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ALTADENA - SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain View News Saturday, February 17, 2024 

San Marino Upcoming 
Events & Programming

City of Pasadena Closures & 
Reminders for Presidents' Day

Assemblymember Holden’s 
2023-24 Legislative Package

 Assemblymember Chris Holden finalizes his 2023-24 
legislative package Friday and enters his last term in the 
California State Assembly with measures to address health 
care, education, public safety and the environment.

 “My goal is always to serve my community above all else,” 
said Assemblymember Chris Holden. 

 The 41st Assembly District stretches from Pasadena in the 
West to Upland in the East and includes the communities 
of Altadena, Monrovia, Claremont, San Dimas, La Verne, 
La Cañada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, San Pasqual, Bradbury, 
Rancho Cucamonga, Phelan, Oak Hills, Piñon Hills, 
Wrightwood, San Antonio Heights, Hesperia, and Lytle 
Creek. 

 Holden was first elected to the California State Assembly 
in 2012, and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2014, 2016, 
2018, 2020 and 2022. With more than 150 pieces of legislation 
signed into law, Holden brings to the Legislature a lifetime of 
experience in public service and business garnered during 
his many years on the Pasadena City Council and in the 
State Legislature. Holden served as Assembly Majority Floor 
Leader from 2014 to 2016, Chair of the California Legislative 
Black Caucus from 2016 to 2018, Chair of the Assembly 
Committee on Utilities and Energy from 2018 to 2022 and 
Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from 2022 
to 2024. 

 “After being in the State Assembly for almost twelve years, 
I believe these bills exemplify my due diligence in achieving 
that goal, by creating solutions to solve key issues, developing 
roadmaps for new innovations and improved functionality, 
and generating a pathway for equal opportunity,” said Holden.

2023-2024 Legislative Package:

AB 236 would require health care service plans to annually 
verify and delete inaccurate listings from its provider 
directories, known as “ghost directories.”

AB 252 would establish the College Athlete Protection (CAP) 
Act for purposes of providing various rights, benefits, and 
protections to college athletes.

AB 280 would prohibit holding an individual in segregated 
confinement for more than 15 consecutive days.

AB 359 would amend existing law around College and Career 
Access Pathway Program (CCAP) partnerships to align with 
best practices from other dual enrollment programs and 
would streamline access to dual enrollment for K-12 students 
throughout the state.

AB 610 would exempt additional restaurants from the 
definition of “fast food restaurant,” including such restaurants 
in airports, hotels, event centers, theme parks, museums, and 
certain other locations, as prescribed.

AB 1017 would create the Striking Worker Emergency 
Homelessness Prevention (SWEHP) program to prevent 
workers suffering strike-related hardship by making zero-
interest loans available to eligible striking workers to assist 
them in paying their housing costs.

AB 1826 would revise the Digital Infrastructure and Video 
Competition Act of 2006 to authorize the commission to 
exercise the authority, jurisdiction, and powers authorized 
by a franchise authority.

AB 1851 would require the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction to contract with a nonprofit technical assistance 
organization to sample all potable water system outlets for 
high-need schools.

AB 2089 would require a city or county, when collecting 
demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of 
persons, to include the additional collection categories and 
tabulations for specified Black or African American groups. 

AB 2193 would create a civil liability for a public or private 
institution of higher education by a person harmed by hazing.

AB 2330 would help expedite permits for fuel management 
activities to ensure public safety is in alignment with 
environmental law.

To access additional information and background on each 
bill, please type in bill number and visit: leginfo.legislature.
ca.gov/faces/home.xhtml.

For more about Holden's District visit: a41.asmdc.org.


Complete the Budget Priority Initiatives Survey

 Your voice matters! Join us in shaping the future of San 
Marino. Public participation is crucial in the budget process. 
Take a moment to complete the 2024 Budget Priority 
Initiatives Survey - your insights will directly influence the 
Mayor and Council in their FY24-25 Budget Discussions. 
Let's work together for a better community! Submit your 
feedback by March 3.

All City Facilities Closed on Presidents' Day

 In observance of Presidents' Day, all City facilities, excluding 
emergency services, will be closed on Monday, February 19. 
Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, February 20.

Coffee Connections

Weekly on Monday and Wednesday from 8 - 10 AM, San 
Marino Community Center, Fireside Room

 Come spend your mornings with neighbors, friends, and 
a hot cup of coffee at the newly renovated Community 
Center! Free coffee will be provided. Stay for a variety of 
organized activities like bingo, chair volleyball, and lectures 
beginning at 9 AM. This program is for active adults ages 
55+. Registration is required. Note: there is no Coffee 
Connections on Monday, February 19 due to the holiday.

Coffee, Tea, and Chat

Friday, February 23 from 9:30 – 11:30 AM, Thornton 
Conference Room

 Connect with your neighbors to learn more about the 
community and its traditions. This program is presented in 
Mandarin by the United Charity Foundation for ages 18+. 
Registration is not required.

