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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.

 
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