Now for something completely silly.

I often get copied on e-mails pertaining to back-and-forth disputes, from topics serious to insane.

Recently, my inbox has witnessed a quiet feud between Lisa Derderian and Ann Erdman, of the Pasadena Fire Department and City Hall, respectively.

Both women are heads of public information duties, and it's precisely their heads at stake -- at least what's on them.

From what I've been able to reconstruct, Lisa sent this photo to Ann to rub in just how awesome her PIO helmet is:

Gripped with jealousy, Ann put her leet crafting skills to work to forge a helm worthy of her station:

Maybe now that Measure D has passed, they can give that thing a proper retrofit.

Posted by Todd at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."

Because I missed losing half of the most frenetic day in the newsroom ... and because Producer Stuart Johnson made with the puppy-dog eyes, I joined the fine people of KPAS to appear on the new City Beat with the inimitable likes of Tami DeVine, Barry Gordon and Steve Madison of District 6.

Topics included Pasadena Heritage's bid to designate the Central and Lower Arroyo a protected cultural landscape, the YAC and -- as much as I wished otherwise -- Measure D.

City Beat airs on cable channel 55 and streams throughout the week.

Posted by Todd at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Apparently the Pasadena Bizarre News is a holiday tradition at City Hall. Too damn awesome. Most entries mock stories of mine from the past year, as well as the work of Janette Williams, Robert S. Hong and former reporter Mary Frances Gurton. I've opted to take it as homage. ((Erdman: You'll pay for this! >:D))

Click the image or here for the full version.

Posted by Todd at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (32)

Copies of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report are available at libraries and City Hall, but why not just warm up your Acrobats and visit the Rose Bowl's online repository.

Posted by Todd at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here it is, the text of Mayor Bill Bogaard's 2008 State o' the City Address

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard
State of the City Address
January 17, 2008

"VITAL CONNECTIONS"

This decade has been good to Pasadena. Each year since 2000 has been better than the last. Now, in 2008, we find ourselves in a period of transition and change. In my report, I want to go over the City’s economic condition, review public and private investment, and then talk about some of the challenges and initiatives that make up the City’s agenda for the new year.

Let’s begin with the City’s economic situation.

This fiscal year, the general fund budget is over $210 million, and the total operating budget—including the Water & Power utility—is $560 million. There are 2,400 City employees. At least through December 31, the local economy was strong and dynamic, with an estimated 110,000 jobs.

As our economy has transitioned from manufacturing to retail and service activities over the last 25 years, it has become stronger and more diversified. The economy benefits from a balance of retail, financial services, professional services, technology, and educational and cultural sectors. We have strong retail and restaurant sales and low unemployment, although it is this year higher than last. Our continuing low office vacancy has fueled rental rates in Pasadena that are now among the highest in L.A. County.

It should be noted that Pasadena’s performance was stronger than in many other California communities. For example, construction statewide is down 5%, while ours is slightly up. New auto sales in California are down over 5%, though Pasadena’s decrease is less than 2%.

Continue reading "SAHTSEE!" »

Posted by Todd at 8:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaking of Bill at the Bowl, it will be interesting to hear how the citizenry is (subtly) reminded to vote YES on Measure D during tonight's State of the City address.

In a true "Web first," the Yes on Measure D campaign site announced support Monday from the Pasadena Unified School District before the Board of Education had even voted on a resolution reportedly authored by board member Ed Honowitz. Ed is a member of the ACT political machine, which holds its share of influence on both the board and council.

Measure D's campaign was being managed by political consultant Fred Register, one of ACT's founders and the mayor's campaign manager.

Fred is Pasadena's antidote to Measure D opponent-in-chief Martin Truitt. They both roll their eyes at the arch-rival characterizations, but it's not the first time they've gone head-to-head.

But it could be the first such match with such a large financial disparity: Martin and CRaG-meister Wayne Lusvardi have next-to-nothing in their coffers.

Which made for a collective "Huh?" when Wayne turned down the potential free-publicity of his Doo-Dah spot, as chronicled in the paper and spilled over into a psychedelic diatribe from one detractor of the event's (de)merits here a few days ago.

Speaking of Molly R. Okeon, here she is soaking up some sun and some mayor at the Wednesday event in the Central Arroyo. I'd been looking forward to a nice plein air assignment, but was preoccupied with chronicling the depths of suffering.

Posted by Todd at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Many refuse to believe reporters have no say in the headlines selected (page designers and copy editors do their best to make something fit the space on deadlines of their own) but I'll take fault for the sub-hed "White won suit against city in 2004." She was terminated previously in 2004 and won the suit in 2007.

Kept rewriting the second paragraph, the "nut graf" which tells the reader "this is what this story is about."

Never too shy to pile on the appositives and dependent clauses at the expense of clarity, I'd left it at:

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Karin White alleging she was let go Aug. 30 in retaliation after a jury determined the department violated her privacy by illegally using wiretap evidence to justify a previous termination in 2004.

Which can be read several ways: Was the termination or the legal victory in 2004? Through no fault of an editor, it was streamlined to the latter:

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Officer Karin White in which she alleged she was wrongfully terminated on Aug. 30 in retaliation for prevailing against the city in a lawsuit in 2004.

Here's the story:

Officer claims wrongful firing White won suit against city in 2004 By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer Article Launched: 01/10/2008 12:36:30 AM PST

PASADENA -- One year after taking a bullet in the face from her own gun during a struggle with her son, a Pasadena police officer claims she has been wrongfully terminated by the department.

City officials said Wednesday they were reviewing a claim filed by Officer Karin White in which she alleged she was wrongfully terminated on Aug. 30 in retaliation for prevailing against the city in a lawsuit in 2004.

In that suit, a jury determined the Pasadena Police Department violated White's privacy by illegally using wiretap evidence to justify a previous termination in 2004.

Since hiring White in 1996, the department never disciplined White, according to the claim received Monday by the City Council.

Continue reading "Karin White" »

Posted by Todd at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Proposed contract for Police Chief Bernard Melekian goes before the council Monday for his new duties as acting city manager.

Posted by Todd at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thus ends my resistance to making easy reference to my favorite film.

