Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 8, 2023

6

ALTADENA - SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain View News Saturday, July 8, 2023 

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars 
Helicopter Phones Home

Bill Protecting Drivers 
with Epilepsy Approved

San Marino Upcoming 
Events & Programming

 
Senate Bill 357, authored by 
Senator Anthony Portantino 
was approved by the Assembly 
Judiciary Committee. The bill 
gives doctors the discretion to 
report personal conditions they 
believe will impair a patient’s 
ability to drive and removes 
language that discriminates 
against specific conditions, 
including epilepsy.

 “Mandatory reporting in 
California is a discriminatory 
practice that jeopardizes access 
to appropriate care,” stated 
Senator Portantino. “SB 357 
protects drivers with epilepsy 
by improving the patient-
physician relationship and 
allows individuals affected by 
epilepsy to seek the care they 
need without fear of losing their 
driving licenses.”

 Epilepsy is the fourth-most 
common neurological disorder 
in the US, affecting more than 
3.4 million Americans and 
more than 425,000 Californians. 
Yet in California, a 1957 state 
law discriminates against 
drivers with epilepsy and 
other conditions by requiring 
physicians to automatically 
report these drivers to the 
Department of Motor Vehicles. 
Research has shown that 
these requirements often 
result in patients withholding 
crucial information from their 
physicians and not seeking 
the care they need. This is due 
to fear of losing their right to 
drive. When a person with 
epilepsy withholds critical 
information from their doctor, 
they jeopardize their access 
to appropriate care, risking an 
increase of seizure activity or 
even a loss of seizure control.

SB 357 will:

 Give doctors the discretion to 
report conditions they believe 
will impair a patient’s ability to 
drive, by removing language 
that discriminates against 
specific conditions, including 
epilepsy;

Allow but not require doctors to 
make such reports;

Protect the doctor-patient 
relationship by providing 
immunity for physician for 
either reporting or not reporting 
patients.

SB 357 also requires the 
California Department of 
Motor Vehicles (DMV) to 
publish a report by 2027 on 
the differences in patterns of 
reporting and crash rates under 
a voluntary reporting system. 
The bill adds a sunset on the 
voluntary reporting system for 
2029.

“Senator Portantino’s bill will 
improve access to care and 
end decades of discrimination 
against the more than 425,000 
Californians living with 
epilepsy.” said Rebekkah 
Halliwell, Executive Director 
of Epilepsy Foundation Los 
Angeles. “Based on an outdated 
law from 1957, California 
requires doctors to report all 
patients with epilepsy to the 
DMV, but research has shown 
that mandatory reporting 
requirements may lead people 
with epilepsy to withhold crucial 
information from their doctors, 
risking an increase in seizures, 
which can lead to injury and 
even death... we look forward to 
getting this important measure 
on the Governor’s desk.”

The Splash of Summer Continues!

We’re halfway through our summer splash down at the San 
Marino High School pool! Come beat the July heat with Family 
Open Swim, Group and Private Swim Lessons, Adult Lap Swim & 
Water Walking, and Water Warrior Aqua-cise. View details and 
the pool schedule here! Sadly, the last day the pool will be open is 
July 30.

David Cousin: The Amazing Juggler

Saturday, July 8 at 2 PM, Children’s Area

David Cousin isn’t just any juggler; he has five world records! You 
will be amazed by the amazing feats and mind-blowing tricks! 
This performance is not to be missed! Registration is not required.

Huntington Nurses Health Screening

Wednesday, July 12 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM, Barth Community 
Room

The Huntington Nurses offer free blood pressure and glucose 
screenings. Please plan to fast 2 hours prior to having glucose 
checked. These blood pressure and glucose evaluations can lead to 
prevention and early detection of the “silent killer” diseases such 
as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. Health screenings 
will be held every second Wednesday of the month. Registration 
is not required.

