Temple City Voice

Temple City residents gathered in Temple City High School’s room 601 on Monday, February 9 for the City Council candidates’ forum hosted by the Temple City Chamber of Commerce and conducted by the League of Women Voters.

The forum began with a three minute opening statement from each of the six candidates, former councilman Chuck Souder, Parks and Recreation commissioner Tom Chavez, councilman Ken Gillanders, Silenus Ong, Mayor Cathé Wilson, and Planning commissioner Vincent Yu.

Souder began by talking about his past successes on the city council. He was on the council when Hometown Buffet, Togos, and Baskin Robbins first opened in Temple City. During his term, the reserve money went from 2 million dollars to 25 million.

Chavez, a legal ethics professor at Pasadena City College, spoke about the importance of “maintaining transparency and good ethics” on the council. He wants to do what is best for the city.

Gillanders, who was first elected in 1978 and who served on the council for 35 years, said that Souder did not propose his previously stated projects on his own. He also stated $920,000 dollars was put in the bank during his term on the council.

“Sometimes, I make the right decision and sometimes I make the wrong decisions,” said Mayor Cathé Wilson, “even though it seems like we’re going backwards, we can still go forward.” Wilson was first elected on the council in 1990 and has served for 17 years.

Ong accused the current council of “deciding not to decide” and promised to improve on infrastructure and housing issues. He claims to not like change, but can “graciously handle incremental change in the broad spectrum of city life.”

Yu cited his experience of being an architect for 27 years. He understands how to run a business and has dealt with large scale development before. He hopes to make a difference in the city and solve the diversity issues with the new immigrants.

The opening statements were followed by several rounds of audience submitted questions. Many of the questions asked about the development of the land on the corner of Las Tunas Drive.

Every candidate except Gillanders wanted redevelopment. Gillanders claimed that the council voted against eminent domain and that redevelopment of the land could not happen.

The evening ended with the candidates’ closing statements which reiterated their vision for the city. The election is on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

A video of the forum is available online at the Temple City Chamber of Commerce’s website.

This article was written by Christine Keung. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 27, 2009.

The Temple City Voice is featuring a series of interviews with those running for City Council. This is the last interview we have planned for the March 2009 election.

Vincent Yu, a Temple City Planning commissioner, has high hopes for Temple City. With an architectural license under his belt, he plans to rebuild and redevelop Temple City, which he believes suffers from lack of development.

If elected, Yu would like to propel Temple City to become a better community. “I would like to see positive changes in the Council,” Yu says, “Most of [the] time, the Council votes [are] split into 3 [and] 2.”

His background in architect heavily influences his plans for the city. “I will bring to the Council my expertise as an architect as well as a planner. Temple City is in real need for redevelopment and re-building,” Yu explains, “Some might say that in this economic climate it is hard to find development money, but especially at this time, we cannot afford to make any more mistakes.”

Additionally, Yu also believes that cooperation between organizations, as well as the participation of citizens in city-held events, is necessary.

“I think there is enough interest and intelligence in our city to get stakeholders [actively] participating in planning [for] the future,” Yu further expands, “This will involve everyone in the city in the form of public hearings and town hall meetings. I would like to see changes to bring City Hall more open and more responsive to its citizens and businesses.”

As a resident, Yu recognizes the good aspects of Temple City. “Temple City is a great little city and I like it so much. My family and I [have been] living here for 18 years [now]. It has a lot going for it, [including] good school districts and a nice middle class neighborhood.”

This article was written by Jason Alvin Wu. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 20, 2009.

The first city council candidates’ forum for the March 3, 2009 elections took place on Saturday, January 31, 2009. The forum was sponsored by the Temple City Voice and the Junior State of America (JSA) at the Civic Community Center at City Hall.

There are two seats open on the city council. All six candidates, Silenus Ong, Tom Chavez, Vincent Yu, Cathé Wilson, Ken Gillanders, and Chuck Souder, were present at the forum. Three other elected officials were also in attendance: councilwoman Judy Wong, councilman Fernando Vizcarra, and School Board member Joe Walker.

The candidates’ forum kicked off with an introduction from JSA president Evelyn Kessler and the Voice’s Editor-in-Chief Jessilyn Chwa.

