SEE PAGE 2 FOR ca workers get paid sick leave
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2014
pasadenapress.com
SEE PAGE 3 for friends in deed celebrates 120 years VOLUME 1, NO. 20
Superior Court Judge reprimands Conspiracy Pasadena for “playing games” with OIR to commit Report on the fatal McDade shooting murder added City has 10 days to respond to South Pasadena High teens’ charges
challenges and opportunities ahead, but with the help of students, faculty, staff, managers, the Board of Trustees and community members; the future of the college is indeed bright. We will rise to even greater heights as we serve our students and the communities within our District and surrounding areas.” Miller has been associated with PCC since 1973 having
The two teenagers arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at South Pasadena High School now face two additional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon, DA Jackie Lacey’s office said Monday. A juvenile delinquency petition has been amended to add conspiracy charges against two teens who allegedly planned a shooting at South Pasadena High School. The boys, ages 16 and 17 (dob 12/11/97 and 12/11/96), are now facing one count each of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats in case GJ30964 and GJ30402. The new charges, filed Monday, pertain to a school shooting plot at South Pasadena High School. The petition alleges the conspiracy took place between Sept. 1, 2013 and Aug. 16, 2014. The teens also are accused of sharing their intent with another teen. On Aug. 16, the juveniles threatened to kill the teen, prosecutors said. Both teens denied the new charges and are scheduled to return to court Sept. 23. A trial date has been set for Sept. 25. The case remains under investigation by the South Pasadena Police Department.
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Attorney Carre Harper is flanked by Kendrec McDade’s parents at a protest outside city hall in 2012 -Photo by Terry Miller
Los Angeles Superior Court James C. Chalfant accused the City of Pasadena of “playing games” Tuesday by refusing to decide whether or not to publicly release the OIR
Report on the Pasadena Police Department shooting/killing of Kendrec McDade. Judge Chalfant dissolved the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) he issued September
3 which had barred release of the OIR Report. Telling the City it had to “fish or cut bait” on deciding whether to release Please see page 4
Dr. Robert Miller takes interim reins at PCC The PACCD Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Robert B. Miller as Interim Superintendent-President of Pasadena City College effective September 4, 2014. Dr. Miller brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role having previously served as Assistant Superintendent/Senior Vice President, Business and College Services. Dr. Miller replaces Dr. Mark Rocha, who recently retired as Superintendent/President.
“We welcome the expertise and experience that Dr. Miller brings to the position. His resultsoriented approach and ability to think strategically will play a pivotal role in the future of PCC,” said Dr. Anthony Fellow, President of the PACCD Board of Trustees. Upon being appointed, Dr. Miller stated, “it was a distinct honor and privilege to be asked to serve this great college in this transitional role. There are many
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New law requires paid sick leave for California workers According to the governor’s office, “about 40% of California’s workforce — an estimated 6.5 million people — have no paid sick leave benefits at all,” states the Los Angeles Times. This will change July of next year, because last Wednesday, Governor Jerry Brown signed the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (AB 1522). For both part-time and full-time employees working more than 30 days per year, the legislation requires employers to grant them three days of paid sick leave. For every 30 hours of labor, employees can earn a minimum of one paid sick leave hour to recuperate themselves, or assist a sick family member. Unions and worker’s rights groups have long favored the new law and Brown called the bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, DSan Diego “real step forward”
By jennifer schlueter for, especially middle-class, also 363,000 state workers, workers, who had to choose because its execution would between forcing themselves have cost the state of Califorto work while sick and thus nia more money. The Washpossibly endanger coworkers, ington Post quoted a statement or recover at home losing es- of the National Federation of sential income and fearing job Independent Business in Caliloss. The governor added in a fornia, in which the associastatement: “Whether you’re a tion’s executive director John dishwasher in San Diego or a Kabateck inquired: “So the store clerk in Oakland, this bill state can’t afford its own manfrees you of having to choose dates, but small business ownbetween your family’s health ers are supposed to be able to and your job.” absorb those costs?” He addAfter Connecticut in 2011, ed: “Our small-business ownCalifornia has become the sec- ers, who make up more than ond state to grant paid sick 99% of the employer commuleave. Five years prior, San nity in California, already face Francisco County was the first an increase in minimum wage, county nationwide to adopt among the highest taxes and such a law for workers within more regulations than any oththe county. er state. This will only serve According to the LA to eliminate any plans small Times, the bill exempts not employers have to grow and only “workers subject to cer- expand their businesses.” tain collective bargaining Jot Condie, president and agreements and airline flight chief executive of the Calicrews and attendants who are fornia Restaurants Assn., also under federal labor laws,” but argues against the law: “Op-
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erators essentially have to pay twice — for the staffer staying home and for someone to take their place,” he told the LA Times. “A one-size-fits-all approach to sick leave is inappropriate and onerous.” Others, such as Los Feliz’ Skylight Books owner and manager Kerry Slattery, who already provides paid sick leave and paid vacation, support the new law: “I think it’s a reasonable thing to do,” Slattery said. “It’s investing in professional employees.” Brown justified his decision to improve working conditions for the middle class with the following statement: “When you look at the power and the wealth that is accumulated by a very small percentage, and then you look at the people at the bottom ... this is the least we can do and there’s more in the coming years,” Brown told the LA Times.