Drop-In Tech Help with TAG

Wednesday, July 12 at 1 PM, Barth Community Room

Get help with your laptop, phone, or tablet by working one-on-
one with a teen volunteer! Our tech-savvy teens are prepared 
to help troubleshoot your issue with a 30-minute (or less) 
appointment. Possible topics include: creating an email account, 
creating documents, attaching files, using digital library 
resources, downloading and streaming content like movies, 
books, audiobooks, and more. NOTE: Fixing broken hardware 
or software is not within our scope. Please bring any devices you 
use, and have your necessary passwords and library card with 
you. Space is limited. Registration is not required; first come, first 
served.

Chinese Club

Thursday, July 13 at 10:30 AM, Barth Community Room

In the spirit of cultural exchange and appreciation of diversity, 
educational development, and community service, the Chinese 
Club of San Marino holds monthly lectures and workshops. 
Registration is required.

NEW Walking Book Club

Friday, July 14 at 9:15 AM, Lacy Park

Let’s walk and chat about the books you’re reading! Led by the 
librarians from Crowell Public Library, patrons are invited to 
meet at the War Memorial to stroll the paths in Lacy Park every 
other Friday. This walking discussion will center around the latest 
books everyone is reading, all the while helping to get your steps 
in for the day. Registration is not required, but a signed liability 
waiver is required for participation.

Nature Series: Right Tree, Right Place

Saturday, July 15 at 10 AM, Barth Community Room

The right tree can enhance the beauty of your home while also 
providing shade and other benefits. In this presentation, San 
Marino’s Urban Forester, Lora Hall, will help participants select 
an appropriate planting site and tree species for their landscape. 
The presentation will cover site selection criteria, such as distances 
from buildings and utilities, as well as how to complement the 
architecture of a house. A variety of tree species will be discussed 
with ideas for fall color, evergreen screening, small spaces, wildlife 
value, and more. Registration is not required.

Bulky Item Pickup on Saturday, July 15

On Saturday July 15, Athens Services will be conducting its 
Annual Bulky Item Pickup event in the City . Residents who have 
bulky items such as mattresses, furniture, or appliances that they 
would like to dispose of should call (855) 557-1007 or schedule 
online ahead of time. Please make sure the items have been set out 
at the curb or designated pickup location by 5 AM on Saturday, 
July 15. No e-waste or household hazardous waste is allowed. For 
a full list of eligible items, please visit the Athens website. Should 
you have any questions, please call 888-336-6100.

Summer Sunset Concerts

Friday, July 21, August 4, 18, Lacy Park

Grab your chairs and blankets to carve out your spot in the middle 
of Lacy Park and enjoy 3 free concerts this summer! Attendees 
are welcome to bring their own food and drink, or purchase 
concessions from a variety of food trucks. Join us on July 21 at 6 
PM for The Remotes, August 4 at 6 PM for Kelly Boyz Band, and 
August 18 for a multicultural concert! Registration is not required. 

City Council Meeting

Wednesday, July 12 at 6:00 PM; City Hall Council Chambers and 
Zoom (Public Access)

Public Safety Commission

Monday, July 17 at 6:00 PM; City Hall Council Chambers and 
Zoom (Public Access)

Design Review Committee Meeting - Canceled

Wednesday, July 19 at 6:00 PM; Barth Room and Zoom (Public 
Access)

 

 Officials announced that 
the 52nd flight of NASA’s 
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter 
is now in the official mission 
logbook as a success. The 
flight took place back 
on April 26, but mission 
controllers at NASA’s Jet 
Propulsion Laboratory in 
Southern California lost 
contact with the helicopter 
as it descended toward the 
surface for landing.

 The Ingenuity team expected 
the communications dropout 
because a hill stood between 
the helicopter’s landing 
location and the Perseverance 
rover’s position, blocking 
communication between the 
two. The rover acts as a radio 
relay between the helicopter 
and mission controllers at 
JPL. In anticipation of this 
loss of communications, the 
Ingenuity team had already 
developed re-contact plans 
for when the rover would 
drive back within range. 
Contact was re-established 
June 28 when Perseverance 
crested the hill and could see 
Ingenuity again.

