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 […]
SPPD’s arrest of a crime suspect draws community criticism for excessive force
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo courtesy of South Pasadena Youth For Police Reform Contributor The SPPD forcibly detained a middle-aged Black man on charges of assault and robbery in front of city hall on Tuesday, June 23. The police watch commander reported that the person had assaulted an individual and stolen their phone, […]
City council to vote on establishing a community policing sub-committee
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 […]
Discovery of life-saving drug coincides with L.A. County’s increase in coronavirus cases
Story by Janice Park and Lenise Diaz Contributors Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator This week California reported a record-high increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in a single day, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to enact an order that mandates face masks in all public areas. Also, researchers from the University of Oxford found a way to […]
SPUSD discusses hybrid schedule for next school year
Story by Eddie Zhou Staff Writer Photo by Tucker Judkins Contributor South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) has begun preliminary discussions to implement a hybrid schedule model that consists of both in-person and virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year. School officials maintain that these are only proposals and no final decision has been made. […]
Griffins of Kinsale owner faces misdemeanor charge after defying a public health mandate back in March
Story by Lilian Zhu Staff Writer Photo by Dominic Marziali Contributor The owner of the local pub Griffins of Kinsale, Joseph Patrick Griffin, has been charged with a misdemeanor on Wednesday, June 17 after refusing to abide by coronavirus shutdown orders back in March. If convicted, Griffin will face a maximum of 90 days in […]
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 […]
L.A. County may need to take steps back in economic reopening
Story by Janice Park and Lenise Diaz Contributors Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has placed Los Angeles County on a coronavirus watch list because of the potential for increased transmission rates as the county slowly transitions into phase three of economic re-opening. California recently surpassed 150,000 cases and has reported at […]
Library launches new, in-person checkout service
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 […]
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 […]
South Pasadena moves forward with blanket smoking ordinance
Photo by Helena Fu Staff Photographer Smoking will be prohibited on all public sidewalks in South Pasadena after the adoption of an amendment to the city’s municipal code. The legislative changes were introduced at a city council meeting Wednesday, May 2nd but were not passed immediately; a vote will be held to pass the ordinance […]
Photos: The Eclectic Music Festival lights up South Pasadena
Photos by Isaac Marziali Staff Videographer The annual Eclectic Music Festival, which shuts down Mission Street for one Spring night, draws a bigger crowd every year. The music festival headlined Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a Grammy award-winning band whose big band style swing prompted dancing from the audience.
Residents report brown and discolored water from city taps
Photo by Brandon Yung South Pasadena residents are noticing cloudy and discolored tap water from their faucets, an issue that is causing health concerns. Reports of yellow or brown water began in March, and have been concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the city. Residents who first started noticing the concerning phenomenon took to […]
South Pasadena acquires two electric vehicles in larger effort to reduce footprint
The South Pasadena Police Department will be purchasing two new electric patrol vehicles for the purpose of parking enforcement. The new environmentally-friendly vehicles will save thousands of dollars in fuel expenses and are part of the city’s initiative to improve air quality and energy efficiency. In a presentation before the city council, Captain Mike Neff […]
South Pasadena’s dwindling middle class
Illustration by Truman Lesak Design Editor South Pasadena has always been a town that draws young families looking to settle down. If there is a moving truck on the block, it’s probably the harbinger of a new family, drawn by the quality schools and “mayberry” liberal community, or a family moving out, left empty-nested after […]
Girls’ soccer triumphs in the CIF southern championship game, winning its first title in more than a decade
Photos by Helena Fu Staff Photographer Establishing its first CIF title since 2003, the girls’ varsity soccer team has changed history for SPHS. The Tigers tipped the scales against the fearsome Westminster Lions, 1-0, at the brutally rainy CIF Southern Section Division 5 finals at Warren High School on Friday, March 2. After a brilliant […]