I passed on ACT's mock caucus at Mijares but thought of the real thing taking place just as Councilwoman Margaret McAustin spoke her comments about City Manager Cynthia Kurtz at last night's deliberately low-key send off for the latter.

"Cynthia Kurtz is, quite simply, the most powerful woman in the history of Pasadena," said Councilwoman Margaret McAustin.

Decisive wins for Huckabee and Obama in Iowa, with a considerable margins of loss by Clinton and Romney, and Giuliani hardly showing.

Democrats
Obama 38%
Edwards 30%
Clinton 29%
Richardson 2%

Republicans
Huckabee 34%
Romney 25%
Thompson 13%

Kurtz feted at Pasadena farewell
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/03/2008 10:43:38 PM PST

PASADENA -- After a decade of professional cool in public, the city's unflappable chief executive wasn't going to come unglued when it came time to say goodbye.

No sentimental presentations or long-winded speeches were permitted Thursday night at Brookside Golf Club, where politicos, city staff, community elders and other wielders of influence said farewell to City Manager Cynthia Kurtz.

"Cynthia Kurtz is, quite simply, the most powerful woman in the history of Pasadena," said Councilwoman Margaret McAustin before reading a proclamation by Mayor Bill Bogaard in her most "Bogaardesque" voice.

Continue reading "Kurtz leaves the boat" »

Posted by Todd at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

After several painful hours of debate, the City Council -did- award exclusive negotiating rights for Heritage Square to Retirement Housing Foundation.

Voting in support was Bill Bogaard, Victor Gordo, Steve Madison, Margaret McAustin and Sid Tyler.

Steve Haderliein was MIA. Chris Holden left the room before the vote.

Jacque Robinson voted yes, but then left the room, came back, and changed her vote to an abstention.

Posted by Todd at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

A staff writer at our sister paper picks up where Saturday's story left off:

Measure S phone tax could tap Internet usage
By Kerry Cavanaugh, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 12/10/2007 11:10:20 PM PST

Despite assurances that a telephone-users tax on the February ballot is simply aimed at modernizing how Los Angeles taxes communications systems, wording in the measure opens the door to also taxing Internet access.

Federal law currently prohibits taxes on Internet access and e-mail - but that law sunsets in 2014, and some watchdogs said Monday that if the broadly written Measure S telephone tax passes it could allow the city to tax Internet access without additional voter approval.

"How do you say you're not taxing the Internet when the statute specifically says it's covering DSL, Voice-Over-Internet protocol, text messaging, instant messaging and PCS?" said Walter Moore, who is writing the opposition to the measure for the Feb. 5 ballot. You don't need a law degree to realize this is a tax on the Internet and wireless and all that."

Continue reading "Ripple effect" »

Posted by Todd at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Truth takes many forms and guises. So does legal language.

Since the city's own attorney cleared up any confusion about what Measure D's scope on Friday, members of the City Council are straining to contrast legislative "intent" and legislative "outcome," a distinction that might convince Immanuel Kant.

And I don't think they were happy with Michael Colantuono's rather clear explanation -- he wrote a ballot measure that could be applied to the Internet, if the council chose to do so at a future date when the current federal moratorium expired.

By the time other's got around to doing what one reader described as "re-reporting" the news, the spin had taken hold.

Measure D back in spotlight
Lawyers: Proposal would allow Internet tax
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/08/2007 12:07:03 AM PST

PASADENA - Approving Measure D would allow City Hall to enact an Internet-access tax at a future time without a vote of the people, according to the legal team that wrote the ballot measure.

Seeking to challenge "misleading" ballot statements filed by Measure D opponents, the law firm of Colantuono & Levin filed a motion in court Friday arguing the City Council-endorsed ballot measure would "allow," not "force," a tax on Internet access.

"Our basic point is Measure D authorizes an Internet tax, but it doesn't require it," Colantuono said in a telephone interview.

The measure is designed that way, he said, because technological strides might render telephone use unrecognizable in time.

Continue reading "Categorical imperative" »

Posted by Todd at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wayne Lusvardi says Colantuono and Levin, the law firm responsible for Pasadena's Measure D, has notified him they are suing to remove certain items in the Rebuttal to the Argument FOR Measure D that Wayne submitted last week.

UPDATED: See, it all comes together. All the disparate narrative threads and one-liners, like good sketch comedy, converge into something discernible. Ragnarök? Or just a lot of talk?

I've been waiting for things to gel beyond speculation for a print story about the lawsuit but yes, Rene Amy's first case? Defending Wayne Lusvardi's Citizens for Responsible Government (which he insists on pronouncing as "CRAG") in court.

Here's the city press release from Spokeslegend Ann Erdman:

LAWSUIT FILED TO CORRECT FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS
IN REBUTTAL BALLOT ARGUMENT ON LOCAL MEASURE “D”

On Dec. 7, a lawsuit will be filed on behalf of the Elections Official for the City of Pasadena to correct a misleading ballot argument that was submitted for the voter pamphlet against local Measure “D.”

Measure “D” will be considered by the voters of the City of Pasadena at a Feb. 5, 2008, election; the Measure itself is titled “Pasadena Utility Users Tax Continuation Measure.” The Measure is intended to clarify the application of the City’s Utility Users Tax on telephone services, first imposed in 1969, to new telephone technologies like wireless and voice over the internet protocol.

(More below)

Continue reading "And litigation ensues" »

Posted by Todd at 6:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

-- Margaret McAustin went off-script by asking why the council should approve $220,000 to print glossier promo materials for the Rose Bowl renovation when there wasn't an actual renovation plan. But then, as a new member, Margaret isn't beholden to the political debt incurred when most of the previous council aligned against the NFL.

RBOC chairman Bill Thompson said some people have asked to see such, and to not approve it now would be sound the "death-knell" for the renovation plan, which is either just getting started or was dead-on-arrival, depending on whom you ask.

Council action: Approval.

-- Mayor Bill Bogaard should have defined "succinct" before every speaker re: Historic Highlands designation read from their prepared comments without any effort at self-editing. This next woman has a Powerpoint? Council should vote no on principal. Wait, she has it on the display, she must be city staff, because were it someone else I'd wonder why they were afforded such access. Maybe Ann Lau or John Li will bring a presentation. Leslie Levy playing music along with her next poem. These people know the council is going to give them what they want, imagine if they used this organization for something that made the world a better place?