 The goal of Flight 52, a 
1,191-foot (363-meter) 
and 139-second-long 
flight, was to reposition the 
helicopter and take images 
of the Martian surface for the 
rover’s science team.

 “The portion of Jezero Crater 
the rover and helicopter are 
currently exploring has a lot of 
rugged terrain, which makes 
communications dropouts 
more likely,” said JPL’s Josh 
Anderson, the Ingenuity 
team lead. “The team’s 
goal is to keep Ingenuity 
ahead of Perseverance, 
which occasionally involves 
temporarily pushing beyond 
communication limits. 
We’re excited to be back 
in communications range 
with Ingenuity and receive 
confirmation of Flight 52.”

 Sixty-three days is a long 
time to wait for the results of 
a flight, but the data coming 
in indicates all is well with 
the first aircraft on another 
world. If the remainder of 
Ingenuity’s health checks are 
equally rosy, the helicopter 
may fly again within the 
week.

 The target for Flight 53 is 
an interim airfield to the 
west, from which the team 
plans to perform another 
westward flight to a new base 
of operations near a rocky 
outcrop the Perseverance 
team is interested in 
exploring.

 The Ingenuity Mars 
Helicopter was built by 
JPL, which also manages 
the project for NASA 
Headquarters. It is supported 
by NASA’s Science Mission 
Directorate. NASA’s 
Ames Research Center in 
California’s Silicon Valley and 
NASA’s Langley Research 
Center in Hampton, Virginia, 
provided significant flight 
performance analysis and 
technical assistance during 
Ingenuity’s development. 
AeroVironment Inc., 
Qualcomm, and SolAero 
also provided design 
assistance and major vehicle 
components. Lockheed Space 
designed and manufactured 
the Mars Helicopter Delivery 
System.

 At NASA Headquarters, 
Dave Lavery is the program 
executive for the Ingenuity 
Mars Helicopter.

Federal Lawsuit Against 
LA County Alleges ADA 
Violations at Vote Centers

 The United States Attorney’s 
Office announced that they 
filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging 
the County of Los Angeles 
had failed to comply with the 
Americans with Disabilities 
Act (ADA) at vote centers, that 
include Pasadena, during recent 
elections. 

 The complaint filed in United 
States District Court seeks a 
court order directing the county 
to comply with the ADA, 
promptly develop a plan to 
completely remedy the alleged 
violations, and not further 
discriminate against individuals 
with disabilities.

 The lawsuit identifies specific 
vote centers in Pasadena, North 
Hollywood, Downey and 
Watts that are still in use, even 
though the federal government 
first alerted the county about 
accessibility deficiencies at the 
first three facilities in September 
2016 and the Watts location in 
July 2020.

 Other accessibility problems 
were identified with ballot 
drop boxes used during the 
November 2020 and November 
2022 general elections.

 
“Voting is the bedrock of 
our democracy, and all 
voters, including those with 
disabilities, should have an 
equal opportunity to participate 
in the voting process. This 
lawsuit should send a strong 
message to officials across the 
country regarding the Justice 
Department’s firm commitment 
to ensuring polling place 
accessibility,” said Assistant 
Attorney General Kristen Clarke 
of the Justice Department’s Civil 
Rights Division.

 During the November 2022 
general election, the United 
States surveyed 52 Los Angeles 
County vote centers to determine 
if they were compliant with the 
ADA and applicable standards 
for accessibility. “Each of the 
surveyed vote centers had non-
compliant elements or features, 
including, for example, a lack 
of van accessible parking; wide 
gaps, abrupt level changes, 
and excessive cross slopes on 
designated accessible routes; 
ramps with steep running 
slopes and without the required 
handrails; entrances and/or 
exits that were obstructed or too 
narrow, lacked level landings, 
or had high thresholds; interior 
routes that had protruding 
objects; and voting areas with 
narrow routes,” the complaint 
alleges.

