COMPLIMENTARY COPY
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK Thursday, January 25 - January 31, 2018
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VOLUME 22, NO. 3
GOLD LINE EXTENSION MAY BE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN ARCADIA HOMELESS POPULATION Galen PATTERSON galen.patterson303@gmail.com
T
he city of Arcadia is seeing a drastic increase in homelessness compared to recent years. Certain areas of the city, specifically Downtown Arcadia and Arcadia Park have seen the most rapid increase in homeless activity, largely due to the Gold Line, light rail extension that opened in early 2016. Transients, according to the Arcadia Police Department are people who appear homeless and exhibit homeless behavior. In 2016, Arcadia PD responded to 652 transient-related calls in the city. By 2017, that number has increased to 954, resulting in 46 percent more transient calls for the police to deal
with. Transient calls usually come from businesses and people passing by. An employee of a liquor store near the Gold Line station in Arcadia told Arcadia Weekly about his experiences with homelessness in the area. One man, the employee explains, soiled himself, disrobed and used a hose to clean himself and his pants near the train platform. The police responded and presented the man with new pants and sent him on his way, according to the employee, who wishes to remain nameless. The employee is sympathetic to the plight of the homeless. “I don’t see it as a homeless issue,” he says, “I see it as a mental health issue.” According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
At least 25 percent of homeless people suffer from mental illness nationwide. However, in areas with ever-rising cost of living and sky-rocketing property value, homelessness may be more of an economic barometer rather than mental illness. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
SEE HOMELESSNESS PAGE 7
ARCADIA STAFF AND STUDENTS DELVE INTO THE ABSTRACT WORLD OF VIRTUAL REALITY
HIGHLIGHTING Who’s running Downtown ARCADIA
Can vr change empathy towards others? Stanford University project thinks just that the ocean…all from the comfort (somewhat) from your virtual reality head set in the well-being of your home? Well, officials at AUSD sponsored a VR - Virtual
Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
Have you ever had a virtual field trip? How about a vacation or exploring the world under
Arcadia Blues Club: One of the City’s Best Kept Secrets
Reality - demonstration and training last Friday afternoon at the Arcadia Unified School District. A leading expert in the field SEE VIRTUAL REALITY PAGE 7
Maria MOLAK Business Owner
For this week’s Highlighting Downtown Arcadia column, I’ve been invited by
against whom in Arcadia?
the DAIA to talk about one of the city’s best kept secrets, the Arcadia Blues Club. Since 2005, we have been located at 16 E. Huntington Drive in
There is a wee bit of confusion with Arcadia’s upcoming April municipal election, according to a couple of concerned readers about last week’s page one
SEE DOWNTOWN PAGE 4
SEE RUNNING PAGE 4
GO DIGITAL
SUMMER Opportunities Fair SAT.
February 3 10to 3ampm
at Westridge School in Pasadena
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Page 14
Audra Weaser and Sarah Williams
Page 8
summer pla to n n i
! ng ni
h 27t al! u n An
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Aquarela Gifts and Flowers
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ONE OF THE LARGEST CAMP INFORMATION FAIRS IN THE U.S.!
FREE admission! Summer programs for boys and girls ages 5-18. Live entertainment, games, food and more! For more information, visit Westridge.org/SOF