Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 27, 2019

5

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 27, 2019 

Local Area 
News Briefs

Chief Ortiz Swearing-in 
Ceremony Monday

 
Metro Postpones Vote 
on Pasadena-to-North 
Hollywood Bus

 
The public is invited to attend 
a ceremonial swearing-in 
for the new South Pasadena 
Police Chief, Joe Ortiz. The 
swearing in will take place 
at 7 p.m. Monday in the City 
Council Chambers.

 Ortiz comes to South 
Pasadena from the Sierra 
Madre Police Department . 

 Ortiz is set to begin his 
new position on Wednesday 
according to City Manager 
Stephanie DeWolfe. As chief, 
he will lead a department of 
53, with 36 sworn officers 
and 17 non-sworn staff 
members.

 Ortiz joined the Sierra 
Madre Police in 2010 as a 
patrol sergeant and rose up 
through the ranks, becoming 
captain of operations and 
support divisions in 2014 
and chief in 2016.

 Prior to Sierra Madre, he 
served as a detective and 
corporal in the Glendora 
Police Department. He is a 
veteran of the Air Force and 
the Air National Guard.

 Ortiz described his law 
enforcement approach as 
“contemporary, community-
based policing.” His 
leadership style, he said, one 
of inclusion and relationship 
building with internal and 
external stakeholders to 
define and achieve common 
goals, citing the coalition 
building that led to broad 
support of the Sierra Madre 
Police Department’s strategic 
plan.

 “I look forward to engaging 
with the South Pasadena 
community, police officers 
and staff, and the City 
leadership teams,” Ortiz 
said. “My predecessors 
have created a very strong 
department, and I’m excited 
to be able to build on that 
success with a collaborative 
approach.”

 Ortiz succeeds former 
South Pasadena Chief Art 
Miller, who left the City 
in August. Captain Brian 
Solinsky has served as acting 
chief since that time.

 “I’d like to welcome Chief 
Ortiz to the South Pasadena 
community,” said South 
Pasadena Mayor Marina 
Khubesrian. “His reputation 
in Sierra Madre is excellent, 
and I have full confidence 
that he will bring the same 
high level of service and 
dedication to our residents.”

 
The Metro Board of 
Directors postponed a vote 
Thursday over a dispute on 
what route a new dedicated 
busway from Pasadena to 
North Hollywood would 
take –either the 134 freeway 
or surface streets, including 
Colorado Boulevard. The 
vote, to start environmental 
review is now scheduled for 
their May meeting 
The motion to delay was made 
by L.A. County Supervisor 
Kathryn Barger. She said 
they needed more input from 
cities impacted by the plan. 

 Pasadena Mayor Terry 
Tornek made clear that 
the city was opposed to 
the board’s preferred street 
alternative. Tornek said the 
already congested Colorado 
Boulevard can not handle 
the large 60 foot buses and 
dedicated stations. He also 
said they would have to be 
dismantled every New Years 
because of the Rose Parade. 

 The proposed plan would 
extend from the Memorial 
Park Gold Line Station to 
Hill Street and Colorado 
Boulevard at Pasadena City 
College. Tornek did say he 
favors the project overall 
but thinks it should end at 
Memorial Park. Tornek also 
said he would like to see the 
project connect Pasadena 
with the Burbank Airport. 

 The $267 million project is set 
for a 2020 groundbreaking, 
with an opening by 2022-
2024. The project is on a list 
for anticipated projects for 
the 2028 Olympics hosted in 
Los Angeles. 

 The freeway alternative would 
almost exclusively followed 
the 134 Freeway. The street 
route would follow Colorado 
Boulevard to the 134 near 
Eagle Rock and Glenoaks 
Boulevard to Olive Ave in 
Burbank to Riverside Drive 
in North Hollywood. Stops 
would include the downtown 
Burbank Metrolink station. 

Ortiz

City to Discuses Los Robles Housing Project

 The Pasadena city council is 
set Monday night to take up an 
Affordable Housing Concession 
Permit to allow proposed new 
construction on South Los 
Robles to exceed the maximum 
height and size for buildings in 
that area.

 The project at 253 S. Los 
Robles Avenue was first herd by 
the Board of Zoning Appeals on 
April 3. The concessions were 
approved by a 3-1 vote.

