NORTHWEST COMMISSION NEWSLETTER Northwest—The Heart and Soul of Pasadena NOVEMBER 2014 Vol. 1, No. 8 Message from the Chair Craig L. Washington, District 3 Greetings and welcome to as the transformation our November newsletter. of a community with a The long awaited Rebirth rich and diverse Pasa- of the Great Northwest dena history. The de- community landscape is velopments will bring underway. The gateway to much needed commu- Northwest Pasadena, Fair nity excitement and Oaks Blvd, will begin to be engagement for a long reshaped after 20 years of underserved demo- stagnation with the funding graphic of our com- approval of Heritage munity, our valued senior citizens and our youth. Left to right: Councilmember Victor Square, a $30 million af- Gordo, NWC Chair Craig L. Washing- fordable Senior Housing The impact of these develop- ton, and Councilmember John Kenne- development and the $8 ments will serve as the renais- dy. (Photo courtesy of Craig Washington) million Robinson Park Rec- sance to begin to bridge the reation Center rehabilita- generational gap between our eas of our City by receiving ex- tion. growing senior community emplary municipal community These are two very im- and our active yet culturally services consistent with our rich portant stepping-stone de- and vocationally starving Gen history, culture and unique velopments that will serve Y and Millennium generations character. You will begin to see who are also in search of qual- infrastructure improvements on ity community recreational Fair Oaks in the form of en- DO YOU HAVE A GREAT resources and affordable hanced street lighting, NORTHWEST STORY? housing. streetscape and pedestrian safe- Newsleer submissions (photos The landscape and economic ty. and editorial) may be sent to the vitality of Fair Oaks Avenue, The residents of the NW must newsleer editor, Sheryl Turner, north of Orange Grove, has Email: SherylTurner@ continue to support and de- long been stagnate and in charter.net, or to the NWC office mand the attention and commit- at need of physical and psycho- ment from our City leaders to [email protected]. logical improvement. direct resources and energy to Back Issues of the newsleer are The NW community should the renewal of the Great North- available online at hp:// reflect the prosperity that has west! -Craig L. Washington, cityofpasadena.net/Northwest/ been bestowed upon other ar- Chair Newsleers/ NORTHWEST COMMISSION NEWSLETTER Page 2 November 2014 NW COMMISSION SUBMITS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS By Jose Noel Toro, District 5 October 1 - Members of the NW Commission toured their respective neigh- borhoods and submitted a comprehensive list of improvements required for their areas to the City of Pasadena offices. Recommendations and observations included such items as unsafe utility lines, sidewalk repairs, damaged traffic lights, pot holes, damaged curbs and ramps, unsafe street gutters, curbs that are not ADA compliant, uneven concrete in bike lanes, and street and side- walk damage. "Capital Improvement Projects help maintain in good condition the public infrastructure of Northwest Pasadena and improve the quality of life of our residents and businesses. The list of improvements submitted to the City by the Northwest Commissioners will help continue this purpose. Our task is now to monitor these improvements and to make sure they are addressed as soon as possible. We encourage Northwest Pasadena residents and business representatives to submit Capital Improvement projects to the Northwest Commission." Notice of Public Meeting and Comment Period DEVIL’S GATE RESERVOIR SEDIMENT for Proposed Relocation of REMOVAL/ MANAGEMENT PROJECT Jackie Robinson Station Post Office Final EIR Community Meetings will be held The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is proposing the to present the findings and results of the FEIR. relocation of Jackie Robinson Station Post Office, Additionally, the project alternative that Pub- 1100 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, to 1355 N. Mentor lic Works recommends to implement will be Avenue, Pasadena CA 91104. If the move to this presented at the following meetings. The rec- location is approved, there would be no change ommended project alternative includes fea- to Post Office Box numbers or ZIP Codes and tures to lessen air quality, traffic and biologi- retail lobby hours and services provided would cal impacts. remain the same. The locations are 1.4 miles apart. Public input on this proposed relocation Sat., Nov 1: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, John Muir HS Au- is welcome. Written comments are being accept- ditorium, 1905 Lincoln Avenue ed through November 17, 2014. Please submit Mon., Nov. 3: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Jackson Ele- written comments to: mentary School Auditorium, 593 W. Woodbury Rd., Altadena Thurs., Nov. 6: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Descanso Gar- Dean Cameron Facilities- dens Maple Room, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Canada