WPRA acknowledges the need for additional housing, especially affordable housing, so that people and families of all income levels can live in Pasadena. Affordable housing should be the primary focus.
WPRA-Housing-Element-PoliciesWPRA Redistricting “Community of Interest” Letter
WPRA contends, if any minor adjustments to the current CD 6 boundaries are made pursuant to population shifts, they should be made in the eastern portion of District 6, and in no case west of Fair Oaks Avenue.
21-9-13-WPRA-Redistricting-COI-LetterWPRA Lettre to Pasadena Planning Department regarding the Affinity Project
The WPRA contends that the drafting of an EIR for the Affinity Project is premature and will not be acceptable until the developers define and commit to the use of Building A.
2021_9_2-WPRA-Ltr-to-Planning-regarding-Affinity-ProjectPasadena Housing Draft Element – WPRA Letter to Council
WPRA’s comments on the July 14, 2021 Draft Housing Element – WPRA considers this draft to be an overall good start to a difficult task, one that provides a platform for further engagement and revision. We list 7 key points of focus & 3 appendixes.
2021-8-2-Pasadena-Housing-Element-WPRA-Ltr-to-CouncilWPRA Letter to Assembly Member Holden opposing SB 10
The West Pasadena Residents’ Association strongly opposes SB 10as an excessive, misguided and fatally flawed attempt to pre-empt local determinations on land use.
2021_7_6-WPRA_Ltr-to-Holden-Oppose-SB-10The WPRA Letter to Mayor Gordo about the Colorado Street Bridge Barriers
The WPRA requests that the City delay implementation of the current options for suicide-deterring Vertical Barrier Enhancements to the Colorado Street Bridge, and continue to conduct an in-depth review of alternatives, including any technologies that could replace the physical barriers, or enhance a reduced height of those barriers.
21_6_8-WPRA-Ltr-to-Mayor-Gordo-about-the-Colorado-St-Bridge-WPRA Letter to State Housing Committee Opposing SB10
The West Pasadena Residents’ Association strongly opposes SB 10as an excessive, misguided and fatally flawed attempt to pre-empt local determinations on land use. SB 10 would require cities to approve construction of up to 10-unit market-rate residential buildings on almost any parcel of land.
6_20_2021-WPRA-Ltr-to-State-Housing-Committee-Opposing-SB10WPRA Letter to State Housing Committee Opposing SB9
SB 9 is not an equity bill. It is the exact opposite. Its emphasis on expensive market rate construction would constitute an unprecedented and destabilizing attack on 7 million California single-family households with 20 million residents—white, Black, Latino and Asian—at all income levels.
6_20_2021-WPRA-Ltr-to-State-Housing-Committee-Opposing-SB9-The 2021 West Pasadena Residents’ Association Annual Meeting
On May 27, 2021, the West Pasadena Residents’ Association held its virtual annual meeting and informational program. This year we took a deep dive into the current topic many people are concerned about: our state’s housing shortage and how it severely affects California’s urban centers.
Two video program versions were placed on YouTube for public viewing.
CLICK HERE for the replay of the entire annual meeting.
CLICK HERE for the housing content only without WPRA’s business segment.
We kicked off our meeting with Dan Beal’s president’s message…
…and then we presented WPRA’s Community Service Awards to Rosa Laveaga, former Arroyo Seco Project Supervisor and to Priscilla Taylor who recently retired from our board after serving 26 years.
WPRA Board Director, Joan Hearst & Rosa Laveaga 
WPRA President Dan Beal & Priscilla Taylor
We elected our 2021 to 2022 Board of Directors and moved on to our discussion topic: The Housing Crisis: How do we build our way out of the housing shortage, and especially affordable housing?
We started our focus on our local planning challenges within Pasadena, expanding the conversation to the LA County area and then widening the analysis even further to state legislation. Moderating was Avram Gold, WPRA Vice President of Communications. WPRA Treasurer, Blaine Cavena handled the webinar engineering as Tech Director.
Avram Gold, Moderator 
Blaine Cavena, Tech Director
Our lineup of introductory speakers were:
Pasadena Mayor, Victor Gordo
Pasadena District 6 Councilmember, Steve Madison
LA County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger
and our State’s District 41, Assembly member Chris Holden
Mayor Victor Gordo 
Council member Steve Madison 
LA County Supervisor,
Cathryn Barger
State Assembly member,
Chris Holden
We then followed these four reports with a panel discussion. Our special guest panelists were:
Our District 25 State Senator, Anthony Portantino
Pasadena’s Director of Planning and Community Development, David Reyes
Executive Director of nonprofit Heritage Housing Partners, Charles Loveman. Jr.
and nonprofit Abode Communities President & CEO, Robin Hughes.
Senator Anthony Portantino 
Pasadena Planning Director,
David Reyes
Non-profit developer,
Robin Hughes
Non-profit developer,
Charles Loveman
Topics discussed were: more production vs the reach for more land, the lack of current state funding and existing county subsidies, the struggle to finance affordable housing, state vs local control, gentrification, communication breakdowns in Sacramento, developer influence and lobbying, and ending with the question: Will there really be a reduced demand for cars in the future?
WPRA Letter of Support for Holden’s bill AB 768
The WPRA supportsAssembly Bill 768 by Chris Holden “School Safety: Aquatic and Pool Safety Program: Model Policy” – would require state agencies to develop model swimming pool and waterway policy and programs for use by local educational agencies and other organizations
2021_05_21-WPRA-Ltr-Support-AB-768-Holden.docx