 According to a city staff 
report the request was for “two 
affordable housing concessions 
to facilitate construction of a 
new 94,165 square-foot, six-
story, 92-unit, multi-family 
residential building (including 
eight “very low income” units), 
with 131 parking spaces in 
a three-level subterranean 
parking garage. 
At issue was, “the maximum 
building height allowed for 
the site is 60 feet (75 feet when 
height averaging is applied). 
The applicant is requesting a 
maximum building height of 80 
feet.”

 The maximum allowed floor 
area ratio is 2.25 and the 
developers were requesting an 
increased ratio to 2.65 for the 
site.

 The Board of Zoning finding 
concluded that there would be 
no adverse impact on public 
health, public safety, or the 
physical environment as a result 
of the project. Eight of the units 
would be “very-low income” 
something the board found 
beneficial to the city. 

 Representatives for 
the applicant, Odyssey 
Development Services, asked 
that both Pasadena Mayor Terry 
Tornek and Councilmember 
Andy Wilson both recuse 
themselfs from any discussion 
about the project. They said in a 
letter to the city that Tornek and 
Wilson have shown bias toward 
“density bonus projects.”

 The call for review, by the 
council, was requested April 7 
by Tornek. Representatives for 
the applicant also said this gave 
them no time to prepare. 

 The city council meets 6:30 
p.m. in the council chamber, 
Pasadena City Hall 100 North 
Garfield Ave, room S249. 

May is Mental Health 
Awareness Month

Resolution 
On PG&E’s 
Bankruptcy

Chamber set for Upcoming 
Pasadena Restaurant Week

 

 The Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce announced this 
week that for the 10th Pasadena 
Restaurant Week participating 
restaurants will offer specially 
prepared meals at fixed prices 
from Monday, May 6th to 
Friday, May 10th.

 They also said that guests 
are invited to return to an old 
favorite or try someplace new. 
Taste the best Pasadena has 
to offer at unbeatable prices. 
Pasadena Restaurant Week 
is a great opportunity to visit 
Pasadena favorites such as Bistro 
45, Green Street Restaurant, 
Sushi Roku, Bone Kettle, White 
Horse Lounge, Kathleen’s, Del 
Frisco’s Grille, El Cholo, Ruth’s 
Chris Steak House, Fleming’s 
Prime Steakhouse and Wine 
Bar, Celestino Ristorante, 
Clearman’s Northwoods Inn, 
True Food Kitchen, Roy’s 
Hawaiian, Mi Piace, SORRISO-
Bar Celona, Leberry Bakery, 
Meat District Company, Vertical 
Wine Bistro, The Terrace at the 
Langham Huntington Hotel, 
and many more. Patrons can 
also try out some of our newly 
opened restaurants such as New 
School of Cooking and Foothill. 
Pricing and full menus for all 
participants are available at 
pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

 Chef Erwin Tjahyadi at 
Bone Kettle has put together 
a deliciously enticing menu 
of Indonesian cuisine from a 
Southern California perspective 
in offering a two-course lunch 
that can include Spicy Papaya 
Salad or Chicken Wings, Ginger 
Seared Chicken or Top Sirloin 
with Bone Broth or Crispy 
Tempeh with Vegan Broth and 
Noodles. Dinner at Bone Kettle 
is three courses with selections 
such as Gado Gado (tofu 
tempeh salad with vegetables, 
fruit, quail eggs and more) for 
the first course, Braised Oxtails 
with Bone Broth and Noodles, 
Rendang Carbonara (braised 
short ribs, shallots, scallions 
cilantro and more), and Crab 
Nasi Goreng (fried rice, crab, 
eggs, chicken chicharron 
gremolata and Nam Pia, with 
desert of Pandan Crème Brule 
of Black Sesame Panna Cotta. 

 At The Terrace at the Langham 
Huntington Hotel, diners 
can enjoy a variety of choices 
including a three course dinner 
menu of Sugar Snap Peas and 
Burrata Cheese, Sea Scallops 
and a dessert of Chocolate 
Salted Caramel Mousse Domes 
served with Espresso Ice Cream

 Lunch at Sushi Roku could 
include Short Rib Boa, Spicy 
Pork belly ‘kakuni’ Fried Rice 
and a Mini Chocolate Volcano. 
Dinner could include Oysters 
to start, with entrees of Sushi 
or Filet mignon and Sorbet and 
Fresh Fruit for dessert.

