Friday, July 10, 2026

Guest Opinion | Denise Robb, Ph.D.: PUSD Board President Takes a Page From the Donald Trump Playbook

By DENISE ROBB, Ph.D.

“The chilling effect doctrine is the concept of government unduly deterring free speech and association rights through laws, regulations or actions that appear to target activities protected by the First Amendment.” Free Speech Center

Whenever Donald Trump is backed into a corner, when judges rule against him or felony charges are filed against him – he denies the behavior. But further, he seeks punishment against the people who investigated him, the judges who ruled against him and even civil service (protected) employees who carried out their job in a legal manner.

This is what I thought about when I read in this morning’s news from Pasadena Now and ColoradoBlvd.net that Board President Tina Fredericks was filing what appears to be a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against those who sought to recall her.

The recall petition contends that Fredericks violated the Brown Act by coordinating school consolidation plans through private meetings,

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Crews Resume Tree Removal at John Muir Despite City Stop-Work Orders

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

City threatens fines after attempts to garner cooperation with PUSD

Crews resumed removing trees Thursday at John Muir High School despite City-issued stop-work orders and an escalating legal dispute between Pasadena officials and the Pasadena Unified School District over whether the work violates the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance.

“We are aware of active tree felling activity at Muir High School,” Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said. “We sent City officials to the site where they were told to leave. Fines can result in thousands of dollars for continuing operations and additional legal implications. We have made several attempts to gain cooperation via PUSD leadership.”

The renewed tree removal came one day after the Pasadena City Council met in closed session to discuss potential litigation involving the dispute. The Council reported no action following Wednesday’s special meeting.

The City Council has other options. The City Council provides millions of dollars to the school district every year through Measure J.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

PUSD Board President Files Suit to Halt Recall Petition Against Her

Tina Fredericks says the recall petition against her contains false and misleading statements about school consolidation

Pasadena Unified School District Board President Tina Fredericks has asked a Los Angeles County judge to stop county election officials from allowing a recall petition against her to circulate, arguing that the petition contains false and misleading statements about her role in school consolidation planning.

Fredericks filed a verified petition for a writ of mandate and complaint for injunctive relief July 2 in Los Angeles Superior Court, naming the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and 124 unidentified “Doe” respondents.

The case was assigned to Judge Tiana J. Murillo in Department 834, according to a notice of case assignment.

Fredericks, who represents Trustee Area 6, is listed on the filing without an attorney and appears to be representing herself.

The filing seeks a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction barring the county from authorizing circulation of the recall petition until a court can decide whether it should be invalidated.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

A Pasadena Church Carries a Kenyan Partnership Into Its Fourth Decade

A Sunday session at All Saints will trace the rehabilitation ministry born from one physical therapist’s calling to Eldoret

More than three decades ago, a physical therapist from Los Angeles answered a call from an Anglican bishop in western Kenya. What grew from that encounter — a community-based rehabilitation program serving people with disabilities across the North Rift Valley — is still going. On Sunday, Pasadena parishioners will hear where it stands.

All Saints Church will host “Faith & Formation: A Story Still Being Written: All Saints, Kenya, and the Power of Partnership” on July 12, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the Guild Room. Grace Dyrness and members of the Hutcherson Rehabilitation Center Committee will lead a conversation about the ministry connecting the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles to the people of Eldoret, Kenya, according to the church’s event listing.

The partnership traces its origins to 1990, when the late Canon Percia Hutcherson, a physical therapist who had provided more than 45,000 treatments to children and adults with disabilities over her career,

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Gem and Jewelry Show Returns to Pasadena Convention Center for Three Days in July

Public shopping event runs July 17-19, with discounted admission online and free entry for wholesale buyers, schools and military

The International Gem & Jewelry Show will be set up in Hall B of the Pasadena Convention Center for three days starting July 17, opening a marketplace of diamond, pearl, bead and jewelry-supply dealers to the public, according to the event listing.

The event, at 300 E. Green St., runs from noon to 6 p.m. on July 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 18, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 19, with no admittance after 4 p.m. on the final day, according to the listing. A single ticket covers all three days. Online tickets cost $6 and must be purchased by credit card in advance; tickets bought at the door cost $8, cash only. Children under 9 are not permitted.