Randy Shun, the JSA Activism director and the Community Affairs director for the Voice, served as the moderator.

Each candidate was given five minutes to make an introduction speech, in which they listed their qualifications, what the role of a city councilman is, and addressed their concerns and plans for Temple City.

“I’m a newcomer to the political arena” said Silenus Ong. He added, “…what the city needs is bold leadership with creative and innovative thinking.”

A city councilmember should “be truthful, open, and honest” commented Parks and Recreation commissioner Tom Chavez. Chavez also cited his legal expertise and tenure as a professor at Pasadena Community College.

“I bring with me the experience of development” stated Planning commissioner Vincent Yu. Yu also spoke of his position as an architect for the county of Los Angeles.

Incumbent mayor Cathé Wilson spoke of her tenure on the city council and said, “The reason why I am running again is because I still see things that I would like to see done.”

Incumbent councilman Ken Gillanders spoke of his history and reminded voters he only makes up one of five members on the city council. Gillanders, who moved to Temple City in 1954, pledged his commitment to not enact a city tax.

“I left the job undone” said former councilman Chuck Souder. Souder’s reason for running again, “I think that I can do a good job.”

The first question posed to the candidates was what they felt was the number one problem in Temple City. All six candidate agreed that redevelopment of the business sector in Temple City was their main concern. Transparency also was mentioned.

Candidates also tackled questions on what they thought was best about Temple City, their views of the city’s diverse population, the allegations concerning the Piazza project, a smoking ban on the city’s public parks, and leadership traits each possessed.

JSA president Evelyn Kessler and vice-president Jason Wu gave the closing remarks.

The entire candidates’ forum can be viewed on the website of the Temple City Chamber of Commerce.

This article was written by Sophia Chang. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 20, 2009.

There was an error in the Founder’s Column that was printed on the February 20, 2009 issue of the Temple City Voice. The full version of the column has been uploaded onto this weblog.

The developer and owner of the Piazza at Temple City, Randy Wang, appears to renew a campaign to build the much-delayed development.

Wang, and his third construction management team, met with the City Council on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Tuesday’s meeting with the Piazza developer marked the first such taken since the developer filed a lawsuit against the City in September.

The $75 million project, formerly known as the “Piazza Las Tunas” and “Temple City Galleria”, has already had two groundbreakings and minor changes approved by the City Council. Several attempts to move forward with construction have failed.

In light of current economic conditions, the Piazza developer is willing to covert the project the residential condos to retail space, go with all retail, or submit a new proposal to include a hotel on the property, stated Enrique Medina, spokesperson for Wang.

John Hsu, a member of the STC Management for tenant recruitment and marketing, informed the City Council that letters of intent have been secured since last year. Specifically, Hsu revealed Tesco, parent company for Fresh and Easy, has expressed interest.

The developer’s team flustered when pointed by Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Chairman Cathé Wilson that the store Fresh and Easy, was previously named by the developer’s team. Members of the City Council also sit on the CRA.

According to the Temple City Voice archives, the Piazza team named Fresh and Easy and Nordstrom Rack at a City Council meeting of January 3, 2008.

The developer must complete the entire project by August 23, 2009; otherwise, the City Council will be able to purchase the 3.7 acre property for $5 million.

On Tuesday night, Howard Poyourow, project manager for the Piazza, stated an October 2008 appraisal from anonymous banks valued the property at $14.3 million.

In addition, Poyourow stated that Wang had spent $5 million on architects, engineers, management, legal, and other costs.

If given the go ahead, Poyourow predicted the Venetian-styled Piazza could break ground in June or July 2009 and finish construction in 2011.

The Piazza team also revealed that the Hilton, a member of the Hilton Hotels Corporation was interested in being a part of the project.

Councilman Ken Gillanders voiced disapproval of the lack of details during the Tuesday presentation and stated the City had not been compensated for the lack of sales tax lost over the past four years. “We do not have enough to work on,” adds Gillanders.

“This problem has repeated twice, maybe three times. By now you have no credibility” criticized Agency member Fernando Vizcarra.

