):
Yes, he does.
Oh, that is great.
Christine Zito (06:00):
That is.
It's nice to have siblings likethat.
I will say that my sisters andI were very close.
I don't know what I would dowithout my sisters.
Former Mayor April Verlato (06:09):
Well , you have a twin, I have a twin
.
You guys were close from themoment you were conceived.
Christine Zito (06:15):
That's right.
We do come from the same egg.
We were born in the KaiserHospital there on Sunset
Boulevard in Hollywood, so I wasborn a star.
I don't know about my sister,she's a princess.
It's identical.
We're identical.
We're four minutes apart.
I'm the oldest, so I just wantyou to remember that, okay.
Former Mayor April Verlato (06:33):
Good to know, yeah, good to know.
Christine Zito (06:36):
All right, let's get into this, let's talk about
.
Well, let me ask you this,Mayor Kwan what are you most
passionate about in the city ofArcadia?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (06:50):
Well, I'm so blessed I raised my family here.
I remembered when I wascarrying my eldest son, harrison
, I was searching for a place toraise my family, my first kid,
and then I was hoping to havemore to come.
(07:11):
And I googled and I said thebest place, the best city for
school and for safety.
And Arcata came up, and so Iimmediately researched the city
and also drove by and reallylove the cultural and talking to
the people and so I bought myhome here.
(07:32):
And so the people here areamazing.
Everyone cares about each other, especially.
I remember my first neighbor inArcadia, especially I remember
my first neighbor in Arcadia.
You know, they're very, verynice, they're very genuine and
it's the people, definitely thepeople in Arcadia, that makes me
(07:54):
feel like I belong here andthis is my home, and so I really
am very, very fortunate to findthe city, to be able to live
here and raise my families andgive me all the support and the
(08:15):
environment is amazing.
Christine Zito (08:17):
It is, and I and I failed to mention that you
even have a business here.
Yes, yes, yes.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (08:25):
I don't like to drive a lot, so wherever I
live I want my office to bewithin five minutes or 10
minutes distance.
So especially when I was havingfour kids and they're very
close in age, In 1999, my firstchild was born and then to 2005.
(08:46):
So six years I have four kids.
You can see how busy you know Iwas, and so I don't think I
could drive that long to commuteto a place where I have to work
, especially full time.
So I'm very happy and, you know, also chose Arcadia to be a
place where I run my businessand it's been now over
(09:07):
20-something years.
Christine Zito (09:09):
I know.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (09:09):
And a lot has changed.
Yes, it has.
I don't think the it's not.
I think the people are prettymuch similar, the support that I
get, and I think it's justmaybe the demographic changed a
little bit.
Yes, yes.
Christine Zito (09:29):
April also.
You have a business here.
Yes, you have to come right upon that microphone there.
We want to hear you.
You have a business here.
What do you do outside of?
I mean, people probably alreadyknow, but you're a lawyer.
Yes, yes, so that was my careerof choice and what is your
(09:50):
specialty?
Former Mayor April Verlato (09:51):
so I primarily do um personal
injury, so your car accidentcases, but then I also do estate
planning, wills, trust, probatetrust, administration.
Christine Zito (10:01):
So okay, that's stressful, okay, I'm already
stressed, just by you sayingthat I'm a very full practice.
Yeah, yeah, it's a very fulland and and.
April is like walking distancefrom me.
You're a stone's throw awayeither that.
Former Mayor April Verlato (10:15):
Yeah , not throwing rocks at me.
No, I'm not throwing rocks.
Christine Zito (10:18):
I know I.
I so apologize.
I said that at my grand opening.
I meant to say a stone's throwaway yes, yes, so it's great.
Very close by, all right, solet's get into this.
So, since both of you guys knowthe issues here in the city of
Arcadia, I'm going to bring itright up, because I'm a small
business owner here in downtownArcadia and one of the problems
that I see is homelessness.
It is so, it is such a problem.
(10:40):
And where do you, mayor Kwan,where do you stand on all the
homelessness here?
I mean, what solutions is theCity Council coming up, the city
coming up with to handle thehomelessness now here in the
city of Arcadia?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (10:55):
Yes, I have a business here, so I know I
resonate with you.
It's been a problem and I thinkwe are very fortunate nowadays
that we've got some state andfederal support.
Before we were not able toenforce no camping ordinance,
(11:18):
you know, and so now we're ableto do so it's because now the
state it's in our favor.
So I think what we need to dois we need to really ban camping
no camping at all as of today.
(11:40):
We still have it.
Our city allows people to campfrom 7 am to 8 pm, and so people
would come, you know, duringthe day.
Christine Zito (11:51):
And they still have that now.
They still have that now.
You know, it's not only justcamping.
They sleep on the sidewalk.
Yes, okay, you're not sleepingon the sidewalk, sleeping on the
benches, all that kind of stuff.
Former Mayor April Verlato (12:05):
So what it was is it's not that, no
, it's so right now we have aban on camping in certain parts
of Arcadia, right, so that wasbecause at the time when we
adopted that ordinance that wasback in 2021, before she was on
(12:26):
city council it was the law onlyallowed us to ban sleeping
overnight in certain areas ofthe city, so we were able to
pass that, or ban sleeping onthe streets because of the idea
that sleeping is a naturalfunction.
Christine Zito (12:51):
It's a function right.
Former Mayor April Verlato (12:53):
So it's a function that people
can't not do, right.
We can't not sleep, so peopleneed to sleep.
But you know, yeah, sleepwhat's sleep?
