#AltadenaTalks Podcast

California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) issued a sharp rebuke of federal immigration authorities following the release of Pasadena resident Rami Othmane, who was detained for nearly two weeks in downtown Los Angeles. Othmane, a classical Arabic musician and longtime U.S. resident originally from Tunisia, was apprehended by masked ICE agents on July 13 while driving to a grocery store in Pasadena. His wife, Dr. Wafaa Alrashid — Chief Medical Officer at Huntington Hospital — purportedly witnessed the arrest […] http://dlvr.it/TMnV4Y

Renters in Pasadena’s rent-stabilized apartments can now look up the maximum legal rent for their unit and compare it to what they’re actually paying, thanks to newly public data on the city’s Rental Registry portal. The expanded online database reveals previously hard-to-access information about the city’s rent-controlled housing stock: maximum allowable rents, actual rents charged, tenant turnover dates from the past year, and unit sizes and bedroom counts. The transparency push, spurred by Pasadena’s Charter Article XVIII, Section 1812, marks […] http://dlvr.it/TMnTmk

A full ban on open flames and spark-producing activities is now in effect across the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, directly affecting Pasadena-area trailheads and recreation zones. The U.S. Forest Service issued Forest Order No. 05-01-25-15 in response to what it has classified as an “EXTREME” fire danger period, citing public safety and resource protection as primary concerns. Local residents who frequent nearby forest access points such as Millard Canyon, Eaton Saddle, and Chantry Flat should […] http://dlvr.it/TMnTDD

An elderly woman was found dead in a house on fire early Saturday morning in West Pasadena, where hoarding and the absence of a working smoke detector may have hindered her escape, officials said. The blaze broke out around 6:25 a.m. on August 30 in the 1500 block of Lancashire Place, a dead-end street located off Lida Street near its intersection with Wellington Avenue, west of the Rose Bowl. Pasadena Fire Department crews arrived to find the single-story home fully […] http://dlvr.it/TMnT5b

The Pasadena Police Department will hold a public meeting Thursday, Sept. 4, to review its 2024–2025 Military Equipment Annual Report, as required under California Assembly Bill 481. The meeting is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Washington Park Community House, 700 E. Washington Blvd. The department’s report and associated Military Equipment Use Policy are mandated by AB 481, which took effect Jan. 1, 2022, and governs the acquisition and use of military-type equipment by law enforcement agencies statewide. […] http://dlvr.it/TMmpqd

A judge whose home burned in January’s Eaton Fire recently told the board president of the Altadena Town and Country Club that losing the club was just as devastating as losing her house. She wasn’t being overly dramatic. For 115 years, the club had been less country club than heart of the community — the place where Altadena held its proms, graduations, meetings, and weddings, where 120 people worked and thousands gathered. On Sunday, nearly eight months after the fire […] http://dlvr.it/TMmpbB

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Post pandemic, the Pasadena City College women’s volleyball team has found a real home advantage at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The Lancers are 44-12 at “The Pat” since the start of the 2021 season, a sensational .786 winning percentage. On Wednesday, PCC moved to 3-0 overall with yet another home triump, a sweep over Ventura, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13. Led by Payton Scott‘s nine kills and .571 attack efficiency, The Lancers hit an impressive .388 as a team. Bobbie Torres added eight kills, seven digs, and […] http://dlvr.it/TMlxrY

Last Saturday morning, the freshly restored walls of Sexson Auditorium at Pasadena City College reverberated with applause, and cheers as hundreds of supporters and dignitaries gathered for the ceremonial swearing-in of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, currently the youngest member of the California State Senate and already one of its most closely watched new voices. The official oath had been administered months earlier in Sacramento, but the belated community celebration carried its own symbolism. “Joy is what will sustain us,” said Juliana Serrano, […] http://dlvr.it/TMlxMq

Pasadena landlords with rent-stabilized units will be allowed to raise rents by up to 2.25% beginning this fall after the city’s Rental Housing Board approved the Annual General Adjustment, but landlords must hurry to comply with the rules. The increase, which takes effect Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2026, was set at 75% of the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles—Riverside—Orange County region. The CPI rose 3% in the 12 months ending in March, triggering the 2.25% […] http://dlvr.it/TMlvvM

