UPDATE: Councilmember updates WPRA board

Commenting on the recent explosive announcement of an alleged scheme by a former City employee and others to embezzle as much as $6.4 million over 11 years from a special City utility-undergrounding fund, District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison told the WPRA Board of Directors on Wednesday, January 7 that: 

• The City has agreed to form an independent committee, of which he will serve as chair. That committee would oversee an administrative investigation of City processes and staff. Additionally, the committee will likely solicit input from independent third-party experts.
• He will host a district-wide town-hall meeting on February 4 at the San Rafael Elementary School to address the issue and answer questions from residents.
• The discovery of a few "bad apples" should not obscure the fact that the other nearly 2,000 City of Pasadena employees are diligent, hard-working and honest.

SAVE THE DATE. SAVE THE DATE. SAVE THE DATE.

 

On Tuesday, January 27, 6:30-9 p.m., the WPRA will host a mayoral candidates' forum in the large courtroom of the Richard H. Chambers Courthouse (U.S. Courts for the 9th Circuit), 125 S. Grand Ave. The following have declared their intention to run for Pasadena Mayor (order and livelihood as reported by City Clerk) and have confirmed their participation in the forum:

• ­ Allen Shay, business owner
• ­ Don Morgan, business owner/educator
• ­ Terry Tornek, City Councilmember, businessperson
• ­ Bill Thomson, College trustee, attorney
• ­ Jacque Robinson, Vice Mayor/Councilmember
• ­ Jason Hardin, magazine publisher

The forum will begin promptly at 6:30. Due to courthouse security requirements we recommend arriving at least 10 minutes in advance. For more information about the City elections, visit cityofpasadena.net/cityclerk/election2015/

 

Note: The WPRA, which neither endorses nor supports candidates, is hosting this forum solely as a public service for the community.

 

 

 

We need you! Help WPRA stop Metro's plan to build a 710 tunnel under west Pasadena

WPRA continues to assemble a team to analyze and respond to the SR-710 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Statement (DEIS), which Metro has said it will release next month (February). While we're fortunate to have found many of the special skills we need to accomplish this highly complex task, we still need help from those with knowledge of the following areas:

• Seismology
• Tunnel safety
• Biological assessment
• General construction
• Economic impact
• Environmental justice
• Water use and rights

Be part of this vital effort to stop what many believe would be a catastrophe for our community and lifestyle. To volunteer or recommend an expert, contact Sarah Gavit at gavit@wpra.net.

 

WPRA's Geoffrey Baum elected president of CC Board of Governors

The California State Senate this past week ratified WPRA President Geoffrey Baum's election by board membership as president of the California Community College Board of Governors. A member of the board since 2008, Geoff most recently served as vice president. He is a member and past president of the governing board of the Pasadena Area Community College District.

Audubon Society, Arroyo Seco Foundation sue over sediment removal plan 

The Pasadena Audubon Society and the Arroyo Seco Foundation have jointly filed a lawsuit to stop the LA County Flood Control District's $100 million "Big Dig" plan. Community organizers believe they are left with no other option but to initiate a lawsuit to seek a more sustainable plan. They encourage those who care about the Hahamongna to help by donating to the suit.

 

WPRA's Justin Chapman discusses and signs new book at Vroman's on Tuesday

WPRA Board Secretary and Neighborhood Update co-editor Justin Chapman will discuss and sign copies of his new book, "Saturnalia: Traveling from Cape Town to Kampala in Search of an African Utopia," at Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado, at 7 p.m. on January 13. In the Spring of 2012, Justin set off by himself on an epic journey across eight countries in Africa. Along the way, he narrowly escaped being locked away in a mental institution, visited an impoverished township that is changing its future with the help of an art-based nonprofit, got into a life-threatening car crash, lived with a group of Catholic priests, witnessed a witchcraft healing ceremony, and many other unique and harrowing situations.

