Recently in Pasadena -- center of the universe Category

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, formally let the world know today that come March 11, he'd like the job being vacated by House Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino Announces Candidacy for Assembly Speaker

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) announced his intention to run for the position of Assembly Speaker.

“With the date now set by the Caucus, I would like formally announce my candidacy for Speaker of the Assembly. I intend to meet with my Assembly Democratic colleagues to make my case on how to move California forward. I believe my performance to date and my positive, consensus-building approach to tackling California’s challenges shows I have something to offer,” Portantino said in announcing his bid.

The Assembly Democratic Caucus today agreed to hold a vote for Speaker on March 11th.

Despite being a freshman legislator, Anthony arrived in Sacramento with heavy-weight status, drawing attention from the party apparatus for the enormous sum of cash he raised.

Anthony really had no chance of losing to his opponents in late 2006, but raised the money just to show that he could. Trying to find my story from the time but it seems to have escaped the grasp of our internal archive.

Not a lot of attention was paid to Proposition 93, but now that the term limit "tweak" has been defeated, all the uncertain political futures -- from lines of succession to chamber migration -- can be cast.

Voters kept pols like state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, from having to make a decision on whether to seek another term -- he's out. Sighs of relief from the likes of former Assemblywoman Carol Liu who can move forward with seeking his seat as planned.

Haven't had a chance to mention much of anything, let alone Saturday's story about the bustle at Obama HQ in Old Pasadena, but the Schiff->Armenian->Obama trickle-down support bore out somewhat on Thursday:

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) endorsed Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate best positioned to bring fundamental change to how the United States addresses issues of special concern to Armenian American voters.

"The Armenian National Committee of America is proud today to endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a candidate, and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as President, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values of Armenian American voters."

The official announcement came during a press conference held at the ANCA Western Region headquarters, featuring remarks by Obama supporters, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) and L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti as well as ANCA National Board Member Raffi Hamparian and Armenians for Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian.

"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.

Spoke to Adam Schiff about an hour ago before he got on a South Carolina-bound flight, he gave a quick update on agreement for an economic stimulus package:

-- "Rebate checks to 117 million families"
-- "$35 million low-income familes will get tax relief as well."
-- Part of a $150 billion package, "a modest boost" but "given the size of our economy it will be modest but helpful."

UPDATED: Gary Scott, who removed me after lobbying to be included on this blog roll, offers his erudite take:

This is casino economics. Let the drunk who's down $500 at the craps table gamble the house's money and fleece him for another $700 as he tries to dig his way out of the hole he's in.

Federal investigators raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning and are still there -- we'll have something online shortly.

Federal agents raid Pasadena museum

PASADENA - Federal agents raided the Pacific Asia Museum this morning as part of a multi-year investigation into illegal smuggling of southeast Asian and Native American artifacts.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service spent the morning rummaging behind the red iron museum's doors, as employees and visitors watched outside.

According to a search warrant, the museum accepted stolen Thai archaeological resources and conspired to falsify tax returns in November 2005.

Employees showing up for work this morning said they did not know what was going on. One employee said she thought all the commotion was from people waiting for a tour.

"We're as interested in knowing the answers as the IRS is," Museum Director Joan Marshall said. "We're cooperating and we're happy to do that."

Photo by Raul Roa, staff photographer: An Immigration & Customs Enforcement special agent, left, and an Internal Revenue Service agent, center, stand in front of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena on Thursday as an employee enters the building. The officers executed a federal search warrant at the museum.

What was nothing more than a little story by Janette Williams about a popular(?) reality show filming a scene on the steps of City Hall has rocked the far reaches of the Realityverse.

Good to see The Pasadena Thorns Web site still exists! Go Thorns!

Someone called last week when Bobby Fischer died who'd been friends with him during his Pasadena days:

Fischer then went into hiding, apart from one impulsive television appearance and the occasional game. He had already renounced his Jewish heritage by joining a sect called the Worldwide Church of God, based in Pasadena, to which he donated a large chunk of his winnings. In 1978, he sued a magazine that had criticised the church, but then accused the church of reneging on a promise to finance the lawsuit.

In May 1981, he was wandering around Pasadena, shabbily dressed and with a flowing beard, when a policeman spotted him and thought that he might be a bank robber. He was arrested after refusing to answer the lawman's questions. A year later, he described the experience in a diatribe which he published under the title, "I was tortured in the Pasadena jailhouse"

Parade as stress test for color television:

New York Times
Monday, January 4, 1954
Television in Review: NBC Color
Tournament of Roses Parade is Sent Over 22-City Network
by Jack Gould
Severe Test Passed - New Year's Program, a 'Bevy of Hues'

Color television's most exacting test came with the National Broadcasting Company's outdoor pickup of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California. The New Years Day Program was the first prolonged presentation of color video under circumstances where, unlike a studio show, neither lighting, nor movement could be controlled. All things considered, the results were exceedingly good.

