Wednesday, July 26, 2023

New L.A. County Landmark Designated in Altadena

STAFF REPORT

Iconic 116-year-old Craftsman-style Pearson House to be preserved in perpetuity

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted today to designate the Pearson House, located at 931 New York Drive in Altadena, as a Los Angeles County Historic Landmark. The 116-year-old home is a two-story single-family residence that was built in 1907.

“The Pearson House is not just a house – it is a representation of the rich architectural heritage of Altadena,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “By designating it as a Los Angeles County Landmark, we will make sure this beautiful home remains protected and preserved for generations to come.”

The designation of the Pearson House as a County Landmark aligns with work underway at the County to preserve and celebrate the architectural and cultural heritage and identities of unincorporated communities.

More information about the property, along with a copy of the resolution approved by the Board of Supervisors, is available here.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

L.A. County Supervisors Approve New Design Standards for Residential and Mixed-Use Construction Projects in Unincorporated Communities

During Tuesday’s Public Hearing meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a new ordinance that will implement design standards for residential and mixed-use construction projects across all 42 of the County’s unincorporated communities.

The affected areas include Altadena and portions of East Pasadena that are unincorporated, such as Chapman Woods.

The design standards, presented by Los Angeles County’s Department of Regional Planning, provide an objective menu of options for developers’ use that support compatibility with the various architectural styles that are present throughout the County.

“I appreciate the work that has gone into crafting this ordinance,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“The state is continually eroding local government’s control and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction of ‘by-right’ housing projects. These projects will move forward whether or not they have local community support due to changes in state laws and cannot be opposed by the County. These new design standards will at least provide some guidance up front so that construction projects don’t completely go rogue.”

The standards are organized into seven categories,

Thursday, July 13, 2023

LA County Adopts Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan

Comprehensive plan addresses racism and creates a roadmap for a more equitable, inclusive, and just LA County

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) has unanimously adopted a groundbreaking Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan with five strategic goals intended to measurably improve the lives of residents and communities throughout Los Angeles County (County).

The Board, acting on a motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Solis, declared its commitment to fostering meaningful and lasting change through the adoption of the Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan. Developed by the Chief Executive Office’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, it outlines dozens of strategic goals and initiatives aimed to address structural racism. Co-created with residents, community-based organizations, civic leaders, philanthropic organizations, academic partners, and public/private agencies, the plan presents a 10-year roadmap to foster a more equitable and inclusive County where all residents are healthy, experience justice, and thrive.

The creation of the Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan was a directive of the Board when a motion was unanimously adopted on July 21,

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Former Altadena Native and Manson Follower Van Houton Released From Prison

STAFF REPORT

Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten was released from a California prison on Tuesday.

Van Houten, now 73, was serving a potential life prison sentence for taking part in the infamous murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their Los Feliz home more than 50 years ago as part of the Charles Manson family.

The former Monrovia High School cheerleader — who was 19 at the time – did not participate in the Manson family’s killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others in a Benedict Canyon mansion the night before.

Van Houten was born in Altadena and was a homecoming princess at Monrovia High School in 1966.

Van Houten was originally paroled earlier this year. In the 2-1 ruling by the panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, Associate Justice Helen I. Bendix wrote, “Van Houten has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, favorable institutional reports,

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

L.A. County Board Backs Barger’s Motion Supporting Congressional Bill To Expand and Preserve the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously backed a Supervisor Kathryn Barger motion in support of a congressional bill by Congresswoman Judy Chu to expand and preserve the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

The bill, called the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act, aims to expand the borders of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to include the western Angeles National Forest and designate over 30,000 acres of protected wilderness and 45.5 miles of protected rivers in Southern California.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement saying, “The San Gabriel Mountains are an asset in the Fifth District that merit permanent protection so that the public can continue to connect with nature and access the respite it offers us all. In my district alone, the Public Lands Act would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by over 100,000 acres – a big feat.”