Chris Holden is suggesting that perhaps it won't be destroyed home apocalypse if no action is taken.
"it's not just the size, but the compatibility, "Victor Gordo tells Chris.

Chris Sutton: This is an attack on our home and ability to make improvements. Cites law.

Council action: Approval

Steve Madison wants the council to take back a hearing officer's approval of selling hard alcohol and -- gasp -- video games at Hooters.

Concerned man says, no there have been no complaints, BUT, "we all know" it's a problem that is ruining Old Pas.

Owner asks why Hooters keeps getting called up?

Council action: Approval.

Posted by Todd at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Saturday's Measure D story the other day ended with this line:

Also on Monday, the city plans, without a council vote, to change the threshold for low-income seniors to apply for exemption of the utility-user tax so that more seniors can qualify by linking it to economic indicators, City Manager Cynthia Kurtz said.

Problem is I never wrote that. I did write the "city plans to ..." but where "Also Monday" and "without a council vote" came from escapes me entirely.

Posted by Todd at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The PUSD & Altadena Town Council Joint Meeting:

Pasadena Unified School District and Altadena Town Council will participate in a joint meeting to be held on December 4 at 7 p.m. in the Eliot Middle School Auditorium, 2184 N. Lake Avenue in Altadena. Issues regarding Altadena and its schools will be discussed. Also, representatives from the County of Los Angeles will be on hand to discuss joint use of green space. The public are welcome to attend.

I love Altadena. With more crazies per square mile, it's one of the best things about Pasadena. When my cell phone signal cuts out just above New York Drive, I feel like I'm back in Jalalabad. Altadenastan?

The boys (and girl) on the PUSD board will be grasping for breath up in that rarified, oxygen-deprived atmosphere when they head up to absorb a decade's worth of pent-up angst and rage over the school district many Altadenans feel they have no voice in.

Posted by Todd at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stories slated for the "B1" local page have to be filed by 2:30 p.m.

This is a problem when that source or sources you've been hounding all day finally calls back at a not-unreasonable time of day -- but too late to make it into the story. Do I write that they didn't return calls? Refused to comment? Were unavailable?

When it's not clear-cut either way, the best practice would be to print what actually happened, however awkward:

"By 3 p.m., Jane Doe had not returned five messages left on her voicemail, a text message, two pages, three e-mails and two verbal messages her assistant swore up and down to deliver."

Case in point: Tomorrow's story re: Measure D will contain a line referencing that Mayor Bill Bogaard "couldn't be reached for comment" by late afternoon. He did call at 4:30 p.m., and we talked about the ballot measure and other things.

Posted by Todd at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Stopped by City Hall before last night's council meeting to see if the ballot statements were in re: Measure D and was told they were -- and would be shared in the morning. Came back in a few minutes later when Principal opponent Wayne Lusvardi showed up to demand they be presented because he suspected the statement in support was NOT submitted by the 5:30 p.m. deadline.

Wish I had a camera as City Clerk Jane Rodriguez came back and held them up to show proof they'd been received. Story in tomorrow's paper.

Posted by Todd at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

* East Pas Councilman Steve Haderlein wrote back too late Friday for me to change his title from "Strip Club Killer" to "Strip Club Assassin" for the Pleasures story.

As of January 25, residents can sleep soundly knowing the very last of Pasadena's problems have ceased to exist because no women will be taking their shirts off in a bar somewhere.

* Production problems result in Saturday's story slugged "DUMPFOLO" NOT ACTUALLY JUMPING anywhere! Yay!

* Some e-mails related to the Measure D story are posted below. I've been meaning to check Wayne Lusvardi's blog, where he's on occasion referred to me as an "ace reporter." For some reason I've never taken it as a compliment. :D

Continue reading "Monday morning roundup" »

Posted by Todd at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

None of the voluminous plenitude of furnishings will end up in a landfill, man-of-all-works-public Martin Pastucha just called to say. It will all be "salvaged or recycled." He's been getting calls all day. So have I.

Apparently "government waste" stories rank on the outrage-o-meter somewhere above neglected children and below abused animals.

Posted by Todd at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

* If you didn't get your paper this morning ... we're sorry? Apparently our transition to a new manufacturing plant hit a "snag." This is one of two calls I'm getting this morning. The other is blaming me for throwing out furniture.

* The anonymous tip that led me to check out yesterday's dumping behind Armory NW has apparently led to Public Works Boss Martin Pastucha being cast as villain. Folks, he just returned the call. I've got to admit however there was a lot of very usable stuff, and somehow I'm not surprised the school district wasn't interested in much of it. My lede wasn't "Out with the old, in with the new" ... I don't take the cliche route unless it's at least a mashup. I think it was something like "In with the new City Hall meant out with the old blah blah ..." but perhaps it lacked clarity.

* A victory for decent-thinking, like-minded people everywhere, breasts and booze will no longer be visible or consumable -- not necessarily in that order -- at Pleasures Gentlemen's Club:

Pleasures to stop serving, stripping

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer
PASADENA -- Pleasures Gentleman’s Club has agreed to stop serving and stripping in January, City Hall announced this morning.
Four years of legal wrangling that began after the club held a series of so-called “lust parties,” City Attorney Michele Bagneris said its owners Wednesday in court to stop selling alcohol and topless dancing on January 25.

Posted by Todd at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Couldn't find my quote from City Manager Cynthia Kurtz for today's story, where having always worked in public service, she's accustomed to her salary not being a secret.

OK I found it while closing the 20-something documents open on my desktop: "My whole contract is a public document and I've handed it out many times. You just kind of get over it. When people look at my contract, some are going to say 'Man she makes a lot of money' and others are going to say 'For the work you do, that's all you get?!' "

Anyhoo, here's the web widget of city salaries that runs with today's story:

Posted by Todd at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So we had a reporter en route to Paseo Colorado, which is reportedly locked down (how?)