 The lawsuit discusses 
difficulties experienced during 
the August 2019 special 
election by a voter who uses a 
wheelchair. This voter “reported 
feeling dismayed and frustrated 
by her treatment at the polling 
place and that she felt as if she 
had lost her freedom to vote 
privately and independently like 
everyone else,” the lawsuit states.

 The lawsuit is part of the 
Justice Department’s ADA 
Voting Initiative, which seeks 
to increase accessibility for 
voters with disabilities across 
the country. A hallmark of the 
ADA Voting Initiative is its 
collaboration with jurisdictions 
to increase accessibility at 
vote centers or polling places. 
Through this initiative, the 
Department of Justice’s Civil 
Rights Division and U.S. 
Attorney’s Offices across the 
country have surveyed more 
than 2,700 polling places 
and increased polling place 
accessibility in more than 50 
jurisdictions, including Kenton 
County, Kentucky; Travis 
County, Texas; and Lycoming 
County, Pennsylvania. 

 Assistant United States 
Attorney Katherine M. Hikida 
of the Civil Division’s Civil 
Rights Section is handling this 
case.

 Information about the Civil 
Rights Section in the Civil 
Division of the United States 
Attorney’s Office is available on 
our website. Members of the 
public may report possible civil 
rights violations to our office 
via email to USACAC.CV-
CivilRights@usdoj.gov.

Chu Statement on SCOTUS 
Decisions Gutting Race-
Conscious Admissions

 The Supreme Court of the 
United States announced Last 
week its decision on Students for 
Fair Admissions v. Harvard and 
Students for Fair Admissions v. 
University of North Carolina, 
undermining the Court’s long-
standing support for affirmative 
action in higher education.

 Affirmative action refers to 
certain education, contracting, 
and employment policies–
such as race-conscious policies 
that consider race as one 
factor in a holistic admissions 
process–that aim to increase 
the representation of racial and 
ethnic groups that have been 
historically underrepresented. 
These groups include Black, 
Latino/Latina, Native American, 
and Asian American, Native 
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 
(AANHPI) students who face 
systemic barriers to educational 
opportunity, including cultural 
biases in standardized test 
questions and far less access to 
college preparatory courses, that 
harms their competitive edge in 
the college admissions process.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) issued 
the following statement: 

 “Today’s decision deals a 
needless blow to America’s 
promise of equal and fair 
opportunity. Casting aside 
decades of precedent, the 
Court’s anti-opportunity 
majority further undermines 
its own legitimacy by gutting 
race-conscious university 
admissions, which will benefit 
the wealthy and well-connected 
most. 

 “After teaching community 
college for decades, I have long 
known that students learn best 
and graduate more prepared 
when they encounter diversity 
in the classroom. Holistic, race-
conscious admissions policies 
allow all students, regardless of 
their race or ethnicity, to be able 
to tell the full story of who they 
are and participate in a thriving, 
multiracial democracy. 

 “With over 50 ethnicities 
speaking over 100 languages, 
the AANHPI community is 
itself incredibly diverse and not 
a monolith. AANHPI students 
who come from low-income, 
first-generation, immigrant, 
refugee, or indigenous 
backgrounds and who are 
already systematically denied 
equal opportunity in education 
will encounter even more 
hurdles to acceptance. That’s 
why the majority of AANHPIs 
in America have expressed 
support for race-conscious 
admissions and why today’s 
decision is no net positive for 
AANHPIs.

 “Importantly, though, this 
decision should not be viewed 
to impact race-conscious 
processes outside the scope of 
university admissions.

 “Despite this decision and 
other such efforts to turn back 
time, re-segregate our schools, 
and pit the Asian American 
community against other 
communities by using us as a 
wedge, I will never quit fighting 
alongside the unified civil and 
human rights community for 
an America where everyone 
can find belonging and pursue 
their aspirations on an equal 
footing. President Biden has 
already announced steps 
that the Administration will 
take to promote educational 
opportunity and diversity in 
higher education.

 “This extremist Supreme Court 
does not get to decide our values. 
We will always fight for diversity 
and representation in politics, 
business, culture, and beyond. 
It’s who we are as a nation and 
what makes us strong.”


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