Senator Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and L.A. County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger joined Native American leaders at an event held at foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Eaton Canyon on Monday June 26 to call on President Joe Biden to add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Construction Begins on $56 Million Final Phase of MonteCedro Senior Living Community in Altadena

STAFF REPORT

Construction has begun on the final phase of Episcopal Communities & Services’ MonteCedro senior living community in Altadena. The $56 million second phase project, being constructed by C.W. Driver Companies, will add 40 independent living apartments and a new terrace restaurant to the existing community, completing the campus master plan.

The new villa-style buildings will be two and three stories in height, with two of the structures positioned over a below-grade parking garage podium level. The area will also include a gathering space for casual events, BBQs, and a putting green for full-campus use on the plaza between the two villa buildings.

Positioned at the center of the four villas will be an event lawn for programs and entertainment, with a new pet park and resident gardens at the south end of the property.

“We are excited to help Episcopal Communities & Services answer their rising resident demand with the addition of four new residential buildings,” said John Kately,

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

The Rise of Pickleball in Altadena

By KEITH CALAYAG

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and now it’s starting to take a foothold in Altadena.

More and more people are playing pickleball in the city, according to Brandon Mackie, founder of Pickleheads, a platform that enables players to find pickleball courts, organize sessions and join leagues.

Often described as a combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton, Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor racket sport where two players, or four players, hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles.

For the third year in a row, it is considered the fastest growing sport in the country, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Nearly 9 million people played the sport in 2022.

There has also been an increase in interest in the sport in Pasadena.

“What we’re seeing locally is all the same when we look at our traffic to our court pages in Pasadena,

Friday, June 16, 2023

LA County Unemployment Rate Rises in May

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked upward slightly to 5% in May, up from a revised 4.9% in April, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5% rate was above the 4.7% rate from May 2023.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the May unemployment rate was 3.2%, up slightly from 3% the previous month.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5% in May, 4.5% in April and 4% in May 2022. The comparable figures for the nation were 3.7% in May, 3.4% in April and 3.6% a year ago.

Total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 9,000 positions between April and May to reach more than 4.6 million.

The leisure and hospitality sector led the way by adding 11,600 jobs, according to the EDD.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

State Lottery Commission Urges Dismissal of Powerball Suit Against Altadena Man

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A lawsuit filed by a man who sued the California State Lottery Commission alleging he was wrongfully denied November’s record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot should be dismissed, in part because the plaintiff cannot produce a winning ticket, the state Attorney General’s Office states in new court papers.

Jose Rivera maintains in his Alhambra Superior Court lawsuit that he is the lottery winner and not Edwin G. Castro, also a defendant in the suit, who the commission announced as the winner on Feb. 14.

“Here, plaintiff’s lottery ticket was allegedly stolen, so he had no winning ticket to present to the state lottery to claim the prize,” the Attorney General’s Office states in court papers filed Monday with Judge William Crowfoot. “The authority is clear that the state lottery cannot pay winnings to anyone who does not present a valid, winning ticket.”

Judge Crowfoot is a former Pasadena Councilmember from 1993 to 2001. In 2020, Crowfoot swore in Victor Gordo as Pasadena’s mayor.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Drum Corps Program OK’d for LA County Juvenile Halls

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Weeks before a deadline to clear its juvenile halls over concerns about conditions and lack of programs for detainees, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to provide a musical rehabilitative program for juveniles in the halls.

According to the motion by Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath, “rehabilitation and development, in large part, are dependent on the ability of youth in locked facilities to receive timely consistent programming … transformative in nature that prepares them successfully to transition back into the community.”

The motion calls for the county to contract with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, a 14-year-old nonprofit specializing in bringing music education and performances to underserved children throughout the county, to develop a Drum Corps Program for youth detainees at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and other facilities where youth are housed.

According to the motion, the program will give detainees a chance to learn to play instruments,