Was talking to Cynthia Kurtz who mentioned she just got off the phone with Brian Williams, who could now be locked-down in said mall while the po-po looks for a bank robber. According to a third source near the mall (Martin Truitt) it was Citibank that done got robbered.

Now w/Lots o' Cops photo.

Posted by Todd at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The inimitable Miss Havisham calls attention to the fact that the last sentence in today's story re: Melekian as interim CM was cut for space.

"With the Melekian now working as the chief at City Hall, the Police Department will be led by Deputy Chief Chris Vicino."

One could make a strong argument it should have been higher up, maybe before the fourth paragraph of exposition on the Brown Act violation. Which was violated. Like a Burmese monk, or Pakistani lawyer. :P

Full story in the full post. Do I need to keep repeating this? My already grossly undercompensated work, served up for free! Woots!

Continue reading "Vicino is interim boss cop" »

Posted by Todd at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Strange ... Council came out of closed session tonight without a report on any action taken in said closed session. No report given throughout the entire proceeding, as required under the Brown Act. What's that?

Updated: I was expecting the appointment to be made last night, as it was. A news release was sent out just before midnight with the news. There was no disclosure of the closed-session action taken at any point during the meeting.

Adhering to the law can be inconvenient, and in the case of hiring situations, it may even be impolite. But as with many small-to-mid cities, Pasadena lawyer-politicians take it upon themselves to decide when the law does and does not apply to them. Is breaking the law OK when there are no consequences?

Perhaps as interim City Manager, Chief Melekian can encourage adherence to the law.

Posted by Todd at 1:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Organized opposition emerged today to the proposed Measure D the council will again consider declaring an "emergency" tonight to rush a ballot measure designed to insulate $10 million from the Utility User Tax from potential legal challenge.

Below is the letter from Wayne "Pasadena Pundit" Lusvardi:

November 5, 2007

Mayor William Bogaard and City Councilmembers
City of Pasadena
100 North Garfield Ave
Pasadena, California 91109

RE: Measure D

Dear Mayor Bogaard and City Councilmembers,

We demand that Measure D be delayed until the next regularly scheduled municipal election in March 2009 as there is no justifiable emergency that would allow a special election to be held in February 2008.

The city has more than adequate reserves to fully fund its general fund budget appropriations at current levels through March 2009 even without a single penny of UUT revenue, therefore there is no financial emergency. The claim that there is an emergency because Federal law might one day somehow preclude the City from implementing a future Utility Users Tax if the City does not do so before March 2009 is sheer speculation and does not rise to the level of a currently occurring emergency.

Continue reading "On tap tonight: Measure D" »

Posted by Todd at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The man responsible for Proctor-esque Top-10 lists on the City Manager's infamous Green Sheet dispatches, Brian WIlliams, announced this morning he will resign and take a job with SCAG.

Posted by Todd at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm occasionally floored by the mug shots we dust off and put in the paper. In this year alone we've had a yearbook-worthy Steve Haderlein mug and a Chris Holden mug that looked like it was taken at the height of Lando Calrissian fever.

Not that Planning and Development Director Richard Bruckner called to complain this morning.

Police Chief Bernard Melekian didn't call either, unless there's something to my theory that Janet Pope Givens is really the chief in falsetto.

Pasadena eyes 2 for interim manager
Council interviews police chief, city's director of planning
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/01/2007 11:10:41 PM PDT

PASADENA -- Two department heads will be considered for the interim city manager job on Monday by the City Council, which could decide to expand the search to outside candidates.

Before it gets serious about finding a new CEO for Pasadena Incorporated, the council wants to secure transitional leadership it can depend on for up to six months in that job, Mayor Bill Bogaard said Thursday.

"Our intention is to hire an interim until a permanent person takes office as city manager," Bogaard said. "The tremendous benefit of an internal appointment would be the person would know the city and know its current priorities, and know the people involved both on the city staff and in the community."

Richard Bruckner, director of planning and development, and Bernard Melekian, police chief, both confirmed Thursday they were interviewed by the council on Monday and would take the interim position if asked.

Continue reading "Two directors enter ..." »

Posted by Todd at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

I'm posting a bounty for any and all City Hall costume pictures sent my way.

A bounty of delicious candy. Full-size for department heads and up.

Posted by Todd at 9:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So the city hired a communications consultant to advise its strategy and message for the UUT emergency/special-election, and even posted a slick "Frequently Asked Questions" PDF on the city home page.

That material was created under the $45,000 "voter information" portion of the anticipated $432,000 special election cost -- to be paid for from the $7 million set aside for Utility User Tax contingencies.

Some time between Monday and today, the links to that content was removed from the "Hot Topics" on the city homepage -- here's the FAQ.

Posted by Todd at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Mmmmm, just like my hickory-injected Gouda; I love that authentic, smoke-flavored air wafting across our side of the Valley. Smells like the end of the world.

Posted by Todd at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Caught in a growing shadow? Is the sky falling?

It's not a meteor streaking toward Pasadena -- it's the potential loss of $10 million in revenue from a portion of the Utility User Tax that has members of the City Council set to declare an "emergency to the public welfare" as per my weekend story (posted after the jump below).

The telecommunications portion could go away if someone sues the city and if they prevail in court. Not exactly an Armageddon scenario, but no emergency declaration means a ballot measure to change the tax code to insulate it from litigation would have to wait until the next general election in March, 2009.

There's been a lot of misinformation flying over this, including an editorial in our sister newspaper, the L.A. Daily News, which repeated the false assertion that declaring an emergency lowers the threshold of votes needed to pass from 66 percent to 50 percent.

It's 50 percent (+ 1 vote) because the money collected goes into the General Fund -- if it went toward any specific program/department/etc Proposition 218 would require a two-thirds threshold.

Continue reading "Red Alert!" »

Posted by Todd at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The Proctor has a blow-by-blow account of most everything from last night's council meeting, except he missed Manny Shakefell's entrance.

Posted by Todd at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Since moving in mid-August into my new place one block from the Dee-Oh, I'd been meaning to make fun of the PUSD's 6-month-old "Welcome Superintendent Edwin Diaz!" banner. But they've taken it down.

Posted by Todd at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A little busy at the moment, but the headline of Monday's blog entry, "Change(s?) at City Hall," should make more sense now.

