Pasadena, California Celebrating 58 years of community service Summer 2020 LAND USE/PLANNING WPRA IN MOTION OPEN SPACE / NATURAL RESOURCES NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY BREAKING NEWS COMMUNITY Our energy, insight will carry us through an uncertain future By Bill Bogaard Former Pasadena mayor and Red-carpet wishes for the real stars WPRA president “Next year I don’t wanna hear about the Oscars or Golden Globes. I don’t want to see a s 2019 drew to a close, Pasadena had single pathetic actor, actress, singer, celebrity or sports person on any red carpet! Next no reason to think that the new year year I want to see nurses, doctors, ambulance crews, care-givers, support workers, police Awould not live up to the theme of the officers, firefighters, shop clerks, grocery store workers, garbage removal crews, delivery 2020 Rose Parade, “The Power of Hope.” The drivers and truck drivers, having free red-carpet parties with awards and expensive goody economy was vibrant, unemployment was bags. If this doesn’t happen it will be the biggest injustice ever!” historically low, and the stock market near — Thanks to Lorraine Clearman, who found this in a Pasadena Next Door app post an all-time high. The new year did pose challenges, of course, the Spanish flu sped across the world, killing City Hall and its Public Health Department such as overdevelopment, affordable housing more than 675,000 in America and as many stepped up to maintain municipal services and homelessness, increasing traffic and as 50 million worldwide. This new pandemic, and to address the many community needs economic disparity between rich and poor. which by mid-June took more than 400,000 brought by the pandemic. Caltech pivoted But there was interest and energy to address lives, shook the whole world. a longstanding infectious-disease project to those issues to make real progress toward focus on a COVID-19 vaccine, while JPL improving Pasadena’s quality of life. For various reasons, it took until March before used its scientific know-how to design a low- the United States recognized the coronavirus cost ventilator needed to treat COVID-19 It’s true that at year-end, it was reported that as a mortal threat. In a few days after “Safer at patients. This essential product is now being Wuhan, China, was experiencing a wave of Home” orders were issued, the Dow Jones lost fabricated at eight U.S. factories. deadly infection. But the promise of the new a third of its value — more than 9,000 points year loomed large, and Pasadena — and really — and unemployment soared to the highest The non-profits and churches of Pasadena the rest of the world — failed to take notice. level since the 1930s. sprang into action to support seniors, children and others who, based on sudden Shortly, however, Pasadena — along with the Since the “lockdown” was announced, our unemployment and the closure of public state, the nation and the world — was facing community has demonstrated its resiliency, its schools, could not meet basic daily the worst and most disruptive upheaval in vast resources of science and technology, and more than a hundred years, when, in 1918, its energy, compassion and concern. Continued on page 7 2020 annual meeting is set for …. s reported in the postcard we mailed in continue to emerge and the potential for April to our members and friends, the a second (or third) virus wave exists, we AWPRA Board of Directors decided to continue to find it difficult to set a time for postpone its 2020 annual meeting, which would our annual meeting. have celebrated 58 years of community service. The decision was, in the end, an easy call. As soon as our forward vision isn’t clouded by the virus (or some other disaster!), we’ll select Although our plans for the meeting were a date and communicate it by alternative falling into place, the COVID-19 virus had means such as Neighborhood Alerts, postcards other plans. And while state and local rules and the public media. So, stand by. And, as to loosen business and social restrictions they say, “Hope springs eternal.” WPRA IN MOTION We are stronger together By Dan Beal Most recently, LVAA, MHNA and WPRA thoughtful President, WPRA jointly sent a letter to the city’s Planning and policing. Community Development Department and We’ve contributed asadena has nearly 60 neighborhood the Planning Commission. You can read this to the international associations. Astounding! Some letter on page 6, and you can find other letters at voices, but associations have thousands of residents wpra.net/letters-at-a-glance/. P without diluting within their borders, as does WPRA; some We’ll continue to look for opportunities to the message with represent much smaller neighborhoods. Some join together with other associations and to irresponsible focus mostly on individual situations; some respectfully and knowledgeably