Yeah, so the idea behind thelaws that were coming out
originally was that it was crueland unusual punishment to
(13:16):
punish somebody for committing anatural function right of
sleeping.
And so they were limiting wherewe could prohibit this function
by saying, okay, you can limitit in some areas of your cities,
but you can't eliminate itcompletely unless you're
(13:39):
offering resources, meaningshelter, to them in your city.
And so the law now has slightlybeen adjusted by the Supreme
Court and you now see much morefederal support and state
support for cleaning upencampments.
Christine Zito (14:00):
Donald Trump, our president, just signed an
executive order yes, correctHelping that situation.
So is the city council, MayorKwan, taking advantage of that?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (14:12):
I want to.
I think we should definitelyrevisit the situation and
definitely create an ordinanceto combat that issue.
So yeah, I think it's importantbecause we've been very lenient
and, as our former AprilVallada was saying, you know, we
(14:36):
allow them to sleep at nightand so there's just restriction
they are able to camp at night,but during the day, really, we
don't have, we enforce that andit's camping in certain areas.
Former Mayor April Verlato (14:50):
In certain areas, too Certain areas
.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (14:52):
they're allowed to camp in Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (14:54):
But the idea is, yes, now we
revisit, or the city shouldrevisit, this ordinance, because
it doesn't seem like it'ssegregated.
Christine Zito (15:02):
It seems like they sleep everywhere.
Because it doesn't seem likeit's segregated, it seems like
they sleep everywhere.
Hey, I'm speaking from aresident, because I used to walk
to work, because I can walk towork.
I don't walk to work as oftenbecause I was walking with my
sister one day and we wereconfronted by a homeless person
who I thought was going to hurtmy sister and I was going to get
ready to defend and then atthat moment, just at that moment
(15:26):
when that happened, an Arcadiapolice officer drove by and we
called out to him and he cameover and and alleviate that
situation.
And that's where I feel, wherepeople feel like it's unsafe.
I feel it's unsafe.
If you can't, you can't.
I mean, what is?
What is the city council doingabout the safety when it comes
to the homeless?
I mean I give kudos to theArcadia Police Department
because anytime that I've calledthem they were on it, but still
(15:50):
it's still a, I mean at myapartment.
I mean they've I've had so manythings stolen.
I mean they come into theapartment complex and steal
things.
So I mean I know that's a bigproblem, but how do you police
that?
I mean, what is the citycouncil doing?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (16:03):
that and giving us.
Well, it's going to be verydifferent now.
It's because I think prior tonow was that you know, people,
when you think about addressingthe homelessness issue is about
sheltering, you know, like tinyshelter, and so every time the
community doesn't want that, Imean there's a lot of voices
(16:24):
about that.
But now it's very differentbecause before I think, if you
remember the verdict of Martin vBoise, you can't enforce that.
You have to allow them to bewherever they want to.
Former Mayor April Verlato (16:39):
Yes , unless you had shelter in your
city, and that was the wholepoint of tiny homes, I know I
want to talk about tiny homes.
Christine Zito (16:45):
Yes, and then.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (16:46):
So that's why the public is pretty much
against that, and so now the lawis in our favor.
We don't need to have shelterto enforce no camping ordinance,
you know, and so I think thatwould definitely.
It's a big improvement and itreally allows us to do a better
job.
I think we need to readdressthe issue and come up with a
(17:12):
more enforceable way where wecan.
To me, my opinion is just thatwe should ban completely.
It's because they're using a lotof our resources our police
officers, the fire departmentand recreational Everyone is
addressing the issues, and it'sa lot of manpower and a lot of
(17:35):
money being spent, and so Ithink that we should redirect
that resources to something moreimportant, and it hasn't been
effective.
Something more important, andso I think, and it hasn't been
effective, and so I think it'simportant to revisit and then to
come up with something where wecan, you know, provide better
safety.
As you were saying.
You know, you, when you comeacross to someone like that,
(17:56):
you're frightened, you know, andyeah, that is not just a story
coming from you, but a lot ofconstituents has, you know,
brought this question up to meand asked me how I'm going to
address it.
So I think this is a good timeto talk about it, because I
think we have more options todaythan before.
Christine Zito (18:16):
Let's talk about tiny homes.
April, okay, I mean, that's, Imean, that was a huge challenge
for you, yes, okay, so talk tome about the whole purpose of
the tiny homes when you firstthought of it?
Former Mayor April Verlato (18:34):
how did it come to fruition in your
mind?
I was serving on the SanGabriel Valley COG their
homelessness committee.
San Gabriel Valley COG is theSan Gabriel Valley Council of
Governments.
Cabra Valley COG is the SanGabriel Valley Council of
Governments.
It's a regional body thatbrings together elected
officials from 30 citiesthroughout the San Gabriel
Valley and we brainstorm right,we're basically a brainstorming
(18:55):
committee and you know we werelooking at all these different
shelters and you know we weretaking a deep dive into martin v
boise and and the requirementsand how.
We were basically up against awall that if our cities wanted
to be able to enforce ananti-camping ordinance, we had
(19:16):
to have shelter in our city,otherwise you had to let people.
Christine Zito (19:21):
Basically you know, sleep in there yeah, and
so um.
Former Mayor April Verlato (19:25):
so with that, uh, we were looking
at different shelters and I mean, everything was so expensive.
It was ridiculous.
I mean the the amount of moneythat, uh, lasa was spending.
Um, it was just horrible.
And you, they'll spend 500, 600, 700, maybe 800.
I think now they're talkingabout it's closer to a million
(19:48):
dollars per unit, per bed, tobuild these shelters for housing
, and that's just the building.