 

2015 'State of the City' set for January 15 at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Heritage: annual meeting 

Pasadena Heritage's annual meeting will take place on Sunday, January 25, 3-5 p.m., in the original Exhibition Hall, which is located immediately behind (south of) the Civic Auditorium. Pasadena Heritage Board member and project architect Dale Brown, of Onyx Architects, will be the guest speaker. Also Pasadena Heritage members will review 2014 activities and elect new board members. RSVP by Wednesday, January 21, to Mia King at mking@pasadenaheritage.org or (626) 441-6333.

Pasadena Museum of History: annual meeting 

The Pasadena Museum of History will hold its 90th annual members' meeting on Saturday, January 31, 10:30 a.m., in the Museum's Giddings Conference Room, 470 W. Walnut St. On the agenda are 2014 year-end reports from senior staff and Board members. RSVP no later than Tuesday, January 27, to (626) 577-1660, ext. 11 mturner@pasadenahistory.org.

 

New exhibit at PMH tests knowledge of the Crown City

"Mystery History," a new exhibit curated by Ann Erdman, is running from January 30-March 29 at the Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut Street. This fun and engaging exhibition for all ages includes historic photographs, artworks and artifacts from Pasadena Museum of History's extensive collection. Inspired by the popular Mystery History series on her blog, Ann challenges visitors to identify the location and historical significance of the photos, which are complemented by rarely seen historic objects directly associated with them. Ann retired after a 38-year career in advertising and public relations, which included many years as public information officer of the City of Pasadena. Among her current activities, which she collects under the heading "professional gadabout," is service as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update.

"A former Pasadena city employee and 2 others are suspected of embezzling $6 million

Pasadena's city manager blamed a "a complete breakdown" of internal controls Tuesday as prosecutors announced the arrest of a former city employee accused of embezzling more than $6 million from city coffers and funneling some of the money through two local churches." LA Times

 

Montreal to transform expressway into multi-modal urban boulevard

"Urbanists rejoice! Montreal will tear down a major piece of one of its expressways and replace it with a multi-modal urban boulevard complete with parks, dozens of new trees, bike lanes, dedicated bus lanes, a dog park, and art installations. The Montreal Gazette reported that crews will start dismantling the city's Bonaventure Expressway this spring, and that the entire $141.6 million project should wrap up as soon as 2017." The Architect's Newspaper

• EDITOR'S NOTE: The above article has local relevance in that a similar initiative, Connecting Pasadena Plan, is underway. A citizen-driven initiative, its objective is to develop a draft Master Plan for the 35-acre strip of land flanking the SR-710 stub between Union and California to determine how best to revitalize and beautify this dead space. 

MTA chief Arthur T. Leahy to step down in April

"The chief executive of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Tuesday night that he would step down in April after six years of overseeing both major milestones and high-profile embarrassments during the most ambitious rail construction period in the agency's history. Arthur T. Leahy's performance as chief executive has been under confidential review by the Metro board of directors for more than six months, and a majority of members were ready to let his contract expire in April, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. In an interview with The Times, Leahy, 65, said leaving Metro was his choice." LA Times

 

Long-contested 710 battle continues; key announcement expected soon

"'Do you want to see my war room?' says 83-year-old freeway fighter Maryanne Parada. She shuffles toward her back porch, leaning on her cane as she leads the way past framed pictures of Pope John Paul II and 'NO 710' protest signs. She stops at two giant file cabinets and opens a drawer, rifling through tabbed newspaper clippings, highlighted geographical surveys, and old transportation reports. 'I've been fighting the freeway since the 1960s. This is a fight for our very lives.'" South Pasadena Now

 

Melekian sworn in as second-in-command in Santa Barbara

"Former Pasadena Police Chief and Interim City Manager Bernard Melekian was sworn in as the Undersheriff of Santa Barbara County on Monday. Melekian, who served as the Pasadena Police Chief from 1996 to 2009, replaces Don Patterson, who retired last year. After leaving Pasadena, Melekian went to work at U.S. the Department of Justice and later served as a law enforcement consultant. Pasadena Weekly

For current events around the area, we encourage you to visit our local news outlets. Click on the publication title to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).

If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.   

To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net.