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Mountain View News Saturday, October 18, 2025

Pasadena 
Confirms 
Case of West 
Nile Virus


Statement on Impact LA 
County Will Face if Federal 
Shutdown Continues Nov. 1

 
PPHD Recommends 
Prevention Tips

 The Pasadena Public 
Health Department 
(PPHD) confirmed last 
week that the city’s first case 
of West Nile virus (WNV) 
in a human this year on 
October 9, recommends 
prevention tips. 

 WNV is most often 
detected during warmer 
months when mosquitoes 
are breeding and can 
quickly spread viruses. 
PPHD continues to 
monitor disease activity 
and collaborate with the San 
Gabriel Valley Mosquito 
& Vector Control District 
to control mosquitoes 
in public spaces through 
routine inspections and 
necessary treatments. 
The last confirmed case 
of WNV in a Pasadena 
resident was in 2022. 

 “There is no vaccine or 
cure for West Nile virus 
in humans,” said Dr. 
Parveen Kaur, Acting 
Health Officer. “By taking 
preventive measures, we 
can reduce the risk of 
infection and help protect 
our community.”

 Take the following actions 
to reduce the presence of 
mosquitoes, stay healthy 
and bite-free: Tip out 
stagnant water around the 
home weekly; Toss unused 
containers that can hold 
stagnant water; Use screens 
on windows and fix holes in 
screens; and Protect against 
bites by wearing protective 
clothing and using insect 
repellent containing any 
one of the recommended 
ingredients: Picaridin, 
DEET, Oil of Lemon 
Eucalyptus (or PMD), or 
IR3535. 

 “PPHD urges residents 
to take an active role in 
reducing the threat of West 
Nile virus by following 
mosquito prevention tips,” 
said Manuel Carmona, 
Director of Public Health. 
“The most effective way to 
stay protected is to prevent 
mosquito bites.” 

 For more information 
visit: CityOfPasadena.net.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger speaks during a recent Board of 
Supervisors meeting (Photo credit: LA County)

Director of JPL Announces Mass Layoffs

 

 Los Angeles County Board 
of Supervisors Chair Kathryn 
Barger expressed concern 
Tuesday during a Board 
of Supervisors meeting 
following updates from 
county officials regarding the 
impact a prolonged federal 
shutdown will have on 
essential safety net programs.

 Barger made the following 
statement,“I am deeply 
concerned about the 
looming cliff facing many of 
our vulnerable families and 
children if federal funds are 
not secured by the end of this 
month. 

 Programs like CalFresh, 
which provides essential 
food resources to thousands 
of families, and CalWORKS, 
which supports child welfare 
payments for children in 
need, are lifelines for the 
most vulnerable in our 
County. Without these 
resources, families who 
rely on them could face 
unimaginable hardship 
beginning November 1. 

 The ongoing federal 
government shutdown will 
also affect funding needed 
to pay County employees in 
key departments, including 
Public Social Services and 
Children and Family Services. 
Any efforts by the County to 
backfill these shortfalls could 
impact our credit rating–a 
vital tool that keeps our 
necessary borrowing costs 
low. The cascading effects are 
worrisome.

 Clearly, our County’s 
resources are limited 
resources and every dollar 
counts. It is essential that we 
prioritize funding for these 
core programs. Spending on 
new initiatives outside this 
essential safety net should not 
come at the expense of basic 
support for families who 
depend on these services.

 I urge our federal partners 
to act immediately to 
ensure that no family is left 
without the help they need 
and that our County can 
continue serving its residents 
effectively.”

 For more information visit: 
kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov.

 Over five-hundred 
employees at Pasadena’s Jet 
Propulsion Laboratory were 
notified Tuesday that they 
no longer had their jobs after 
another round of layoffs –
many of them still severely 
impacted by the Eaton Fire. 

 “In order to best position 
JPL going forward, we are 
taking steps to restructure 
and establish an appropriate 
size to ensure future success,” 
said JPL Director Dave 
Gallagher in an open letter to 
all employees. “As part of this 
effort, JPL is undergoing a 
realignment of its workforce, 
including a reduction in staff. 
This reduction... will affect 
approximately 550 of our 
colleagues across technical, 
business, and support areas.” 

 Gallagher said the layoffs 
are not related to the current 
government shutdown. 

 Pasadena Mayor victor 
Gordo said the city’s 
Workforce Development 
Board was working with the 
Verdugo Workforce board 
to assist affected employees. 
“Assistance is available both 
on-site and virtually and 
includes unemployment 
insurance information, 
career counseling, resume 
workshops and job search 
assistance,” he said.

 Gordo said the news hit hard 
as many of the employees are 
part of the “heartbeat of our 
city.”

 “People who frequent our 
businesses, volunteer in 
our schools and contribute 
in countless ways to our 
community’s life,” he said 
adding “Some recently lost 
their homes in the Eaton 
Fire and are now facing the 
uncertainty of job loss.” 

 Gallagher said the layoffs 
were essential to “securing 
JPL’s future by creating 
a leaner infrastructure, 
focusing on our core technical 
capabilities, maintaining fiscal 
discipline, and positioning us 
to compete in the evolving 
space ecosystem — all while 
continuing to deliver on our 
vital work for NASA and 
the nation,” he said. “We are 
grateful for the contributions 
of our departing colleagues, 
whose work has advanced 
exploration and innovation in 
ways that benefit us all.”

 Congresswoman Judy 
Chu said the cuts equaled 
approximately 11 percent of 
JPL’s total staff.

