COMPLIMENTARY COPY
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Thursday, JUNE 21 - JUNE 27, 2018
City staff estimates cost of rehabilitating YWCA building “likely
Since 1996
Volume 22, NO. 25
Pasadena Westin Hotel Under Fire After Facebook Post of Alleged Racist Incident
exceeding $10 million.” - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
Pasadena Council Hears Civic Center Task Force Recommendations Gus HERRERA gherrera@beaconmedianews.com
At their latest regular meeting, the Pasadena City Council heard the much-awaited recommendations from the Civic Center Task Force (CCTF) but they were ultimately unable to take any form of action, as several council members felt they did not have enough information to proceed with the decision-making. Although they appreciated the task force’s work, most of which had to do with design improvements and potential new uses for the Civic Center, Council felt they needed additional information, specifically concerning the economics of the situation, in order to make responsible and informed decisions. “Nobody wants to screw this up,” said Council Member Margaret McAustin, “I just feel, if we had a better understanding … then we will be more comfortable.” There was also disparity between how city staff and the CCTF perceived the appropriate next steps – while city staff recommended sending out the project for bidding via a new SEE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE 11
PASADENA INTRODUCES SMARTBOOT TECHNOLOGY TO RECOVER UNPAID PARKING VIOLATIONS New program will be aimed at vehicles with five or more unpaid parking tickets
Scores of activists protest outside the hotel Monday night; Westin Hotel does damage control
The City of Pasadena has entered into an agreement with PayLock, LLC to provide SmartBoot technology in an effort to recover unpaid parking violations throughout the city. The City’s scofflaw program enforces the State of California motor vehicle code, aimed at the most serious parking violators who have five or more unpaid parking tickets. “While the California Vehicle Code allows us to impound vehicles with five or more unpaid parking citations, we wanted to find a way to collect these unpaid citations that was less punitive,” said Jon Hamblen, the City’s parking manager. “Instead of having to come to our office and then to a tow yard, motorists can now simply call Paylock, make a payment and have access to their vehicle in minutes.” When Parking Enforcement officers identify a vehicle eligible for impounding, a SmartBoot is placed on the vehicle. Once all fines and fees are paid, the registered
Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
I
n incident involving an African-America woman and her daughter who experienced “blatant racism” in Pasadena has gone viral and garnered the attention of international media. The incident, posted on Facebook, depicts a white man posing as a health inspector who asked the mother and daughter if they had showered before using a pool at The Westin
SEE SMARTBOOT PAGE 10
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Craft Distillery
Tarzan Returns to the Arboretum in Arcadia
that Could: Stark Spirits
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Hotel Pasadena last Monday. Thus far, there have been four million views of that Facebook post. Carle Wheeler posted a video of the incident on Facebook on Wednesday, claiming she and her daughter were at the hotel pool when they were approached by a white male adult. The man claimed to be a “health inspector” who asked them if they had showered before entering the swimming pool. SEE WESTIN HOTEL PAGE 11
- Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
SPORTS
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Pasadena’s Panthers Capture Elusive Division 6 Title
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