SEE PAGE 3 for thanksgiving holiday closures & reminders
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014
pasadenapress.com
Release of redacted OIR Report on McDade - judge issues 20-day stay
rec McDade. However, the OIR Report will not be immediately released because Judge Chalfant concurrently granted the request of the Pasadena Police Officers Association (“PPOA”) for a 20 day stay on enforcing the order so that it could seek to overturn Judge Chalfant’s order in the Court
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By Terry Miller and Jennifer Schlueter airport in 1969 for $3 million. There are five Los Angeles county-operated airports — in El Monte, La Verne, Compton, Pacoima and Lancaster . The renaming of the airport was suggested years ago by Gabe Lopez, a pilot who flies his 1940 Stearman regularly out of the small airport. Lopez felt that the more regional name would attract more
Pasadena awarded grant for 2015 summer, afterschool meal programs
people to do business and use the small airfield more regularly. The third annual El Monte Airport Fly-in and Open House Sunday at the small but exciting little airport included all kinds of vintage aircraft including such beauties as a 1929 Travel Air 4000, Curtis Wright plane owned
of Appeal. Pasadena Police Department officers Matthew Griffin and Jeffrey Newlen shot and killed Kendrec McDade in 2012 after a false report that two youths with guns had robbed a victim; the officers chased Mc-
El Monte Airport renamed San Gabriel Valley Airport County and local officials renamed Los Angeles County’s airfield in El Monte Sunday. Now it is officially known as the ‘San Gabriel Valley Airport’ Sunday during the annual air fair and open house. The airport was built in 1936, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Aviation Division Chief Richard Smith said. Los Angeles County bought the
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The City’s Human Services and Recreation Department received a $50,000 grant from the National League of Cities (NLC) to streamline afterschool and summer meal programs for Pasadena-area children. The department will also receive customized technical assistance, access to best practices and national experts, and opportunities for peer learning. Pasadena is among 13 cities receiving grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 because of a continued commitment to combatting childhood hunger through year-round meal programs. Fourteen percent of Pasadena residents live below the federal poverty level. During the 2013-14 school year, 68 percent of Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students were approved for free and reduced meal benefits, according to PUSD. The grant funding will help the City, PUSD and community partners achieve the long-term goals of creating a coordinated, citywide system for providing child nutrition programs; reducing the lunch-to-breakfast meal gap; and increasing awareness of the citywide child nutrition program. “This opportunity aligns with the strategies in our school-city-community work plan to continue offering services that improve student out-
Attorney Carre Harper is flanked by Kendrec McDade’s parents at a protest outside city hall in 2012 -Photo - Photo by Terry Miller
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant Friday entered a judgment ordering the release of a redacted version of the Office of Independent Review Group (“OIR”) Report on the Pasadena Police Department’s shooting of the unarmed young African-American youth Kend-
SEE PAGE 2 for threat assessment & pre-violence training
2 | NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Threat assessment and pre-violence training With occurrences of violence on the rise, the urgent need for expert training in threat assessment and reaction protocol is being met by a new firm, Providers International, launched last summer. The firm can be called in to augment current security staff and to add a level of expertise in homeland security methodology. Heading up the company is Daniel Secundy, who developed new proactive solutions for reducing the potential for violence at schools and businesses. He and his team can work one-onone with key management or provide seminars of any length to educate staff. “The barrier to contacting us is the false notion that ‘it can’t happen here,’” says Secundy. “For every shooting and act of violence that hits the media, there are 50 more around the nation that are not headline grabbers, but disrupt the safety of those we love.” He
believes that “situational awareness” is the key component to reducing violence in our society and teaches the tools that are effective in protection. This includes provisions that can be implemented effectively to assist companies with theft, incident management, workforce reduction issues, work strikes, and physical site security. “The key is to assess and respond to issues far below the threshold of violence,” advises Secundy. “My team and I will do that.” He has spent the better part of a decade working in the security apparatus of the United States, becoming an expert in security and protection. Secundy holds a Master’s degree in National Security with an emphasis in terrorism Methodology and has certifications in both Executive Protection and Corporate Crisis Management. Providers International can be reached through their web site: www.providers-international.com
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San Gabriel Valley Airport Continued from page 1
