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)

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)

Sometimes even urban legends spawn associated legends of their own. Whenever someone references the "1 million attendance" on parade day factoid, someone in-the-know counters that some Caltech scientist some year back did the math of bodies per square meter and disproved its possibility.

But no one can remember his name, when it happened or how they heard about it.

UPDATED: Your humble narrator is schooled in the comments.

Posted by Todd at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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 ...

Continue reading "Trojan interruptus" »

Posted by Todd at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

So I overcame my misgivings and ventured into Fort Omega on Arroyo Parkway with Ms. Vanity to pick out a tasty looking wedge of overpriced cheese to serve up with my brother, who had hit town last week.

Upon freeing it from plastic-wrapped bondage I discovered the 10-day old store had sold me a sopping sponge of ammonia. Yum.

Posted by Todd at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Pasadena's Arts community doesn't get a great deal of coverage in the newspaper, something for which its Brahmins should be glad. What experiences I've had with ArtWorldCorp and glimpses 'behind the canvas' is a politically charged world of petty, casual treachery.

THAT SAID ... Art Night Weekend Month is here. More compelling is the SKIN / Art & Ideas Festival.

Arts Councilor Terry LeMoncheck sends some info my way on a series of related "public conversations" about race, synthetic beauty and the mutating cityscape.

Dates and details after the jump.

Continue reading "SKIN deep" »

Posted by Todd at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's not an insincere reporter's claim to say the speed limit uprising* genuinely left me unsure which "side" was more "correct."

State law is state law, and obviously not being able to write speed limit tickets is a problem**, but given the hot-tar-sticky position this would put the council in, I imagine we'll hear about alternatives if city staff find any truly overlooked.

Whittier didn't think so, according to Staff Writer Mike Sprague's story this week:

WHITTIER - Seven months after raising speed limits on 17 stretches of streets, the City Council is poised to do the same thing for 11 other streets in the city at its meeting today. City officials said in order to use radar, a study of speeds must be performed. "It's helping the community," said Chris Magdosku, senior civil engineer for the Whittier Public Works Department. "We're getting the law violators." Under state law, a city must conduct a speed survey every five years and use the information to set speed limits. The survey measures how fast 85 percent of the drivers are going. The figures are then used to set a speed limit. John Yearian, a commissioner on the Parking and Transportation Commission, which recommended the changes at its Sept. 6 meeting, said the city's hands are tied. "You either have to do it or they can't enforce it," Yearian said. "It's kind of a Catch-22 situation." If the speed limits aren't raised, any tickets can be challenged and overturned in court, police say. The 85th percentile was set because studies have shown that those numbers of people drive at a safe speed, according to police.

* Don't tell my corporate masters (Hi there, corporate paymasters <3 ) but I'll heretofore endeavor to include the stories hotlinked on the blog in Read Moreville, given their tendency to blink out of existence after a couple of weeks from the Star-News website.

** For everyone but the speeders.

Continue reading "Need for Speeds" »

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

Perhaps inspired by news the Euro could supplant the Dollar as global currency of choice, one blog reader suggests we start using a standardized currency as a frame of reference for city spending.

The suggestion? The Peppermint, in reference to the former Peppermint Garden strip club, secretly purchased by the city in what appeared to be an act of legal desperation.

One Peppermint thus equates to $5 million. (John and Jane Public only paid $4.7 million for the pizza parlor-turned-cabaret, but it's locked into legend as a cool five-stack.)

Using my recent story re: the potential loss of $10 million in utility user taxes, it's easier to think of as two Peppermints.

Or the recently appraised value of the city-owned land that will one day be Heritage Square:

Read the full entry to see City Hall's seismic retrofit in Peppermints ...

Continue reading "Conceptual aids" »

Posted by Todd at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Saturday's blogger picnic organized by Jill of Eye Level Pasadena was a success and unexpectedly worthwhile. Can't say 'bloggers' leap to mind as the most socially rewarding group to chill out with, but it was a cool group.

Former council candidate and restaurant owner Robin Salzer played the Sauce card and won the hearts and minds of carnivores present with a fat tray of ribs.

Jill's posted all the goodness.

Posted by Todd at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

I believe that's about how many seats were in the "big theater" at the Pacific's Hastings Theater. I counted them all once the summer before graduating from high school, when I had to regularly clean it -- by myself on closing shift -- during a summer job during my senior year of high school that paid a cool $5.25/hour minimum wage.