The Tournament of Roses parade had the largest audience thus far, probably several thousand persons to see color TV at one time. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company, in a amazingly speedy engineering accomplishment, put together a color network of twenty-two cities to which the Radio Corporation of America had rushed equipment. A number of set manufacturers also held demonstrations of color receivers in different cities.

With so many sets in operation, each subject to relatively critical tuning controls and possible vagaries of electronics, the quality of the tinted images from Pasadena undoubtedly varied on some receivers. But, overall, there is no question that the essence of the parades panorama of color was projected successfully on home screens some 3000 miles away. In comparison the monochrome pictures seen on existing receivers seemed virtually meaningless.

As the two NBC color cameras scanned a succession of elaborate floats, assorted military units, and other parade features, the scene was a veritable bevy of hues and depth; at other times the close-up was better. Occasionally there were overcasts of one tint or another but these disappeared with movement of the camera.

To concentrate so much color information within the frame of a small screen would be difficult for even the most gifted artist doing a "still" painting. To do it with constantly moving pictures seemed pure wizardry. Especially interesting from a technical standpoint was the remarkable stability of the individual colors as the NBC camera moved quickly from left to right and back again. On one set at least there was no perceptible streaking.

The Tournament of Roses parade, received locally from 12:15 to 1:45 P.M., did emphasize several problems for the home viewer. In the broad daylight and sunshine, it was necessary to draw the shades and cut out all glare if the colors on the TV screen were not to be washed out. This frankly, was a nuisance.

Another difficulty related to the size of the picture. The disadvantage of a small color image - roughly 12 1/2 inches - was much more noticeable with the parade than with earlier studio programs. And, since it is necessary to sit much farther away than from a black and white set, one wonders how big a color tube will be practical. Finding a happy compromise between picture size and viewing distance could be tricky for the engineer and the viewer, particularly if the latter must start rearranging furniture again.

Fortunately many indulgences of years' ends past counter the fact I'll be asleep by midnight to get a pre-sunrise start tomorrow.

As much delight I take in covering Pasadena, working the obligatory parade day coverage also comes at the cost of carousing. A fortuitous convergence of friends in town this weekend made for a Saturday evening well-spent at the Molino House. Bilious, rabid props to Caroline An for picking up my weekend shift in exchange for undisclosed concessions from myself.

My open letter to East Pasadena, at least those in the Hastings Ranch area:

Your galaxy of lights, constellations of incandescent color illuminated my earliest holidays. What happened? Forged from the marketplace of neighborhood competition, the once-inventive displays and original exhibitions have been either discarded or replaced with identical, store-bought pablum. I lost count of the identical, inflatable fixtures festooning the fronts of your homes.

Seriously, I don't know if homeowner turnover or aging is a factor in the darkening of Pasadena's Nor'easter climes, but the whole thing is looking shabby, apart from a few proud hold-outs.

Too many Frosty the Wal-Mart Doppelganger clones, so few ass-kicking displays of American holiday independence. Don't let your next Christmas be an inflatable one.

So I sat on the phone with editor Kate Kealey struggling with a football metaphor for the headline for Thursday night's Rose Bowl-USC story, but "incomplete" just didn't lend itself to pithiness.

This Trojans-at-the-Rose-Bowl thing is a case study in the political paralysis that takes hold when no one wants to "be the bad guy." No one wants to offend or slight. Getting past the question of whether USC was really serious -- their aggressive approach signified willingness -- the real issue was UCLA.

But UCLA didn't want to be the bad guy and outright say "no." The all-boys club of the The Rose Bowl Operating Company didn't want to say "no" to USC.

Nor were they interested in putting their only real tenant in the position of having to be the bad guy.

What entertainment transpired during the closed session meeting, I can sadly only speculate upon. They were supposed to adjourn at 6:30 p.m. At around 7 p.m., all but Chairman Bill Thomson and stadium general manager Darryl Dunn (maybe one more) came out and took their seats. After 15 minutes, they all got up and went back because Thomson wasn't returning.

It was bizarre. By 7:45 p.m., they were back out with a non-statement statement which little satisfied the assembled media: We didn't say no and we didn't say yes. Which is really no, without having to say it. It was like staring at a tasty dessert and pretending not to want it. UCLA appointee WIlliam Cormier wasn't present immediately after they returned from closed session, likely reporting to his bosses. (Not to suggest any official would consider applying disclosure rules differently.)

That's politics. Never a straight answer. The board and Thomson do deserve credit for doing the right thing and not leaving it at 'We have nothing to report in accordance with the Brown Act' and leaving the room seething. They took questions. But instead of bringing resolution to the whole thing however, they confused some people into taking it at face value, which is why people of authority loathe real journalism. They much prefer a transcription service.

