Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 26, 2013

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 26, 2013 


Mayor Gives State 

of the City Address 

Israel 

Estrada 
Ends 

Council 
Campaign


Protesters Disrupt 710 Open House

 Mayor Bill Bogaard told 
an audience Thursday that 
Pasadena stands as a national 
role model of excellence 
although spoke on a number 
of hot button issues including 
gun violence, NFL using the 
Rose Bowl and the 710 Freeway 
tunnel during this year’s State 
of the City event, “Celebrating 
Success.”

 Hundreds of residents, city 
workers and elected officials 
pasted a full-scale model of 
the Mars Curiosity Rover as 
they made their way inside the 
Beckman Auditorium at Caltech 
to hear the 25 minute speech.

 Before Bogaard took the stage 
JPL deputy director Eugene 
Tattini highlighted Curiosity’s 
landing on Mars last year, saying 
it not only captivated Pasadena 
but the nation.

 Bogaard said the city adopted 
its first balanced budget since 
2008. Last year, he also said 
they completed pension reform, 
covering about 70 percent of 
City staff. 

 He said the debate about 
the NFL has helped identify 
neighbors’ issues and concerns 
and that city hall was tracking 
issues surrounding the 710 
freeway gap and the sale of 
Caltrans owned housing.

 He closed with comments over 
gun control saying “we all have a 
role to play.”

 A group of protesters, against 
extending the 710 Freeway to 
close a gap between Alhambra 
and Pasadena, were met by 
sheriff deputies Wednesday 
night during a Metro study open 
house—billed as a way to share 
information about alternatives 
to be carried into the draft 
environmental impact report 
(EIR).

 After the group was told 
they could not speak, 
Councilmember Steve Madison 
said he planned to hold another 
710 community meeting in his 
district.

 “I told my friend Freddie 
Hannan, I told her were 
thinking of holding another 
forum because I hated to see 
when Freddie tried to speak, 
that she was pulled off her chair 
by deputy sheriffs,” Madison 
said. “An anathema to the 
whole process of outreach and 
participation.”

 Madison said he needed to 
consult with his staff as to a 
place and time for the meeting.

Hannan blew a whistle to 
get the public’s attention and 
started a bombastic rant. After a 
number of deputies surrounded 
the protesters, the group went 
outside and stood at the door 
after being asked to leave.

 “I asked, do they have access 
to any studies, or their studies, 
about how long businesses 
can survive in this disruptive 
environment,” Hannan said, 
“With water turned off, on 
parking, on left turn signs, 
streets closed, lanes closed.”

 Opponents also said Metro 
was not forthcoming with the 
cost, “What are they hiding? 
Why aren’t they coming out and 
saying how much it is going to 
cost, because if they do, if you 
look at their alternative study, 
if it’s over $6 billon, they can’t 
consider it.”

 “You can tell it not a very 
collaborative outreach,” 
Madison said reiterating 
his earlier comments about 
Hannan’s treatment by police.

 Madison also said he was 
disappointed in some of his 
fellow councilmembers singling 
out Terry Tornek.

 “I do support an Environmental 
Impact Report,” Tornek said, “I 
want to see an EIR.”

Tornek also said he had walked 
door to door and found many in 
favor of the extending the 710 
Freeway.

 Metro Hele Ortiz Gilstrap, 
Communications Manager for 
Metro, said the open house 
was a way for the community 
to get information about five 
alternatives including, no 
build, Transportation System/ 
Transportation Demand 
Management, Bus Rapid 
Transit, light rail and a freeway 
tunnel.

 The meeting was broken into 
the different area with experts 
stationed at each to answer 
question, she said.

 On his Facebook page Sunday 
night, Council Candidate 
for District 5 Israel Estrada 
announced that he ending 
his campaign citing personal 
reasons. The move leaves 
incumbent Victor Gordo 
running unopposed.

 “Tomorrow, [Monday] I will 
begin the formal process of 
ending this campaign. Due 
to unforeseen and important 
circumstances,” he wrote. “I feel 
compelled to withdraw from 
this election. This decision was 
not made in haste, and I spent 
many hours mulling over other 
options. Unfortunately, I found 
none that were viable.”

 Estrada is the founder of 
the Pasadena Marathon and 
executive director of Pasadena 
Forward. 

 He went on to say, “I remain 
humbled and appreciative to 
see how many longtime friends 
and people that I have met in 
just the past few weeks rallied 
around my call for help, and 
were so ready to assist me in my 
efforts to bring positive change 
to the City of Pasadena.”

Estrada was also a no show to 
last Thursday’s debate forum 
at Pasadena City College. 
Moderator John Buchanan 
made note that Estrada was ill. 

