Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Photo by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe retired from South Pasadena effective Saturday, Sept. 12. Fire Chief Paul Riddle has assumed the position of acting City Manager until the City Council appoints a permanent one. DeWolfe has been at the center of intense scrutiny over the management of the […]
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 […]
SPUSD partners with Care Solace to support community mental health
Story by Eddie Zhou Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Care Solace Contributor SPUSD announced its partnership with Care Solace, a live, 24/7 online service that connects individuals with mental healthcare resources and providers, on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Care Solace services come with no cost for students and their families and do not require any personal information. […]
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 […]
Second Angelversary for Vanessa Marquez demands justice and police accountability
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor South Pasadena community members rallied together on Mission Street on Sunday, Aug. 30 for actress Vanessa Marquez’s second Angelversary, recognizing her killing by SPPD officers in 2018. Attendees dressed up in Star Wars costumes to commemorate Marquez’s love for the film franchise, and families […]
Local and countywide coronavirus caseloads slow, restrictions remain
Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator The City of South Pasadena reached 242 coronavirus cases and 26 deaths on Monday, Aug. 24, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. This is an increase of 12 confirmed cases and one death within the past two weeks. The South Pasadena […]
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. […]
Not In My Backyard! – Racism in South Pasadena
Story by Amber Chen & Sam Grotenstein Opinion Editor & Staff Writer Illustration by Tarry Song Staff Illustrator Local media and community forums have recently received vehement backlash over their critiques of the SPPD. Hints of prejudice, if not the employment of outright racist fearmongering, characterize these adverse reactions — all of which operate under the false pretense […]
Khubesrian to resign, admits to sending harassing emails
Story by Georgia Parsons Staff Writer Photo by Sophie YeungStaff Photographer Council member Marina Khubesrian released a statement on Saturday, Aug. 15 announcing her resignation from the city council after she admitted to sending harassing emails from fake accounts to a colleague. Khubesrian’s resignation will take full effect on Tuesday, Aug. 18. In her statement, Khubesrian expressed […]
Two SPHS teachers retire prior to the 2020-2021 school year
Story by Georgia Parsons Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor SPHS Principal Janet Anderson updated the community about the retirement of two teachers on Tuesday, Aug. 11, prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Practical arts department chair Mike Hogan and physical education teacher Elinor Charlton have retired. Librarian Shelee Wilkerson will […]
SPY4PR protest calls attention to SPPD misconduct, puts pressure on city for action
Story by Sam Grotenstein Staff Writer Photo courtesy of SPY4PR Contributor South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform (SPY4PR) organized a protest at Garfield Park on Sunday, Aug. 9 to raise awareness of SPPD misconduct. Speakers talked about officer mishandling of Joe Richcreek’s targeted assault of Black Lives Matter protestors and demanded that city officials hold the SPPD […]
SPHS students set to receive schedules on Aug. 12
Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor SPHS principal Janet Anderson announced distance learning guidelines and additional information for the upcoming school year in an email sent out Monday, Aug. 10. Students will learn their schedules on Wednesday, Aug. 12 via the Aeries portal, and technology support and teacher instruction on how […]
School board opts against TASP proposed secondary model in special meeting
Story by Georgia ParsonsStaff Writer Photo by SPUSDContributor The school board decided against adopting the Teacher’s Association of South Pasadena’s (TASP) instructional secondary model during its emergency meeting on Saturday, Aug. 8. After voicing concerns over the adopted instructional model, TASP representatives proposed their own model that would eliminate Friday instructional periods; the board concluded […]
SPUSD to offer meal pick-up services in 2020-2021 school year
Story by Katie HohmanStaff Writer Photo by Ella JayasekeraPhotography Editor SPUSD announced its newly formatted Curbside Meal Service for the upcoming school year on Friday, Aug. 7, which includes both drive-through and walk-up services. In contrast to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the district will only be providing free meals to those who qualify. Students […]
School board to hold emergency meeting to review TASP’s instructional models
Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Photography Editor The school board will have a special meeting on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2:00 p.m. to publicly review the Teacher’s Association of South Pasadena’s (TASP) proposed instructional models for the upcoming school year. School board president Dr. Michele Kipke informed the community of the special […]
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 […]