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ALTADENA - SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain View News Saturday, January 17, 2026

Chu Demands DHS Secretary 
Kristi Noem’s Impeachment

Pasadena Seeks Input for 
City Manager Recruitment

San Marino Upcoming 
Events & Programming

 Following the 
announcement of City 
Manager Miguel Márquez 
retirement, the Pasadena 
City Council announced 
Monday they have initiated 
a nationwide recruitment for 
the city’s next City Manager. 
To lead this executive 
recruitment, the Council has 
engaged WBCP Inc.

 City Council members 
are also inviting the 
community for input on the 
core attributes, leadership 
qualities, and technical 
strengths the City should 
prioritize to support our 
organization, community 
partnerships, and culture. 

 Links to the survey in 
multiple languages can be 
found at: cityofpasadena.net/
city-manager/news. 

 Organizers are asking 
for a response by Monday, 
January 26. Responses will 
remain anonymous and will 
be used to develop interview 
questions and provide 
guidance to the City Council 
on the selection.

 Applications for City 
Manager will be accepted 
through Thursday, January 
29 and the most qualified 
candidates will be invited to 
interviews in early March. 
For more information 
about the position, view the 
recruitment brochure.

 For questions about 
recruitment or to provide 
additional input recruiter 
Wendi Brown at Wendi@
wbcpinc.com

 Congresswoman Judy Chu 
has joined more than 70 
of her House Democratic 
colleagues in cosponsoring 
articles of impeachment against 
Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi 
Noem. Over the past year, 
Secretary Noem has executed 
Donald Trump’s violent 
immigration enforcement 
agenda that has torn families 
apart, undermined due process, 
and violated the most basic 
constitutional and human rights 
of people across the country. 
Last week, one of Secretary 
Noem’s ICE agents shot 37-year-
old legal observer Renee Good 
in the face multiple times, 
killing her as she attempted to 
leave the scene. 

 “Under Secretary Noem’s 
leadership, ICE has descended 
into a lawless, violent force 
with zero accountability. Since 
day one, Secretary Noem’s ICE 
agents have terrorized our 
communities by driving around 
in unmarked vehicles, covering 
their faces, refusing to show 
ID, and recklessly detaining 
innocent people without due 
process. The cruelty we are 
witnessing is not normal, it 
is not justified, and it is not 
acceptable in a democracy,” 
said Chu. “In Minneapolis, an 
ICE agent shot an American 
citizen in the face three times 
as she attempted to leave the 
scene. In California, ICE agents 
shot an innocent protestor 
with a non-lethal weapon, 
cracked his skull, and dragged 
him while he was bleeding, 
leaving him permanently blind 
in one eye. Secretary Noem is 
responsible for this violence. 
She must be held accountable 
for obstructing Congress, 
violating the public trust, and 
using her official position for 
personal gain. That is why I 
proudly join my Democratic 
colleagues in cosponsoring 
articles of impeachment against 
Secretary Noem, and I call for 
her immediate resignation.”

 Despite the Trump 
administration’s cruel and 
harmful immigration policies, 
Chu has continued to use every 
tool at her disposal to fight back, 
demand accountability, and 
advocate for her constituents 
and immigrant communities in 
Southern California and across 
the country. 

 Last month, Chu intervened 
and successfully secured the 
release of Masuma Khan, who 
was detained during a routine 
immigration check despite 
nearly 30 years in the U.S. and 
no criminal record. In October, 
Chu helped prevent the 
deportation of Barbara Gomes 
Marques May, a Brazilian 
national with no criminal 
record, after a judge ruled in her 
favor. In September, Rep. Chu 
also successfully advocated for 
the release of Rami Othmane, a 
Pasadena resident from Tunisia 
suffering from a brain tumor. 

 Beyond individual cases, 
Chu has introduced and led 
major legislative and oversight 
efforts to hold ICE accountable 
and strengthen protections 
for immigrant communities, 
including:

 H.R. 4667, Visible Identification 
Standards for Immigration-
Based Law Enforcement 
(VISIBLE) Act of 2025

This legislation would increase 
transparency and accountability 
by requiring immigration 
enforcement officers to clearly 
display visible identification 
during public enforcement 
actions, prohibiting non-
medical face coverings, and 
requiring accountability when 
officers violate the law.