Pasadena Women's Connection presents Magnolia Fashion Show and Luncheon Magnolia Fashion Show and Luncheon will be presented by the Pasadena Women's Connection on Wednesday, September 17, 11:30a.m.at the Women City Club of Pasadena, 160 North Oakland Ave., Pasadena. Magnolia, an Arcadia boutique and Readers Choice Awards winner for best Ladies Clothing will dazzle you with a fashion show of best and latest
styles in women's clothing. Motivational speaker Sharon Lawlor, recently completed her 2nd Master’s Degree with honors, will share how the brokenness of your life can be something beautiful in her talk "From Pieces to Masterpieces". All are invited to attend. Tickets are $23. For reservations call Darlene (818)3532212 or Carole (818)790-1907.
Planned High School mass shooting Continued from page 1
South Pasadena police arrested the two boys Aug. 18 after launching an investigation. South Pasadena Police Chief Miller said the teenagers had a “very specific” plan and named
their targets, including three teachers and two students. A search of their computers turned up research on rifles, pistols, submachine guns, bombs and other explosives.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 | 3
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Friends In Deed celebrates 120 years at Castle Green
Announcing honorees and honorary benefit committee Friends In Deed is throwing a party Nov. 5 at historic Castle Green to celebrate 120 years of bringing help and hope to vulnerable and at risk residents of Pasadena and greater San Gabriel Valley. The theme, “That’s What Friends are For,” describes the mission and spirit of this respected organization founded in 1894 at about the same time as the Rose Parade. To exemplify its role of caring put into action, Friends In Deed will honor the Rev. Inman Moore for his decades of loyal support and civil rights leadership, and the Rev. Georg Regas for his significant peace and justice work at home and nationally. Other honorees include the Pasadena Altadena Soroptomist Club, an international women’s civic club. It will be honored for its partnership with Friends In Deed since the inception of The Women’s Room, a daytime center for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The corporate honoree is Whole Foods Arroyo, esteemed for its social conscience and commitment to the local community. Lena Kennedy, who presents the annual Southern California Women’s Health Conference as a service to the community, has been selected to chair the honorary benefit committee composed of other civic leaders. They are the Rev. Ed Bacon and Hope HendricksBacon of All Saints Pasadena, Mayor Bill and Claire Bogaard, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Patt Diroll of the Pasadena StarNews, Rabbi Joshua Grater of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Assembly Member Chris Holden, and Monica Hubbard, a community activist. Others are Pasadena Council Member John J. Kennedy; Edna Lekovic, director of the Muslim Affairs Council;
Ron Nelson, president of the Pasadena Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints; Father Gerard O’Brien of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church; Jan Sanders, director of Pasadena Libraries; Deborah Sanchez, Realtor; Tarek Shawky, board member of New Horizon School, and James Watterson, community activist and noted event planner. Friends known for civic activism will present a lively revue, “A Walk Through History” at the 120th celebration, which also will offer food, music and
auctions. Fritz Coleman, standup comic and KNBC weatherman, will host the show. The master of ceremonies for the event will be celebrity hairstylist Joseph Rene. It will be Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m., at Castle Green, 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91105. Tickets are $120. Valet parking will be available. Further information is on the website: FriendsInDeedpas.org or by calling 626-7972402 Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Corporate and individual sponsorships for the Friends In Deed benefit also are available.