 “These layoffs are an 
absolute tragedy, especially as 
they come at a time when our 
community is still recovering 
from the Eaton Fire that 
destroyed thousands of homes 
and disrupted so many lives 
and livelihoods just 9 months 
ago.” she said adding that the 
layoffs were an immense loss 
for the nation.

 “Every layoff devastates the 
highly skilled and uniquely 
talented workforce that has 
made these [feats in space and 
science] accomplishments 
possible,” Chu said. “Taken 
together with last year’s 
layoffs, this will result in 
an untold loss of scientific 
knowledge and expertise that 
threatens the very future of 
American leadership in space 
exploration and scientific 
discovery.”

 last year, starting in February, 
over 850 JPL employees were 
let go in two other rounds of 
layoffs.

 “I have repeatedly led efforts 
in Congress pushing for 
funding for critical missions 
like Mars Sample Return led 
by JPL, Chu said. “And as Co-
Chair of the Planetary Science 
Caucus in Congress, I have 
led bipartisan appropriations 
requests to demand that 
Congress fully fund NASA’s 
Science Mission Directorate 
and protect all its missions. 
Most recently, I have been 
urging Appropriators to 
include language in any short-
term federal funding bill 
that would explicitly protect 
NASA’s budget and missions 
from any cuts.”

Pasadena 
Police to 
Host Trunk 
or Treat

Free Latin Band Concert 

at Pasadena Senior Center

 Get ready for a 
spook-tacular good time 
as Pasadena Chief of 
Police, Eugene Harris, 
and the department, 
in partnership with 
the Pasadena Police 
Foundation and Day One, 
invite the public to their 
annual Trunk or Treat 
Halloween Extravaganza.

 Join the department on 
Thursday, October 30, 
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 
Centennial Square (100 
N. Garfield Ave.) for an 
evening packed with fun, 
fright, and community 
spirit.

 Bring your little ghosts 
and goblins to trick-
or-treat safely among 
creatively decorated police 
vehicles and community 
trunks. There will be 
games, music, activities, 
and—of course—tons of 
treats.

 This family-friendly 
event was created to 
give children and young 
adults a safe, healthy, and 
happy place to celebrate 
Halloween.

 They welcome treat 
donations and community 
partners who would like 
to decorate a trunk and 
spread the Halloween 
cheer.

 For more information, 
please contact Community 
Services Officer Lou 
Oronoz loronoz@
cityofpasadena.net.

 The Pasadena Senior Center will host a free salsa/Latin 
dance party with music by the Susie Hansen Latin Band on 
Sunday, October 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the air-conditioned 
Scott Pavilion at the Center.

 The Susie Hansen Latin Band mixes together infectious 
Latin rhythms with jazz improvising, vocals in both Spanish 
and English, recognizable standards and strong soloing 
from players. They play salsa, cumbia, charanga, merengue, 
bachata, bolero, cha-cha-cha and Latin jazz. The result is 
music that inspires dancers yet also rewards a close listen.

 While the event is free reservations are suggested. Register 
at pasadenaseniorcenter.org, then go to Activities & Events, 
then Special Events, or call (626) 795-4332.

 All are welcome to join in for a joyful and lively afternoon of 
music, with plenty of room for dancing. We’re starting a new 
Fall tradition with the addition of salsa dance with the Susie 
Hansen Latin Band. Light snacks will be provided.

 As a donor-supported nonprofit, the center operates without 
any local, state or federal funding and provides more services 
to older adults than any other organization in the San Gabriel 
Valley. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. For 
more visit: pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331.

Pasadena Police to hold Free 
Citizen Motorcycle Academy

Haunted 
Heritage: A 
Preservation 
Mixer

 Pasadena Chief of Police, 
Eugene Harris, is reminding 
everyone that motorcycle 
safety saves lives and on 
Saturday, December 6 the 
Pasadena Police Department’s 
Traffic Section will host the 
Citizen’s Motorcycle Academy 
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

 This course is designed 
for all motorcycle riders, 
regardless of experience. 
Spend the day with Pasadena 
Police Motor Officers at the 
Rose Bowl Stadium and gain 
valuable skills and confidence 
on your bike including 
defensive techniques, and 
understanding how to 
respond to unexpected 
road conditions. Safe riding 
protects not only you but 
everyone sharing the road.

Participants must bring their 
own:

• Motorcycle

• Department of 
Transportation (DOT) 
approved helmet

• Gloves and boots

• Eye protection and proper 
riding attire

• Valid Class C driver’s license 
with motorcycle endorsement

You will learn:

• Basic motorcycle riding 
skills

• Low-speed maneuvering

• Braking and U-turns

• Counter steering and cone 
patterns

• Common hazards to 
motorcycle riders

 This class is free, limited to 30 
riders, with lunch provided. 
For more information, please 
contact Officer Zachary 
Sprague at zsprague@
cityofpasadena.net. To 
register, click on the following 
link: cityofpasadena.net/
police.

 Join Pasadena Heritage for a 
spirited evening of Halloween 
fun at ID-éclair in Old 
Pasadena Monday night at 6 
p.m.. 

 They are gathering for a 
casual night of conversation, 
connection, and a little bit of 
indulgence to celebrate the 
spirit of the season. 

 Sip on some wine or treat 
yourself to something sweet 
(available for purchase onsite), 
and mingle with others who 
share a passion for historic 
places and preservation. This 
is your chance to meet others 
who care about keeping 
Pasadena’s stories alive. 

 Costumes are optional.

 ID-éclair is located 169 W. 
Green Street.

 For more information visit: 
pasadenaheritage.org.

 
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