The public also clashed with the idea of restarting the Piazza project with the developer. They also criticized the Council for a lack of communication regarding the Piazza discussion being placed on the agenda.

The developer did win support from Temple City Chamber of Commerce President Linda Payne, who urged the CRA to allow the developer and city staff to attempt to negotiate a settlement.

After a much heated debate, the City Council directed City Manager/City Attorney Charles R. Martin and city staff to meet with the developers to attempt to reach a more positive outcome.

The Piazza at Temple City was once estimated to bring in about $800,000 to $1 million in badly needed sales tax revenue to the City. Its incompletion could result in an empty lot for years to come.

This article was written by Randy Shun. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 20, 2009.

The Temple City Voice is featuring a series of interviews with those running for City Council. This is the fifth interview we have planned for the March 2009 election.

Coupled with a tenure as professor at Pasadena City College and twenty-two years of legal experience as a practicing attorney, Chavez has been the past president of the Temple City American Little League, Chairman of the Camellia Festival, and Parks and Recreation Commissioner.

With such accomplishments under his belt, Chavez is no newcomer to the city of Temple City and is “dedicated [in] continuing to serve our city.”

If elected, Chavez lists redevelopment and the need for new revenue sources as priorities, paying special notice to the controversial Piazza project and the Las Tunas corridor. The current Parks and Recreation Commissioner wants to also “aggressively pursue state and federal funding opportunities.”

In his quest for a position in the council, Chavez also hopes to incorporate open green space into new redevelopment plans.

“We want to preserve the small town atmosphere our citizens enjoy,” Chavez says, “but we must also seek new sources of revenue to maintain and improve our quality of life.”

Additionally, Chavez noted his being a proponent of transparent government and hopes to provide public broadcasting of all council meetings in order to “insure all of our citizens have the opportunity to participate and discuss the issues affecting our city.”

In the upcoming March elections, Chavez is running on the grounds that a city council member requires knowledge of the community, experience and objectivity in order to make better decisions.

Chavez does admit the “many issues, challenges and opportunities facing our wonderful city.”

However, as a resident, he acknowledges that “Temple City remains a safe community, a great place to raise a family, [with] schools [that] are among the best in the nation.”

This article was written by Leslie Wu. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 13, 2009.

The Temple City Chinese American Association (TCCAA) held their annual Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Temple City Park.

The event lasted from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and had over several hundred in attendance.

Booths, providing fun and games, were set up around the park for young children and teenagers. Children were also given the chance to learn how to write in Chinese calligraphy.

Other booths sold good luck charms and decorations for the home. Free food was handed out local Chinese restaurants.

“It was a great success because hundreds of people came,” councilwoman Judy Wong says, “And it’s much different from the other lunar festivals in Chinatown or Monterey Park because our festival [had] free games, free food, free prizes, and more, while other festivals charge admission for games and food.”

If you happened to miss this year’s festival, be sure to attend next year’s celebration.

“We hope even more families will come out next year to celebrate,” adds Wong. “It’ll definitely be an event that you won’t want to miss.”

This article was written by Vincent Wei. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 13, 2009.

Since Randy Wang, the developer and owner of the Piazza at Temple City, filed a countersuit against the City of Temple City in September 2008, it has been all quiet on the Piazza front.

This no longer appears to be the case. Wang and his newly hired spokesperson, Enrique Medina, reserved time with the Temple City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on Monday, October 13, 2008.

At the meeting, Medina informed the Board of Directors that Wang had financial support, as long as the residential condominiums were scrapped from the project.

“The condos are like a poison,” added Wang. He proposed three possible changes: swap the residential condos for office condos, a hotel on the property, or add more retail space.

The third Piazza development team was also introduced. They include Howard Poyourow, the project manager, and Jane Housden of HTH Architects, the main architectural firm for the project. A & W Builders, the second construction management firm, pulled out of the Piazza in July 2008.

Wang also accused city officials of taking advantage of his limited English-speaking skills. Community Development Manager Joe Lambert was present in place of Councilman Ken Gillanders, the City’s official representative to the Chamber of Commerce.

“The basic message delivered by Mr. Medina was to convince the Chamber of Commerce Board [of Directors] that they should intercede” wrote City Manager and City Attorney Charles R. Martin in the October 16 City Manager’s report.

