West Pasadena Residents’ Association

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Arroyo Seco

Pertaining to the history, maintenance of its ecosystem, the Rose Bowl grounds and the Hahamongna Watershed area

WPRA News Letter Spring 2022

In this issue

Oh, the wonders you’ll see! Let’s dream them together.

Presidents’ message: What have we done for you lately?

Pasadena City Council elections are set for June 7

WPRA comments on land use and planning issues

What’s on the WPRA land-use watch list

Huntington Hospital project improves with consultation

Update: One Arroyo trail demonstration projects

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden: A historic jewel in the heart of Pasadena

Living with our wild neighbors

America’s stadium begins historic centennial celebration

The White House is catching up to the Pasadena Senior Center (Wink)

City approves, appoints to ECD/EL task force

Pasadena’s pioneers ‘made a few mistakes’

PresidentDan Beal
Vice President, AdministrationEvan Davis
Vice President, CommunicationsAvram Gold
SecretaryKenyon Harbison
TreasurerBlaine Cavena

Letter to Keith Hala regarding Hahamangna SE Entrance Project

The County ‘s recommendations are not authorized by the Hahamonga Master Plan. There should be no approvals for any additional changes until the entire project can be brought into compliance with the HWPMP and the Design Plan for the Arroyo Seco.

The 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.

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…

Dan Beal, WPRA President

…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
WPRA’s treasure Blaine Cavena
Blaine Cavena, Tech Director

Our lineup of introductory speakers were:

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:

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?