We're not talking about theservices that come in addition
to the actual structure and theactual facility.
So the expense was ridiculousand so our only choices we were
(20:11):
faced with was letting peoplecamp on our streets, and to me
(20:31):
that was unacceptable.
This new innovative idea ofusing what was once FEMA product
for disasters that had come outof Hurricane Katrina, when over
100,000 people had beendisplaced, they developed these
very portable little tiny homes,basically, or shelter spaces,
to house all of those people,and so that company that had
(20:51):
done it for Hurricane Katrinawas now repurposing their
shelters as shelters forhomeless.
Christine Zito (21:02):
Well, the tiny homes, I think that people were
against is where it was going tobe located.
Former Mayor April Verlat (21:07):
Right and a lot of people didn't
understand where it was going tobe located.
Yeah, I mean a lot of peoplethought it was going to be right
, smack dab at the you know nextdoor to their homes.
Christine Zito (21:18):
Well, it's interesting because I do want to
say, on a personal level, thatI feel bad for people who are
homeless.
When they're displaced andthey're you know, they, they
have nowhere to go, um, becausemy, my heart wants to help them,
but I don't know how to helpthem.
Right and it's it's, it's likea catch-22 you want to help them
(21:40):
, but yet they don't want to.
Some of them, not all of themdon't even want to help
themselves, and so now they'rein this place where, um, it
brings this situation, and Ithink what I've seen, um, and I
think, from what I hear from thepeople, is that the homeless
(22:00):
just seem to there's no sense ofsolution, and when the city
talks about it, there's still noaction.
So how would you address that,mariquan?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:15):
Because I think it's so sensitive.
You know, and I think it'sactually now, it's very
different.
As I'm saying, right now thelaw is really in our favor.
We can do a lot, a lot more.
Christine Zito (22:31):
With the law in your guys' favor, will tiny
homes be brought back up?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:37):
No, because you have to understand.
The purpose of having the tinyshelter homes is because we need
to have that in order for us toenforce or to mandate a no
camping ordinance.
Okay, it's a requirement fromthe state law.
That was the previous law.
That was the previous law.
Former Mayor April Verlato (22:55):
It's no longer.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (22:57):
It's no longer that law, and so now the
state, and now even federal,with the Trump administration,
now the state and now evenfederal.
Christine Zito (23:06):
With the Trump administration, do you think
your other council people willagree with what you guys are, or
at least Mayor Kwan, becauseyou're on the council now, will
agree with what?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (23:12):
you're saying .
I think so because we all careabout the safety of this
community, I mean before, Ithink, with APO's.
You know she's trying toaddress that and trying to find
a solution, and the onlysolution that we have to have is
to have shelter in Arcadia, toenforce no camping ordinance,
(23:35):
but now it's no longer the law,and so I think this issue has
been a problem for us and ithasn't been addressed, because
we're basically very muchhandcuffed.
But now this is not a situationanymore, so we can now revisit
the issue and then come up witha better ordinance where we can,
(23:57):
you know, provide a solution toaddress the homelessness issue.
A solution to address thehomelessness issue, I think it's
now it's going to be.
There's going to be more andmore options for us to do it now
compared to before.
Former Mayor April Verlato (24:10):
Well , there's more opportunity to
pass a law like that, becausebefore, if you passed an
ordinance that completely bannedThen you must have shouted yeah
.
If you completely no.
Well, before, if you had anordinance that completely banned
overnight camping anywhere,everywhere throughout your city,
(24:32):
you would.
You would be sued, right, thestate of California would come
out and would come well, itwould be a homeless
organizations or whatever.
They would sue you.
So now you're not going to getsued if you pass an ordinance
like that that completely bansbut you know we still have to
look at other problems withaddressing homelessness and
(24:53):
because they come off the metroright.
Christine Zito (24:55):
So how you're going to police the metro?
They?
Come in and you know, becausethey're just right up the street
.
Former Mayor April Verlat (25:02):
Right , but what you do is you start
with, you know, preventing thetents from being erected, right?
I mean that right now, what westill have and what we still see
is people are setting up theirtents and you have that a lot at
Second and Colorado or anywherealong our wash Right.
Christine Zito (25:21):
I mean yes.
Former Mayor April Verlato (25:22):
You know, because they can hide.
Yeah, and you know the city hasdone things in the past.
They hired three case managers,which I was really happy about.
They have done an amazing jobat housing people and you know,
the first year they housed maybelike 50 people and then the
second year it was like 100people.
(25:42):
But what we saw is theyconsistently make contact with
new unique individuals that arehomeless, that are found here in
the city of Arcadia, orcontacted here in the city of
Arcadia that are finding placesto sleep in the city of Arcadia.
I mean, it's a pervasiveproblem that is very complex
(26:19):
because there are so manydifferent reasons why someone
could be homeless.
Christine Zito (26:23):
There's so many different reasons why someone
could be homeless right.
Former Mayor April Verl (26:25):
There's so many different circumstances
.
Christine Zito (26:27):
And that's why it's such a sensitive issue,
because you don't want to bemean, you know, but you have to.
Former Mayor April Verl (26:33):
There's some people who are down on
their luck and have medicalissues that have basically, you
know, used up all of theirsavings and now they find
themselves on the street becausethey had a medical issue.
But there's now more and moreresources.
So one of the things that theCOG did, the San Gabriel Valley
(26:54):
COG did while I was on the COGand actually it was like right
when I got onto the COG wecreated what's called a regional
housing trust fund and we'reable to collect funds from the
state, from the federalgovernment, from the county, and
build shelter, housing,affordable housing and different
options for people to housethem.
