About Arcadia First!

We are a group of Arcadia residents and business owners who have concerns about the development of the parking lot at the Santa Anita Racetrack. Our group, Arcadia First!, is a free membership organization and we invite you to join us.  Arcadia First! receives financial support from community members and Westfield Santa Anita.

We want to make sure that our government leaders hear our concerns about the real impacts of this project, and we are hoping you will join the more than 4,300 members and supporters of Arcadia First! in making our community's voice heard.

You can also contact us here.

We Are Arcadia First!

Susan M. (31 year Resident)

"The race track mall is the biggest thing City of Arcadia is ever going to do.  And, maybe it shouldn't be.  I'd like to see some real alternatives looked at.  What's wrong with a low-rise hotel, with conference facilities and some more medical offices to support our growing hospital and health care businesses? It could be a lot less traffic and just as much revenue to the city."

 Phyllis N. (34 Year Resident)

"The voters of Arcadia should really get the chance to vote on this project.  I think that is what most of the residents are waiting for.  I'm counting on the thousands of people in Arcadia First! to make that happen."

Betsy W. (20 Year Resident)

"I'm against the whole project, period!  Arcadia is a community of homes and families.  We don't need another mall next to a mall!  The traffic impact will be horrendous.  I'm really glad to know I'm not alone on this issue."  

Sung T. (6 Year Resident)

"We need to get the attention of our City Council if we want to have an impact on this proposal.  The best way to get their attention is to rally lots of residents.  Arcadia First! has done the membership and recruiting.  Now it's our job to make the point."

Brian G. (30 Year Resident)

"I'm looking for a real honest accounting of the impacts of the project.  Arcadia First! has worked closely with the residents to identify a long list of serious problems that need to be corrected.  I want to make sure that those problems are all addressed and actually fixed."

Robin M. 

"Arcadia deserves better!  There is a lot of talent in this town.  We ought to be able to come up with something better than a knock-off Disneyland to put Arcadia on the map.  What's wrong with a little "community-based, community-oriented" planning?"

Gordon P. (49 Year Resident)

"This is our city, which is why we don't want it given away.  Everyone needs to get involved in this decision."

Paul P. (10 Year Resident)

"If there is any single vista that defines Arcadia, it is the view of the race track Grandstand from Huntington Drive.  If we block that view with a commercial development, we redefine forever what Arcadia represents.  I don't want to see that happen."

Ann D. (36 Year Resident)

"We've been through this before. This is the third or fourth time someone has had grandiose plans for the racetrack.  A good dose of reality and those big ideas don't look so glamorous all of a sudden.  Arcadia First! is a good dose of reality."

Forrest Z.  (44 Year Resident)

"When are we going to come to our senses?  We're not Pasadena.  We're not Monrovia. We sure as heck don't want to be Hollywood.  I moved to Arcadia!  I want to keep it Arcadia.  Let that be the first priority."

Matt S.

"This is not about Caruso vs. Westfield.  This is about our citizens' quality-of-life and the negative impact a "regional attraction" would have on Arcadia by placing an extra 35,000-50,000 vehicles per day on our local streets and freeways."

Sonia W.

“The fact that the project is too large, blocks our Huntington Drive vista of the Historic Race Track Grandstand, is to be developed next to a large Hospital and close to schools, will cause huge traffic concerns and will further pollute our already poor air quality, makes it completely undesirable for present and future Arcadians.”

Arcadia First! Structure

Arcadia First! is structured like many other non-profits, with a small staff following the direction of an Executive Committee.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) is composed of a diverse group of Arcadia residents and business owners. Two EC members both live and own businesses in the community. Another is a softball mom with a part-time job. Retired business owners and long time residents, as well as newer residents, parents, business owners and working professionals round out the EC. Arcadia's diversity in both age and ethnicity are reflected in this active group.

Staff

In September of 2005, the EC hired an Executive Director to manage the day-to-day affairs of the steadily growing Arcadia First! organization. There is also legal counsel to advise and serve the EC.