"Kurtz to resign as city manager"

Updated with tomorrow's story in the full post.

Continue reading "The only constant is change" »

Posted by Todd at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Employee Appreciation Day was reportedly A Good Time Had by All ...

Except this year a mere meal ticket was insufficient to score your tray of chow, city employees also had to endure an indelible, felt-tipped mark of the beast smeared on their hands ... to make sure no one scored a second round of eats? The mark apparently doesn't wash off. Ever.

Posted by Todd at 2:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Gregory Robinson is no longer Pasadena's top housing official after being reassigned last week to a housing-related position in City Manager Cynthia Kurtz' office.

Short story "after the jump."

Continue reading "Change(s?) at City Hall" »

Posted by Todd at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's something medieval about a dunk tank. There will be a little humiliation served cold along with the appreciation at next Wednesday's City Employee Appreciation Picnic (And Karaoke).

Public Affairs estimates 1,600 employees will be at the event, which could provide for a lot of dunks for Jack Becker and Arlington Rodgers of Public Works, PWP's Eric Klinkner, Safety Officer Tom Lopez and Public Health Director Takashi Wada.

They'd generate much more interest if they'd gotten some electeds up there. Or the pols might have come if they'd brought out the Aaron Proctor Spanking Machine.

But Dr. Takashi? He's just too cute to want to heap abuse upon. And I don't know much of anything about Jack Becker, but perhaps he's the scourge of many a Public Works crew. Hmmmm ... I might be able to channel my latent rage over gross overbilling by PWP ~five years ago to gun for some Klinkner.

Who else should be on this list?

Posted by Todd at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

New episode of City Beat taped today up at Hens Teeth Square and will be broadcast on KPAS 55 and streamed over the Internet at 1:30 p.m. today and at varying times each day throughout the week.

City spokeswoman Ann Erdman did her best to keep Mayor Bill Bogaard and myself in-line and on-topic for the 30 minute discussion of the City Council's new anti-violence committee, John Muir High School, frustrations in the African-American community, and even brought up the idea of discussing the Non-Discussables. (Hint: They're not easy to discuss.)

I usually permit the mayor one Pasadena bragging point, but I don't think we got to staff writer Robert Hong's story today re: just how awesome Old Pas is.

Posted by Todd at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

So I'm sitting here at my desk trying to write about last night's meeting, but entirely distracted by reporter Cortney Fielding, who has been on the phone having a protracted conversation with someone angry at her for Muir's Mustang spirit 'lost.'

PASADENA -- John Muir High School is mired in a "collective culture of low expectations and apathy," according to a consultant's report detailing test scores and extensive interviews with students, parents and teachers.

Consultant Richard Owen, a former associate superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District, spent two months interviewing students, parents, teachers and administrators at Muir. He ticked off a litany of dysfunction - from low test scores to poor student attendance to a general distrust of district administrators.

There's nothing new to being blamed for the reality we report. If the city was burning to the ground and we posted a web update, some would ask why we lit the match.

Instead of debating the role of journalism here and the need to report what's going on fearlessly in the face of those who would prefer not to know, but I'll post an excerpt from the report released Tuesday night by Consultant Richard Owen, a former associate superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District:

Page 3:

School Culture: The Non-Discussables

1. Non-discussables are subjects that are rarely talked about openly.


2. It is the elephant in the room.


3. The health of a school or a District is proportional to the number of non-discussables


4. Intentionally not talking openly about issues creates a culture of neglect


5. To change we must name, acknowledge, and address the non-discussables - especially those that impede learning.


6. This could mean race, it could mean underperformint teachers, it could mean apathetic parents, students and teachers, and it could mean a dysfunctional district or failed leadership.


7. We must have courageous conversations.

Strip out the specifics and what else could this be applied to?

Posted by Todd at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

As per the business page the other day, Earthlink's contraction means it's back to the drawing board for bringing for-profit wireless to Pasadena's light poles.

From my Aug. 2, 2006 story:

PASADENA - Saturating the entirety of Pasadena with an invisible stream of data came closer to reality Monday with the selection of a native-born company to build a municipal wireless network.

By this time next year - and at no cost to the city - EarthLink Inc. plans to install wireless transmission points in hundreds of street lights to offer paid access to the Internet for business, residents and city government.
...

Given the volatile metabolism of wireless technology, where the life-span of products and industry standards can be counted in months, Pratt said EarthLink was important to the longevity of the network.

EarthLink has promised to fold 12 percent of its future revenues from the network into maintaining and improving it, he added.

And according to Gordo, the city wanted to pick a viable company that would likely remain in business to operate the network.

The company's 12 years of operation make it practically an elder among the flare and fade of Internet technology companies.

Posted by Todd at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

As Confucius was fond of saying: Chicken eggs may be unpredictable, but always count your votes before 6:30 p.m.

This morning's paper will hit the stands and driveways of our beloved, cherished, print subscribers (you know, the one actually willing to invest in their democracy) with a shorter version Monday's council meeting story, which Trib City Editor Frank Girardot was able to post online in its entirety.

I also posted it here in full -- click the link to read the full post for more.

Councilwoman Jacque Robinson should get some advice from colleague Steve Madison on the whole telecommuting thing, as being sub-audible and static-charged doesn't translate into effective persuasion.

It's probably not a bold assertion to think Jacque was phoning in from the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. Monday night for a daylong parade of top-tier Democratic presidential candidates at her employer's political action conference:

SEIU MEMBERS TO HOLD POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON Six leading candidates for president will address close to 2,000 of SEIU’s most politically active members at the Member Political Action Conference (MPAC) on Monday, September 17, 2007. Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger will present SEIU’s plan for electing a pro-worker president in 2008. On Tuesday, September 18, SEIU members will flood the Capitol and meet with their members of Congress on a range of issues, including nurse staffing, SCHIP funding, and the war in Iraq. Press access for the conference is as follows:

Monday, September 17 (please note this is a DRAFT schedule)
What: Presidential Candidates Address SEIU Political Action Conference
Where: Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Avenue NW

9:40 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Senator Joe Biden
10:50 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Senator Chris Dodd
1:10 p.m. – 1:40 p.m., Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer
1:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Senator Barack Obama
2:40 p.m. – 3:20 p.m., Governor Bill Richardson
4:10 p.m. – 4:50 p.m., Senator Hillary Clinton
4:50 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Senator John Edwards

And now for the news ...