Long Beach Office 3780 Kilroy Airport Way Suite 360 Long Beach, CA 90806 Ph. (562) 472-0071 Fx. (562) 689-0071 Los Angeles Office 5701 South Eastern Avenue Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90040 Ph. (323) 727-1144 Fx. (323) 727-9198 www.heger-industrial.com Lic. #00814086
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Dr. Robert Miller takes interim reins at PCC Continued from page 1
graduated from the college in 1975. He worked fulltime for the college from 1976 through 1986 leaving as the Assistant Dean, Learning Resources to pursue other career opportunities. In 2005, Miller returned to PCC to serve as the Associate Dean, Academic Support. The Office of Academic Support was responsible for a variety of functions that directly supported all aspects of the college’s instructional offerings. In addition, Miller was responsible for specific college programs such as Distance Learning, Study Abroad, Off-Campus High School Bridge, the Teaching and Learning Center, and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program. In May 2009, Miller was named the Interim Dean, Educational Services. In that capacity, he joined the college’s Executive Committee and continued his role managing the Academic
Support office, providing administrative support and oversight of the Curriculum and Instruction process and was named the college’s Accreditation Liaison Officer. In July 2011, after a national search, Miller was named Vice President, Educational Services. In November 2012, the college restructured and Miller was named Assistant Superintendent/Senior Vice President, Business and College Services. In this capacity, Dr. Miller provided oversight of the college’s Fiscal Services, Business Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities and Construction Management, Police and Safety Services, and Institutional Research departments. He also engaged in government relations and strategic planning and implementation. Miller’s accomplishments include leading and participation within project teams that raised over $30 million to produce vari-
ous national and international distance-learning courses designed for adult and college students. Dr. Miller has successfully managed complex national development and marketing campaigns, projects, and teams throughout his career. He holds an Associate of Arts Degree in telecommunications from Pasadena City College; a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of La Verne, La Verne, California; and Master’s degree in Public Administration from the California State University at Northridge, Northridge, California. In May 2014, Dr. Miller completed his Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of La Verne, La Verne, California. Among Dr. Miller’s community interests is the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, which he has been affili-
Dr. Robert Miller -Courtesy Photo
ated with for the past 30 years. Miller was named to the Association’s Executive Committee in 2013. He will preside as President of the 2021 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. A resident of the Pasadena area and Pasadena since 1969, Miller and his wife Barbara recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. They have two married adult children and welcomed their first grandchild in 2014.
Superior Court Judge reprimands Pasadena in fatal McDade shooting Continued from page 1
the OIR Report and to “stop playing games,” Judge Chalfant ordered the City to decide within 10 days whether it will grant the Public Record Act request for the OIR Report by McDade’s mother Anya Slaughter, Pasadena grass-roots organizations the NAACP, ACT, and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (“IMA”), and community activist Kris Ockershauser.
The context of Judge Chalfant’s being visibly disturbed by the City’s gamesmanship was that Pasadena City Attorney Michelle Bagneris invited the Pasadena Police Officer’s Association (”PPOA”) to file a lawsuit against the City, released the OIR Report to the PPOA attorneys who were suing the City but not to the members of the public requesting the Report, and then used
the TRO that the PPOA got by filing the lawsuit as the City’s excuse to avoid making a decision decide whether or not to release the Report. Judge Chalfant described the City as “straddling the fence” by hiding behind his TRO to avoid deciding on whether ornot it is going to release the OIR Report. The Judge said that by dissolving the TRO, he was eliminating the City’s excuse for refusing to make that decision. Today’s hearing was initiated by attorneys Dale Gronemeier and Skip Hickambotton on behalf of Slaughter, the NAACP, ACT, the IMA, and Ockershauser. They contended that the PPOA lawsuit should be thrown out of court because it is a “reverse publicrecords-act lawsuit” which cannot be asserted unless and until the City makes a decision to release the OIR Report. Gronemeier and Hickambottom asked Judge Chalfant to sched-
ule a motion to throw out the PPOA complaint because it is not ripe for filing; Judge Chalfant agreed with the Gronemeier/Hickambottom analysis, cancelled the hearing on a preliminary injunction set for September 23, and dissolved the TRO. The Judge ordered the City to make a decision within 10 days on releasing the OIR Report and to notify the PPOA; he gave the PPOA and the Gronemeier/Hickambottom clients five court days to come back to Court if they were dissatisfied with the result. Gronemeier said after the hearing “this is the first time in 39 years practicing law that a Judge has given me more than I asked for. We not only de facto got the PPOA complaint thrown out because it is not ripe, but we didn’t have to go back to court for another hearing as I had expected and the Court dissolved the TRO even though we did not ask for that.”