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.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Supervisors Advance Affordable Housing Purchase Program for Unincorporated Areas

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to begin developing a Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) program aimed at preserving affordable rental housing in unincorporated communities by giving qualified nonprofit organizations the first opportunity to purchase certain residential properties before they are acquired by large investors.

“I supported today’s motion because it’s an opportunity for our Board to turn our commitment to preserving affordable housing into meaningful action. It also has the potential to help protect the mom-and-pop property owners who have long provided much of our naturally occurring affordable housing by giving community-based organizations and local buyers a fair opportunity to compete with large, well-capitalized investors,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

Barger called for a clear, carefully transparent process, including a progress update within 60 days so the Board can monitor implementation and address outstanding questions.

“As Altadena continues recovering from the Eaton Fire, preserving affordable rental housing and strengthening local ownership will be critical to the community’s long-term recovery.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

SoCal Businesses Lose Fight Over Gas-Powered Appliances

By Lynn La, CALMATTERS

Southern California air regulators can move forward with new limits on the sale of certain gas-powered appliances, including water heaters.

Despite pushback from businesses and developers, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 ruling last week upheld restrictions on commercial and industrial gas appliances in four Los Angeles-area counties.

The ruling directly affects roughly 1.3 million water heaters and industrial boilers in L.A., Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the Sierra Club, a defendant in the lawsuit. South Coast Air Quality Management District adopted the mandate in 2024, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

• Noah Rott, a deputy press secretary at the Sierra Club, in a statement: “When fully implemented, the boiler rule will avoid over 2,800 early deaths, 11,800 cases of asthma, and 300,000 lost work and school days, yielding over $95 billion in health benefits.”

The air board earlier this year backed down from extending the restrictions to residences.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Burned Off the Morning Schedule, Goat Yoga Returns to the Gamble House Lawn at Dusk

Pasadena’s landmark Craftsman home hosts its sixth season of goats-and-yoga sessions, now on summer evenings

On the back lawn of one of Pasadena’s most carefully preserved houses, a small herd of miniature goats will spend a Saturday evening this month climbing over people who came to stretch.

Goat Yoga returns to the rear lawn of The Gamble House on Saturday, July 25, with two sessions at 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. — a shift into the evening after spring classes met at 9:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The Gamble House Conservancy operates the landmark, which is owned by the City of Pasadena, and says the series is now in its sixth season. The sessions take place on the fourth Saturday of each month through October. 

The one-hour sessions are led by certified yoga instructor and Gamble House docent Tina Lenert. The goats — Nigerian Dwarf kids brought by Hello Critter — wander the lawn during class; the Pasadena Weekly described them as rescued.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

William Hoffman Signs Southern California Guidebook at Vroman’s

The Pasadena stop is one part of a wider effort to route travelers toward the region’s overlooked corners

Author William A. Hoffman will discuss and sign copies of his guidebook, “Exploring Southern California: 80 Outings for the Urban Adventurer,” at Vroman’s Bookstore on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The book lays out 80 self-guided excursions across Southern California, each built around itineraries, maps, historical background and nearby attractions. Mascot Books, the book’s publisher, presents each outing in a two-page format and lists the book at $24.95.

Hoffman, a Los Angeles County native with a background in urban planning, has spent years leading in-person walking and van tours under the name “Hoffy Tours,” according to earlier reporting by the Argonaut and Los Angeles Downtown News. Those outlets reported that Hoffman has led tours through Downtown Los Angeles — including stops at Olvera Street, Disney Hall, Bunker Hill, Broadway’s historic theaters, Little Tokyo and Chinatown — as well as through Laguna Beach and the Orange County coast.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

County Supervisors Agree to Explore Program for Purchase of Rental Properties by Tenants, Groups

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The county Board of Supervisors directed its staff Tuesday to develop a program that would give qualified affordable-housing organizations the first chance to purchase residential properties when they are placed on the market.

The board asked that staff return in 180 days with the proposed program, known as a Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA. The program is envisioned to eventually expand into a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, offering initial purchase rights to tenants of rental properties, tenant associations or other qualified buyers.

“Los Angeles County has been a strong residential investment destination since the early 2000s, which is demonstrated through its steady increase in property appreciation over the past two decades as well as short transaction timelines and the consistently higher sales price above asking across all property types,” according to a motion by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Holly Mitchell. “Without policy intervention, existing renters face potential displacement risks as housing costs keep rising beyond affordability.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Fighting Mosquitoes With Mosquitoes: SGV Mosquito Match Begins in Bassett, CA

San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District launches innovative mosquito control program using non-biting male mosquitoes to reduce invasive Aedes aegypti populations.

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGV Mosquito) will be launching its sterile insect technique (S.I.T.) program, SGV Mosquito Match, in the unincorporated community of Bassett beginning July 7. SGV Mosquito Match will release non-biting male mosquitoes to reduce populations of invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by targeting the female mosquito’s ability to produce successful offspring. Female mosquitoes of this species can transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya and are difficult to control using traditional methods alone, posing a potential public health threat to the community.

SGV Mosquito Match uses male mosquitoes because they do not bite and do not transmit diseases. Specifically, it will utilize EPA-approved WB1 male mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium found in 70% of insects worldwide. These bacteria effectively make the males incompatible with wild female mosquitoes and unable to produce viable offspring.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Free Altadena Rotary Concerts Return to Renovated Loma Alta Park July 11

Seven Saturday shows mark the second summer season since the fire-recovery rebuild

The Rotary Club of Altadena will open its 29th season of free Saturday-night concerts July 11 at Loma Alta Park, the Eaton Fire-damaged county park that reopened last year after a $3.4 million renovation.

The seven-Saturday series, staged in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, runs through August 22 at lower Loma Alta Park, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. The Rotary Club will sell beer and wine at each show, according to Pasadena Now and Altadena Now’s reporting on this year’s lineup.

Loma Alta Park was damaged in the January 2025 Eaton Fire and closed before reopening May 17, 2025. It was the first Los Angeles County park to reopen after the fire, according to reporting by Pasadena Now, Altadena Now and heysocal.com at the time of the reopening.

The rebuild, backed by Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office and philanthropic partners,