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer
PASADENA — Framing the issue of youth violence as a "city-wide"
issue allowed the City Council to side-step discord over who should
preside over its action plan Monday night.

Continue reading "Unkut Council" »

Posted by Todd at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (99)

I had been wondering why we need a YAC (yet another committee) to develop some strategery for countering gang/youth/interracial violence, when the city already has a Public Safety Committee.

Then I saw the agenda for today's meeting of that committee:

4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Bridge Inspection After an Emergency
B. Annual Commission Report – July 2006 Through June 2007 and Work Plan for 2007 - 2008:
(1) Pasadena Public Library Commission*
(2) Recreation & Parks Commission*

5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on Dog Breeding Issues
B. Update on Humane Society

6. INFORMATIONAL ITEM
A. Review and Discussion of Future Committee Calendar*

Posted by Todd at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

A small follow-up to the infamous flier first referenced here last week.

The big meeting reportedly only drew ... four people. But the flier did indicate it was the "first" of such meetings.

ALSO someone posted in the comments a link to "Killing mockingbirds" by Kevin Uhrich of the Pasadena Weekly:

Despite the book’s good intentions, however, NAACP Pasadena Branch President Joe Brown and Chandler parent Jim Morris want it taken out of the school’s English curriculum.

Neither Brown nor Morris want to take it out of the library. But using the book and its questionable language to teach young children lessons in English runs the risk of “sending the wrong message” to children.

For the record I did talk to Joe Brown, who says neither he nor his office had anything to do with -- or supported -- the lynching flier.

Posted by Todd at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

A flyer circulated through the community this past week attacking the mayor over the Bakewell Co. That's fine -- attack away. The flyer also invited people to a meeting in the community room at Renaissance Plaza, the Bakewell-built shopping center on North Fair Oaks Avenue. That's fine too.

What's disturbing is the choice of visual imagery used. Images of lynchings are among the most chilling and evocative reminders of the depths of our own society's capacity for barbarism. They can be used to great, sobering effect.

But when such important iconography is exploited, it cheapens and insults the gravitas of history's deep injustice.

I got ahold of one of the flyers yesterday and debated whether to post it due to the inflammatory content. But I'm not here to act as moral decider; a gatekeeper for information. I felt ill when nearly all American media refused to publish Denmark's controversial Muhammad cartoons, despite my personal respect for Islam.

But here's a description if you don't want to look: The flyer -- the text of which makes little sense, but carries its sentiment effectively -- depicts a black lynching victim superimposed over the Pasadena City Hall. "Racism is alive in Pasadena. Ask the mayor why he is building an alliance against the people of the Northwest community."

"Continue reading" for the image in full.

Continue reading "This is bad" »

Posted by Todd at 7:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (64)

The Two Steves got into it tonight over the much protracted Super Manuel Bros. discussion. Madison talked - a lot - about the contractor's record and practices, leading Haderlein to call him out for delaying traffic relief demanded by "the people watching."

If we're looking for ways to fund Rose Bowl improvements, how about a little Thunderdome?

"TWO STEVES ENTER. ONE STEVE LEAVES."

In other news, my commute home took three minutes.

Posted by Todd at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Another big meeting before the council goes into recess for a couple weeks. Among the agenda's alphabet soup:

* Super Manuel Bros. returns for round three
* Plan reviews for Huntington Hospital and All Saints Church.
* Second reading of the peloton ordinance
* New rules regulating unlicensed group homes

Posted by Todd at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)

Just in from John Li, president of the Caltech Falun Club, who invited the council Monday night to a 'celebration' on the steps of City Hall:

From: John Li Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 4:35 PM Subject: News Conference postponed

Dear Mayor Bogaard and Council Members:

Thank you so much for your concerns on the human rights issue in China regarding the Olympic float in Rose Parade.
Because it needs 10 days to get a permit to use a sound system for the news conference, we have to postponed the news conference in front city hall of Pasadena from this Thursday to another date to be determined.

Chinese people are waken up! Over 24 million Chinese people have submitted statements withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliated organizations. Shall we stand on the side of Chinese people or the CCP government? Shall we allow a sinking CCP boat to float in our free land? The answer is NO! We need your support on human rights in China. Genocide and Olympics cannot coincide in China!

I hope someone could forward this email to City Manager Cynthia J. Kurtz, council members Steven G. Madison and Sid Tyler. I do not have their emails.

Thanks!
Best,

John Li
President of Caltech Falun Club

Posted by Todd at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apparently last week's musing about the backlog of Pasadena council meeting minutes was not malformed pattern recognition.

At the end of last night's meeting, just before the moment all media had been waiting for, there was a brief dispute over what exactly the council had agreed to re: Heritage Square at its May 21 meeting. (Video from last night not posted yet.)

As the council adopted a gaggle of minutes-past, Mayor Bill Bogaard said after reading page seven, he "had a feeling the minutes may not be reflective of the action that was taken."

Victor Gordo, who made the compromise motion that night, concurred, and suggested the minutes should be amended as per the mayor's suggestion.

"My understanding of your motion at that time was that we enter into a pre-negotiation," Chris Holden, who seemed suspicious of trickery.

"I also had some confusion when I read this," Margaret McAustin.

By making the amendment "are we saying these are incorrect?" Jacque Robinson.

After five minutes of uncertain debate, they all agreed to the changes. The draft minutes were not available, nor was the amended language at the time I sprinted out to make it back to the newsroom.

Bill did refer to the development as "Heritage Square" despite the fact -- as I've heard -- that term would be retired after complaints from the Heritage Square down alongside the Pasadena Freeway.

But then again, the Falun Gong people didn't follow through with referring to China's float in the Rose Parade as the "GENOCIDE FLOAT!

Posted by Todd at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (49)

From the Ministry of Information:

Please help us out by reminding people in any upcoming stories you do that chairs will NOT be provided for the Pasadena Pops concert at City Hall on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. People should bring a blanket or portable chair to sit on. Thanks.

