Story by Sofia Alva Associate News Editor The City of South Pasadena has requested resident input regarding the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget through a survey released on Thursday, Apr. 15. Community members can submit their budget priorities up until Friday, Apr. 30, and the Finance Commission will review all responses in their drafting of the budget […]
Finance Director Karen Aceves resigns from City post
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Katelyn Hernandez Staff Photographer South Pasadena Finance Director Karen Aceves announced her resignation effective immediately on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The reasoning for Aceves’ resignation is still unclear, though it comes after City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe left the City a few weeks earlier. In 2017, the City hired Aceves, who […]
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 […]
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, […]
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. […]
School board adopts 2020-2021 district budget while discussing ways to implement diverse curriculum
Story by Georgia ParsonsStaff Writer Photo by Oscar WalshStaff Photographer The South Pasadena School Board officially approved and adopted the 2020-2021 district budget at its meeting on Tuesday, June 23. The newly adopted budget eliminates several district staff jobs in addition to reducing funds in several different departments. Budget cuts in faculty, staff, and administration departments […]
Why SPPD needs to be defunded
Story by Quinn ManzoStaff Writer Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Anger over police brutality has reignited following the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Protesters are enraged over the continued killings of Black Americans at the hands of police and the racist system that refuses to hold officers accountable, with local residents now taking […]
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 […]
SPUSD lays off two teachers anticipating smaller incoming class size
Photo by Brandon Yung Online Managing Editor Facing a decline in enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year, the South Pasadena Unified School District will be administering reductions in teaching services to district employees and in select programs at the high school. On top of retirements and resignations in various departments, the decline in enrollment has […]