Addressing the Arcadia City Council Meeting June 2, 2026

Good evening, Mayor, Council Members, and fellow Arcadia residents. My name is Burton Brank. I have lived in Arcadia since 1967, served as a former commissioner here, and a retired sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. I've dedicated my life to public service in this community since 1977. At the May 19th Council meeting, I spoke about the urgent need for accountability, transparency regarding a serious federal investigation involving former Mayor Eileen Wang. In response, some individuals immediately labeled me a racist, simply because I raised legitimate concerns about leadership decisions made by an all-Asian council. Let me be perfectly clear, that accusation is false and deeply offensive. I am the last person who would ever judge anyone by race. For those of you who do not know, my oldest son is one-quarter Chinese. My other son's wife is also Chinese. My family reflects the beautiful diversity of communities I have served and loved for decades. My comments were never about race. They were and remain solely about ethics, public trust, and protecting the reputation of Arcadia. We now know that Wang herself is pleaded guilty in acting as an illegal agent of the People's Republic of China. These are serious national security and integrity issues, not mere political attacks. Council members knew or should have known about an ongoing federal investigation long before February, when you elevated her to Mayor. While the Council may not have possessed the legal power to remove her, you had the clear, moral authority and responsibility to ask her to resign, to safeguard the reputation of our city and the trust of its residents. In 2015, we asked Council Member John Wu to resign amid controversy involving his promotion of gem coin and related illegal investment opportunities. That same standard of accountability should have applied here with Wang. Instead, community concerns were too often dismissed, minimized, or ignored. Again, this is not about race. It's about leadership, ethics, and putting Arcadia first. We are watching you. The residents deserve better than politics as usual. I urge this Council to commit to real transparency and integrity. And future Council Members, you must be chosen based on character, deep community ties, and a dedication to our city, not connections or political convenience. Thank you.