Posted by Todd at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Now that the taxpaying public of Pasadena are proud owners of a defunct pizzeria what should we do with it?

The decision to spend $4.8 million was made without public input to stave off further litigation brought on by an ill-advised strategy to keep another strip club off Foothill Boulevard. According to one of the advertising reps, fur and noise from the dog kennel next door contributed to Shakey's demise.

Perhaps the public will have some say in what becomes of that property? So any ideas?

The Roger J. Diamond Center for the Performing Arts?

Leave a comment with your suggestion, the winning entry will be selected by the inimitable Molly Rachel Okeon and the winner will receive a lifetime free subscription to this blog.

UPDATED: The vote is in! Let's all please show our support for the Haderlein for Mayor Campaign Headquarters! (Slogan: "Priceless")

Posted by Todd at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Bogaard. Gordon. Ruiz. New edition of City Beat taped Friday for KPAS, one half of the city's public-access juggernaut.

We mostly talked about violence and budget-making.

Which prompted a question -- in one of those uncomfortable moments of quasi-punditry -- about the city's priorities as evinced by how it cuts checks.

About $113,000 to address youth violence through a summer jobs program and summer camp versus $2.5 million to make parking more convenient for shoppers in Old Pasadena.

Posted by Todd at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Returning from a week's absence, I had a message (not a massage) from the Pasadena City Attorney's office explaining new records were available per a request I'd made.

Weighing in at $35 in copying charges, the documents couldn't be the list of city-owned cell phones I'd requested -- and am still waiting on.

Turns out they're the same documents -- now in unredacted format -- that I wrote about on May 27. (Story posted after the jump as it's fallen, unlinkable, into the newspaper's pay-to-play archive. AKA "The Abyss.")

Have members of Pasadena's City Council -- who often strain to accommodate their most vocal citizens -- applied a double standard to the Northwest? Has developer Danny Bakewell fomented racial discord -- as he has been famously accused of in the past -- to game the system?

Although the stakeholders involved may largely fall down racial lines, reality is usually more complex than, well, black and white.

Despite reams of policy and plans general, development drives politics. Pick up any newspaper and read stories about buildings. Buildings and corruption.

Healthy, journalistic skepticism has no better application than where those two tangle: politicians and developers. Their symbiotic relationships come into conflict with an open, accountable and minimally corrupt Democracy.

So, apparently, the City Attorney's office reconsidered its position that it was not in the public interest to release the super-secret evaluation forms -- without names redacted -- of the special commission that reviewed four proposals for Heritage Square project.

Heritage Square is currently a square block o' blight at Fair Oaks and Orange Grove, technically owned by said public and worth $13.4 million.

Those evaluation forms served as the commission's vote, which has served as the basis for why the council should rubber stamp its recommendation to move forward with the Bakewell Company.

Which could very well be best-suited for the job.

But government isn't supposed to happen in secret. Does public scrutiny slow things down? Make government less "efficient?" More susceptible to lobbyists? Absolutely. But also slightly less susceptible to greed, mendacity and corruption? That's the idea.

Now if only Charlie Munger would buy the Star-News and hire 20 more reporters.

UPDATED: I received a June 4 letter with the phone list.

Continue reading "Change of heart" »

Posted by Todd at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

When the going gets tough, transparency and openness are always the first victims of political anxiety.

Unless someone like David Demerjian takes interest, public officials are fully aware no cops work the open-government beat, enforcing the 54-year-old state law known as the Brown Act.

In a reporter's calculations, it didn't seem unreasonable to expect a story about likely violations of state law would at least earn a call back from City Hall.

In my anxiety to offer full opportunities for response from the city, I went so far as to file an odd public records request on Thursday for a list of city-owned cell phone numbers for executive/cabinet-level staff. Nobody should want or be asked to work reporters' hours, but every other week is a three-day weekend for City Hall.

Being unavailable doesn't stop reporting from happening and it would seem reasonable to take a call from a reporter, even while off-duty. Now not returning calls during the work week? That's just weird. And telling.

Posted by Todd at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Oddly enough, the city's link to the video feed of last night's council meeting goes to footage of Councilman Chris Holden, city spokeswoman Ann Erdman and someone called up from Central Casting(?) talking about Heritage Square. Peculiar <.<

OK, the meeting starts ~5 minutes in. There's a lot of video missing.

Posted by Todd at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Apparently the room wasn't big enough for both Elaine Adams and Danny Bakewell, Sr. Certainly not their legions of supporters. The next phase of the Desiderio Army Reserve debate was postponed Monday night.

Posted by Todd at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Councilwoman Margaret McAustin was kind enough to soften her rejection of my immodest proposal with a funny. She told me at Monday night's joint meeting that preserving the endangered lap dance came in as a close second when considering campaign themes.

Posted by Todd at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Members of the Pasadena City Council and city staff recently received a special invitation from an unlikely source.

Peppermint Gardens, the adult cabaret which opened at a former Shakey's Pizza on Foothill Boulevard and prompted a moratorium, hasty code revisions and a slew of lawsuits, apparently wants to say "no hard feelings" to City Hall by offering free entry.

As a former Planning Commissioner and newly elected Councilwoman, maybe Margaret McAustin will get me in as her date? (John will totally understand, right?)

The complete flyer -- just a little too hot for the 1950s-era values of our printing press -- is posted below the fold.

Continue reading "Peppermint's provocative pitch" »

Posted by Todd at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Former Councilman Paul Little wasn't his usual jocular self after last night's meeting of the Pasadena City Council.

"Put that back," he said after I'd picked up one of his mixed CDs to look at. Said he didn't have time to comment on its contents. Gosh, one would think I was a RIAA enforcer.

One thing pols and their staffers don't seem to get: Telling a reporter they can't have something is the best way to guarantee they will. Especially something distributed to elected officials during a public meeting.