Rose Bowl passes on USC lease

PASADENA - Trojan football remained homeless Thursday night after the Rose Bowl passed on a lease offer extended by USC.

Although the stadium's board voted unanimously to turn down USC's offer - yet left the door open - it was the 800-pound Bruin in the room that weighed on the decision.

"The Rose Bowl Operating Company believes its best interest at this time is to allow USC and the Coliseum Commission to continue its negotiations at this time," said RBOC Chairman Bill Thomson, before going on to say that USC should have further talks with UCLA.

Under the Rose Bowl's contract, UCLA's blessing would be needed for the stadium to host another team.

Addressing board members before the meeting, a USC spokeswoman said her school admired "the deference that this body has shown to UCLA" but reiterated the sincerity of USC's interest.

Continued ...

Visiting City Hall online, I saw the home page is currently this image of a Trojan looming over the Rose Bowl. Someone is having fun.

The only thing that's going to bring Trojan football to the Rose Bowl next year is if the USC paints itself into a corner with this all-or-nothing campaign to win concessions from the Coliseum. And despite efforts by the Governor and Mayor (who always get their way, right? <.<), it sounds like they could end up with nothing, aka our beloved Rose Bowl.

Coliseum commissioners receive threats

The bitter standoff between USC and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum intensified Thursday as members of the stadium's governing board reported getting death threats from angry fans while legislators worked behind the scenes to revive negotiations.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are looking for ways to help broker a deal that would keep USC from moving its home games to Pasadena's Rose Bowl.

If anything, relations between the university and stadium officials appear to be growing more acrid.

But then again, someone suggests L.A. Times editors are frustrated USC alums who've had enough with the Coliseum Commission.

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett writes to the fans today.

Dear Fellow Trojan:

It gives me no pleasure to write a letter of this kind, but there are issues facing our university that you need to understand. The University of Southern California has been negotiating diligently for months, trying to renew USC’s lease with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and trying to get guarantees that USC’s football team and fans can enjoy home games in a completely renovated and improved stadium.

Of course our beloved Rose Bowl is probably just being played to wedge concessions from the Coliseum, despite USC's Dickey assurances to me -- with deadpan sincerity -- the deal was go from their side and only depended on Pasadena approval.

I'm savoring the irony that as one of the most ambivalent, least sports-literate person in the media, I have the juiciest story of the day:

UPDATED: Since appearing here and on our web site just before 5:30 p.m. this story has shot all over the place. Always oddly thrilling.

USC in talks to begin ‘08 season at Rose Bowl

By Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Staff Writer

PASADENA — USC is seeking a two-year agreement to bring Trojan football to the Rose Bowl next year, stadium officials confirmed Tuesday.
USC’s frustration with the Coliseum Commission has led to recent talks about bringing the team to Pasadena which will culminate early next month at a meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, according to USC Senior Vice President for Administration Todd Dickey.
“Although we have been a faithful tenant of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for 80 years, we must now seek other alternatives for the good of our football program and our fans,” Dickey said.
Rose Bowl management isn’t ready to count Trojan ticket sales before they’ve hatched, however.
“It’s unfortunate that the Coliseum Commission and USC are evidently at an impasse, and we recognize the goal of both parties to work things out,” said Rose Bowl stadium General Manager Darryl Dunn. “We think it’s likely they’ll be able to resolve their differences.”
Any Trojan incursion into the lair of the Bruins would depend on UCLA’s comfort with the plan.
“They’re our primary tenants,” Dunn said.

For everyone to start complaining about how early the rites of FestiChristmakuhzaa marketing have begun yet again.

Immortal Dodger Tommy Lasorda will weigh in at the Old Pasadena Tree Lighting Ceremony, which also kicks off the Charles "Chuck" Cherniss Tournament of Toys, one of my Google alerts reports. Full disclosure: The Star-News is a sponsor of the annual charity event.

P.S.: Dear One Colorado, you should renew your domain name before it gets shanghai'd by someone.

Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda Joins Old Pasadena's Tree Lighting Ceremony

Old Pasadena is pleased to announce the addition of Baseball Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda to the One Colorado Tree Lighting Ceremony, Friday, November 23 at 6:00 P.M. The Tree Lighting Ceremony culminates a day of holiday festivities throughout Old Pasadena featuring spectacular performances, Santa's arrival, live reindeer and real snow. All activities take place Friday, November 23, from 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and are free and open to the public.

Everything kicks off at 4:00 P.M. with Old Pasadena's own winter wonderland located on Holly Street between Raymond and Fair Oaks. Kids can play in 30-tons of real snow, see live reindeer fresh from the North Pole, ride a holiday choo-choo train, draw in a kids' art area sponsored by The Armory Center for the Arts, and enjoy live music at this spectacular children's winter playground.

