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pasadenaindependent.com Thursday, APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2013
Blackburn and Spicer win Monrovia council seats By Susan Motander
Alex Blackburn
Monrovia held its municipal election on Tuesday. With only the incumbents running for mayor, city clerk and city treasurer, only the two seats for council members were truly in contention. Even in this race, there were only two candidates listed on the ballot, but a write-in campaign had made a contest. Not Please see page 15
$115.6 million slated for Pasadena repowering project ing businesses as our local economy continues to grow,” Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said. "By generating power locally, we can continue to provide uninterrupted power to our customers when the City’s electrical demand exceeds its import capacity and also help integrate solar and wind renewable energy resources into our portfolio," said Phyllis Currie, General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power. "It will reduce the City's dependence on purchases of energy from the market, the cost of which can spike when demand for power is high." Plans for the project, which is expected to be operating by the end of 2015, have been included in the City’s capital improvement program for a number of years. Cost estimates of $115.6 million, first projected in 2010, are under review by expert utility consultants. With the EIR now approved, next steps include developing a financing plan Please see page 17
Brown joins Ambassador Locke, announces $1.5 Billion ChinaCalifornia investment deal
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Volume 18, No. 15
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Plans to secure a more reliable and environmentally responsible energy future for Pasadena City advanced early Tuesday morning, April 9, after the Pasadena City Council approved the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Glenarm Power Plant Repowering Project. The Glenarm Power Plant Repowering Project will replace an antiquated, steam-generating power plant with a new, state-ofthe-art, 71-megawatt natural gas powered generator and the best available air pollution control systems. The new power plant will generate power about 30 percent more efficiently and will augment the reliability of the City's electrical system when conditions are unfavorable for wind and solar energy production. “This is an important undertaking by Pasadena Water and Power to meet our City’s energy needs with modern, efficient and environmentally friendly equipment that will serve our residents and provide power for new and exist-
Governor Edmund G. Holdings Group Co. Ltd. Brown Jr. joined U.S. Ambas- and California-based Signasador to China Gary Locke, ture Development Group Chinese Vice Minister of will create 10,000 jobs and Commerce Wang Chao and provide for the construction hundreds of American and of 3,100 units, 200,000 square Chinese business leaders at feet of retail and commercial the U.S. Embassy in Beijing space and 30 acres of parks on Wednesday night, where and open space in Oakhe announced a $1.5 billion land. The project will break investment partnership be- ground in 2014. tween a California-based de“This massive influx of veloper and a China-based Chinese investment will put investor and developer that thousands of Californians will create thousands of Cali- to work and dramatically fornia jobs. improve Oakland’s waterThe $1.5 billion Brook- front,” said Governor Brown. lyn Basin FCCU investment deal be- “This project is just one exFront page Banner 1 x 10.pdf 1 3/29/2013 4:24:40 PM tween China-based Zarsion ample of what’s possible
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Allegations of racism in San Gabriel council still an issue By Shel Segal A week after Chin Ho Liao said the San Gabriel City Council won’t seat him because they don’t want Asians on the council and because of a “dirty political trick,” one city council member has said he agrees with half of that statement. In addition, one San Gabriel resident and business owner gave his own reasons why the city council should continue to investigate whether or not the council memberelect does indeed live within the city limits. Newly elected City Council Member Jason Pu – who himself is of Asian descent – said while he has no comment on Liao’s allegations of racism, he does not contest the fact that several other council members Please see page 18
-Photo by Terry Miller
Doo Dah Queen Susann Edmonds crowned in elaborate ritual at American Legion Post 280
when business leaders in two of the world’s most dynamic regions connect.” According to research company Rhodium Group, from 2000 to 2011, Chinese investors funded 165 deals in California worth $1.3 billion – which represents more than one quarter of all Chinese investments in the U.S. during this period. The report also found that California has the potential to attract up to $60 billion in Chinese foreign direct investment by 2020. This is the first ma-
The annual rite of passage for any self-respecting Pasadena resident is witnessing the event whereby a handful of select, semi - solid citizens interview, nudge and otherwise interrogate the candidates who have the inner strength and livewire persona to try-out for the coveted Doo Dah crown. These eccentric DooDah judges are handpicked from and fairly
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By Terry Miller
Newly crowned Doo Dah Queen, Susann Edmonds celebrates with a fellow contestant who sported a rather skimpy outfit. -Photo by Terry Miller
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