Losing the Rialto and the Pacific Hastings makes for a grievous week for West valley movie fans.

Posted by Todd at 4:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)

So Congressman Adam Schiff couldn't shake my hand last night because his right hand was all gimped out. Spranged or such. So I inquired just what the heck Adam Schiff had done, and apparently Adam Schiff practices karate.

So who did Adam Schiff beat down? He wouldn't say ... but it makes one wonder the real reason behind Dennis Hastert's retirement.

Posted by Todd at 4:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Attenion blogheads and serial comment-leavers: Former Star-News editor and now SGVN Public Editor Larry Wilson is now on the scene via The Public Eye.

Larry had the stones to stride out of his office and pronounce his imminent blog supremacy over this one ... I wish him luck!

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

Much love to my A-No. 1 competitor, Andre Coleman, who celebrated his special day yesterday. By the way, Andre, the AARP called and is wondering why they haven't heard back from you!

UPDATED: Apparently Aug. 6 was also the special day of none other than former Star-News political reporter Gary Scott.

Posted by Todd at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

After 10 months of exile in North Hollywood I return to Pasadena in 12 days. That -- oddly enough -- seems to be the day foretold of the Proctor's return. I think a proclamation is in order.

Posted by Todd at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

All 142 of them. Did I mention there were 142 verdicts to decide? More on that later -- I promise there are some interesting observations to be made.

Here's some foundation material: Predatory Towing Company, Operators Charged With Attempted Extortion and Taking of Vehicles

I was in the office for about 20 minutes before the Heritage Square avalanche started coming down on me. Sounds like I'm going to need a thick notebook tonight.

It's good to be back.

Posted by Todd at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So much going on and I'm still in jury service. We were told to expect a 10-day trial at most. We're on day 13, I believe.

Posted by Todd at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Being out of the loop juryin', I missed the Really Really Free Market http://rrfm.wordpress.com today, but it sounds like it won't be the last.

The RRFM is like a rummage sale, except that everything is free. There is no bartering, trading, buying or selling, and no corporate sponsorship. All items at the RRFM are offered freely. The RRFM is also a grass roots festival.

Heading over to bridge fest, however. Probably won't make tomorrow's hall fest.

Posted by Todd at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm going to be on an unexpected hiatus following my selection as Juror No. 11 for a trial estimated to last seven to 10 days.

Honestly I didn't think I'd survive the voire dire, but am sincerely happy to fulfill my civic duty. But it really hurts the reporting stream and stories that were in development.

Posted by Todd at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

China is a large place and proved a lot of ground to cover during a four-day, holiday week.

I think people can tell when the balance of a story leaned more toward more its reporting or writing. More of the latter is best, but is bolstered and made effective by the latter.

Despite considerable reporting going into Sunday's story about Falun Gong, China and Pasadena, I was left with insufficient time for the actual writing, resulting in some marathon-length sentences that some rewrites would have weeded out.

But little space must have been available on the actual page because a considerable amount of the story was cut.

For example, several paragraphs pertaining to Mayor Bill Bogaard, who returned my anxiety-fortified messages Friday to speak about the issue from a beach he was visiting with his grandchildren.

And some other significant passages/context. I'll post the entirety here once I have access to it again.

Posted by Todd at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

City slips $4.7 million tip into Peppermint Gardens' G-string to quit town.

Personn's Nursery wolf cries are answered with long-term lease agreement.

Does anyone else remember the Pasadena that was home to the Pussycat Theater? That strip club up on North Lake Avenue? That adult arcade in the basement of what is now, I believe, The Pottery Barn in Old Pas?

I was at a young and impressionable, but for some reason seeing those places and knowing they existed didn't ruin my childhood or set me on the road to perversion. That would come later.

So $5 million to placate prudishness? Oh wait, it was about "negative secondary effects." Unfortunately, our own police department said East Pasadena's other strip club didn't really pose a nuisance.

In Pasadena, when you have a problem, you cut a check.

The moratorium/code revision process was flawed, but what other political solution existed? Acknowledge that property owners may have the right to do something that might annoy most of us?

But that's what that whole other, third branch of government is for.

Posted by Todd at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

I first met Maurice Booker just before Christmas last year. He walked into the newsroom with a story of injustice to share, as so many people do.

