Story by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo by Richard Gomez Contributor The South Pasadena City Council will vote on whether to appoint a council sub-committee on the future of policing in South Pasadena at a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24. The sub-committee would collect data on SPPD practices and study the effects of city laws […]
City schedules more reopenings, prepares for outdoor dining program
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The City Council prolonged the local state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic for 60 more days and approved workplace reopening protocols at its meeting on Wednesday, June 17. A local emergency was first proclaimed at a meeting in mid-March, however, it […]
City budget falls under intense scrutiny
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The City Council discussed and reviewed the draft budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 at its meeting on Wednesday, June 10. Multiple parties criticized the City for its lack of accountability in creating a sustainable budget, in addition to calling for SPPD to be […]
Community assembles in front of City Hall, pressures City Council to reform SPPD
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photos by Oscar Walsh & Preston Sharkey Staff Photographer & Contributor South Pasadena Youth For Police Reform (SPY4PR) organized a City Hall protest calling for the City Council to significantly reform the SPPD, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. Over a hundred residents congregated outside the chambers where local leaders engaged […]
Residents urged to make public comment in City Council’s upcoming labor negotiation with local police
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Illustration courtesy of the South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform Contributor The newly formed South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform group is calling on residents to submit public comment to the City Council for its closed session labor negotiations with the South Pasadena Police Officers’ Association on Wednesday, June 10. London Lang, local […]
City hit with financial losses and backlash as it plans next year’s fiscal budget
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer South Pasadena’s budget planning for the next fiscal year will look drastically different as the economy is facing a downturn and the state plans to cut city funds due to the coronavirus outbreak. The city is expected to reallocate and shift funding to different departments […]
Assemblymember Chris Holden discusses local budget issues with city council
The city council listened to Assemblymember Chris Holden’s special presentation in its now weekly online meeting.
City discusses possibility of parking lot dining spaces
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Alicia Alderete Contributor The City Council reviewed the city’s potential Al Fresco Initiative plan at its meeting on Wednesday, May 20, which would enable businesses to host customers into nearby outdoor parking lot and sidewalk spaces. Councilmember Dr. Marina Khubesrian asked for the council’s support of a potential Al […]
Congresswoman Judy Chu briefs city on national response to coronavirus
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture Contributor Congresswoman Judy Chu delivered a special presentation to the city council on Wednesday, May 13, briefing the council on Californian representatives’ current plans on the federal level to help support cities during the coronavirus. The fire chief, police chief, and city manager […]
City council appeases local tenants, letting L.A. County eviction protections take effect
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The city council voted 4-1 against establishing its own protections for residential and commercial tenants and property owners at their meeting on Wednesday, May 6. The new resolution included language requiring tenants to provide documented proof of financial hardship due to the coronavirus outbreak, unlike […]
Senator Anthony Portantino briefs city on state response to coronavirus outbreak
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Richard Gomez Contributor Senator Anthony Portantino briefed the city council on state efforts in response to the coronavirus outbreak at its meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 29. Portantino and the state are currently brainstorming ideas to help residents, cities, and businesses adjust to the coronavirus situation, through proposed senior […]
City reassures residents at coronavirus update broadcast
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer City of South Pasadena department heads gave coronavirus update presentations at the City’s online city council broadcast on Wednesday, Apr. 15. All departments have continued to stay in contact with neighboring city’s staff to ensure the best steps are taken to prevent further spread of […]
City passes emergency tenant protections in light of coronavirus outbreak
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The South Pasadena City Council passed a resolution to declare a local emergency and establish residential and commercial renter protections at their meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 18, due to the coronavirus outbreak. This declaration also adopts regulations for private and public facilities and gatherings and […]
City to proclaim local emergency for coronavirus pandemic at special meeting
Story by Adam Kwoh News Editor Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The South Pasadena City Council released its agenda for a special meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 18, listing a resolution to proclaim a local emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak. The City Council later updated its agenda to include new recommendations as apart of the resolution, […]
Residents call on City to implement eviction protection measures due to coronavirus national emergency
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer The South Pasadena Tenant Union (SPTU) has appealed to the City Council and the City Manager to pass eviction protection measures on Sunday, Mar. 15, in light of the economic consequences of the coronavirus. SPTU founders Anne Bagasao and John Srebalus have drafted […]
City addresses long-awaited traffic concerns with new Traffic Enforcement Bureau
Story by Sofia AlvaStaff Writer Photo by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer The South Pasadena City Council approved the creation of a Traffic Enforcement Bureau in the Police Department during their meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 4. The South Pasadena Police Department (SPPD) Chief Joe Ortiz introduced the bureau to the council, which aims to tackle the traffic problem […]