(27:16):
So there's more resources outthere and what you'll find is a
lot of people complain like, oh,but you know, the homeless,
they don't want to take yourhousing, they don't want shelter
, and that's the crux of theproblem.
Yep, right, the resources areout there.
Before we did not have amechanism to enforce people to
(27:39):
accept those resources.
That's where the rub is right.
That's where the rub is right.
That's that's the problem is,we've got to have a way to force
people to accept resources.
We're trying to help, I know,and so there's a big battle
because you've got to understanda lot of a lot of people, um, a
(27:59):
lot of your homeless servicescase managers.
They'll say, but you can'tforce people to accept the
resources, to accept help,especially when you're dealing
with somebody who's using orabusing drugs and alcohol, right
.
But so you know, there'sstudies out there that say, oh,
(28:23):
you know, it's not effective toforce people into rehab, but
then there's other studies thatsay, no, it actually has good
results.
So it's that conflict of.
Should we be forcing peopleinto rehab?
Should we be forcing people toaccept resources, resources?
I side with you know, forcingthe help, because I, you know, I
(28:49):
see it as a parent.
You know, when you have kidsand you're dealing with them and
dealing just with the simplethings in life, like dinner, and
you say, hey, you know what doyou want for dinner?
And if you ask them, they'dtell you like chocolate cake,
right.
So you never ask your kids whatdo you want for dinner and
leave it open.
You say, what do you want?
(29:11):
Broccoli or carrots?
Right, you give them a choice.
That's a good choice.
You can't leave it open ended.
And that's what happens a lot,and to me it's.
You know, the system isenabling homelessness and we
need to stop doing that.
We need to fix all of thatbecause we've been trying for
(29:31):
years.
Everybody knows the homelesscount numbers go up and up every
single year and people say, oh,the problem is the housing
first policy.
That's a federal policy thatcomes from the federal
government.
Those, those federal taxdollars are going to be tied to
a housing first policy andthey're going to have it as a
requirement that if you usethose funds you've got to have a
(29:55):
housing first approach.
Christine Zito (29:56):
You know, and I think you know, and I think you
know for me it's always alearning experience and how all
of this works and how it worksin a city, how it works with the
city government, how it workswith the state government and
how it works with the nationalgovernment when it comes to
these type of issues.
So, because everybody has theiropinion, because for me it's
just like come on, mayor Kwan,just fix it, fix it all.
(30:18):
I mean you guys, you guys havepower, just fix it.
And I don't think it's not that, it's just not that easy.
You guys, you brought up um,affordable housing.
You guys, the city council backin april I think it was you
guys approved affordable housing.
So does the affordable housingmean what?
(30:39):
What does that mean?
Because I would like to move onfrom my situation into like
another apartment, but you can'tlive anywhere in the city of
Arcadia, it's too expensive.
So the affordable housing, Imean, what does that mean for
people that want to afford abetter place?
Mean for?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (30:59):
people that want to afford a better place.
Yes, I think it's the housingelement that you know we, you
know it's required by state thatwe need to have certain you
know building that comes in sothat makes more supplied for the
community, and I think we'vebeen addressing that and we've
(31:20):
been approving a lot of projects.
Now you can see there's a lotof construction going on, so
there's going to be moresupplied but, as you were saying
, completely affordable.
It's very difficult becausewhen you have a developer that
comes in and they want todevelop a home in Alcadia, just
(31:42):
the land itself is veryexpensive, so it needs to be
made sure that it's profitablefor them.
But we have a certain mandatenow to require for them to build
a certain percentage that isconsidered to be affordable for
the community.
Christine Zito (31:58):
Like the apartments growing here Growing,
being built here on Wheeler.
Yes, I want to live there.
So I mean, will I be able tomaybe afford that, maybe some of
it?
Of course I want the suiteupstairs.
It's completely affordable.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (32:14):
Yes, so sure, we hope so.
I mean, it's now these buildersare coming in.
They need to make sure thatthey have that when they're
building the units, that there'scertain units that's affordable
by percentage.
So I think that's a good start.
I think it's a good start, it'sa very good start, but I don't
(32:35):
think like completely affordable.
It's pretty.
I think the definition is verygeneral.
You know, it could be a beaffordable for some people, but
not other people.
But, um, yeah, I I think it'sthat one.
Christine Zito (32:48):
we're just getting started and so we'll see
how everything plays out allright, we can talk about this
for hours, because I have somany things I want to talk to
you guys about, but I do want toaddress some, some questions
that I got from from people fromFacebook and from emails.
Now I am going to mention toyou that I'm only going to ask
questions that address the cityitself.
(33:10):
I'm not into, like you know howcome you walk your dog
backwards.
Okay, so we're going to stickto only the issues here in
Arcadia now.
But one of the issues that cameup like more than a couple of
times is this whole surrogatestory.
You know this harvesting that'sgoing on.
I mean, how, how is the cityaddressing these places where
(33:35):
homes are using surrogatemothers and this harvesting so
we can, I guess, create?
I don't know what they're doing.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (33:44):
So yeah, we okay that doesn't want to be a
safe haven for something that is, you know, so unethical and
that exploitations.
I really think it's just veryshameful.
But I think this is reallyboils down to when people they
try to get a permit and or youknow to, you know for for these
(34:10):
businesses.
So I don't think they got apermit for that home to do it,
and so and nobody knew about.
Former Mayor April Verlato (34:17):
They did not.