San Marino Historical Society Speaker Series: Kathy 
Fiscus Tragedy

Monday, February 26 at 7 PM, Barth Community Room

 In its Speakers Series, the San Marino Historical Society 
presents quarterly history talks focusing on topics specially 
selected for our town. This quarter, William Deverell will be 
speaking about the Kathy Fiscus tragedy. Mr. Deverell is the 
Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences at USC’s Dornsife 
College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. He is the founder and 
co-Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California 
and the West. A graduate of Stanford University, he received 
his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in History from Princeton. His 
work addresses the history and culture of the 19th and 20th 
century American West. Registration is not required.

Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday, March 3

 Celebrate Lunar New Year with the Chinese Club of San 
Marino and the community at Lacy Park on Sunday, March 
3, 2024, from 10 AM to 3 PM! Enjoy a day of fun in the park 
with performances, entertainment, games, and delicious 
food. Admission is free, so mark your calendar and join us 
for a fantastic time!

Sandbags Available at Stoneman Lot

 With the rainy season in full swing, the Parks and Public 
Works Department is providing a sandbag self-fill location 
in the Stoneman parking lot (1560 Pasqualito Drive) that 
is available to residents. Sand and bags are available at the 
location, and residents are welcome to fill up to six bags to 
help protect their home from potential flooding.

 As the sandbag stations is self-fill, here are some tips when 
filling sandbags:

 Always wear gloves during operation to avoid hand injuries 
and protect from contaminants in sand and floodwater.

Use a short-handled, shovel, scoop, or funnel to fill sandbags.

Fill sandbags ½ to 2/3 full and tie bags at the top. The sandbag 
should weight roughly 35-40 lbs.

 Please do NOT remove shovels from the sand loading area. 
Please contact the Parks and Public Works Department at 
626-300-0765 or publicworks@cityofsanmarino.org with 
any questions or if you would like additional information.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dancing can burn 300-800 calories per hour!

 Come get your afternoon workout in and hang out with 
your friends at Happy Hour Sock Hop Dance - Shake, 
Rattle, & Roll! You don’t want to miss out on the fun, food, 
and memories at this active adult event. Plan to join us on 
Wednesday, March 6 from 12 – 2 PM at the Community 
Center. The cost to attend is $14 for residents and $17 for 
non-residents. Registration is required by February 29.

Meetings

Design Review Committee

Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 PM; Barth Room and Zoom 
(Public Access)

City Council Meeting

Friday, February 23 at 8:30 AM; Barth Room and Zoom 
(Public Access)

Library Board of Trustees

Monday, February 26 at 8:00 AM; Barth Room and Zoom 
(Public Access)

Public Safety Commission - Rescheduled

Monday, February 26 at 6:00 PM; City Hall Council 
Chambers and Zoom (Public Access)

 In observance of Presidents' 
Day City Hall and many City 
services will be closed Monday. 
Specific closures, exceptions 
and reminders are noted below. 
Trash, recycling and yard 
waste collection will occur as 
scheduled. There will be no 
delay in pickup for residents.

 Pasadena residents and 
businesses experiencing any 
power emergencies should call 
Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) at (626) 744-4673. For 
water-related emergencies, 
call (626) 744-4138. PWP’s 
Customer Service Call Center 
will be closed Monday; however, 
customers can access their 
accounts and make payments 
through the automated phone 
system at (626) 744-4005 or 
online at PWPWeb.com.

 The City’s Municipal Services 
Payment Center and Parking 
Office will also be closed. All 
parking meters will be free 
and parking time limits will 
not be enforced. Violations for 
overnight parking restrictions, 
red curb parking and blocking 
fire hydrants will be issued. 
Parking meter enforcement 
resumes after the holiday. 
Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-
Ride buses will operate on their 
regular schedules.

 The Permit Center will be closed; 
however, many services will 
be available via Permit Center 
Online, where you can obtain 
subtrade permits and submit 
plans for new construction, 
tenant improvements, accessory 
dwelling units and additions. In-
person operations will resume 
after the holiday Tuesday.

 All Pasadena Public Library 
branch sites will be closed 
Sunday and Monday and will 
reopen Tuesday.

 All parks will be open for 
picnics, fun and play; however, 
no site reservations are being 
accepted for the holidays. 
Community and recreation 
centers will also be closed to the 
public on Monday.

 The Pasadena Public Health 
Department (PPHD) will also 
be closed Monday. Upcoming 
vaccine clinics are scheduled 
for Wednesday Feb. 21; and 
Monday, Feb. 26. 

 City Council will not meet 
on Monday. The next council 
meeting is scheduled to take 
place Monday, Feb. 26.

 Pasadena Fire and Police 
Departments will continue 
to provide patrol, jail, 
fire, paramedic and other 
emergency services during the 
holidays. For life-threatening 
emergencies, call 9-1-1. For 
non-emergencies, call Pasadena 
Police Department at (626) 744-
4241.

Pasadena Election Charter 
Amendments R, S, and T

 City officials released a 
rundown Monday of Measures 
R, S, and T to be on the March 
5 Election ballot so residents 
can decide whether to approve 
amendments to the Pasadena 
City Charter –the City 
Council voted unanimously 
in December to move forward 
with the Measures. 

