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Mountain View News Saturday, June 15, 2024
Typhus Fever
Infections
on the Rise
in Pasadena
City Given Nearly $1 Million
Toward New Groundwater
Water Treatment Facility
Pasadena Public Health
Department (PPHD)
cautioned Thursday that
they have received an
elevated number of reports
of typhus fever infections
in Pasadena compared
to in other years (as of
May), and are encouraging
the community to take
action to prevent further
infections.
According to heath
officials, Typhus fever is a
disease spread to humans
by infected fleas and can
cause high fever, chills,
headache and rash in
people. Generally, one to
five cases are reported in
Pasadena per year, and
most cases occur in the
summer or fall. However,
in 2024, eight Pasadena
residents have already been
reported with typhus fever.
All reported cases have
received treatment and
recovered.
In Pasadena, infected fleas
are primarily carried by
feral cats and opossums.
People who regularly
interact with these animals
are at risk. Pet dogs and cats
that are allowed outside can
encounter infected fleas
and expose their owners
to these fleas. Typhus is
treatable with antibiotics
with good recovery,
however three deaths
from typhus were reported
in 2023 in Los Angeles
County. Pets and animals
do not get sick from typhus.
Simple ways to prevent the
spread of typhus:
Reduce yard debris and
trim overgrown vegetation
to discourage the presence
of wild animals like feral
cats and opossums
Do not leave pet food
outdoors
Do not provide food or
water for wild animals
Keep garbage containers
tightly covered
Seal all openings and crawl
spaces under the home
Routinely treat pet dogs
and cats with flea control
medication
Typhus is diagnosed by
clinical symptoms and a
blood test. Local health
providers are required
to report any Pasadena
residents with a suspected
or confirmed typhus
diagnosis within one
working day to PPHD at
(626) 744-6089 Monday to
Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M., or
(626) 744-6043 after hours.
For more information on
typhus prevention:
San Gabriel Valley Mosquito
and Vector Control District:
sgvmosquito.org/fleas-
and-flea-borne-typhus
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention: cdc.gov/
typhus/index.html
Los Angeles County
Department of Public
Health: publichealth.
lacounty.gov/acd/
vectortyphus.htm
SR-710 Reconnecting Pasadena Master Plan
Pictured left to right: David Reyes, PWP Acting General Manager,
Stacie Takeguchi, PWP Assistant General Manager of Water,
Miguel Márquez, Pasadena City Manager, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu,
Victor Gordo, Mayor of Pasadena
Officials from the City of
Pasadena are set to hold the first
SR-710 Reconnecting Pasadena
project community open house
June 22 that will include an
interactive model-building
workshop and display boards as
the city begins the project’s first
phase of the Master Plan.
The event will take place from
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Victory
Park Recreation Center, 2575
Paloma Street, Pasadena.
In a statement officials said
the workshop is a unique
opportunity to participate in
and guide the transformation
of the stub from improved
transportation infrastructure
and pedestrian-friendly
amenities to green spaces,
cultural attractions, economic
opportunities, and more. The
plan will re-imagine the SR-710
stub and create a more inclusive
and sustainable environment.
Spanning approximately 60
acres from Union Street (North),
Columbia Street (South), St. John
Avenue (West) and Pasadena
Avenue (East), the stub was once
home to over 4,000 displaced
residents from demolishing
approximately 1,500 homes.
The majority of these residences
belonged to low-income and
minority community members.
The community-based design
process will engage with local
residents and key community
groups to engage a wide range
of communities, including hard-
to-reach populations, and active
communication in the planning
process. This month, community
open houses, workshops, events,
surveys, and digital outreach
will commence, along with other
opportunities for community-
based organizations to partner
in the outreach process they said.
In 18 months, the draft master
plan will propose designs that
can be implemented in phases,
maximizing opportunities for
pedestrian connectivity, land
use options, recreational uses,
climate-resilient infrastructure,
and sustainability.
