The moment is still freshly singed into Arcadia Mayor Paul P. Cheng‘s memory: A top elected official of his city pleaded guilty to a federal felony count of acting as an unregistered illegal agent for the People’s Republic of China.
Former Mayor Eileen Wang‘s May plea was a seismic jolt for the small foothill city that Cheng now leads, where he, among many, tout their pride in being American while celebrating the city’s majority Asian demographic. It’s a fusion that has shaped the city’s culture and leadership.
But with Wang’s departure, a shaken town faced immediate questions over trust, influence and accountability.
It was, as Cheng said, “a wake-up call, reminding us that even a city the size of Arcadia is not immune to concerns about foreign influence or attempts to undermine the integrity of local government.”
Arcadia has embarked on what officials say is a pioneering effort to establish protocols aimed at protecting local municipalities from such influence.
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