It’s National Back to School Month! ENTERTAINMENT Old Town Pasadena Art Walk! Page 8
BUSINESS PROFILE Smitten on Paper: Wedding Invites and Paper Delights Page 9
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SPORTS The CIF-SS Commissioner’s Message Page 22
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COMPLIMENTARY COPY VOLUME 20, NO. 32
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Thursday, August 11, 2016 - August 17, 2016
Since 1996
Pasadena residents concerned about the overwhelming number of hotels being built in the city, namely one slated to occupy the park opposite city hall. The group held a picnic in the park Saturday morning hoping to bring to the mayor’s attention the opposition to the project. - Photo by Terry Miller
PASADENA RESIDENTS RALLY SATURDAY TO SAVE CIVIC CENTER AND ITS TREES BY TERRY MILLER Dozens of Pasadena residents joined forces Saturday morning in the publicly-owned park facing city hall (100 N. Garfield Ave.), for the clear and definite purpose
of saying “no” to a proposed giveaway of one of the city’s two most recognizable parks. The small parkland in question was purchased through a 1923 bond, specifically designed to complete the City Beautiful
Bennett Plan, anchored by the Pasadena City Hall and plaza (the backdrop for the “Parks and Recreation” TV show, as well as many Hollywood films), extending north and south to include the City’s Public Library and Civic Audito-
rium. It was not purchased to be given away to a hotel developer, in order to restore the old YWCA building, an architectural landmark designed by Julia Morgan, the architect of Hearst Castle, nor
Council Rewards City’s Blue-Collar Workers BY GUS HERRERA Labor disputes between the city and hundreds of its most essential blue-collar employees officially came to an end when council approved a new memorandum of under-
standing (MOU) last Monday night. City workers, represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 858, had been seeking equal footing at the bargaining
table for quite some time and council finally brought an end to their struggle. Item 8 on the evening’s agenda, which was adopted without any opposition, auSEE PAGE 12
to bring in City of Pasadena General Fund money to help the city pay off the bad investments of CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System). Using a bull horn, residents, SEE PAGE 12
Council Ratifies City Manager Steve Mermell’s Contract
City Manager Steve Mermell. – Photo by Terry Miller
It’s official! The City of Pasadena recently welcomed newly-selected City Manager Steve Mermell, to the tune of a hefty six-figure contract, which is estimated to be worth $404,099 (includes sal-
ary and benefit), according to city staff’s report. Mayor Terry Tornek made the announcement during council’s regular meeting SEE PAGE 13