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VOLUME 6 NO 49

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

WINDSTORM - ONE YEAR LATER

“COINCIDENCE OF TIMING”: 

Current PUSD Troubles Include Delay 
in Construction of Sierra Madre 

Middle School By Susan Henderson

On November 30, 2011, Residents Had A ‘Night To Remember’

 A little more than a year ago, Sierra Madre and its immediate 
neighbors suffered through a real night to remember. 
Howling, sustained winds began around 8 or 9 pm on the 
last day of November and continued throughout the night. 
Power was lost by most before midnight and the sound of 
trees falling, debris flying, and roofs and fences collasping 
terrified residents all night long. By day break, the winds 
had died down and it became very clear that the city had just 
been through the equivalent of a hurricane, sans the water.

 Weather reports indicated that the winds were at least 85 
miles per hour or more. 

 If you want to compare the magnitude of the disaster, consider 
this, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind 
Scale used by the National Weather Service, what we experienced 
was equivalent to a Category I Hurricane. (Sustained 
wind speeds of 74-05 mph.) However, based upon the type 
of damage sustained, using the same 
scale, we suffered as though there was 
a Category 3 storm. The damage attributed 
to a Category 3 Hurricane is, 
“Devastating damage will occur: Well-
built framed homes may incur major 
damage or removal of roof decking and 
gable ends. Many trees will be snapped 
or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. 
Electricity and water will be unavailable 
for several days to weeks after the 
storm passes.” 

(Source: National Weather Service - 
National Hurricane Center - http://
www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php)

 Nevertheless, in true Sierra Madre 
fashion, we weathered the disaster 
with little or no outside support from 
FEMA or other government agencies.

 While the event was declared a disaster, 
our cumulative total damage was 
not enough to trigger outside aid. The 
city then was left to repair damage to 
roads and streets from its own resources. The amount of 
damage from the storm has ranged in estimates from $6-$10 
million dollars.

 The rapid response of our City staff, Police and Fire Departments, 
our CERT, HAM Radio, and other volunteer organizations 
minimized the emotional trauma to residents. 
Fortunately, there was no loss of life in Sierra Madre or 
neighboring cities.

 Sierra Madre lost a minimum of 103 trees in all, 77 of which 
were on Parkways. Most of the damage to homes, sidewalks 
and roads has been completed. 

 The value of being prepared for emergencies is hopefully 
the lesson learned by all.

 
In a telephone interview on Friday 
with Pasadena Unified School District’s 
Chief Finance Officer John 
Pappalardo and PUSD Spokesperson 
Adam Wolfson, Pappalardo used the 
phrase, “Coincidence of Timing” to 
describe the correlation between the 
investigation of the handling of Measure 
TT projects and the startling revelation 
that the Sierra Madre Middle 
School project (also a Measure TT 
project) had come to a halt. 

 On Monday of this week, the day 
before the story broke of the investigation, 
at a meeting of the SM Middle 
School Facilities sub-committee, parents 
were informed that, according to 
the bids received for the SMMS project, 
the cost was going to be $10 million 
dollars more than budgeted. The 
increase has been preliminarily attributed 
to an increase of the per square 
foot construction costs from $330 to 
$490. Six firms bid on the project and 
all came in $10 million dollars over 
budget.

 With that kind of deficit, the project 
cannot move forward. That news 
came after months of waiting for Sacramento 
to approve the plans and other 
bureaucratic red tape.

 Wolfson indicated, however, that the 
bids are “currently under analysis” and 
that no decision or recommendations 
were being made at this point. 

 If in fact the costs have increased, 
several parents are already pointing 
fingers at Sacramento which held up 
approval of the plans for no apparent 
reason for months.

 The investigation that was opened 
on Wednesday involves the handling 
of $350 million dollars of school construction 
bond money. It involved 
five other school construction projects 
at Madison, Webster, Longfellow Elementary 
Schools and McKinley and 
Marshall Fundamental Schools. There 
is no indication at this point that the 
Sierra Madre project problems are 
related.

 As a result of the probe, the District 
did remove Chief Facilities Officer 
David Azcarraga and suspended the 
consulting contract of Robin Brown 
with the Seville Group. Both did work 
on the Sierra Madre project. Pappalardo 
will assume Azcarraga’s duties 
temporarily.

 Sources also indicated at press time 
that PUSD Superintendent Jon R. 
Gundry has been out with health 
challenges.

 At this point, no criminal charges 
have been filed and an audit has been 
ordered.

Another PUSD Debacle:

 SIERRA MADRE WILL NOT BE 
VOTING IN MARCH ON PUSD 
BOARD MEMBER. See story on pg. 3

LAST YEAR: (above) The power of the wind was evident with this unearthed tree at the corner of Highland 
and Auburn. The tree destroyed the roof and part of the home as well. TODAY: (below) Life has returned to 
normal.


LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLEAN WATER MEASURE...Page 5

This Week’s Highlights: 

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3

Pasadena/Altadena Page 4

Around San Gabriel Valley Page 5

Arcadia Page 6

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Holiday Happenings Page 8

Education and Youth Page 9

Good Food & Drink Page 10

Best Friends Page 11

Sports Page 11

Arts/Health Page 12

Homes & Property Page 13 

The Good Life Page 14

Business Today Page 15

Left Turn/Right Turn Page 16

Opinion Page 17

Legal Notices Pages 18-21

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

AROUND SG Valley

3

5

The Giving Girls

ARCADIA NEWS

6

PASADENA/ALTADENA

4

MONROVIA/DUARTE

6

Preliminary Helicopter Crash 
Report