Saturday, May 30, 202688 
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PASADENA 
AREA ISSUES ITS REPORT RANKING CITIES’ 
Saturday, May 30, 202688 
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PASADENA 
AREA ISSUES ITS REPORT RANKING CITIES’ 
EX-ARCADIA MAYOR TO PLEAD GUILTY TO 
WORKING AS AGENT OF CHINA 

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The former mayor in Los Angeles federal court. 
of Arcadia is expected to plead guilty today In a statement, Wang's lawyers, Brian Sun 
to a federal charge for secretly working to and Jason Liang, said she ``recognized the 
illegally promote the interests of China prior seriousness of this charge and has agreed to 
to her election to the city council. accept responsibility for her past mistakes.'' 

The attorneys said Wang's illegal conduct 

Eileen Wang, 58, of Arcadia, stepped down was carried out in her personal capacity, not 
as the city's mayor and resigned from the in her position as an elected official. 
council when felony charges were announced 
May 11. She has agreed to plead guilty to At the time, Wang was engaged to Sun, her 
one count of acting in the United States as an attorneys said. Wang has said the relationshipillegal agent of a foreign government, which ended in spring 2024. The defense attorneys' 
carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years statement refers to ``her trust and love for 
in prison. apparently the wrong person who ultimately

led her astray.''

 According to her plea agreement, Wang 
and her then-fiancé Mike Sun operated At the direction of the Chinese government, 
the website U.S. News Center, aimed at the Sun organized a team to help elect Wang to 
Chinese American community, and followed the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, 
the instructions of Chinese government according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Sun 
officials to post articles favorable to Beijing, was listed as the campaign treasurer. 
without prior notification to the U.S. 
government as required by law. Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, pleaded guilty in

October 2025 to the same charge Wang is 

In one example cited in the agreement, facing and is serving a four-year prison term. 
Wang was directed through an encrypted 
message to publish an essay refuting reports Arcadia city manager Dominic Lazzaretto 
by human rights groups of the persecution, said in a news release that no city finances or 
forced labor and abuse of the Uyghur staff were involved. 
population in China's Xinjiang province.

 ``We want to be clear: this investigation 

The essay was meant to explain ``China's concerns individual conduct, and the 
stance on the Xinjiang issue -- there is no charges are for conduct that ceased after Ms. 
genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing Wang was sworn into office in December 
as `forced labor' in any production activity, 2022,'' he said. 
including cotton production,'' the message 
read. ``Spreading such rumor is to defame In announcing the case against Wang, First 
China, destroy Xinjiang's safety and stability, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in 
weaken local economy, suppress China's a statement that people ``in our countrydevelopment.'' who covertly do the bidding of foreign 

governments undermine our democracy. 

Minutes later, Wang posted the article, This plea agreement is the latest success in 
making changes to the piece at the direction our determination to defend the homeland 
of a Chinese government official over the against China's efforts to corrupt our 
next few months, according to papers filed institutions. 

CITY OF PASADENA MINIMUM WAGE SET 
TO INCREASE IN JULY

 The City of Pasadena reminds local employers on the state’s fast-food minimum wage, visit the 
and employees that the citywide minimum wage California Department of Industrial Relations at 
will increase from $18.04 to $18.57 per hour for all Dir.Ca.gov/Dlse/Faq_MinimumWage.htm. 
businesses, regardless of size, effective Wednesday, Planning & Community Development Director 
July 1, 2026. Jennifer Paige emphasized the importance of

 The Pasadena City Council adopted the city’s Pasadena’s local minimum wage, particularly for 
minimum wage ordinance on March 14, 2016. low-wage earners and members of the immigrant 
These rules were implemented prior to the State community. She noted that workers at all levels 
of California’s minimum wage legislation, and contribute to the city’s economic vitality and that 
the state’s minimum wage requirements do Pasadena’s prosperity is made possible by the 
not override Pasadena’s ordinance. Pasadena’s City Council’s commitment to ensuring fair and 
minimum wage follows a distinct schedule that equitable wages. 
includes higher incremental increases. After The Planning & Community Development 
several planned annual adjustments, the Pasadena Department, Code Compliance Division,
minimum wage is now updated each year based on administers Pasadena’s minimum wage ordinance 
changes in the Consumer Price Index. This new through outreach, education, training, and 
rate will remain in effect until June 30, 2027, when coordinated enforcement with the California 
the next adjustment will occur. Department of Industrial Relations / Division

 As of April 1, 2024, the State of California of Labor Standards Enforcement. For more 
established a $20.00 per hour minimum wage information or to file a complaint related to 
for employees of “national fast-food chain” the minimum wage ordinance, contact Code 
establishments. This state requirement applies to Compliance Manager Jon Pollard at (626) 744-6831 
all qualifying fast-food businesses operating within or JPollard@CityOfPasadena.net, or Outreach,
Pasadena and supersedes the city’s minimum wage Education and Training Coordinator Julieta 
when an employer meets the state’s definition of Aragon at (626) 440-1031 or Julieta@Ndlon.org. 
a national fast-food chain. For more information 


PROGRESS TOWARD CARBON FOOTPRINT 

REDUCTIONS 

The Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area (LWVPA) 
conducted a study by contacting local city clerks and public works departments of 
thirteen cities in its service area to examine the polluting status of their municipal vehicle 
fleets. 