Yeah, yeah, that's what it'sthey did.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (34:21):
I think it's pretty.
It's very difficult to discoversuch, you know, that kind of.
You know when people have thatintention, of course everything
is pretty much strategicallyplanned out, so it's going to be
hard.
It's definitely.
What is important, I think, forme is your neighbors.
(34:42):
I think your neighbors know youbetter than anybody.
If you see something, you saysomething, I think it's
important.
I'm sure, like for that home,the surrounding neighbors
probably see, maybe like morenoises, or like you, you know
things that are going on.
Christine Zito (35:01):
So you know it's that we need community
engagement yeah, I think thecommunity does need to do that.
I think we need to.
We need to get past togetheryeah, come together get over
your fears, past your fears.
Don't feel intimidated.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (35:16):
Yes, you know , this is if you see something
suspicious, you know, call thepolice, you know, and find out,
and so let them do the job to goinvestigate, because I think
something like that.
It's so hidden, I mean likeI've been here so long and I've
never, but even the thought ofhaving these kids in there is
(35:38):
just.
I cannot imagine this.
You know, I don't know what'sthe intention.
Now there's a lot of likequestion marks is like why would
they do that?
So you know, when you don'thave a criminal mind, you cannot
have this imagination or visionof doing that you can only
speculate as you speculate, buteven I would not speculate,
(36:01):
because who would do that tohave 21 kids?
Well, you got close.
Former Mayor April Verlato (36:07):
You had four, yes, but the story
goes deeper.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (36:14):
That's why now it's under investigation
with the FBI.
They have to tell us what'sgoing on, because now I've
contacted the city managers andasked and questioned them, but I
think because it's been givento the FBI to handle it, so
there's a lot of things thatthey cannot disclose to me.
(36:35):
But me, I mean, I'm just it'sjust the thought of it it's
giving me goosebumps.
Christine Zito (36:42):
Yeah, it's really.
When I read about it, I justthought wow, I was thinking my
heart goes right to the kids.
Yes, I mean, it's these kids.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (36:52):
Yes.
Former Mayor April Verlato (36:54):
It's like come home to me, I'll take
care of you.
But I think it is important toplug Neighborhood Watch.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (37:00):
I think Neighborhood Watch is the best
thing.
Former Mayor April Verlato (37:02):
That is what we need to do.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (37:04):
We need to step up and do it, don't be
intimidated, because if you havelike for me.
If I have the intention of doingthat, I would go to get my
permit or whatever.
Of course I'm going to hide allmy information and have very
strategically planned out how itcould be a success, so you
(37:24):
can't like prevent these kind ofthings happening.
Yeah, so I think your neighboris so important and I'm sure now
it's coming out that a lot ofthe neighbors on the block are
saying like, oh, I thought thatwas very suspicious, but nobody
said anything you know.
Former Mayor April Verlato (37:41):
But see, a neighborhood watch group
would have been able to.
You know, on an annual basis youget together, you have your
block parties, but you also youtalk to one another.
You know you'll meet up andyou'll say, hey, you know what's
been happening at that houseacross the street from you, and
people will start to have aconversation.
It, I think, just facilitates alot more um, safety within a
(38:07):
street, within a block, becauseit's the, it's the, you know the
micro part of it getting in,you know, to the, the smaller
group, because you know, policedepartments have limited
resources, police officers.
We can only hire so many policeofficers, you know, and you can
only have those police officersat any given time in so many
(38:28):
spaces and there's only so mucha police officer can do.
So something like this whereyou have your neighbors watching
, I mean, that's why, years ago,the city council, back when I
was on city council, we startedto subsidize people getting ring
cameras and it was with nostrings attached, but the idea
(38:49):
was people are going to put upall these ring cameras and then
we're actually going to haveaccess, potentially at the
police department, to video whena crime is committed or when
something happens, we can goback to that street and find out
is that right now?
Christine Zito (39:06):
well, we don't do the subs.
Former Mayor April Verlato (39:07):
We don't do the subsidies anymore,
but we were for a while and Ithink we gave out 50,000, maybe
a hundred thousand subsidies forpeople to buy ring cameras it
was more expensive to buy it,but now it's more cost effective
.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (39:23):
You can go to Costco and get a system,
anybody can get them.
So a few years ago it was notthis situation.
Former Mayor April Verlato (39:29):
Oh, I see, Okay, but now it's been
you know.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (39:32):
Now it's mass production, so things are more
affordable.
Well, what about there?
Christine Zito (39:36):
has to be some way where we can encourage
people to feel safe about beingbold and in reporting these type
of things.
I think people are so quietthese days in neighborhoods.
Okay, I'm just going to saywhen I grew up in the city of
Arcadia, I mean the front yardshad no fences I mean we played
in each other's yards, we hadpeople who sat out on their
(39:58):
porches and said hi to theneighbor across the street and
you know, we had barbecue.
It's nothing like that rightnow.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (40:04):
I can tell you like, when I moved in on my
block, all the information I gotwas from my neighbors.
It's like they like encouragedme and they give me the
information and they said, oh,sharing that house, what they do
, they have how many kids,because your neighbor is
watching.
And when it comes to these kindof terrible intentions, having
(40:29):
these kids, I think it's just.
And also you have to haveprivacy.
There's just so much that thepolice officers can do.
So the best strategy is reallyto have neighborhood watch and
to be more actively involved and, you know, say something, you
know when you see somethingthat's so important and that's
how you know what's going on.
(40:51):
And so involvement, I think forthe north side of Arcadia, we
take neighborhood watch veryseriously.