disagree when opportunism or get involved in larger issues of public policy. we don’t. provocation.Is Some focus locally; others take on citywide as this a facet of the well as local issues. Some work alone; others Thank you, Pasadena! oft-mentioned collaborate. “Pasadena Way?” Dan Beal As I write this, the nation – indeed the world – WPRA does all of those, but lately we’ve I hope so. In any is in its third week of massive protests over the case, thank you, Pasadena. emphasized collaboration with neighboring killing of George Floyd, and the treatment of associations. Under the banner of “Stronger people of color by law enforcement, and racism Helping hands Together,” WPRA has joined with the Linda in general. These protests are constitutional, Many people and organizations have Vista / Annandale Association (LVAA) righteous and necessary. stepped up during the COVID-19 crisis to and the Madison Heights Neighborhood help those in need. WPRA, thanks to your Association (MHNA) in several recent land- Anyone with a heart and a soul should hope generosity, contributed to two very effective use public policy initiatives, including the that justice and real change emerge from them. local organizations: Friends in Deed and the issue of development concessions and timely But violence, injury, destruction and theft Pasadena Senior Center. reporting and process transparency. demean and sully the cause. We’ll continue to look for ways to support Some of the advantages of collaboration Pasadena has emerged as a shining star in this our caring organizations, and we rely on include merging our best thinking, research maelstrom. We had several numerous vehement your financial contributions to do so. You and intelligence, and speaking with a stronger protests, but with virtually no injuries, can donate to and join WPRA on line at and more effective voice to city government. destruction or looting, and with cautious, wpra.net/donations/donate/. About us 2019 – 2020 officers 2019 – 2020 board of directors ■ Dan Beal ■ Dave Bise ([email protected]) ■ Bill Christian Avram Gold ■ ■ Mic Hansen ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Land use, Planning Blaine Cavena ■ The News is mailed each quarter to ([email protected]) ■ Kenyon Harbison nearly 8,000 homes and businesses ■ Evan Davis ■ Joan Hearst in the 91105 and 91103 ZIP codes ([email protected]) ■ Susan Kinney and beyond. Mission: Founded in 1962, the West ■ Priscilla Taylor Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated ■ Nancy Walker Editor: to maintaining the character of our Chuck Hudson ■ Linda Zinn ([email protected]) community and enhancing the quality of life ([email protected]) Membership, Open Space & Conservation in west Pasadena. Area: The WPRA service area is bounded on 2019 – 2020 WPRA Advisory Board P. O. Box 50252 the north by Colorado Boulevard, on the east ■ Geoffrey Baum Pasadena, CA 91115-0252 by Fair Oaks Avenue and on the south and ■ Justin Chapman _______________________________ west by the city limits. ■ Vince Farhat Funding: All WPRA activities are funded ■ Tom Seifert Visit our website at wpra.net through membership dues and contributions. ■ Catherine Stringer Visit our Facebook page The WPRA receives no public funding and has no paid employees. ■ Fred Zepeda The WPRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation. Contributions and donations are fully deductible to the extent permitted by law. The News 2 Summer 2020 BREAKING NEWS On passing Moody is the police department’s Carol van Zalingen, dean, first female Deputy Chief Westridge School he Pasadena Police Department Carol van Zalingen, Lower and Middle in February named Commander School dean of student support at TCheryl Moody as the department’s Westridge School, died on Tuesday, Deputy Chief. Moody began her new April 14 in Huntington Memorial role on Feb. 17 and now oversees the Hospital from complications related to department’s daily operations and special Covid–19. She joined Westridge in 2008, projects, while continuing to manage the as the 8th grade English teacher and, in department’s reorganization efforts. 2015, transitioned to the role of dean of student support. She is the first woman in the police Carol was born in Uganda and lived department’s more than 130-year history in Iran, before moving to the United to serve as deputy chief. States. Prior to coming to Westridge, she taught language arts in Hoover, “We are very proud of Cheryl Moody in Alabama, and Hilliard, Ohio. She held a her new role,” said Chief of Police John B.A. in English and anthropology from Perez. “We are equally proud that she Deputy Chief Cheryl Moody Rice University and an M.Ed. from the is the first woman to serve in this role University of Montevallo. She was also a and are excited for the opportunities it Moody has nearly three decades of gifted young-adult novelist.