and operated by Gabe Lopez who showed his machines to visitors at the airport Sunday. Lopez was also offering local flights. The emphasis at the Open House is always on young people hoping to explore aviation and aerospace as a career lopez told Beacon Media. Gabe Lopez’ famous Stearman was in the TV series JAG for 10 years. Jennifer Schlueter’s firstperson report follows: When we received an email from Gabe Lopez offering us a plane ride on his 1940 Stearman, I was stoked, and immediately signed up for it. I had never flown in such a fighter plane. I arrived at the airport on a cloudy Friday afternoon, met Gabe and he kindly explained everything about his 1940 Stearman that I wanted to know. This aircraft was used as a training plane in World War II. Since it was known as the hardest plane to control, prospective pilots had 13 hours to master their craft on it. If they had proven their potential to their instructor, the pilots were trained further. As I sat down in the front seat, Gabe also equipped me with a helmet and goggles, and secured me with a harness that is also used in racing cars and a standard airplane belt. “Do you fly maneuvers at all?” I asked him. He said yes and asked me if I wanted him to fly any. I did, and so he told me he would. Gabe then entered the back
seat, started the engine, and we rolled onto the runway. When we took off, I realized that I could literally jump out off the plane if I wanted to because there were no windows and we were only secured with a harness and a regular airplane belt. I had imagined it to be colder because of the missing windows, however, the windshield in front of me blocked out most of the cold. Because I had wished to fly over Downtown, Gabe got as close to it as possible, then took me towards the Hollywood sign and Beverly Hills, Silver Lake, and Pasadena. The skies were mostly gray with a bit of hazy sunshine in between, but to me that made it all the more interesting as opposed to a simple, clear view. After we flew over Pasadena, Gabe tapped me on my shoulder, and asked if I was ready for some maneuvers. I nodded, even though I was very, very nervous. Gabe quickly turned the plane’s nose downward, and my stomach dropped as the plane did. A few more rollercoaster moves down, left, and right, later, we returned to the airport, and landed as smoothly as ever. As Gabe set up his plane to go back into its hangar, he told me about his 91 year old father, who had served in wars and received countless badges. With a golf cart, Gabe maneuvered his plane onto its designated spot in the hangar, and then accompanied me to the exit of the airport. What a wonderful experience!
Volunteers for Make-A-Wish give their time and talents to help bring hope, strength and joy to children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. We have a special need for volunteers in the Inland Empire to help local children.
Get Involved Today ocie.wish.org | 714-573-9474 Jennifer Schlueter inside the 1940 Stearman plane - Photo by Gabe Lopez
NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014 | 3
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Thanksgiving holiday closures & reminders Pasadena residents and businesses are reminded that City Hall and most City services will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28, 2014 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Specific closures and exceptions are noted below. Pasadena Fire and Police Departments will continue to be staffed for all patrol, jail, fire, paramedic and other emergency services. For any life-threatening emergencies, always remember to call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies during the holidays, remember, “If You See Something, Say Something” by calling police at (626) 744-4241. Pasadena residents and businesses with any power emergencies should call Pasadena’s Water and Power (PWP) Department at (626) 744-4673 and for water-related emergencies call (626) 744-4138. PWP’s Customer Service Call Center will be closed both days for the holiday, but customers can access their accounts and make payments by phone at (626) 744-4005 or online at www.PWPweb.com. The City’s Municipal Services Payment Center at City Hall will be closed both days. The Citizen Service Center will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but will be open to take your calls at (626) 744-7311 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. Regular refuse and recycling collection for Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) will occur on Friday, Nov. 28 and Friday’s collection will be on Saturday, Nov. 29. No pickups for bulky items will be scheduled for the two-day holiday. The City’s ARTS (Area Rapid Transit System) and DialA-Ride transportation programs will not operate on Thursday, Nov. 27, but will resume regular service on Friday, Nov. 28. All parking meters are free and parking time limits will not be enforced on Thanksgiving Day, but shoppers are advised that all regular meter enforcement will resume on Friday, Nov. 28. Vio-
lations for red curb parking and blocking fire hydrants will continue to be issued both days. All branches of the Pasadena Public Library, including the Central Library, will close at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 26, and will be closed the following two days. All Recreation and Community Centers operated by the City’s Human Services and Recreation Department will be closed, but all parks will be open for picnics, fun and play. No site reservations are accepted for the holiday. The City wishes all residents to safely enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Holiday and to celebrate responsibly. Always designate a driver!
