8 JUNE 16- JUNE 22, 2022
NEWS
Michelle Obama urges voter engagement at event near downtown LA
Pasadena Water and Power announces new assistant general manager of water Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) has appointed Stacie Takeguchi as its new assistant general manager (AGM) of water after a nationwide search. As the AGM of water, she is responsible for all aspects of Pasadena’s water system services, which include resources, engineering, construction, operations, and water quality. Takeguchi is experienced in water planning, operations and engineering. She is a leader with more than 20 years of ensuring continued water supply reliability, sustainability and resilience for the region. Prior to joining PWP, Takeguchi worked for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) for 15 years in various capacities, including leading regional drought action planning efforts. Prior to MWD, she managed innovative stormwater multiuse projects at the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. Takeguchi has a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and is a licensed engineer in the state of California. "We are at a pivotal point in managing California’s water,” said PWP Interim General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger. “Stacie Takeguchi is the experienced leader that Pasadena needs in order to successfully navigate drought, supply and the future of water
BeaconMediaNews.com
By City News Service
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Stacie Takeguchi. | Courtesy photo
in our community. We’re excited to have her as part of our PWP leadership team.” “I look forward to serving Pasadena and advancing the goals of PWP through continued excellent water service and forward-thinking innovation,” said Takeguchi. To learn more about AGM Takeguchi and other PWP leaders, visit www. PWPweb.com/Executives. PWP provides electricity to more than 65,000
customers within Pasadena. PWP delivers water to almost 38,000 households and businesses in Pasadena and adjacent communities in the San Gabriel Valley. As a community-owned utility, PWP is a not-forprofit public service owned and operated by the City of Pasadena for the benefit of its customers and the community. Its priorities are reliability, responsiveness to customers, reasonable rates and environmental stewardship.
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ormer first lady Michelle Obama delivered the keynote address at the conclusion of the Culture of Democracy Summit Monday, urging the public to remain engaged in the voting process as "states (work) to change the way elections are administered." "This stuff is scary to think about and it leaves us all feeling helpless, and Lord knows we all need to do some preservation just to get through the day," Obama said at Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park. "Sometimes it's easier just to look away... but just because it's easier doesn't mean it's right. We are clowning ourselves because these past couple of months alone have proven that there's no guarantee that these issues won't reach every single one of us." The four-day event -- which aimed to bring together people from various walks of life to discuss "the role different industries play in protecting and strengthening democracy through voter registration, education, mobilization and culture change" -- culminated Monday with a daylong series of speeches and panel discussions featuring entertainment and sports notables. "I have said it before, but it's important for us all to remember it's not just about who you vote for," Obama said. "It's not about whether you're
| Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
a Republican, Democrat or independent... this is so much bigger than that because right now when we look around at everything that is happening with voting and our democracy, it is clear that we're seeing a deep discrepancy between what we tell ourselves about this country and what we see with our own eyes." A series of discussions featuring celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Janelle Monáe, Wanda Sykes and Tracee Ellis Ross preceded Obama's speech. NBA players Chris Paul and CJ McCollum also took part, along with former Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who now coaches the Philadelphia 76ers. Among the topics up for discussion were the history of democracy in the United States and its current state, which Obama said is "glorified in idea and neglected in action." Additionally, the spread of disinformation and ways to counter it, reproductive rights in light of the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, social responsibility in the entertainment industry, the criminal justice system and
the impact professional sports have on society and democracy were covered by the event's speakers. "No one has the luxury to sit out or stay at home just because you're not feeling excited enough," Obama said. "Because, as I've said time and time again, if you don't vote, other people will." When We All Vote was founded in an effort to increase voter participation by helping "close the race and age gap," working with community organizations to register voters and promote civic education. "I am calling on anyone who cares about our democracy to stand for everyone's place in it, because this is not a partisan issue, it's an American one, and anyone who says otherwise is trying to get you to stay quiet about the threats we face," Obama said. Among the founders of the group with Obama were Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Monáe, Gomez, Stephen Curry, Paul, H.E.R., Kerry Washington and Shonda Rhimes.