We have constant meetings, youknow, but on the south side of
Arcadia, I think some of themthey have not implemented these
plans you know these strategiesof having Neighborhood Watch
(41:15):
because they don't have anassociation, and so we have an
association.
On the north side we have fiveassociations and all the
associations have been veryactively involved in getting the
community to understand howimportant it is.
Christine Zito (41:27):
All right, our city of Arcadia.
We need to be smart about ourown safety because we can't just
rely on everybody else.
We can step up and be safe andbring community together and we
can be an example to othercities and how people can come
together I don't and and dropall the racism, drop all the
(41:48):
discriminatory stuff and let'scome together as people right
and to be able to help eachother and be safe.
You know, gosh, that was agreat.
That was great.
So, okay.
So many things I want to talkabout here.
Let me drink another drink.
Don't think that this is justcoffee.
It is just coffee, okay.
(42:10):
Another question this is fromEmily.
That was from Lance and MarthaOkay, so I'm not going to say
last names, but here's one fromEmily.
She had all kinds of stuff, butI'm'm just gonna focus on this
because I think this is.
I'm a mental health, I lovemental health.
I nobody knows.
I'm a caregiver to a disabledveteran and they struggle with
mental health.
And her question was will willArcadia host its first city of
(42:36):
Arcadia, city of Arcadia, mentalhealth Resource, fair Mental
Health Seminars?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (42:43):
Yes, we've created a new health commission
and so they are thinking aboutputting together these programs
and I think it will be startingthe beginning of 2026.
Christine Zito (43:02):
That is great See.
Emily there?
Yes, I think I think that's.
I mean we talked about homeless, we talked about these deep
issues and it'd be great to haveto be educated.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (43:11):
Yes.
Christine Zito (43:11):
To go beyond what we had just talked about?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (43:14):
Yes, and also , this coming September we're
gonna have our health fair soyou have a lot of doctors in
different kind of theirspecialties.
They volunteer the time so theycan address when you have a
problem.
Yes, exactly, the health faircoming up, she's got the flyer.
Yeah, I'm going to talk aboutthat, yes, so I mean, you know,
(43:37):
there's these amazing doctors inour community.
They volunteer their time, soplease come out and then you can
talk to them, you know,casually, and if you have any
questions, it's free.
The event is free.
It's free, you know, and I doencourage for people to go, you
know, if you have any healthquestions.
Christine Zito (43:57):
Yeah, and I will promote this now.
The first one is going to beSaturday, augustust 10th, from 9
am to 12 pm at the arcadiacommunity center.
Okay, so that's right there onit's.
It's 365 campus drive and itwill be on arcadia fyicom.
I'll have these resources there.
The second one will be inseptember that mayor kwan just
talked about.
Uh, september 20th, from 9 amto 1 pm at the Arcadia Community
(44:21):
Center, and I will have this onthere.
And so there you go, emily.
They're already.
The city of Arcadia is alreadyproactive in this particular
issue.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (44:30):
Yeah, and just in addition to that, is
that every month the HealthCommission invites a doctor to
talk about different topics.
You know and so, and it's goingto be on the website in City of
Arcadia.
Everybody can just go searchand find out the location and
the time and the topic matter,and so they can.
Christine Zito (44:50):
And I did get this right off the City of
Arcadia website.
So I'll have that link on therealso.
So all right.
So here's some other stuff thatpeople were.
I'm not going to ask thatquestion.
I won't ask that, okay.
So what are you going to doabout what can you do?
He says what can she do aboutour hard water?
It is hard.
(45:13):
I mean, do we get watersofteners?
So what do you think?
Mariquan, come on, you have allthe answers to this.
Well, I think April can, but Ithink our water comes from our
groundwater.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:25):
Yes , we have groundwater and also
we do purchase some waters fromoutside vendors From.
Christine Zito (45:32):
Colorado River, but yes, it's basically.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:35):
yes , we have hard water.
If you want it softened, youhave to buy your own softener.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (45:41):
Yeah, your own system, yes, and now it's
not expensive too.
If you go to Costco, they haveall kinds of Is everything
available at Costco.
Former Mayor April Verlato (45:52):
What is it with you?
Christine Zito (45:52):
and Costco I am a bargain person or Amazon Well
yeah, Target, Walmart, Okay so.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:01):
Well, I need to physically see the product,
you know, and I mean I don't buymuch from Amazon, but yeah, you
know.
Christine Zito (46:09):
I am a show me.
I really should live in thestate of Missouri.
Show me state.
Yeah, you know, I am a show me,I really should live in the
state of Missouri.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:13):
Show me state yeah, Because I got to
see it.
Christine Zito (46:14):
But you know I love sunshine, so I'm here in
California, so all right In fact, I think we're having a meeting
that's coming up regarding toour water supply.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:26):
So I mean, if I get more information and it's
something that's new, I woulddefinitely share.
Christine Zito (46:32):
Oh, I know one thing we were talking about.
There was a question here aboutwith April.
Here, Let me see if I can findit.
Talk among yourselves here.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:40):
What do you mean?
Christine Zito (46:41):
talk among ourselves, yeah just talk among
yourselves here.
Former Mayor April Verla (46:44):
Should we talk some more about Costco
and what else?
Christine Zito (46:46):
is available at Costco.
Go ahead and talk about.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (46:50):
Do we all shop at Costco?
Go ahead and talk about I don'tthink we all shop at Costco.
I don't shop at Costco, oh,because I have a lot in my
household, a lot of people youhave to buy in bulk.