The Un-Royal Ball Nov. 29, 6 - 9:30 PM We are purveyors of gutbusting interactive dinner shows. While our gourmet chefs serve you a four-course dinner to fatten-up your belly, our experienced roster of actors will deliver a performance that is sure to make any belly burst with laughter. Bring your appetite and your funny bone and join us for an evening of fun and entertainment. Location: Courtyard by Marriott, 180 N Fair Oaks Ave. Cost: varies For more information, call 888.960.3997 or go to www. bellylaughproductions.com
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4 | NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Jacque Robinson pulls papers for Pasadena Mayor Popular councilwoman is one of 8 candidates vying for the job Councilwoman Robinson filed the necessary paperwork Wednesday to run for Bill Bogaard’s seat. Robinson is serving her second term as the councilwoman for District 1, representing northwest Pasadena. Her seat is up for election in the March 2015 election, and Pasadena Unified School District board member Tyron Hampton, retiring Fire Chief Calvin Wells and German Acevedo have also filed seeking the District 1 seat. Bill Bogaard announced he will not seek reelection earlier this year. Other contendors include Jason Hardin, Don Morgan, Allen
Shay, Leo Temory and Councilman Terry Tornek . The nominations period ends Dec. 12. The election is March 10, 2015.
Jacque Robinson - Courtesy Photo
$50,000 grant for summer 2015 Continued from page 1
comes and foster innovation in Pasadena,” said Mercy Santoro, Director, Human Services and Recreation Department. “The grant will help improve participation in our nutrition programs while also allowing us to brand various community-based meal programs under one name.” Starting in December 2014, the Human Services and Recreation Department will begin meeting with community partners, identifying and creating a database of existing resources, assessing community needs and creating a work plan for the grant cycle. The CHAMPS grant is part of the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth,
Education & Families’ initiative: Cities Combating Hunger Through Afterschool and Summer Meal Programs. CHAMPS is made possible by a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation and in partnership with the Food Research and Action Center. The grant funding has helped supply 7.5 million meals during the last 2.5 years. Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter @PasadenaGov, www.twitter.com/pasadenagov, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofpasadena. Or call the Citizen Service Center, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311.
Release of redacted OIR Report on McDade - judge issues 20-day stay Continued from page 1
Dade for several blocks, before shooting him, claiming they believed that he had a gun. However, McDade was unarmed. Pasadena City Manager Michael Beck sparked a public outcry in July when he publicly stated that the City would release only the recommendations in the OIR Report. Numerous community members urged the City Council to release the full OIR Report. Community members, community organizations, and newspapers
then filed public records act requests for the OIR Report. At the City’s urging, the PPOA filed suit in early September to prevent the City from releasing any part of the OIR Report; the City used the PPOA lawsuit to avoid responding to the public records act requests. McDade’s mother, Anya Slaughter, the Pasadena NAACP, ACT, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and ACLU Board member Kris Ockershauser intervened in the lawsuit, got
the PPOA’s lawsuit dismissed as premature because the City had not indicated it was going to release the document; Judge Chalfant ordered the City to “stop playing games” and indicate whether or not it would release the report. The Los Angeles Times at the same time intervened to also seek release of the OIR Report. The City then submitted under seal a copy of the Report that redacted 14 pages of the 70-page report. On November 4, Judge Chalfant overruled most of the PPOA’s objections to release of the OIR Report, ordered the City to unredact two of its proposed redactions, and ordered the City to redact four short portions that it had not redacted. On November 14, Judge Chalfant entered the judgment ordering release of the revised redacted report but stayed for 20 days until December 3 the City’s obligation to release the report. PPOA Attorney Richard Shinee indicated in Court that the PPOA would seek a further
stay in the appellate courts and would ask the appellate court to prevent the release of the redacted report. Dale Gronemeier, attorney for the interveners (except for the LA Times) stated that he was disappointed that the PPOA is going to try to further delay the release of the report. He indicated that his clients and the LA Times have not yet decided whether they would ask the appellate court to release the whole report. Gronemeier said “I’d like to get back to discussing why this unarmed young AfricanAmerican should not have been shot by the Pasadena Police, the failures in police practices that led to the shooting, and the indefensible City administrative review that exonerated the officers for their conduct in a reckless shooting. I just hope the OIR Report’s criticisms of the City’s administrative review is not buried in the 14 pages that Judge Chalfant has allowed the City to redact.”