The LWV-PA rated area cities based on their progress in achieving one of the criteria listed 
by the national League of Women Voters in its Ten Actions Cities Can Take to Reduce 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions. That criterion—replacing fossil-fueled municipal vehicles with 
zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs, i.e., electric vehicles)—was chosen because the cities’ efforts 
to replace their fleets with ZEVs could easily be verified by city officials. 

Four questions were submitted to each city public works department identified. All of 
the League’s thir-teen Pasadena Area municipalities responded to the League’s survey, 
consisting of the following questions: 

· How many total municipal vehicles does [city name] have, owned or leased? 

· How many of these are hybrid or zero-emission? 

· How many vehicles over 8,500 pounds does [city name] own or lease, subject to

the state Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) mandate (requiring new purchases to be

100 percent zero emission by 2027)? 

· Has [city name] submitted its annual report on these vehicles to California Air

Resources Board (CARB)? 

The LWV-PA’s findings are reported in the accompanying chart covering its thirteen service-
area cities. The hope is that the rankings shown in the chart will motivate cities to take fossil 
fuel reduction serious-ly, especially if they know their citizens want to see their city at the 
top of the list. By 2027, every munici-pal vehicle purchased in California is mandated to be 
100 percent zero-emissions (with a few limited ex-emptions), according to CARB. For the 
purposes of this survey, we allowed cities to include hybrid vehi-cles in their counts. 

—Julie and Peter Parker, Natural Resources Committee, League of Women Voters Pasadena 
Area 

SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER ANNOUNCES 
LAUNCH OF “SHOP LOCAL MARKETING 
LAB+” TO HELP ALTADENA SMALL BUSINESSES 
RECOVER AND GROW AFTER WILDFIRES 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger today announced the launch of the new 
“Shop Local Marketing Lab+” initiative, a free business support program designed to helpAltadena small businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire rebuild their visibility, strengthen 
their customer base, and accelerate their economic recovery. The initiative is led by the 
Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and supported through 
partnerships with Google and SoCal Grantmakers. 

“Small business owners deserve ongoing support as they continue navigating tough 
economic conditions in the aftermath of the wildfires,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. 
“This new partnership is designed to deliver assistance that helps local businesses attract 
customers and position themselves for long-term success. Altadena’s small businesses are 
essential to the identity and vitality of the community, and we are committed to helping 
them thrive.” 

Beginning today through June 8, 2026, eligible Altadena businesses can enroll in the free 
program and receive individualized marketing support tailored to their specific needs. 
Services will continue through the summer of 2026. 

The Shop Local Marketing Lab+ offers participating businesses access to two categories of 
support: enhancing digital presence and improving physical storefront visibility. Businesses 
participating in the digital marketing track may receive individualized services focused on 
website development, social media content creation, video marketing campaigns, targeted 
advertising, search engine optimization, branding support, and professional photography.
The initiative’s physical storefront improvement track will help businesses improve curb 
appeal and customer visibility through services such as custom signage, painted murals, 
and decorative awnings. 

“We know Altadena businesses are still impacted by the fires and it will take time for a 
full recovery. They have shared their need to amplify their presence and access loyal and 
new customer bases in creative ways to keep their doors open,” said DEO Director KellyLoBianco. “Marketing Lab+ is a way for DEO and our partners to offer expert guidance 
and customized resources that support stabilization as we rebuild and return and position 
impacted small businesses for growth. We are so grateful to the Supervisor, SoCal 
Grantmakers, and Google for making this possible.” 

Eligible businesses must be located and operating in Altadena, demonstrate financial 
impact from the Eaton Fire, operate from a brick-and-mortar commercial location, and 
meet additional program criteria. Businesses with fewer than 100 employees and less than 
$6 million in annual revenue are encouraged to apply. 

Depending on prior participation history with County programs, some businesses may 
complete enrollment online while others may be asked to complete the process in person at 
the Altadena One Stop Permit Center. 

For additional information about the Shop Local Marketing Lab+ initiative, visit shoplocal.
la/marketing-lab. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 
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