The other motive, according to Martin was “…to convince the City Council (politically) to rule in the developer’s favor, either now or after the next election in March, when they expect the Piazza will be a major election issue.”

The Piazza at Temple City, formerly known as the “Temple City Galleria” and “Piazza Las Tunas”, has broken ground twice. It once promised 52 one-bedroom condominiums and a complex shopping center at the site of the former Temple City Edwards cinema.

According to the Developer’s Agreement, the Piazza must be complete by August 23, 2009. If the project is not finished, the City will have the option of purchasing the 3.7 acre parcel for $5 million.

In addition to losing potential sales tax revenue, the City has also reportedly paid at least $11,500, in October, to its legal firm, Burke, Williams, and Sorensen, LLP for its services in an August court case.

While the Piazza team is mounting a campaign to build the project, it is uncertain whether or not its efforts will be successful.

Source:
Lee, Alfred. “Piazza developer ready to continue with project,” Pasadena Star News. 14 October 2008

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 13, 2009.

The Temple City Voice is featuring a series of interviews with those running for City Council. This is the fourth interview we have planned for the March 2009 election.

Among the candidates running for City Council is Charles “Chuck” Souder. He has served on the City Council for nine years, served as Mayor twice, and is a retired businessman.

If Charles Souder is elected, he plans on replacing the City Manager and City Attorney, Charles Martin.

“The City Manager runs the city on a day to day basis… the City Attorney responds to City Council. I want keep the city’s checks and balances,” Souder explains, “Right now, the job of City Manager [and Attorney] is in one person, who is not a contract employee. He has no accountability.”

He also wants to keep Temple City safe and family-oriented. Souder hopes to accomplish this goal by investing in local law enforcement along with graffiti clean up and anti-gang enforcement.

With the recent fall of the economy, Souder’s background in business might prove helpful to Temple City. He plans to bring in business downtown in order to compete with larger neighboring cities like Arcadia.

“I want to bring back a transparent and open government to Temple City,” says Souder, “so people can be more open to the City Council.”

By being more vocal, City Council would be able to identify what the city needs to improve on.

Souder plans to preserve Temple City and maintain the quality of life the city has right now.

He wants to avoid anything drastic from happening caused by the recession.

This article was written by Ava Cheng. It was published in the February 6, 2009 issue of the Temple City Voice.

The nation’s economic status, compounded with the state of California’s own budgetary problems, has pushed the Temple City School Board to focus on the District’s financial matters.

Several monetary matters dominated the School Board’s agenda on January 28, 2009.

Ellen Jacobs of Longden elementary school emphasized the need to place education of students in the highest priority. Jacobs believes the mission of the Temple City Unified School District (TCUSD) was to supply a rigorous and nurturing education that maximized each student’s potential in a diverse setting. Jacobs argued that any budget cuts affecting students should be the last cut.

Finance options, including borrowing from the Los Angeles County, were discussed on Wednesday evening. There was a general disagreement with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal of a reduced number of school days and a ten percent pay cut.

The story of Emma Ortiz, a first grader who was described to be polite, friendly, and a joy to be around, was also brought to the School Board’s attention.

In the midst of the night, Ortiz noticed a strange scent in the house and immediately notified her parents. Once a fire was discovered, Ortiz and her one-month sister were evacuated from the house. While the family lost a good portion of their personal belongings, no one was harmed. Ortiz commented that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up to save more lives. Ortiz was recognized earlier by the City of Temple City and the School Board gave her an award.

The Dr. Doug Sears Learning Center (DDSLC), an alternative school for minors within the TCUSD also was recognized Wednesday evening.

Two Board Members had received an e-mail from a former student, whose name was not identified, praising the school for saving what could have ruined his life.

The individual said, “If it were not for the CLC, I would be out in the streets or still living with my parents.” Now in the military, the former student thanked the CLC for giving him a second chance.

Formerly known as the Community Learning Center, the Dr. Doug Sears Learning Center was renamed in honor of its founder and long-time principal in the summer of 2008.

This article was written by Jason Alvin Wu. It was published in the Temple City Voice on February 6, 2009.