Story by Zoe SchlaakStaff Writer Photo courtesy of Planet Home LivingContributor The City Council unanimously approved a Hillside Development permit for the Moffatt Street extension project at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17, laying the groundwork for the construction of seven properties at the border of South Pasadena and El Sereno. Community members strongly opposed the […]
City Council passes permanent eviction protection ordinance after months of prolonged moratorium
Story by Zoe SchlaakStaff Writer Photo by Noah KuhnNews Editor The City Council unanimously approved a permanent renters protection ordinance that requires landlords to obtain a permit before evicting tenants for remodeling at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The permanent ordinance follows months of a prolonged moratorium and advocacy from the South Pasadena Tenants Union (SPTU). […]
City Council extends eviction moratorium four months amidst public misunderstanding
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer The South Pasadena City Council further extended its eviction moratorium, which prevents renters from eviction due to substantial remodel without a permit, another four months at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The extension is intended to allow for more community outreach and time for the Planning Commission before […]
Police Chief Joe Ortiz retires amidst community calls for SPPD investigation
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Tony Chen Contributor SPPD Chief of Police Joe Ortiz announced his formal retirement for his term, intended to officially begin March 1, 2021. Ortiz has served as chief of the SPPD since his appointment on April 1, 2019. Deputy Police Chief Brian Solinsky was specified as immediate Interim […]
City Council postpones decisions on housing
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Planet Home Living Contributor The City Council further delayed making a decision on two major housing projects: a renters urgency ordinance that would strengthen eviction protections, and construction of a private road into El Sereno for luxury developments, at its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The community heavily […]
City Council districts spark cries of local gerrymandering
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo courtesy of South Pasadena City Clerk Contributor Residents voiced concern that South Pasadena’s irregular council districting reflects a larger pattern of corruption inside City Hall following the first election with the districts. The tenure of City Council members Richard Schneider, Michael Cacciotti, Diana Mahmud, and Bob Joe have troubled […]
Community calls on City Council to launch investigation into SPPD
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer Local activist groups Care First South Pasadena, Black Lives Matter (BLM) South Pasadena, the Anti Racism Committee, and the South Pasadena Tenants Union are calling on the City Council to commission a third-party investigation into the SPPD due to alleged bias against women, people of […]
Zneimer and Primuth win City Council elections
Story by Georgia Parsons Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer South Pasadena’s City Council 2020 Election results yielded wins for Evelyn Zneimer in District One, and Jon Primuth in District Three, while District Two is still unknown due to a write-in candidacy. In District One, which spans the Monterey Hills and Arroyo regions, […]
Community opposition to Moffatt Street extension compels City Council to table proposal
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Planet Home Living Contributor Graphic courtesy of Brenda Contreras & Micah Haserjian Contributors The South Pasadena City Council decided to postpone voting on the proposed extension of the private portion of Moffatt Street at its meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21 due to residents’ extreme opposition to the project. Developer Planet Home […]
Care First group calls for defunding SPPD
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor Graphic by Charlotte Cohen Staff Graphic Designer The global movement for police accountability has inspired local protests and initiatives to defund the police, including resident-led group Care First South Pasadena. Partnered with activist organization South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform (SPY4PR), the group has worked […]
Rossi sworn in as interim city council member for district two
Story and Photo by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer The city council swore in Stephen Rossi to fill the district’s two seat vacancy at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Rossi will serve until Dec. 2, 2020 when the elected representative assumes office. Council members considered both Lawrence Abelson and Rossi for the position but Diana […]
City council to appoint somone to fill Khubesrian’s vacancy
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The city council voted 3-1 to open an application process to fill Marina Khubesrian’s vacancy in the second council district until the election at a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The application period for the position is open from Friday, Aug. 21 to Aug. […]
City council postpones height limit increase and creation of more bike lanes
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor The city council voted to not allocate Measure M funds, despite a heavy push by residents for money to be used for more bike lanes, at its meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Council members also unanimously voted to keep the building height limit increase off […]
D.A.’s office to investigate fake, online identities
Story by Haelee Kim Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The South Pasadena Police Department (SPPD) announced that the L.A. County District Attorney will investigate two unknown identities accused of sending defamatory and threatening emails and public comments on Thursday, Aug. 6. The informant, resident Chris Bray, sent an email to city officials, SPPD officers, […]
L.A. County supervisor, Kathryn Barger, updates city council on continuing efforts to contain coronavirus
Story by Katie HohmanStaff Writer Photo by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer The South Pasadena City Council listened to a presentation from the L.A. County Supervisor for the 5th District, Kathryn Barger, on California’s efforts to tackle coronavirus, in its online meeting on Wednesday, July 15. According to Barger, the rate of positive testing for L.A. County has […]
City council votes down proposed budget while approving sub-committee on future of policing in South Pasadena
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The city council voted down the proposed budget and instead opted to continue appropriations of the 2019-2020 budget at its meeting on Wednesday, June 24. Council members also approved the creation of a six member sub-committee regarding the future of policing in South Pasadena. […]