 Senior pastor of the Summit 
Evangelical Free Church, 
Nicholas Benson, also did not 
attend the debate. He is running 
for the District 3 seat left open 
by Chris Holden. Los Angeles 
Urban League executive John 
Kennedy and Community 
leader Ishmael Trone are also 
contenders for District 3.

Council Appoints Developer 
Joel Bryant to Fill Holden Seat

Holden 
Authors 
Bill to Fight 
Human 
Trafficking

 
During a special meeting 
Tuesday night, the city council 
unanimously voted to appoint 
real estate developer Joel Bryant 
to fill the vacancy representing 
District 3—starting immediately 
through May 6 when regularly 
election official was take office.

 “This is certainly a big seat to 
fill,” Bryant said. “Chris was 
legendary; he was on here for, 
something like, 23 years and this 
roll is 13 meeting so we go from 
a long term to a very short term, 
which may be the shortest term 
ever, but I am ready to serve and 
I’m honored by the opportunity 
to serve District 3 and the city.” 

 Bryant was sworn in by City 
Clerk, Mark Jomsky, during a 
ceremony held in the council 
chambers.

Holden resigned from his 
position on the Pasadena 
City Council representing 
District 3 to assume the duties 
of California State Assembly 
member representing the 41st 
District.

 Five residents filed the required 
application in December 
for Council consideration, 
including Bryant, Brian 
Carmody, Sharon Graham 
Higuera, Tarek Shawky and 
Craig Washington.

 Jomsky conducted a random 
drawing to determine the 
applicants’ order to be 
interviewed. No applicant 
was permitted in the Council 
Chamber during interviews 
of any other applicant. Each 
applicant was allowed six 
minutes to make a presentation. 

 At the conclusion of the 
interviews, all applicants 
returned to the council chamber 
when the council deliberated 
and voted.


City’s First ‘Bicycle Blvd.’ 
to Open Next Week

 
AB 156 expands wiretapping 
law to include human 
trafficking

 The public is invited to 
join Mayor Bill Bogaard, 
Councilmember Victor Gordo 
and bicycle enthusiasts for a 
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 
3:00 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, to 
open Pasadena’s first dedicated 
“Bicycle Boulevard.”

 The bicycle friendly event 
hosted by the City’s Department 
of Transportation will be held at 
the corner of Marengo Avenue 
and Orange Grove Boulevard.

 Pasadena’s Bicycle Boulevard 
stretches about three-quarters 
of a mile along Marengo 
Avenue, and is anchored 
at the intersections with 
Orange Grove Boulevard 
and Washington Boulevard. 
Special bicycle signals at these 
intersections alert bicyclists 
when it is their turn to enter 
“Bicycle Boulevard” while 
posted signs divert motorists 
from entering.

 Although this stretch of 
Marengo is not open to through 
vehicular traffic, Marengo 
Avenue’s residents with cars 
can still enter the new bicycle 
zone by using side streets. 
Local drivers will be able to exit 
their cars at the Orange Grove 
and Washington intersections 
as “Bicycle Boulevard” is still 
considered a regular residential 
street with on-street parking for 
cars and vehicular use.

 Creating Pasadena’s Bicycle 
Boulevard, however, was the 
latest step in a neighborhood 
traffic management plan for 
Marengo Avenue established 
several years ago. The goal was 
to create a low-traffic area that 
offers a pleasant cycling area.

 This is only the second such 
“Bicycle Boulevard” in Los 
Angeles County. The project 
was funded through a $500,000 
grant from the California 
Department of Transportation’s 
“Bicycle Transportation Grant” 
program to cover the cost of 
signals, signs and road lane 
painting.

 For more information, call 
(626) 744-7664.

 Assemblymember Chris 
Holden (D-Pasadena) 
has introduced legislation 
designed to give law 
enforcement a new tool 
to crack down on the bad 
guys. Under AB 156, law 
enforcement officers will be 
able to get a court order for 
a wiretap when they suspect 
human trafficking of minors. 

 “You would think in this day 
and age when traffickers have 
become more sophisticated, 
law enforcement would 
have all the tools it needs 
to stop these criminals. But 
you would be wrong,” said 
Assemblymember Holden. 
“This bill will change that 
and help stop this modern-
day slavery that threatens our 
children, our families and our 
neighborhoods.” 

 Law enforcement is 
currently authorized to 
obtain a court order to 
wiretap for investigation of 
drug trafficking or criminal 
gang activity, but not human 
trafficking. Under this bill, 
law enforcement officers can 
ask a judge for wiretap permit 
to investigate sex trafficking of 
a minor. 