 The New School of Cooking 
includes a breakfast menu 
with choices including Oreo 
Pancakes, a Veggie Quinoa 
Omelet and a Chilaquiles 
Skillet. Lunch is also offered.

 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse 
and Wine Bar offers Chopped 
Salad, Barbecue Scottish 
Salmon and Key Lime Pie 
among their dinner offerings. 
For lunch at Fleming’s, diners 
can enjoy Chef’s Seasonal 
Soup and Porcini-Crusted 
Filet Mignon with Carrot Cake 
among the choices.

 For lunch at Roy’s Hawaiian, 
guests can choose among 
Tempura-Crusted Ahi Roll or 
Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls 
as an appetizer and entrees of 
Teriyaki Tofu, Karaage Fried 
Chicken or Teppanyaki Shrimp, 
among others.

 The participating restaurant 
list and menus are being 
updated daily. Look for 
updated restaurant listings, 
menus and more click on the 
Restaurants & Menus link at: 
pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

 Those interested can get all 
the restaurant, menu, pricing 
and cuisine information on 
your iPhone or Android smart 
phone. Download the Pasadena 
Restaurant Week mobile 
application at the App Store or 
Google Play.

 May is Mental Health Month in the United States and the 
Pasadena Unified School District is raising awareness about the 
importance of mental health and to stop the stigma associated 
with mental health disorders.

 Pasadena Unified is partnering with Huntington Hospital and 
local community mental health agencies to invite PUSD parents, 
staff, students, and the community for an informative evening on 
suicide awareness and prevention in youth. The event on May 1, 
2019 features a resource fair and a keynote address by Huntington 
Hospital pediatric psychiatrist A. Paul Kurkjian, M.D. Doors open 
at 5:45 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. Admission is free. 
McKinley School Auditorium, 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena.

 PUSD mental health professionals from the district’s Child 
Welfare Attendance & Safety office, community mental health 
partners, and other community partners will be available to talk 
about their services and provide support with referrals and links 
to services for students in need. Flyer

 To support the socio-emotional, mental, and physical needs of its 
students, Pasadena Unified has developed an organized and multi-
tiered system of supports, including mental health professionals, 
counselors, and policies. For more information visit: pusd.us.

 Assemblymember Chris 
Holden on Thursday 
introduced Assembly 
Concurrent Resolution 
78, to express the will of 
the legislature in PG&E’s 
bankruptcy proceedings. 
The resolution has 21 
coauthors.

 “PG&E’s bankruptcy 
will have a ripple effect 
that impacts everyone 
across the state,” said 
Assemblymember Chris 
Holden. “There is a lot 
at stake, and we want 
to make clear that the 
outcome must prioritize 
victims, ratepayers, and any 
reorganization of PG&E 
should not jeopardize 
the state’s safety, energy 
reliability, and climate 
change goals.”

 The resolution also 
expresses that it is the will 
of the Legislature for the 
California Public Utilities 
Commission and any other 
entities representing the 
state of California involved 
in the court proceeding 
to ensure that damages 
to fire victims, where 
PG&E is determined to be 
responsible, are resolved 
equitably, that PG&E’s 
rank and file employees 
continue to receive 
wages, and that PG&E’s 
executive compensations be 
restricted.

 “Our wildfire issues are not 
going away, which is why we 
must lay out our foundation 
of principles in order to 
effectively and prudently 
guide decisions related to 
PG&E and its future.”

 The full text of the 
resolution can be found at: 
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. 

Innovation 
Expo to be 
Held May 10

 
Join PUSD students on 
May 10 in the Blair High 
School Gymnasium (1201 
S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena) 
as we celebrate student 
achievement in STEM 
(Science, Technology, 
Engineering & Math).

 The Innovation Exposition 
is a novel approach to inspire 
students to think critically 
and explore their interests 
and talents in STEM. Students 
will submit projects in one 
of the following categories: 
Invention, Science Fiction, 
Scientific Inquiry, Innovation, 
Creativity with 3D Printing & 
Reverse Engineering

 Students in grades K-8 can 
participate; students in grades 
4-8 can submit projects for 
competition. 

 The Caltech Center for 
Teaching, Learning & 
Outreach will provide 
interactive activities for kids 
of all ages.

Public Viewing: 

Friday 5:00pm – 6:00 pm

Awards Ceremony: 

6 pm - 7pm

 Visit gopusd.com/
innovationexpo for details. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com