Demanding Oversight and 
Protections at the Adelanto ICE 
Processing Center 

Following the deaths of Ismael 
Ayala-Uribe and Gabriel 
Garcia-Aviles at the Adelanto 
ICE Processing Center, both of 
whom died after being denied 
timely and adequate medical 
care, Chu and Dave Min led 43 
Members of Congress in a letter 
to the Department of Homeland 
Security and ICE demanding 
accountability for ICE’s failure 
to meet basic medical standards, 
citing the record-high number 
of deaths in ICE custody that 
have occurred since Trump 
took office. Chu has conducted 
multiple oversight visits 
to immigration detention 
facilities, even as federal officials 
have repeatedly and unlawfully 
attempted to block her access. 
During visits where she was 
granted entry, she witnessed 
deeply disturbing conditions 
and clear evidence of inhumane 
and unacceptable treatment of 
detainees. She will continue to 
conduct oversight and demand 
transparency, accountability, 
and compliance with the law.

 Chu has also attended more 
than a dozen rallies this past 
year to stand shoulder-to-
shoulder with constituents 
calling for accountability from 
the Trump administration. 

 “No one in this country should 
have to live in fear of their own 
government, all Americans 
and immigrant communities 
deserve dignity, due process, 
and protection under the law, 
and I will continue to fight back 
against policies that terrorize 
families in Southern California 
and across this country while 
demanding accountability from 
Donald Trump and those who 
carry out his agenda,” said Rep. 
Chu.

Upcoming Closure on MLK Jr. Day

 In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all City facilities, 
excluding emergency services, will be closed on Monday, January 
19. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, January 20.

No Construction on Monday, January 19

 Pursuant to the City of San Marino’s Municipal Code Section 
25.01.02(D), all construction work and construction activity is 
prohibited on Monday, January 19, in observance of MLK Jr. Day.

Crowell Public Library Open House

 Come celebrate 93 years of igniting passion and lifelong learning 
at the Crowell Public Library’s Open House on Saturday, January 
24 from 12 – 4 PM! This event is free and open to the public. 
Be sure to join us at 1 PM in the Barth Community Room for 
introductions and remarks from the Mayor, recognition of 
Community Partner of the Year: San Marino Public Library 
Foundation, announcement of the San Marino Public Library 
Foundation's Bookmark Contest winners and acknowledgement 
of sponsors, and recognition of Teen Volunteer of the Year. 
Registration is not required.

Lunar New Year Festival

 Join the community for the San Marino Lunar New Year 
Festival on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM at 
Lacy Park (1485 Virginia Road, San Marino, CA 91108). This free, 
family-friendly event will feature festive performances, delicious 
food, and a variety of activities celebrating the Lunar New Year. 
Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, 
please contact the Chinese Club of San Marino at (626) 796-5190 
or email info@ccsm.org.

Events at the Old Mill

 Artists' Reception: The Old Mill is thrilled to introduce our 
upcoming California Art Club exhibit, Nature's Bounty, and invite 
you to join us for an artist reception on Thursday, January 22nd, 
from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at The Old Mill. Nature's Bounty features 
artwork from 28 juried artists of the California Art Club. The 
exhibition explores the richness of nature and its ability to provide 
nourishment, beauty, and inspiration. Everyone is welcome and 
there are no reservations required. Light refreshments will be 
provided.

 California Art Club Paint/Sculpt Out: In conjunction with our 
upcoming reception, the Old Mill Foundation and the California 
Art Club invite you to a paint-out and a day of family-friendly 
activities on Sunday, January 25th, during our open hours from 
11 AM - 2 PM. Art tables will be set up with activities designed to 
engage both kids and adults. No RSVP necessary. If you have any 
questions, please contact us at oldmill1816@gmail.com or (626) 
449-5458.

DIY Winter-ful Challenges

Now through Tuesday, March 31, Children’s Room

 Stop by the Children’s Room this season for a series of monthly 
interactive DIY challenges and activities! Engage your child’s 
creativity and curiosity, and have fun with other families in the 
community. Get ready to do puzzles, make art together, and learn 
about the changing of the seasons. Registration is not required.

Peaceful Puzzling

Thursday, January 22 from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Barth 
Community Room

 Set aside some time to settle in with a fun, new puzzle and 
some coffee or tea! Work in a group or on your own to complete 
a puzzle. We will have puzzles of varying sizes (100-300 pieces) 
for participants to work on. This program is for adults only. This 
program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Registration 
is not required.