As part of this process, the plan
will develop a restorative justice
framework to acknowledge past
harms through a collaborative
approach. A restorative justice
framework or policy will help
lead the project through an
analysis phase to understand the
existing conditions and what’s
feasible before developing a set
of options and alternatives based
on community input.
The city has selected a team of
planners, outreach specialists,
architects, landscape architects,
and engineers led by Perkins
Eastman to work with the
community and reimagine the
future of the SR-710 stub. The
team will focus on community
inclusion and connectedness,
open space, mobility, and quality
of life for residents and visitors
alike.
The Pasadena City Council
established the community
advisory group, Reconnecting
Communities 710 Advisory
Group, to assist in developing the
future vision for the relinquished
area.
Originally proposed as part of
a regional freeway network, the
SR-710 project faced opposition
and legal disputes, leading to
its cancellation. Starting in
2019, Pasadena began efforts to
reimagine the stub by working
with the California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans)
to transfer control to the City.
The return of the stub parcel
to the City of Pasadena for
development highlights the
evolving trajectory for future
land use and mobility.
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo
joined U.S. Representative Judy
Chu Monday for a ceremonial
check presentation, symbolizing
$959,752 in federal funding
for the facility. The ceremony
was held at the site of the
future Sunset Complex Project
Groundwater Treatment
Facility.
“We’ve all experienced the
climate crisis firsthand with
back-to-back seasons of
unprecedented winter storms,
following years of historic
drought, heatwaves, and
wildfires across our region.
Thankfully, the City of Pasadena
is rising to meet the challenge
of managing, planning, and
investing in our water systems to
ensure long-term water security
and climate resiliency,” said
Chu. “Through the Community
Project Funding program in
Congress, I secured $959,752
for the Sunset Complex
Groundwater Treatment Facility
to support Pasadena as it
protects our groundwater basin
and provides a lasting water
supply for our communities.”
PWP identified the Sunset
Complex Project in its Water
System and Resources Plan
(WSRP), Pasadena’s roadmap
for long-term capital and
water resource planning for
aging infrastructure, future
water demand, existing water
resources, and opportunities for
new water supplies.
“Pasadena’s local water
infrastructure is vital to
residents, businesses, and
visitors,” said Mayor Gordo.
“We are proud to partner
with Congresswoman Chu on
important projects like this,
which will help ensure a reliable,
resilient water delivery system
in Pasadena today and into the
future.”
As part of WSRP, the project
will help bring more reliability
and resilience to Pasadena’s
water delivery system. This effort
includes the future groundwater
treatment facility, groundwater
well improvements, and
replacement of two reservoirs,
one of which Rep. Chu and
other attendees toured after the
check presentation.
For more information about
the project visit PWPweb.com/
SunsetComplex.
Festival of
Balloons 40th
Anniversary
Third Annual Love, Loud &
Proud LGBTQ Celebration
Pasadena Announces
New Director of the Rent
Stabilization Department
The City of South Pasadena
announced that the 4th of July
Festival of Balloons will hold
its 40th anniversary this year
with the theme “Hometown
Heroes: Celebrating the Spirit
of Community.”
July 4th Festival of Balloons
activities kick off with Kiwanis’
Pancake Breakfast at the
South Pasadena Fire Station
at 7:00 a.m., located at 817
Mound Ave., South Pasadena.
Opening Ceremony for the
parade will start at 10:30 a.m.
at the South Pasadena Public
Library Community Room,
located at 1115 El Centro St.,
South Pasadena. The parade
will begin at 11:00 a.m. and
travel from Diamond Avenue
to Garfield Park where games,
a live DJ, and food will be
available until 2:30 p.m.
The day will conclude with
a live concert from 7:30 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. featuring The
Kings of 88 and the fireworks
show at 9:00 p.m. at the
South Pasadena High School
Stadium, located at 1401
Fremont Ave., South Pasadena.
Fireworks presale tickets will
be available for purchase now
for $15.00 per person online at:
southpasadenaca.gov/events.
Children 2 years and under are
free. Gates open at 7:00 p.m.