 The charter amendments, if 
approved by the majority of 
voters, will enable the city to 
update outdated codes and 
language, adapt to changes, 
eliminate burdensome 
processes, set limits, and 
ensure that resources are used 
effectively, ultimately saving 
money and benefitting the 
community. 

 According to city officials, 
these measures are not a new tax 
and do not increase taxes. The 
measures also do not increase 
utility rates; in fact, Measure R 
maintains a 4 percent reduction 
in the utility transfer approved 
by voters in 2020 they said. 
For financial transparency and 
public accountability, it will 
require updating the Pasadena 
accounting method to align 
with Generally Accepted 
Accounting Principles (GAAP). 
The proposed update to the 
accounting method will 
lead to improved financial 
management and the ability to 
allocate resources to essential 
services such as 911 response, 
fire, paramedic, public health, 
street repairs, and senior and 
homeless services.

 The Measure S amendment 
will require the City Council 
to set limits by ordinance for 
contracts, purchases, and claim 
approvals. It will maintain 
oversight, improve city response, 
and enhance efficiency in 
executing contracts. Measure 
S streamlines the procurement 
process and eliminates a 
burdensome process for a 
contractor/business owner 
and the city, allowing for more 
efficient handling of contracts 
to save time and money. The 
amendments will help identify 
inefficiencies, unnecessary 
expenses, and potential waste, 
ensuring that public funds are 
used wisely and projects are 
executed within budget.

 Measure T is an amendment to 
the Charter that will allow the 
city to create alternative contract 
selection methods that can be 
more efficient, transparent, and 
accountable for bidding and 
delivering public improvements. 
The amendment will attract a 
broader range of vendors and 
contractors, fostering increased 
competition, leading to better-
quality services and innovative 
solutions, and ensuring the best 
value for its investments.

 Under Measure T, the alternative 
project delivery method is 
designed to expedite the project, 
resulting in significant time 
savings. It allows the city to 
adapt to industry best practices 
that lead to practical and 
modern approaches to project 
management and contract 
selection while complying 
with rules and regulations. 
Additionally, allowing for 
additional contract selection 
methods, particularly those that 
improve the chances of hiring 
local businesses, contributing 
to the community’s economic 
development, creating job 
opportunities, and stimulating 
our local economy. 

 Measures R, S, and T maintain 
accountability provisions, 
such as public disclosure of all 
spending and annual financial 
audits, while updating outdated 
language and codes. 

 In 1886, Pasadena was officially 
incorporated. By 1901, Pasadena 
had evolved into a Charter City 
with an elected Mayor through 
a vote of the people. In the 
following years, the City saw 
significant improvements with 
the installation of amenities 
such as sewers, paved streets, 
and electric street lighting. Over 
the decades, amendments to 
the Charter helped modernize 
and improve city governance 
as times changed and 
advancements were made.

 Visit CityofPasadena.net/
Charter-Amendments for more 
information.

Black History Month Talk at 
The Pasadena Senior Center

 

 Nobody tells stories like 
Miss Etta Mae Mumphries, 
the alter ego of African 
American writer/actor/
comedian Karen Bankhead. 

 Miss Etta Mae will share 
some of her stories Thursday, 
Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 
85 E. Holly St., during a 
special Black History Month 
performance.

 A fount of wisdom, Miss 
Etta Mae has met and 
influenced exceptional 
people throughout her 
extraordinarily long life, 
including Josephine Baker, 
Billie Holiday, Dr. Martin 
Luther King Jr. and Sammy 
Davis Jr.

 Bankhead, a veteran actress 
and screenwriter, studied at 
Second City, was a member 
of The Groundlings Sunday 
Company and was cofounder, 
producer and performer 
with groundbreaking 
improv groups such as Hold 
the Cream and Foxy, Fine 
and Funny. She has been a 
cast member in plays from 
California to New York and 
received the NAACP Theatre 
Award for Best Supporting 
Actress in 2020 for her role as 
the flower child Wanda in the 
play “Three Times a Lady,” 
which made its national 
debut in Los Angeles. She 
has performed stand-up at 
such renowned clubs as The 
Comedy Store, The Ice House 
and The Improv. Bankhead 
has played a variety of 
roles on television shows, 
including “Will & Grace,” 
“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” 
“Gilmore Girls,” “Grey’s 
Anatomy” and many more. 

 The program is free for 
members of the Pasadena 
Senior Center and only $5 
for nonmembers 50 and 
older. Residence in Pasadena 
is not required. To register or 
for more information, visit 
www.pasadenaseniorcenter.
org and click on Activities & 
Events, then Special Events 
or call 626-795-4331. 

 The Pasadena Senior 
Center’s mission is to 
improve the lives of older 
adults through caring 
service with opportunities 
for social interaction, 
fitness programs, basic 
support and needs services, 
education, volunteerism 
and community activism. 
With 10,000 Americans per 
day becoming older adults, 
the center is a leader in 
addressing the issues of aging 
and provides innovative, 
cutting-edge, nationally 
recognized programs for this 
population group. 

 A visit with Miss Etta 
Mae Mumphries, Aka 
Actor Karen Bankhead 


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