Former Mayor April Verlato (46:59):
I get in bulk and it's at a
discount.
With three boys Well, actuallyfour, because you include your
husband You're buying in bulk.
Christine Zito (47:07):
This is from Lance.
Former Mayor April Verlato (47:09):
He says okay, so ignore the beeps,
ignore the beeps, ignore thebeeps.
Christine Zito (47:16):
It's just one of my cameras.
Okay, he says.
First of all, he says thank youvery much for your service.
This is from Lance.
I would love to know themayor's opinion about redoing
the downtown Arcadia area.
I know what he's doing.
He's comparing us probably toMonrovia downtown, which happens
(47:36):
often.
But are you going to doanything with changing up
downtown Arcadia?
We?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (47:43):
have our founder of Downtown Arcadia
Association.
She's doing an amazing job.
Former Mayor April Verlato (47:48):
Yeah , I think it's come a long way.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (47:50):
Yes, come a long way.
You can see there's more foodtraffic.
But if you ask, is there moreimprovement?
I mean I would thank God I waspart of the board member as well
for previous years and so I Ithink it's, it's, it's been more
you, you know, foot traffic,you know.
(48:12):
But if you say more like betterimprovement, of course there's
always room for improvement.
Christine Zito (48:18):
And when are we going to see that happen?
I'm kidding.
Former Mayor April Verlato (48:21):
So this is, I think, we are seeing
it happen, I mean you're gettingmore and more restaurants
coming into downtown.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (48:27):
Arcadia A lot of new restaurants.
Yes, Like All.
Christine Zito (48:30):
India Cafe.
I love it there they're gonnabe here on FYI.
Former Mayor April Verlato (48:35):
If Arcadia FYI told great, tell
them okay, I'm gonna.
Christine Zito (48:39):
I'll say this I I'm Mexican, I'm Italian or
Mexican and I'm not really intoother cultural type foods,
except for Taiwan.
I like Taiwanese, but the, theIndian Cafe, their food I'm
addicted to their food.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (48:56):
It is so good I'm going to try it this
weekend.
Christine Zito (48:58):
Oh my gosh, yeah , it's really good.
It is so good.
But we have a lot of greatrestaurants and more and more
are coming right.
Former Mayor April Verlato (49:04):
More and more are finding downtown
Arcadia.
They're coming.
It's about being able to bringin those businesses.
It also is tied to, you know,reducing our homeless population
, because a lot of businesseslook, they come, they, they,
they scout it out and if theysee people sleeping on the
benches, sleeping in front ofbusinesses, they're going to be
(49:26):
deterred from coming to downtownarcadia so that's why I'm so
passionate about addressinghomelessness is because it does
affect the business communityand what kind of businesses are
going to come into your city oryour business districts if
you've got a large homelesspopulation?
Christine Zito (49:45):
Yeah, because they sleep in front of those
doors.
Yes, people need to feel safeto come out at night.
Former Mayor April Verlato (49:50):
Back to downtown Back to the
businesses that are coming in.
We're seeing a lot of reallygreat new businesses and it's
just a matter of then.
We've got to make sure thatwe're supporting them, Make sure
that we have the parking.
Parking is always huge.
A lot of businesses they come.
Christine Zito (50:06):
I love the parking here, I know At least we
can park for free.
Yes, not talking about theother cities, but okay.
Former Mayor April Verlato (50:10):
Okay .
So yes, that's very importantto businesses.
They want to make sure thatthere's ample parking.
They want to make sure that,you know, there's a good like
base of pedestrians walking, youknow, because that helps to
improve and increase sales.
Christine Zito (50:26):
All right.
So what we need to do, not onlyget our community watch going,
let's start walking downtownArcadia, Right, Okay, yes, and
because I see like I don't wantto neglect another part of
Arcadia Baldwin and Huntington.
There it's busy there.
Former Mayor April Verl (50:43):
Baldwin and Duarte.
Christine Zito (50:44):
yeah, baldwin and Duarte you know it's busy
there, but here in downtownArcadia, where it's downtown
Arcadia, okay, I do want to sayOkay, so we have the restaurants
.
I just want to kind of gothrough in my mind here we have
All Indian Cafe, we have MattDenny's yes, we have Denny's yes
Outback.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:01):
We have Japanese food too.
Japanese food, I was going tosay.
Former Mayor April Verlat (51:06):
We've got Goki.
Christine Zito (51:07):
Goki Cafe.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:08):
Love Goki Goki Cafe.
We've got White Springs, whiteSprings Cafe.
Christine Zito (51:17):
Okay, if you have not tried White Springs
Cafe, that is such a greatfusion.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:22):
It's vegan, it's vegetarian.
It is such great food run byMama.
We've got Manjotai Kur.
I can never pronounce that one.
That's the one that took overwhere the sprouts was Bean
sprouts or whatever it wascalled.
Christine Zito (51:34):
Oh, yes, I know exactly, they have good food
there too.
Yes, my sister and I, my twinsister and I we went there and
they thought it was really goodand people love Chengdu.
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:42):
Oh, Chengdu impression.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:44):
That's like a higher end, like fine dining.
Christine Zito (51:51):
Okay, so it's Beijing, fine dining Sichuan.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (51:52):
Beijing, I think Sichuan Beijing very
similar.
Christine Zito (51:55):
There's Hyper Coffee.
Who's the one there?
Former Mayor April Verlato (51:58):
on Alta and First oh, the Shabu Lin
, shabu Lin.
Christine Zito (52:05):
Lots of hot pots that we have so come and
patronize these businesses andlet's eat and let's have fun.