Pacific Area U.S. Postal Service Flintridge. More information available at 1300 Evans Ave. Ste. 200 www.lasedimentmanagement.com/devilsgate. San Francisco CA 94188-8200 Sheryl Turner, NW Commissioner, District 2; Newsletter Editor Page 3 November 2014 FAA TO INSTITUTE COMPREHENSIVE COMPLAINT SYSTEM FOR HELICOPTER NOISE The FAA announced last month that they would take an important role in help- ing to stem disruptive helicopter noise plaguing residents across Los Angeles County. The FAA indicated that it would establish a comprehensive complaint system for helicopter noise operations – the first step necessary to gather data about the extent of the problem and remedies, identify problem helicopter opera- tors, and give residents a systematic way to register their complaints. According to the FAA, the agency will allocate $250,000 to set up the system and acquire a years’ worth of correlated noise complaint data for helicopters – and allow resi- dents the real time capability to file complaints online or by phone and identify those helicopters responsible. “The establishment of a countywide helicopter noise complaint system could be a significant development in our years-long fight to give L.A. residents the relief that they deserve,” said Rep. Schiff. “This move comes on the heels of legislation Senator Feinstein and I authored requiring the FAA to adopt new rules and regulations if they could not achieve meaningful relief through voluntary measures. Collecting this data may give us a benchmark to work from and identify those who lack regard for residents on the ground — and I’m looking forward to working with the operators, homeowners and the FAA to make sure that we meet the urgent need for noise relief.” NORTHWEST COMMISSION NEWSLETTER Page 4 November 2014 YOUTH AMBASSADORS RECEIVE CIVICS LESSON by Tarek Shawky, District 1 Representative October 19 - I attended an counterparts interact. She not- important to recognize the pos- informal training session re- ed a tendency for female offic- itive and praise an agency garding the law and under- ers to talk through problems when praise is due. Pasadena standing constitutional rights while male officers tend to use is not Ferguson Missouri and of a special meeting of Pasa- force to resolve conflict. we need to recognize that our dena’s Youth Ambassadors at AP Report Gives High Marks department is much more di- the Jackie Robinson Center. to Pasadena Policy Dept. verse and understanding of the In attendance were Pasa- community they serve. Under dena’s Police Chief Phillip The Chief reiterated that differ- the leadership of Chief Sanchez and several uni- ent interpersonal styles exist Sanchez our department has formed PPD officers, along based on gender and diversity. made great gains in communi- with various community He also highlighted the results ty outreach and engagement. leaders including representa- of a recent Associated Press PPD has built trust among lo- tives from the Pasadena Hu- survey that found the Pasade- cal organizations and civic man Relations Commission, na Police Department to be one groups based on their dedica- ACT, NAACP, ACLU, and of the most diverse depart- tion and commitment to our the City of Pasadena. ments in the nation. neighborhoods through rela- Following brief presentations This is significant and should tionship building. on some basic rights and tips be acknowledged within the Policing communities is a when dealing with law en- context of the national debate tricky business and there is al- forcement, the youths and following the Ferguson shoot- ways a fine line between en- guests asked very insightful ing where police departments forcing the law and respecting questions of the Chief and his are being scrutinized for their the boundaries outlined in the staff. The ACLU provided failure to reflect the communi- US Constitution and Bill of printed cards to the Youth ties they serve. Pasadena is an Rights, such as the right to re- Ambassadors outlining some example of what a department main silent and the right to be of their protected constitu- should look like in terms of free from search and seizure. It tional rights. gender and ethnic diversity. is expected that those who up- Also noteworthy is the volun- Mr. Skip Hickambottom hold the law also hold them- teer attendance of the five PPD selves to the same standards asked PPD Det. Carolyn Gor- officers at the Saturday meet- when it comes to respecting don about what seems to be a ing, foregoing personal agen- legal boundaries. It is our re- positive correlation between das in order to serve the com- sponsibility as a community to use of force and male police munity. understand the law and our officers. Det. Gordon spoke rights so that we can properly about the intrinsic differences As a defense attorney I do not assert those rights with confi- between the way she interacts shy away from criticizing our dence while being respectful to and communicates with peo- law enforcement agencies those who’ve earned respect. ple vs.