Politics & Government

9/11 Portraits: Touched By Terror

Mayor Gary Kovacic and City Manager Don Penman remember Sept. 11.

Arcadia, Ca. Mayor Gary Kovacic and City Manager Don Penman led the city on 9/11 and during the ensuing aftermath. Both men immediately headed into work when they first heard the news about the attacks. Kovacic said he felt shocked the moment he learned the twin towers had fallen.

"It was unbelievable," he said.

While they grieved along with the rest of the nation, Kovacic and Penman had practical matters to think about. Their first concern was keeping Arcadia safe.

Find out what's happening in Arcadiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The home of Santa Anita Park and a major mall, Arcadia venues can accommodate gatherings of tens of thousands of people at a time, making the suburban city a potential target for terrorists.

As city leaders, Kovacic and Penman teamed up with the Arcadia Police and Fire departments to develop a comprehensive plan in the event of a terrorist attack. "It wasn't something we ever had to think about before," Penman said. Today, the city is more prepared than ever, should terrorists strike.

Find out what's happening in Arcadiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Arcadia