I ended up checking out Vicente Fox's appearance at Caltech, as per this story that didn't make it into the paper.

We were going to have a photo run, but despite Caltech assurances, Fox's PR people banned any photography inside Beckman Auditorium. Because ... there is so much commercial appeal to a picture of the ex-prez in front of a red curtain ...

Yelling things out in support of Fox was fine, but if you yelled out anything critical or insulting, a big goomba gave you the arm-walk out of the room. Best moment goes to Caltech Pres Jan-Lou Chameau, for pointing out that vocal criticism of public figures is de rigueur in his home nation.

Fox: Immigration debate flawed
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/16/2007 10:00:59 PM PDT

PASADENA - Isolation, not immigration, poses the greatest threat to the United States, former Mexican President Vicente Fox said Monday night at Caltech.

Fox underscored ascendant aspects of Mexico's economy and criticized the construction of a border fence, the war in Iraq and what he characterized as "misinformation" in the debate about immigration.

"Immigration is not only an issue of legality and illegality, it's human histories and it's families divided," he said, while urging further unity in North America in the face of consolidating centers of economic and political power in Europe and Asia.

Although the audience inside Beckman Auditorium was mostly favorable to Fox, about one dozen protestors rallied outside and security removed one man from inside before the former president even took the stage.
"He's a thief. He has no shame. Don't listen to him!" the unidentified man shouted during opening comments by Caltech President Jean-Lou Chameau.

"This reminds me of France," Chameau said.

Big names descend on Pasadena today.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox gives a free lecture @Caltech's Beckman Auditorium at 8 p.m.; Governor Arnold is at the Western Justice Center at the moment.

Opting to leverage my soul-crushing insomnia into journalistic opportunity, I wandered out from Casa del Todd and walked three blocks north to Vroman's to scope out the scene of tomorrow's PlayStation 3 iPhone Halo 3 Bill Clinton.

By 3:30 a.m., 26 souls awaited His Presence on the Boulevard sidewalk. Some were collectors, others just wanted to bask in His Mojo and the only person I met actually from Pasadena admitted to being paid $40 by a friend to get a book signed.

From El to Arr: Bob and Janice of Santa Clarita wait with Joe Freedman of Cypress and Ernie Soto of Ontario. They arrived around 9 p.m.

Paul Little's comment reminded me I had a photo of him and PUSD Trustee Scott Phelps from the '05 Follies

Given that the theme of this year's show, "Pasablanca," is a take-off of black and white films of the '30s and '40s, I couldn't possibly imagine who will be cast in Humphrey Bogart's role ...

Proceeds of the Oct. 21 show benefit the senior center. Ann, who writes the script, gets a hand this year from Director Jerram Swartz and music director Barry Gordon.

Participants in recent years: Sue Mossman, Rich Boccia, Tim Brick, Scott Jenkins, Percy Clark, Kevin Uhrich, Larry Wilson, Nina Chomsky, Bill Bogaard, Cynthia Kurtz, Tom Coston, Hall Daily, Victor Gordo, Michele Bagneris, Chris Holden, Kicker Mckenney, Richard Gray, Kellye Wallett, Paul Little, Jan Sanders, Scott Phelps, Darryl Dunn, Rick Barr, Martin Gordon, Rich Roche, Jim Plotkin, Monsignor Tobias English, Roberta Martinez, Arnie Siegel, Paul Lines, Richard Bruckner, Barry Gordon, Lena Kennedy, Teresa Lamb Simpson, Sid Tyler, Fred Messick and others.

What part of "public property" does this man not understand?

Access to information -- for all -- has long been under assault. We have to fight more than ever for access to meetings, public records from City Hall, the school district, the police department, the federal government ... and with fewer resources with which to do so.

As reporters we're not entitled to any privileged status, but exercising the legal entitlements held by every citizen is part of our job. This is the fundamental stuff of democracy here -- how to know what the hell your government and the people in it are doing.

Yet we grow increasingly indifferent to these notions and shrug off our Duty to exercise our Rights. We are to blame for allowing it to happen. Freedom is like that novice writing advice: Show me, don't tell me. Talkin' about ain't no substitute for doin' it.

If you don't like it, move to Myanmar.

In that vein, my first ever Banana Republic Award goes to this security guard, who works at Indymac on Lake Avenue between Colorado and Union, who took it unto himself to prevent Star-News photographer Sarah Reingewirtz from taking a picture from the sidewalk today as a fire crew searched for the source of a fire inside.

Sarah tried to explain the concept of a public street to the man. "Now you're just being silly," was the scofflaw's reply.