Senior Trip: The Getty Villa

Wednesday, February 4 from 10 AM – 6 PM

Cost: R: $54 / NR: $63

 Spend a beautiful day in Malibu exploring art, history, and 
seaside charm! The trip begins with a stop at the Malibu Country 
Mart, where participants can browse upscale boutiques, enjoy the 
relaxed coastal atmosphere, and have lunch on their own at one of 
the many inviting cafes or restaurants. After lunch, the group will 
head to the Getty Villa Museum for a self-guided tour through 
stunning gardens, ancient Greek and Roman art, and breathtaking 
ocean views. This leisurely outing offers the perfect mix of culture, 
relaxation, and scenic beauty along the Pacific Coast. Registration 
is required by January 21.

Cupid’s Family Dance

Friday, February 6 from 6 – 8 PM, Community Center

Cost: R: $21 / NR: $25 (non-refundable)

 Grab your loved ones and join us for a fun-filled Valentine’s 
Family Dance Party! Enjoy music, games, and dancing for all ages, 
plus sweet treats and fun activities. It’s the perfect way to celebrate 
love, laughter, and family togetherness! We will also be making 
Valentine’s Day Grams for our San Marino Seniors! Valentine’s 
Day Gram participants will receive a cool activity kit! Registration 
is required by January 30.

Holiday Tree Trash Pick up

 Valley Vista Services will continue to pick up Holiday trees 
free of charge during your normal trash service day through 
January 23rd. Trees must not be flocked, have all ornaments and 
decorations removed, and must be cut into 6ft lengths (if taller 
than 6ft).

Jefferson Park Stormwater 
Capture Project Feasibility

 The City of Pasadena Public 
Works Department will be 
launching the Jefferson Park 
Stormwater Capture Project 
Feasibility Study alongside 
a robust community 
outreach and engagement 
effort. Identified as a high 
priority opportunity for 
regional stormwater capture, 
the project will explore 
innovative approaches to 
stormwater management 
while enhancing park 
amenities and reflecting local 
community priorities.

 In June 2025, the City 
secured a $191,180 Public 
Education and Community 
Engagement grant from Los 
Angeles County’s Safe, Clean 
Water (SCWP) Program to 
support a comprehensive 
outreach and engagement 
plan that will accompany 
the Feasibility Study. The 
grant funding, awarded 
through the voter-approved 
SCWP Program, ensures that 
residents play a central role 
in shaping the project’s vision 
and design.

 The Feasibility Study 
will evaluate both 
underground stormwater 
capture infrastructure and 
potential above-ground 
park enhancements, 
focusing on strategies to 
improve stormwater runoff 
management and address 
water quality compliance 
while creating meaningful 
park improvements. Potential 
features and amenities for 
consideration may include:

- Enhanced urban greening, 
including tree canopy

- New recreation areas, such 
as baseball fields and play 
structures

- Outdoor classrooms and 
pathways

- Other features that align 
with community visioning 
and environmental goals

 To ensure broad 
community participation, 
the City will host bilingual 
community events, such as 
pop-up activities at the park, 
interested parties’ meetings, 
community surveys, 
and partnerships with 
surrounding community 
partners, with engagement 
activities beginning in early 
in the year.

 The City invites the 
community to respond to a 
short initial survey for the 
project as an early opportunity 
to share feedback. Residents 
interested in providing input 
can complete the survey at bit.
ly/JeffersonParkInitialSurvey.

Pasadena 
Heritage 
Events

Pasadena Neighbor Day

 

 The City of Pasadena 
Economic Development 
Division and The Nextdoors 
(Pasadena Band pictured) invite 
the community to the fourth 
Annual Pasadena Neighbor Day 
on Sunday, January 18, 2026, 2 
p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wild Parrot 
Brewing Company, 2302 E. 
Colorado Blvd. We encourage 
residents and local businesses 
to participate in spreading the 
mission of getting to know their 
neighbors better and encourage 
local gatherings. 

 The event in the Lamanda Park 
neighborhood will feature four 
music acts from Pasadena and 
surrounding communities.

 Whether the folks next door, 
the owners and employees of 
local businesses, or community 
representatives, it’s a day to 
remember that we are happier, 
closer, and safer when we know 
and appreciate our neighbors. 