So many times, however, we have to explain to people being unfair or rude is not a crime -- or news. Maurice's story regarded his bad blood with a member of Union Station's security staff, and how he felt unfairly cut off from services due to a personality conflict.

Maurice posseses a daunting intelligence and is the only person in Pasadena that I can have informed discussions about Shamil Basayev's role in post-Soviet Chechnya or the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Posted by Todd at 3:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So the news has gotten out that the Pasadena Sympony and Pasadena POPS are going to merge.

But the purpose of this update is to post a keyboard/drums demo of Richie Ramone's West Side Story treatment sent by e-mail the other day from his manager.

Here's the MP3.

Posted by Todd at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Maybe it was a mistake to end the fiscal year in June. Who wants to work on a budget with summer starting?

On a tangentially related note -- his absence from the Finance Committee meeting on Monday isn't why the budget process is runnig behind -- Councilman Victor Gordo won big points this week by returning two different calls on his cell from myself and reporter Janette Williams ... from Hawaii.

Ms. Gordo should have never let him pack that thing.

Posted by Todd at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaking of Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, also the chairman of Pasadena-based Wesco Financial Corp. and the man behind those multi-million-dollar condos going up near the Paseo, the Fair Political Practices Commission fined him $1,500 in April for "failing to timely disclose a late contribution totaling $10,000."

Posted by Todd at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A little inside baseball perhaps, but political editor and former Star-News reporter Gary Scott untethers himself from the San Gabriel Valley (specifically the sake samplers at Japon Bistro) and takes a job for another daily journal of news as their man in Sacramento.

I once thought Gary's chops for journalism could be melded with the obvious international savvy of CNN's Anderson Cooper to make some kind of super-reporter. But then I remembered Anderson Cooper is a hack.

At least we'd get someone with a complete name.

Posted by Todd at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From car wrecks to cute kids and sweet rides, we want your pictures for our new community photo album.

The albums are moderated so ...

Posted by Todd at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Found this video of the Angriest Political Candidate in the World on Boing Boing.

Seems Kouichi is trying to channel a bit of one of my fave authors, just without the education or eloquence.

And people thought Jim Lomako was kinda intense.

Posted by Todd at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

From my list of journalistic achievements, I can now check off making reference to "Blue Thunder," as accomplished in Tuesday's story about the po-po's plans for an expensive new toy on one of its helos. (Apologies to Lt. Bob Mulhall, flight operations chief, who discouraged me from referring to it as a "toy.")

Unfortunately there's more after the jump ...

Continue reading "More like LOLwolf" »

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

Former mayoral candidate Aaron Proctor has been busy dishing out sauce over at proctorformayor.com.

And in case you visit his site and miss it (self-promotion not being one of Aaron's virtues), Aaron's appointment to the Human Relations Commission is up before the council at tonight's meeting. Who nominated Aaron? None other than his former opponent, Pasadena's once-and-future Mayor Bill Bogaard. Because that's the Bogaard Way.

If anything came from the experience, Mr. 11.2%'s exposure to the Pasadena political establishment gave him sufficient comedic material. The kind of stuff I expected to see during his campaign. Some links below, but visit the site for more. And a grievous quantity of his slideshows on the Tubes of You.

-- A tribute to "sexy, sexy" Pasadena Councilman Steve Haderlein. Notably, the companion video embeded above is now Google's fifth result for "Steve Haderlein."

Continue reading "Commissioner Goth" »

Posted by Todd at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I used to blame my parents and their generation for not taking care of that whole "race thing" when they had it in their sights. Reach some bone-deep level of understanding, move on to new challenges and never broach the subject again.

But it doesn't work that way. It's a question without answer for every generation to puzzle over and struggle with anew. Unfortunately the collective consciousness seems to have filed it away as yesterday's dilemma and race, by and large, doesn't get talked about it. Except when someone crosses the fuzzy - but certainly not warm - threshold of outrage. But at least Don Imus hasn't gone into "rehab."

Continue reading "That whole race thing" »

Posted by Todd at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm back. On the table. And operating.

Posted by Todd at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm on vacation through the rest of the week but have stories running Wednesday and Friday.

Whilst on vacation, I've just had my first exposure to the Guitar Hero.

Although I'm more comfortable mashing keys behind a pair of Rolands or plucking a sitar -- the experience was intoxicating.

Posted by Todd at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)