Story by Kahlen Miao Staff Writer Photo by Noah Kuhn News Editor The South Pasadena Public Library launched its no-contact material checkout service, Library Takeout, on Monday, June 15 to allow the community to pre order items online for pick-up. The Library Takeout program will be open seven days a week and follow proper social distancing and […]
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 […]
School Board eliminates use of drug dogs in SPUSD
Story by Haelee Kim Staff Writer Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer The South Pasadena School Board officially ended the use of narcotic dogs in the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 9. The board members reacted to a local campaign organized by the South Pasadena Youth for Police […]
South Pasadena embraces the Black Lives Matter movement with local action
Story by Zoe Schlaak and Haelee Kim Staff Writers Reporting by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo by Oscar Walsh Staff Photographer The officer-involved deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor several weeks ago reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and escalated the cry against police brutality in communities of color across the country. South Pasadena resident London […]
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 […]
Massive protests raise concern about a resurgence in coronavirus cases
Story by Janice Park and Lenise DiazContributors Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator The coronavirus outbreak temporarily dropped to second spot in media coverage this week because of the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across all 50 states after a policeman killed George Floyd on Monday, May 25. Health officials in Los Angeles County have expressed fear that the […]
Surviving the coronavirus: a local retiree’s personal story
Story by Noah Kuhn News Editor Photo courtesy of Lola Foord Contributor South Pasadena has been hit hard by the coronavirus as its small-business economy shutters and over one hundred residents have fallen victim to the pandemic. Residents are being forced to grapple with the extremely difficult social consequences of quarantine, which prevent interactions with […]
Residents discuss SPPD reforms at outdoor community meeting
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo by Penelope Aboud Contributor Community members discussed reforms they want the SPPD to implement, at Garfield Park on Thursday, June 4. SPHS alumnus London Lang, who organized the protests in South Pasadena in the past week, led the meeting with about 100 residents in attendance. Police brutality has recently received […]
Seniors bid farewell to SPHS in drive-through and livestream graduation ceremonies
Story by Sofia AlvaAssociate Sports Editor Photo by Ella JayasekeraAssociate Photo Editor SPHS seniors donned traditional caps and gowns to receive their diplomas in a drive-through graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 3. The festive event continued virtually via a YouTube livestream which featured speeches, performances, and slideshows showcasing the graduating Class of 2020. Principal Janet Anderson congratulated […]
Small businesses struggle to stay afloat as coronavirus pandemic rages on
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Associate Photo Editor The coronavirus pandemic has required small, non-essential businesses to close up shop due to social distancing restrictions. With South Pasadena being a prime hub for small businesses, the shutdown has taken a financial toll on the city’s economy. In an effort to keep small […]
Stuck at home: how South Pas is celebrating together during quarantine
Story by Kimberly Hsueh Staff Writer Illustration by David Sohn Associate Design Editor Many in South Pas have been forced to discontinue their celebrations as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. As South Pasadenans continue to face quarantine, many have found different ways to celebrate birthdays, Mother Day’s, and other events, including a virtual prom. With social […]
SPHS honors seniors at virtual senior awards night ceremony
Story by Noah KuhnAssociate News Editor Photo by Tucker JudkinsContributor SPHS continued its year-end festivities with the annual Senior Awards Night ceremony streamed virtually on Youtube on Tuesday, June 2. Several local organizations and SPHS faculty took turns honoring seniors with both awards and scholarships as they depart high school. Seniors applied for many of the […]
Residents rally together on local streets in support of Black Lives Matter movement
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Reporting by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Photos by Oscar Walsh Photo Editor Dozens of South Pasadena residents rallied together at the intersection of Fair Oaks and Mission to protest the killing of George Floyd and support the Black Lives Matter movement. The protest was originally organized by South Pasadena […]
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 […]
Community members respond to L.A. County’s extended curfew
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Photo by Tiger Photographers Los Angeles County ordered another curfew from 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1 to 6:00 a.m. This is the second night of curfews following the police brutality protests in light of George Floyd’s death that have erupted throughout L.A. There was some confusion surrounding what time the […]