Please bring a copy of your
receipt and tickets to enter the
stadium.
For more information, please
contact the Community
Services Department
at (626) 403-7380 or by
email at specialevents@
southpasadenaca.gov.
Join the City of Pasadena’s Parks
Recreation and Community
Services (PRCS) Department
they champion Pasadena’s
diverse LGBTQIA+ community
at the 3rd annual Pride Month
Celebration, Love, Loud &
Proud! The event is set for
June 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N.
Garfield Ave.
This free family-friendly event
is loaded with fun surprises!
Come and enjoy music by LA’s
DJ Keelez, special performances
by local drag artists, drag story
hour, arts and crafts, photo
area by Girl Squad Media,
dance contests, inflatables,
health screenings provided by
Huntington Health, a vaccine
clinic (mpox, hepatitis A, and
meningitis) from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Food from local food trucks
will be available for purchase.
Attendees will have the
opportunity to visit with local
LGBTQIA+ organizations,
community partners and allies,
including:
San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ
Center
Planned Parenthood
PFLAG
Free Mom Hugs
Pasadena Public Library
Pasadena Police Department
Pasadena Fire Department
Pasadena Department of
Transportation
Foothill Family
Armory Center for the Arts
Pasadena Playhouse
Pacific Clinics
One Arroyo Foundation
and more
For more information, call
(626) 744-7500 or email
PRCSEvents@CityOfPasadena.
net.
Pasadena City Manager Miguel
Márquez, announced last week
that upon recommendation ot
the Pasadena Rental Housing
Board, they have appointed
Helen Morales as the new
Director of Pasadena’s Rent
Stabilization Department.
Morales will oversee a new
department established by
the Pasadena City Council in
December 2023. Her service in
Pasadena will begin on July 1.
Morales currently serves in
the California Department
of Housing and Community
Development where she
investigates and enforces the
California State Preservation
Law and the Surplus Land Act
to ensure cities and districts
first offer properties to buyers
interested in maintaining
affordable housing.
“Helen’s expertise in rent
stabilization and her deep
commitment to equity stood
out,” Márquez said. “We are
confident she will empower both
housing providers and tenants
while fostering a thriving rental
housing market in Pasadena.”
The Pasadena Rental Housing
Board also participated in the
recruitment effort, providing
valuable input on the selection of
Morales. “The Board is excited to
welcome Helen,” said Ryan Bell,
Chair of the Pasadena Rental
Housing Board. “Her proven
track record in establishing rent
stabilization programs and her
collaborative approach will be
invaluable as we work together to
ensure a balanced and successful
program for Pasadena.”
In April, city officials solicited
feedback from Pasadena
residents on the Director’s
position, which oversees rent
stabilization in Pasadena.
Morales has worked in
various roles in the California
Department of Housing and
Community Development,
City of Beverly Hills, City of
Los Angeles, and the County of
Los Angeles. She established a
new Rent Stabilization Division
in the City of Beverly Hills,
including creating policies and
procedures, forms, procedural
manuals, metrics, staff goals,
and training programs.
“I am honored to join the City of
Pasadena and lead this important
department,” Morales said. “I
look forward to collaborating
with all stakeholders to create a
program that promotes stability
and fairness for both tenants and
housing providers.”
The Rental Housing Board
was established as part of the
adoption of Measure H. Its
composition, duties, authority,
and oversight of the Pasadena
Fair & Equitable Housing
Charter Amendment.
For more information about the
department, visit
CityOfPasadena.net/Rent-
Stabilization.
Sierra Madre
Woman’s Club
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 22002244:: 111177 YYeeaarrss
Founded February 23, 1907 – “Living the Volunteer Life” in Friendship
8:00 - 10:00 am Before Parade Starts!
Free Coffee, Juice, Pastries
SierraMadreWomansClub.org SierraMadreWomansClub
Wistaria Thrift Shop - Closed til Thurs. 9/5 626-355-7739
Clean, Gently Used Donations Accepted 8 – 11 a, M-F after 7/5
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
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