Wednesday, May 13, 2015

LA County Supervisors Vote to Support the Building Homes and Jobs Act; Antonovich Declines

By APRIL BAMBURG

Affordable housing in LA County gained official support from a majority of County Supervisors on May 12. The board voted 3-2 to support Assembly Bill 1335, which is also known as the “Building Homes and Jobs Act.”

Proposed by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, the bill imposes a $75 fee on various real estate transactions. This fee does not apply to home sales and would be capped at $225 per property. Twenty percent of the money from this fee will be spent on affordable owner-occupied workforce housing; the rest of the money will be used for a variety of purposes, including matching funds in local or regional housing trust funds, affordable rental and ownership housing for workers up to 120 percent of median income, emergency shelters, transitional housing and rapid rehousing

Two thirds of the state legislature must approve Assembly Bill 1335 for the bill to pass and this fee to be imposed.

City News Service reported that Supervisor Don Knabe voted against the motion,

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

El Patron Turns Cinco

One of our favorite Mexican restaurants is turning five years old, and everyone is invited to the fiesta.

Owner Alex Cortes is planning a major bash celebrating this milestone on May 15, 2015.

“We would like people to come and have a good time and celebrate our anniversary,” says Cortes.

There will be mariachi playing for hours, dancing, and of course, classic El Patron food.

Cortes is indeed grateful for the support locals have shown to his restaurant throughout these years…and this party is his way of thanking everyone.

“Five years…it doesn’t seem like a lot but it’s a long time. We’ve had a great welcome from the community. All I want to do is give back,” says Cortes.

He is also thankful for his competent and able staff: “I would say always if my employees are happy, my customers are going to be happy.”

This anniversary dinner will also benefit charity as well.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Group Sponsors Wednesday Forum Focused on Family Well-Being in Altadena

Residents, business leaders, teachers, students and parents are invited to participate in Collaborate PASadena’s Community Forum Wednesday, May 13th to advance child and family well-being in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre.

The forum will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Fuller Theological Seminary’s Payton Hall (Room 101), 135 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. The forum is sponsored by the City of Pasadena, the Pasadena Unified School District, the Pasadena Educational Foundation and Fuller Theological Seminary.

All residents, including those who participated in previous Collaborate PASadena workgroup meetings, are invited to attend the Community Forum. The purpose of the forum is to update the community on Collaborate PASadena and next steps in the implementation of what had been previously known as the School/City/Community Workplan.

Collaborate PASadena is a collaboration of residents, youth, parents, city officials, educators, school district leaders and nonprofit agencies initially formed to improve city and school board collaboration. The initiative has evolved to be a process for community planning built on common agenda,

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Altadena Woman, 88, Strikes Two Pasadena Girls With Her Car

Image: © OpenStreetMap contributors

An elderly Altadena woman apparently hit with her car and injured two girls Monday when they ran into a Pasadena street from between two parked vehicles

The girls, an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old, both Pasadena residents, were transported to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County-USC Hospital with broken bones and facial injuries after the 2:04 p.m. accident on El Molino Avenue between Villa and Maple Streets, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said.

The driver was an 88-year-old Altadena woman, officials said.

The driver remained at the scene and was not arrested. Speed and alcohol were not factors in the accident, Luna said.

The driver was not identified by authorities.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Man Apparently Beaten to Death in Room He Rented in El Sereno Avenue Residence

Image: KCBS-TV

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in the 2100 block of El Sereno Avenue, Altadena.

On Monday, May 11, 2015, at approximately 2:15 pm, deputies responded to a residence in the 2100 block of North El Sereno Avenue, Altadena, in response to a person needing medical assistance.  Upon their arrival, they discovered the victim, a male Hispanic, 62 years old, lying on the bedroom floor.  The victim appeared to be suffering from blunt force trauma to his body and head

The informant stated the victim, along with several other persons, rent rooms at the residence.  When he went to check on the victim around 2:15 pm, he discovered the victim lying on the bedroom floor unconscious.  Paramedics responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Investigators are continuing their investigation in an attempt at determining who may have killed the victim and why. 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Willard International Baccalaureate Elementary’s Spring Fling on Saturday Will Honor Retiring Principal Dr. Debra DeBose

Willard International Baccalaureate Elementary’s fifth annual Spring Fling will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the lovely Giordano family estate in Alta­dena.

A special ceremony to honor retiring principal Dr. Debra DeBose will highlight an evening of dining and dancing.

Among the items at a silent auction, which is open to the publis, are a hotel stay and restaurant packages, tickets for Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and Dodger games, Star Wars toys, baskets and more.

Participants do not need to be present for the auction, as all bidding takes place online and the auction is now open. To preview items and bid, go to willardspringfling.clickbid.me.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

To purchase, visit tinyurl.com/WillardAuction2015Tickets. For more information, contact Tina Fredericks at www.facebook.com/willardibpasadena.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Altadena Town Council Applications Due Friday

Applications to run as an Altadena Town Council Representative are due May 15th, no later than 4:30 pm at the Altadena Library, 600 East Mariposa Street, in Altadena.

Applications may be picked up at the Altadena Library or downloaded from AltadenaElection.org or altadenatowncouncil.org

Each of the eight census tracts has one representative seat open for election. Contribute to the well-being of your community. Work with law enforcement, utility companies, County Supervisor and others to get things done!

Election Day is Saturday, June 6, with pre-voting on Tuesday June 2nd. More information is available at www.AltadenaElection.org

Monday, May 11, 2015

Share Your Views on a Possible Minimum Wage Increase at County Forum Tonight

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is holding a business forum at the Altadena Community Center tonight at 6 p.m.

This forum is intended for business owners to share their views with County representatives on a potential minimum wage increase in the unincorporated areas of the County.

The Altadena Community Center is located at 730 E. Altadena Drive.

The event is free. For more information call: 800-593-8222. For those who wish to submit comments online visit www.dcba.lacounty.gov.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Altadena Station Deputies Respond to Dramatic 911 Call Sunday Morning

After receiving a dramatic 911 call in which a citizen reportedly heard up to ten gunshots fired and someone yelling “Shoot him!” Altadena Station Sheriff’s Deputies found no evidence of a shooting at the scene when they responded to the 2100 block of Navarro Street about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Authorities said in spite of a search, no victim was located and no physical evidence (such as shell casings or bullet holes in structures or cars) were found.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

This Weekend in Altadena

Check out our expanding coverage of Altadena events  — there’s a lot going on around town this weekend!

Saturday, May 9,2015 – Click here

Sunday, May 10,2015 – Click here