 District 4 Councilmember 
Gene Masuda notes, “Pasadena 
Neighbor Day is a wonderful 
opportunity to celebrate 
our community, strengthen 
connections, and support 
local businesses. It’s a day to 
come together, have fun, and 
remember the power of being 
good neighbors.”

 “We are always looking for 
ways to bring more vitality into 
our neighborhood commercial 
districts, and Lamanda Park 
is a perfect neighborhood to 
host the main event of the 
day. We are excited to support 
Pasadena Neighbor Day which 
brings business and community 
together,” said City of Pasadena 
Economic Development 
Director David Klug.

 Pasadena Neighbor Day and 
Nextdoors co-founder Russell 
Mark says “the main event 
at Wild Parrot has become 
a wonderful tradition and 
centerpiece to the event. In 
2025 the day also served as 
a de-facto Eaton Fire day 
of healing and community 
support, featuring several bands 
booked pre-fire who lost their 
homes but still rallied and 
played the show, because they 
felt it was important to feel 
some normalcy. Never was the 
importance of knowing your 
neighbors highlighted more 
– knowing who may have a 
disability, sensitive to breathing 
issues, lacking a car, working 
nights with pets at home alone 
– all these things suddenly 
became vital in a potential life 
or death scenario.”

 Wild Parrot co-owner John 
Jackson says, “a place like ours 
doesn’t just look at success as 
a ledger book – our purpose is 
to bring a community together, 
and help form closer local 
bonds, never moreso than in 
2025. We take an active role in 
- from our running club to our 
trivia nights and so much more 
– Neighbor Day fits in perfectly 
with that.”

 The day is also about giving 
back to the community and 
the non-profits that make 
Pasadena a thriving and unique 
city. Wild Parrot will donate 
to causes close to their heart 
– the Pasadena Educational 
Foundation and Pasadena Fire 
Foundation. The Nextdoors will 
donate a percentage of merch 
sold, in addition to raffle ticket 
revenue, to the Lightbringer 
Project, producers of Doo Dah 
Parade, LitFest, and so much 
more. Last year over $1700 was 
raised for PEF and Pasadena 
Symphony’s fire relief efforts.

 Nextdoors co-founder Mika 
Larson explains, “all these 
organizations were heavily 
impacted by the Eaton Fire, and 
yet rose to the occasion and were 
powerful agents for assistance, 
positivity, and perseverance 
during a chaotic and painful 
time. They deserve the support 
of our community...,"

 Performances include The 
Nextdoors, Licata Brothers, 
Nina Lares, and Jason Heath 
and the Greedy Souls. For 
more information visit: 
PasadenaNeighborDay.com

Jazz Night at the Historic 
Blinn House

 Join Pasadena Heritage 
January 22 for an evening of 
live music, French-inspired 
bites, and festive beverages 
at the historic Blinn House. 
The event is set to start at 6 
p.m. and end at 8 p.m. 

 Step into the 1906 Blinn 
House as we transform it 
into an intimate Parisian-
style jazz club, featuring live 
music performed by the Art 
Deco Entertainment group, 
The Bohemians. Enjoy 
a lively reception with 
excellent music, French-
inspired hors d’oeuvres, 
and festive libations in one 
of Pasadena’s most iconic 
historic homes.

 The Blinn House is located 
at 160 N Oakland Ave. 
Pasadena.

 For more information 
and tickets visit: 
pasadenaheritage.org.

 Playhouse Village 
Walking Tour

 Join Pasadena Heritage 
January 24 from 10 a.m. 
to 11:30 a.m. for a walking 
tour of the Playhouse 
Village Historic District, 
which traces Pasadena’s 
eastward expansion during 
the 1920s and 1930s, when 
the city transitioned from 
an agricultural hub to a 
thriving tourist destination. 
Shaped by the construction 
of the grand Civic Center, 
this area features a variety 
of architectural styles and 
several notable landmarks, 
including the Pasadena 
Playhouse itself.

 The tour will last 
approximately 1.5 hours 
and cover a walking 
distance of about 1 mile. 
Please note, for the comfort 
of all guests, dogs are not 
permitted on Pasadena 
Heritage walking tours.

 For more information 
and tickets visit: 
pasadenaheritage.org.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No.327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com