October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 

VOLUME 13 NO. 41


SIERRA MADRE TO 
VOTE ON MEASURE 
S NOVEMBER 5TH

Ballots have arrived for the special Sierra Madre City 
election on November 5, 2019. This Citizens Initiative 
was circulated by dedicated volunteers to allow a sales 
tax raise of .75% to enhance the services of Sierra Madre. 

Those who vote at the polls, check your sample ballot 
for the polling place near you and be sure to mark your 
calendar for November 5th to vote. Those who vote by 
mail, get your ballot in now so you won’t forget to vote. 

Your YES votes will enable the City of Sierra Madre to 
keep the sales tax money in our village. As such, the City 
will be able to increase their services for parks, streets, 
public safety, library, sidewalks and other services. 

Why do we need your YES vote? 

The State of California has imposed a Sales Tax limit of 
10.25% by cities, counties and other districts. Sierra 
Madre’s sales tax is currently 9.50%, thus the citizens 
proposal is to close the gap between the two, or 0.75%. 

If we don’t close that gap, it is extremely likely that 
another district such as LA County, or an agency that 
you might not agree with, will impose a Sales Tax at that 
limit that will not have a direct benefit on the city of 
Sierra Madre.

Should the citizens pass Measure S, we will close the 
gap for our benefit. 

Closing that gap means our City will receive all of those 
funds and they will go directly into our General Fund to 
pay for the services we enjoy from our City.

Why a special election and why now? 

If we had waited, we would have run the risk of there 
being competing Sales Tax measures on the general 
election ballot in 2020. Those Tax measures would be 
voted on County wide, and statistics has shown that 
past tax measures have overwhelmingly passed when 
they are on the General Ballot. 

By closing the gap on November 5th, that 0.75% cannot 
be taken by any entity that passes a tax raise in 2020. 
It’s really a win-win for us. It means that there will be 
an additional $200,000 to $225,000 added to our City’s 
treasury per year. 

The Citizens Committee urges you to vote YES on 
Measure S to keep sales tax in Sierra Madre. 

COUNCILWOMAN AND FORMER 

MAYOR DENISE DELMAR SAYS 
GOODBYE

The City of Sierra Madre is announcing 
the resignation of Council Member 
Denise Delmar. 

At the October 8th Council meeting, 
Delmar announced her resignation 
for personal reasons related to the 
care of her family. 

“It has been a privilege to serve the 
residents of Sierra Madre, work with 
the amazing City staff, and serve 
with my esteemed colleagues on the 
Council. Sierra Madre will always 
have a special place in my heart,” 
Council Member Delmar said. 

A reception will be held for Council 
Member Delmar on October 22, 2019 
at 6:30PM during the City Council meeting. 

"Denise has been a special part of the Sierra Madre community since she arrived 13 
years ago, first as the Chair of the General Plan Committee and then as a Councilmember 
and Mayor,” Mayor John Harabedian said. “We are sad to see her go, and will miss 
her perspective, but wish her and her family the best.” 

Delmar was first elected to the council in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. She served 
as Mayor from April 2018 until April, 2019. Currently she represents the city on the 
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Most Sierra Madreans were 
introduced to her prior to running for council, when she served as the Chair for the 
Sierra Madre General Plan Update Steering Committee.


FATE OF SIERRA MADRE MIDDLE 
SCHOOL STILL UNDECIDED 

PUSD Board of Education to Host Community Forum on 
Secondary School Consolidation Options 

 On Thursday, the chambers of the Pasadena School Board Room was filled with parents 
and students expressing their concerns over the potential closing of numerous 
Middle and High Schools in the district due to budget constraints. 

The meeting was presided over by Board President Larry Torres, who represents Sierra 
Madre, and marked the return of PUSD Superintendent aBrian McDonald from a 
medical leave of absence after battling cancer. 

The Board of Education is considering options to consolidate middle and high schools 
next year as the District adjusts to demographic changes and the resulting economic 
impact on public school funding. 

Although PUSD, like most other public school districts across the country is facing 
financial challenges, declining enrollment and competition with Charter Schools. The 
solutions recommended have caused a great deal of anxiety in communities around 
the district. PUSD covers the city and unincorporated areas of Pasadena, including 
Altadena and the city of Sierra Madre. The board recently choose to close three elementary 
schools.

Among those in attendance were supporters of all ages of Sierra Madre Middle School. 
Their presence supported the approximately 282 on a 'Save Our School' petition that 
had been submitted.

 One brave student, nervously, but courageously told the Board how important the 
school was to her personally and to the community. Unfortunately, the P.A. system was 
not clear enough to hear her name. Supporter Pam Wood read a letter from Councilwoman 
and Former Mayor Rachelle Arizmendi that also articulated the community's 
concern and its support for keeping SMMS. 

 SMMS is the top performing Middle School in PUSD and excels in its academic curriculum 
and is a Dual Language Immersion School.

 Similar responses were heard from parents and students from Wilson Middle School 
and Blair. 

 As a result of the community outcry, PUSD Board of Education will hold a community 
forum to hear from stakeholders about middle and high school consolidations on 
Thursday, October 17, 2019. 

 Supporters of SMMS are encouraged to attend.

The community forum will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Pasadena 
High School, located at 2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena and will be moderated by 
the League of Women Voters - Pasadena Area. Spanish and American Sign Language 
translation services will be provided. Additional comments can be provided at masterplan19@
pusd.us. S. Henderson/MVNews

SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER

September 29, to October 6, 2019 - During this period the Sierra 
Madre Police Department responded to 269 calls for service. 

Traffic Collision 

On 10/4/19 at 6:15AM, an injury traffic collision involving 
a vehicle and two pedestrians occurred at the intersection 
of Sierra Madre Blvd. and Mountain Trail Ave. 
Sierra Madre Fire Paramedics responded and treated 
the pedestrians for minor injuries at the scene. The 
driver was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian. 

Disturbance 

Officers responded to Kersting Court on 10/5/19 at 
10:45AM, regarding a male that returned to a business 
after being advised not to return. During the interview 
of the male subject, it was determined that he had an 
outstanding warrant and was arrested. The subject was 
later released to the agency that held the warrant. 

Theft from a vehicle 

On 10/6/19 at 3:45PM, a resident in the 700 block 
of W. Alegria Ave. reported that sometime between 
10/5/19 at 3:30PM and 10/6/19 at 10:40AM, 
an unknown suspect(s) entered his unlocked vehicle 
that was parked in the carport, and stole several 
personal items from inside of the vehicle. 
Case to Detectives

KIWANIS TO HOST NEW VOTING MACHINE DEMO

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at Noon

The Lodge 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre



The Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club will be hosting the Sierra Madre 
City Clerk's Office and a representative for the Los Angeles Country 
Registrar of Voters to explain how the new system will work. 
The county is modernizing the voting experience with the upcoming 
Statewide Presidential Primary election in March 2020. 

 Much of the current process — ballots, polling locations, vote 
tallying, and more — will change under a new L.A. County program 
called Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP). With changing 
from the traditional polling locations, Vote Centers will allow 
voters to cast their ballot at any Vote Center across the County, up 
to 10 days prior to election day. 

 The current voting system used in L.A. County dates back to 
1968, and for the past ten years, the County Registrar and its contractors 
have been evaluating the way people vote to create the 
design for 31,000 new devices to cast ballots, known as the new 
Ballot Marking Device.

 . 

The program is free and will begin at 12:30. Lunch is available 
at noon. The cost of lunch is $10. For reservations please call: 
626-688-2273. 


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