Admission is free for three groups, according to the listing. Licensed wholesale buyers can attend at no cost if they hold a business license.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Norton Simon Screens ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ as Part of Route 66 Centennial Series

The Pasadena museum on Colorado Boulevard, part of the historic highway, presents the Depression-era film free with admission

The Joad family’s forced migration west along Route 66 will play out on screen this month at a Pasadena museum that stands on the highway itself.

“The Grapes of Wrath,” John Ford’s 1940 adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel, screens Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Norton Simon Museum as the third of four films in “Film Series: On Route 66.” The museum built the program around the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the road that runs between Chicago and Los Angeles — and through Pasadena along Colorado Boulevard.

The museum stands at 411 West Colorado Boulevard, on a stretch of road that Visit Pasadena identifies as part of the historic highway. According to the museum’s program notes, the film follows Tom Joad, played by Henry Fonda, who returns from a prison term to find the family homestead overwhelmed by drought. With little work to be found,

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Altadena Music Theatre Returns After Eaton Fire Displacement

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Altadena Music Theatre announced Wednesday it will return this summer with productions of “Grease” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” marking the company’s first season since being displaced by last year’s Eaton Fire.

The nonprofit theater company said it will stage the productions at a temporary outdoor venue at Mountain View Mausoleum after the fire forced it from its longtime home at the Charles Farnsworth Amphitheater.

“Grease” will run Aug. 6-16, followed by “Little Shop of Horrors” from Sept. 3-13.

Founded in 2020 by artistic director Sarah Azcarate, Altadena Music Theatre offers youth musical theater programming, arts education for children and teens, and community theater productions for adults, officials said.

The company’s previous productions include “Hair” in 2022, “Cabaret” in 2023 and “Guys and Dolls” in 2024.

“Grease” follows the romance of high school students Danny and Sandy and includes songs such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin”‘ and “You’re the One That I Want.”

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Pasadena Unified Says City’s Stop Notices Threaten Soil Cleanup and On-Time Reopening

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

[Updated]   The Pasadena Unified School District said Wednesday that its removal of trees at several campuses is part of a state-directed effort to eliminate fire-related soil contamination and protect students, arguing the work falls outside the City’s jurisdiction despite stop-work notices issued by City officials.

In a statement attributed to a district spokesperson issued on Wednesday morning, PUSD said the project is intended to remove what it described as an “imminent and substantial threat” posed by soil contaminated in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.

“The Pasadena Unified School District has been diligently working on its fire-related contaminant impacted soil removal project to remove an imminent and substantial threat to the children, teachers, and community members at district campuses,” according to the statement.

The statement comes after the issued stop-work notices at seven district campuses, alleging PUSD failed to obtain permits required under the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance before removing protected trees.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Pasadena Stop-Work Order Alleges PUSD Removed Trees Without Required Permits

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

According to a stop-work order posted by the City’s Planning Department at John Muir High School, crews working for the Pasadena Unified School District did not have the necessary permits to remove trees on that campus. 

“Until proper approval of permits is obtained from the City of Pasadena Planning Department, it is required that you immediately discontinue the removal or injury of all trees on campus,” the July 1 notice reads. 

Crews allegedly continued tree removal after the notice was posted and eventually removed three trees. 

District officials have said the removals are necessary to remediate contaminated soil and protect student health and that the work is governed by state agencies. 

According to City Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian, the city notified PUSD that it is subject to Pasadena’s Tree Protection Ordinance, which requires a permit before protected trees can be removed. 

“PUSD continued removal activity at various sites,

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

City Issues Orders to Stop Tree Removals by PUSD

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Special closed session City Council meeting ordered for Wednesday includes discussion of pending litigation

City officials issued several stop work orders last week to the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) regarding the removal of several trees.

The orders came after the district had a city arborist removed from a local campus amid public opposition to a PUSD plan to remove about 200 trees across the district.

The city contends the district must comply with Pasadena’s Tree Protection Ordinance before removing protected trees.

Meanwhile, district officials have said the removals are necessary to remediate contaminated soil and protect student health and are governed by the state.

“The city notified PUSD that they are subject to our Tree Protection Ordinance which requires a permit to remove a protected tree. PUSD continued removal activity at various sites which has resulted in the posting of stop work orders. The city must conduct inspections to determine what trees are protected and therefore subject to the ordinance.