Let's come, let's come and meettogether as a community in in
these places, you know um, Ithink, I think that's great, and
I mean, moffitt's just hadtheir re-grand opening yes, yes,
(52:25):
oh, that was great, I was atthe grand opening.
What a were at the grandopening.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:28):
What a great story.
I know, I love it.
I love Moffitt's.
Christine Zito (52:32):
We have such great small businesses here, in
Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:36):
I mean, it's the families that are
behind these businesses thatmake them so special.
Little.
Christine Zito (52:42):
Provence.
Yeah, oh yeah.
Former Mayor April Verlato (52:45):
Love that place and again, the story
behind it, the family behind itright.
Christine Zito (52:50):
I love that place and again, the story
behind it, the family behind itright.
Former Mayor April Verl (52:56):
There's just such great culture here,
great food, great people.
Oh, and we can't forget tomention Did Taifun, just because
it's there.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:02):
Yeah, we can't forget, yeah, this city is
very business-friendly too.
Christine Zito (53:06):
I testify.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:07):
Yes, we encourage people to open the
business here Very very.
And I think that people there'sa lot of improvement and now
there's a lot of food traffic inthe downtown area, but I do
have to say that I think peoplestill have that thinking where
(53:29):
you just go and eat.
I think maybe we can have moreretail shops where there's going
to be more lighting where likeyou can you can go in and like
those mama pop-up shops now it'smissing.
You know where you can buy cutestuff, you know, so I think we
need amazon.
Former Mayor April Verla (53:47):
Amazon is taking over a lot.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (53:49):
But but these are the stores where you just
sometimes you don't see thetraffic as much because they
come in, they park and they gointo the restaurant and it's so
quiet outside the street.
But actually there's a lot ofactivities that people don't
know.
Christine Zito (54:04):
And there's a lot of choices too.
Yeah, I'm going to be havingDonna and MJ back.
I'm going to be talking aboutthe businesses and stuff in
downtown Arcadia and April.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:13):
You have to be there, okay, okay.
Christine Zito (54:17):
Now I do want to say that we should have in
downtown Arcadia a place wherewe can grow a vineyard and do
wine tasting.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:25):
Zito .
Christine Zito (54:28):
You know I'm going to talk about that.
Former Mayor April Verla (54:30):
That's why you don't get elected to
city council, because, if that'syour priority, vote for me.
Christine Zito (54:36):
I'll be running.
I'm going to get a vineyard inthe city of Arcadia.
Former Mayor April Verlato (54:41):
Wow , yes Van.
Christine Zito (54:42):
Dome will be the competition there.
So but thank you for being here,mayor Kwan.
Thank you so much, former MayorApril you for being here, mayor
Kwan.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, former mayor AprilVelardo being here.
You guys are doing a lot forthe city and, as we hear from
the other council, I think wecan come together and grow
(55:04):
together and work together,because that's what I mean,
that's what people really wantto see, is that?
So thank you so much and andyou'll definitely be coming back
on, I mean we only there's somany other things to be that we
can address.
So thank you so much thank you.
Former Mayor April Verlat (55:19):
Thank you for having us.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:21):
I know, thank you for having us it's great.
Christine Zito (55:23):
So all this information that we talked about
will be on arcadiafyicom so youcan go there and look at what
we talked about about the healthfairs.
I know that at Met Denny's theyhave summer concerts coming up.
I'm going to put that on thewebsite because if you ever been
to a concert at Met Denny's andyou haven't been, you got to go
(55:46):
.
I mean, they have some greatbands that come in there.
And oh, do you guys playpickleball?
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:52):
Oh, yes, you do my children.
Christine Zito (55:54):
Yes, Well then, your children play, but you just
watch.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (55:58):
Well, now, a lot of my children are not here.
They're in Chicago, yes.
Christine Zito (56:03):
I didn't know this.
I announced this on the lastshow.
The pickleball has opened up atTierra Verde Park.
Mayor Sharon Kwan (56:09):
Yes, yes, I was at the grand opening.
On that, yes.
Christine Zito (56:14):
I hate to confess it.
I didn't even know it's so nice.
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:19):
They transformed the tennis courts
into pickleball courts.
Christine Zito (56:22):
I think that is so great.
Are you guys going to beopening up any batting cages
soon?
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:26):
Wow , this keeps coming back to you,
zito, somehow.
Christine Zito (56:30):
I'm trying.
I'm trying here.
You can hear arcadia fyi atarcadia fyi fyicom or on your
favorite podcast channel likeyoutube apple podcast, where we
broke.
We broke the top 200 on applepodcast.
You're awesome it made me sonervous that that happened.
(56:51):
But it's so great.
What do you mean?
Why are you nervous?
Top 200 in the category ofdaily news.
Former Mayor April Verlato (56:57):
Of course you're top 200.
Woo Spotify, of course you are.
Christine Zito (57:01):
I love you guys.
You're coming back on tomorrowSpotify, Amazon Music, iHeart
radio and again, if you haveanything to hear, like we did
here.
If you have any questions orconcern, please go on
ArcadiaFYIcom.
Fill out the form.
It comes right to me.
I'll look at it and, for thoseof you that have contacted me,
please I thank you for yourpatience.
(57:21):
I will get a hold of you andwe'll talk about your concerns
that you want to hear.
Again, I want to thank oursponsors, Longo, Toyota, Lexus
and El Monte, Star 7 Financial,Santa Anita Park, the Hotel in
Arcadia and Pasadena.
Until next time, please beblessed and make it a great day,
(57:44):
thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.