Scholars will puzzle over the significance of the 20 tracks Paul selected -- at least for a few minutes. Below I've listed the track titles and the ostensibly corresponding topics/themes he printed on the CD label. (More below the fold)

Continue reading "Paul's Political Pasadena Mix" »

Posted by Todd at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

After spending the day catching up with what Parsons Corp. has busy with in Iraq, my mission parameters for Monday night's council meeting was scaled back to a take on their return to their Seats of Power at City Hall.

That said, the meeting ultimately ran seven hours long and turned into a total blow-up I've only now had the opportunity to digest. I'd recommend clearing 2.5 hours and checking out .

Posted by Todd at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Every Wednesday, the Constitution of the United Kingdom requires the sitting Prime Minister to face 30 minutes of questions from ministers in the House of Commons. No subpoenas required.

So like the BBC's PM Wednesdays, call this CM Tuesday.

While talking with Pasadena Councilman Chris Holden about arguably less important matters, I took the opportunity to put him on the spot regarding his positions on some serious issues.

Airwolf or Blue Thunder?

"Blue Thunder," Chris says, admitting he doesn't remember Airwolf. "I thought it was pretty good. I like Roy Scheider."

Pirates or Ninjas?

"I think that pirates have been popularized in our culure a little bit more so than ninjas," he muses. "But ninjas are cool. A pirate, you see coming; a ninja you don't. I want people to see me coming so i'm going to go with pirate."

Posted by Todd at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

When I'm in Bangkok it takes some effort to find a legit-yet-affordable establishment -- outside of the four-star, Western hotels lining Sukhumvit Road -- where I'm guaranteed not to be offered "Happy Finish" or more.

As Foothill Cities picked up on, the council briefly addressed the issue of commercial prostitution in Pasadena.

I wanted to write about the matter, and Pasadena's moratorium-friendly council asking for a breather on issuing permits to new massage parlors. Recent council agendas showed a number of new parlors looking to open for business in the Crown City (of Roses.) Not that it's like the 1980s Pasadena of my youth, when sexual entrepreneurs operated visibly along the length of the boulevard.

But I knew they weren't going to get into a substantive debate on the matter and in hindsight, we made the right call to cover the Central District development issue. Look for something later this week.

Posted by Todd at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Municipal politics can be tedious and messy, but that's the reality of part-time legislators expected to make expert decisions on complex matters on a weekday night.

During Monday's back and forth over shifting (trading? transferring? adjusting?) development rights in Pasadena's Central District, it was obvious the two outgoing council members were handling the looming end of their political lives differently.

Insiders have suggested Joyce Streator, who is stepping down from her long run representing the Northwest, has had it. That seemed clear during the sometimes-redundant and esoteric debate last night. At one point, Joyce turned to Victor Gordo with an exasperated look, sighed audibly and dropped her head down into her hands on the desk.

Councilman Paul Little however seemed more gregarious and upbeat than usual, even stepping down from the dais in the midst of deliberations to chat about Poopgate.

After the council hashed out a compromise measure to deal with the matter at hand, Paul offered his own "friendly amendment" to Councilman Chris Holden's motion:

"I was going to ask for a friendly amendment and ask the Sergeant at Arms to put us out of our misery right now."

Posted by Todd at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Councilman Victor Gordo, who likes to reference to his PHS football days during City Council meetings, called Wednesday to contest he'd actually said "It's time to hold hands" with the PUSD, as quoted in a story published that morning.

Victor has a lot of hand-holding in his future: As of last week he's the proud father of a baby girl, a complement to his now toddler son.

With two new players on Team Gordo, Victor says they're done with the baby-making.

Posted by Todd at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After a month hiatus, we taped a new City Beats this morning.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, city spokeswoman Ann Erdman and myself talked about the post-election/pre-runoff landscape, group homes, PUSD Superintendent Edwin Diaz, City Hall reopening sans a downstairs bar and a bit about the Tommy Bowman story.

It runs daily on a haphazard schedule throughout the week, streaming online at the link above.

Update: I forgot to mention one item of discussion: Ann making fun of my wardrobe.

Posted by Todd at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I was out of the office Monday and was subsequently denied the pleasure of the Pasadena City Council meeting.

Star-News reporter Janette Williams was there and files these reports:

In the public discussion over the Ambassador West project Monday night (and Tuesday morning), opinion seemed evenly split on the mammoth senior living project planned to face Green Street.

Retired lawyer Barbara Maxwell drew laughter and applause when she spoke for herself and a couple of friends of a certain age. “We can’t wait for ever!” Barbara told the council, urging them to get going on the assisted living condos.

Ever the gentleman, Mayor Bill Bogaard expressed polite disbelief that Barbara and pals were even in the market ...

It’s about the oldies, of course, but it’s more about the children.

Pastor Che Anh, whose Harvest Rock Church owns the Ambassador Auditorium, says the Sunrise building would loom over it and ruin the setting. And that’s not all.

The site’s Great Lawn, which would become public space under the Dorn Platz development plan, could become a public threat.

Noting that the lawn slopes toward the auditorium, the pastor expressed fears that children running down it could end up in the auditorium’s fountain feature with its 18 inches of water.

Maybe there should be a lifeguard on duty at all times ...

Posted by Todd at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It's halfway through the show's two-week rotation, but be sure to catch City Beat on KPAS 55. It streams daily over the web and cable television, between encore presentations #236 and #237 of the epic talk-a-thon that was last month's ACT candidate forum.

Why? Two words: Joyce Streator, District 1 councilwoman. It was a treat to chat with Joyce, as it's no big secret she otherwise doesn't talk to reporters. Also on the show is city spokeswoman Ann Erdman and Andre Coleman, another reporter. They introduced Andre as "the weekly reporter," which must be nice, because I work every day.

Continue reading "Streator dishes on council's sweet, back-room dealings" »

Posted by Todd at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Looming retirement from public office hasn't made Pasadena City Councilman Paul Little any more succinct.

During Monday's council meeting -- a relatively brief two-and-a-half hours -- the District 2 representative, who is not seeking another term this spring, maintained his reputation as being a man with something to say about, well, most everything.

Below are the findings of a thorough study of 30 minutes or so of the meeting. Being of the empirical persuasion, I'll disclose my methods: the video archive, a stopwatch and three cups of coffee.

Continue reading "Little still has a lot to say" »

Posted by Todd at 7:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)