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Friends In Deed will host its annual Cooking for a Cause fundraising event on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery, located at 40 West Green Street in Pasadena. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organization’s Food Pantry, the largest food bank in Pasadena. The culinary competition will feature local aspiring chefs preparing appetizers and entrées using pantry staples and mystery ingredients sourced from the Food Pantry. The format is designed to reflect the […] http://dlvr.it/TMkv0p

A community vigil and fundraiser will be held Thursday evening in response to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that resulted in the detention of six car wash workers last week in Pasadena. The incident occurred shortly before noon on Friday, Aug. 22 at the Pasadena Car Wash, located at 164 W. Del Mar Blvd. near Old Pasadena. According to organizers, seven employees were initially detained by individuals believed to be ICE agents. One worker was released shortly after […] http://dlvr.it/TMktmY

City Hall and most municipal services in Pasadena will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day. Essential public safety operations will remain active, while residents should expect changes to transit, waste collection, and parking enforcement, the City has announced. Pasadena Police and Fire departments will maintain full staffing for emergency response, including patrol, jail, paramedic, and fire services. Residents are advised to dial 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies and report suspicious activity to the police non-emergency line at (626) […] http://dlvr.it/TMks47

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U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, who represents the Linda Vista area of Pasadena, is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security following the deployment of approximately 100 heavily armed federal agents outside Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Aug. 14 press conference in Los Angeles. Friedman led a letter signed by 14 other members of California’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, questioning the scale, timing and intent of the operation. The lawmakers are seeking a written response from the […] http://dlvr.it/TMjrL6

ForensisGroup, an expert witness referral firm based in Pasadena, is playing a pivotal role in helping local residents affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County and their lawyers navigate complex insurance claims and legal disputes, according to a company statement. The firm, which connects attorneys with independent experts across thousands of technical disciplines, said its specialists are assisting with cause-and-origin investigations, fire behavior analysis, construction cost estimating, environmental remediation, and forensic accounting for business interruption claims. These services are […] http://dlvr.it/TMjr4j

Sunny skies and rising temperatures are expected to return to Pasadena heading into the Labor Day weekend, with highs reaching the low 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 90 degrees and light southwest winds. Overnight lows will dip to around 64 degrees under increasing cloud cover. Thursday will be mostly cloudy and slightly cooler, with a high near 87 degrees. Winds will remain light, shifting to the south in […] http://dlvr.it/TMjnfF

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Assemblymember John Harabedian (D–Pasadena) joined wildfire survivors and local officials Monday to demand urgent reforms from the California Department of Insurance, citing widespread delays and denials of claims stemming from the Eaton Fire and other recent disasters affecting residents in Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding communities. Speaking at a press conference held in Altadena alongside the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Harabedian called on the California Department of Insurance to enforce existing laws, expedite claims, and increase transparency in insurance practices. He […] http://dlvr.it/TMhlhD

Pasadena residents will see cooler temperatures Tuesday before a warming trend resumes midweek and continues for a “high and dry” Labor Day weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday’s high is expected to reach 91 degrees, down about 6 degrees from Monday. Forecasters attribute the cooling to a weakened marine layer and shifting upper-level patterns. Skies will remain sunny with light south-southwest winds at 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight will be clear with a low near […] http://dlvr.it/TMhlYV

The 14th annual San Marino Motor Classic raised over $400,000 for local charities during its weekend of events on August 23-24 at Lacy Park. The nonprofit organization hosted thousands of spectators who viewed some of the world’s finest classic cars at the prestigious Concours d’Elegance. “A fabulous weekend was had by all who attended the 14th annual San Marino Motor Classic in Lacy Park on August 24, ending the summer in style by joining us for this classy Classic weekend […] http://dlvr.it/TMhjD1

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Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum will be the featured guest on this week’s episode of “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,” airing Friday at 5 p.m. on Pasadena Media. Rosenbaum, a physicist and the ninth president of Caltech, has led the university since 2014. He announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of the academic year but plans to continue his research at his Caltech laboratory. His career has included research posts at Bell Laboratories, IBM’s Watson Research […] http://dlvr.it/TMghF3

The Altadena Tenants Union will hold its first in-person general meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Altadena Main Library, located at 600 E. Mariposa St. The meeting is open exclusively to current or displaced Altadena tenants. Homeowners, organizational representatives, neighboring community members, law enforcement, landlords and journalists reporting stories are asked not to attend, according to the event announcement. The meeting will include a recap of Altadena Tenants Union’s activities from January through August, a […] http://dlvr.it/TMggZ0

