Altadena code-bombing: a history

A short history of Altadena code-bombing:

Coffee Gallery: while the “backstage” concert area can have live music, in 2011 the coffee shop area was cited for not having the proper permits for open mic nights.  After several fundraising events to pay for the proper permits, performances can take place in the coffee shop.

Fancy Food Truck Fridays: the first of these monthly get-togethers in 2011 was warned that the were in violation of county codes and would have to pay a large permit fee.  They got around it by finding a non-profit to sponsor the the event.  The same strategy is being used for the Altadena Farmers’ Market, which must also have a nonprofit sponsor or pay a large permit fee.

Rancho Bar: karaoke nights without proper permits.  The karaoke machine was shut off.

Altadena Urban Farmer’s Market:  this “underground” monthly market at the Zane Grey estate only lasted a few months in 2011, but became wildly popular and earned the ire of county enforcers and some complaining neighbors.  At one point the estate was visited by county sheriffs with helmets and bullet-proof vests, searching for code violations. While it attracted the attention of county officials, the market closed down because it had outgrown its venue.

Patticakes Dessert Co. : the Altadena baker was cited in 2011 for having a large mural on the side of its building that violated county codes.  The only thing that saved it was widespread public ridicule of the county’s actions.

Danny’s Farm: the petting farm, which aimed itself at and provided jobs for people with autism and other special needs, offered afternoon and vacation camp programs.  But the neighborhood’s zoning allowed for horses but not other farm animals, and Danny’s Farm had to leave their location in 2011.  Eventually Danny’s Farm settled on the grounds of Cal Poly Pomona.

EatWell Market: Despite good reviews, this member’s-only farmer’s market at Camp Mariposa shut down after a single event in January, 2012, due to two complaints to the county health department.

MonteCedro art wall: artworks on canvas by children and elderly artists were placed — and on county order, removed — from the fence along the MonteCedro property in 2010.

News racks on Lake: unpermitted news racks in the Lake Avenue business district were cited in 2012.  The permits aren’t difficult to get, but sometimes the racks were brought in at the dead of night and bolted to the sidewalk without the business owner’s permission.

Schaefer Ambulance: the ambulance company, which helped serve Altadena Fire Station 11, didn’t have the proper permits to park its trucks on Lake Avenue in 2012.

Amy’s Patio Café: cited for having live music without a permit, May 2014.