Estimates are that 100,000 
children nationwide are 
exploited each year. 

 “The California Police 
Chiefs Association takes 
human trafficking very, very 
seriously”, stated John Lovell, 
Legislative Advocate for the 
Association. “California’s 
wiretap laws have been crucial 
in going after complex, multi-
level criminal activities. 
The reality is that human 
trafficking is an organized 
criminal enterprise, and the 
full range of enforcement 
tools are needed to combat 
this particular crime.”

 “It is heartbreaking to hear 
the stories of these youngsters 
who are pimped and branded 
and badly mistreated. I 
think of my daughter and 
her friends and I want to do 
everything possible to stop 
these horrible crimes. It’s the 
least we can do to protect our 
children,” concluded Holden.

 Similar laws are already on 
the books in several other 
states including Texas, Illinois 
and Maryland.

Pet of the 
Week

 


 Vice President Al Gore will 
discusses and signs his new 
book “The Future: Six Drivers 
of Global Change” Feb. 10 at 
1:30 p.m. 

 With the same passion he 
brought to the challenge of 
climate change, and with his 
decades of experience on the 
front lines of global policy, 
Al Gore surveys the planet’s 
beclouded horizon and offers 
a sober, learned and ultimately 
hopeful forecast as he identifies 
the emerging forces that are 
reshaping the world. $40 for 
ticket and book, excluding tax 
Pasadena Convention Center, 
300 E. Green St.

 For ticket information, visit 
vromansbookstore.com/al-gore


Al Gore 
Discusses 
and Signs 
New Book

 Sid is a nine-year-old toy 
Chihuahua. He’s been out 
on our Mobile Outreach 
Unit and is a volunteer and 
staff favorite. He loves to sit 
in your lap and take naps. 

 Sid’s adoption fee is $120, 
which includes his neuter 
surgery, a microchip, the first 
set of vaccinations, as well 
as a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to 
care for your pet. Sid also 
qualifies for our Seniors for 
Seniors program for eligible 
adopters 60 years old and up. 
Ask an adoptions counselor 
for more information 
during your visit 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A319434, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org.


PCAC 
Director 
Elected Board 
Chair of 
Alliance for 
Community 
Media

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

Keri Stokstad, Executive 
Director, Pasadena Community 
Access Corp., (PCAC) has been 
elected Chair of the Board of 
Directors for the Alliance for 
Community Media, (ACM) a 
national organization dedicated 
to community access cable 
television. She was elected by 
the Board and her term runs 
through December 2013.

Stokstad will lead ACM, in its 
mission to educate, advocate, 
and act as a resource for more 
than 3,000 Public, Educational, 
and Governmental (PEG) cable 
channels nationwide.

 “I am honored by the 
opportunity to lead this 
prestigious organization as its 
Board Chair,” Stokstad said. ”I 
look forward to further engaging 
community media centers to 
provide critical services as we 
continue to make the ACM 
the premier organization 
that supports our nation’s 
communities by promoting 
effective communication 
through community use of 
media.”

 Stokstad is a strong proponent of 
citizen journalism and utilizing 
new media tools, technologies 
and platforms for community 
television. In 2011, she was 
awarded ACM’s Sue Buske 
Leadership Award for providing 
a demonstrated commitment to 
the mission and goals of ACM 
and for her leadership within 
the organization.

 Stokstad has been the Executive 
Director of PCAC since January 
2012. PCAC is a non-profit 
operating company of the City 
of Pasadena that oversees the 
Public, Education, Government 
cable TV access stations in 
Pasadena.

 
Pasadena Media offers a free 
television-training program 
for volunteers. Various Areas 
of training are available to 
Pasadena residents. Plan 
to attend an orientation to 
discover the right classes for 
you. Producers’ Training 
teaches citizens how to 
produce their own show for 
The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/Equipment 
training is also offered for 
volunteer crewmembers. In 
addition, on-going training 
and memberships are available 
in our citizen journalism and 
digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go 
to PASADENAMEDIA.ORG 
explore all that Pasadena Media 
has to offer.

Class Offerings 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Nightly

Orientation: 1st & 3rd Monday

Producers’ Training 2nd & 4th Monday

Camera 1st & 3rd Tuesday

Character Generator 2nd & 4th Tuesday

Lighting 1st & 3rd Wednesday

Audio 2nd & 4th Wednesday

Video Tape Operator 1st & 3rd Thursday

Technical Director 2nd & 4th Thursday

Stage Manager 1st & 3rd Friday

Teleprompter 2nd & 4th Friday

Citizen Journalism Every Tuesday

Digital Film Group Every Thursday