The City Council is set to consider a five-year, nearly $1 million contract with Greenfield Management to provide weed and brush clearance in the Arroyo Seco, a move officials say is critical to reducing wildfire risks in hillside areas. Under the proposal, the City Manager would be authorized to enter into a contract not to exceed $995,280, which includes a $904,800 base amount and $90,480 contingency funding for change orders. The bid calls for a three-person crew working daily eight-hour […] http://dlvr.it/TMgbMx

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The Editors of Pasadena Now go through over 100 articles published this week on our site and cull the top 20 most newsworthy, informative, and readable. Pasadena’s City Hall Boxing Show Celebrates Decade of Community Impact Tonight Holden Block Party Postponed as Pasadena Braces for Triple-Digit Heat Gordo Remembers William E. Thomson Jr. as ‘Visionary Leader’ Man Arrested in Brutal Rose Bowl Concert Assault That Left Woman Unconscious William Thomson Jr., Pasadena Mayor Who Revitalized “Old Town” District, Dies at […] http://dlvr.it/TMft3m

In a bulletin issued at 3:07 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for Pasadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley, forecasting dangerously high temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees through 9 p.m. Sunday. The warning cites elevated risk of heat-related illness, especially for children, older adults, outdoor workers, and residents without access to air conditioning. Overnight lows are expected to remain warm, with temperatures around 69 degrees Saturday night and 67 degrees Sunday night. Sunday’s […] http://dlvr.it/TMfsfZ

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When Senator Sasha Renée Pérez takes her ceremonial oath of office Saturday at Pasadena City College for California’s 25th State Senate District, she will do so as one of California’s most progressive voices on immigrant rights and housing reform, carrying legislation that would ban algorithmic rent manipulation at a time when many of her constituents are still reeling from January’s devastating Eaton Fire. Her outspoken pushback against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions make her among the most vocal of […] http://dlvr.it/TMfC5K

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Every ten years, following the national census, states across the country face the consequential task of redrawing their legislative and congressional districts—a process known as redistricting. While it may seem technical or bureaucratic, the way these new boundaries are constructed can profoundly shape political representation, community cohesion, and the health of democracy itself. In some states, lines are drawn by legislators with vested interests; in others, by independent commissions or panels intended to reflect a broader, more impartial perspective. California […] http://dlvr.it/TMdGzJ

A non-injury traffic collision on the eastbound Interstate 210 occurred Thursday morning at the Seco Street on-ramp, the California Highway Patrol reported. Initial dispatch logs at 7:18 a.m. indicated a Camry was pinned beneath a semi-truck, with one person unable to get out of the car. The CHP requested a hard closure of the on-ramp and issued a SigAlert, which was expected to cause a two-hour shutdown. Traffic lanes were cleared and fully reopened within approximately 20 minutes, and no […] http://dlvr.it/TMdGqy

A redrawn congressional district map aimed at shifting five U.S. House seats to Democrats will go before California voters this November, a move some Republican state legislators — including Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach — said violates the state constitution. State lawmakers voted Thursday to put the newly proposed California congressional map — a direct counter to legislative redistricting efforts in Texas to increase the number of GOP House seats there — before voters in a Nov. 4 special election. […] http://dlvr.it/TMdGdQ

A 23-year-old Hawthorne man was arrested Thursday in connection with a violent assault at a sold-out Rüfüs Du Sol concert at the Rose Bowl that left a woman unconscious and injured two others, Pasadena police said. Julio Cesar Lopez Zavala was taken into custody five days after the August 16 incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. in a stadium seating area and was captured on video that later went viral. The footage, posted by the victim on social media in […] http://dlvr.it/TMdGJ1

Victor Gordo on Thursday remembered former Mayor William E. Thomson Jr. as a “visionary leader” whose legacy shaped the city’s future, following news of Thomson’s death. “Mayor Thomson was more than a public servant—he was a builder of community, a champion of progress, and a steward of Pasadena’s future,” Gordo said in a statement. “Pasadena is better because of Thomson, and his legacy will live on in every corner of our city.” Thomson served as Pasadena’s mayor from 1988 to […] http://dlvr.it/TMczJ1

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