Under an executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom state agencies would be required to prioritize clearing encampments that pose safety risks in their jurisdictions. The order would largely apply to freeway encampments and those in state parks. The order calls on officials to give advance notice to vacate, connect the unhoused to local services and help store their belongings for at least two months. The order makes it clear that the power to remove encampments is still a local ..read more

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $20 million to a collaborative led by Pasadena nonprofit  Day One for a project aimed at creating a healthier, more sustainable San Gabriel Valley, officials announced Thursday. The GREEN (Green, Resilient, Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) SGV Collaborative will implement seven climate action and pollution reduction strategies over 36 months in some of the area’s most pollution-burdened communities. Day One, headquartered across from Pasadena City Hall in the Civic Center, was the lead applicant ..read more

Pasadena Fire Department’s Engine 31 with four personnel has been dispatched to Northern California as part of a multi-agency response to the state’s largest wildfire this year, the Park Fire. The local firefighters are part of a mixed-resource Strike Team that includes resources from Glendale, West Covina, La Verne, and Long Beach Fire Departments. The team is being led by a Battalion Chief from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The Park Fire, which began Wednesday, July 24, at approximately ..read more

Local homeless service providers in Pasadena are voicing strong concerns over Governor Gavin Newsom’s Thursday executive order that state agencies dismantle homeless encampments on state-owned property. They warn the mandate could severely disrupt their efforts to build trust and provide assistance to those experiencing homelessness. Newsom’s order, issued on Thursday, July 26, directs state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while ensuring the dignity and safety of unhoused individuals. It follows the earlier Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, empowering ..read more

Approximately 90 feet of copper wire and cables were cut and stolen from two pull boxes near the bridge in the 700 block of  West Holly Street, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau. Officers were dispatched to the location to investigate the reported copper wire theft after receiving the 1:35 p.m. Thursday call, said Campeau. The stolen wire was valued at over $540, police said. A representative from Pasadena Public Works met with the officers and reported that two ..read more

Commercial real estate firm Kidder Mathews has orchestrated the sale of three multifamily properties in Pasadena for a combined total of $7 million, the company said Thursday. The transaction involves three separate apartment complexes located in desirable areas of Pasadena, each fetching a substantial price. The largest of the three properties, a 12-unit complex at 174 North Mar Vista Avenue, sold for $2,674,000. A 10-unit building at 151 North Wilson Avenue commanded $2,200,000. The smallest property in the portfolio, an ..read more

Los Angeles County’s property values have surpassed $2 trillion for the first time, breaking this ceiling and marking a significant milestone in the region’s real estate market, County Assessor Jeff Prang announced Thursday.  The 2024 Assessment Roll increased by $97 billion, or 4.85%, from the previous year, continuing a 14-year trend of uninterrupted growth. The record-breaking net total value of $2.094 trillion is expected to generate more than $20 billion in property tax revenue. These funds will support vital public ..read more

In a major victory for gig-work companies, the California Supreme Court today upheld a voter-approved law that allows Uber and other app makers to treat their drivers and delivery workers as independent contractors instead of employees. The decision on Proposition 22 was unanimous. Approved by 58% of California voters in 2020 and enacted the same year, Prop. 22 gave app-based gig workers some benefits but not full worker protections because the ballot initiative — which gig companies spent more than $200 ..read more

Rose Bowl officials are hopeful they can preserve their traditional New Year’s Day game slot and kickoff time in the expanded College Football Playoff format starting in 2026, according to ESPN. Laura Farber, chair of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association’s Rose Bowl Management Committee, expressed optimism about maintaining the Jan. 1 date during an interview with ESPN at Big Ten media days on Tuesday. “Because we’re the only bowl that has the date as part of our brand in ..read more

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will review the potential implications of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homelessness enforcement during their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 30. The Board plans to discuss the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson decision, which allows cities to enforce anti-camping laws even when shelter space is limited. This review comes in response to a request made at the July 9, 2024 Board meeting.  The agenda was published before Thursday’s executive order ..read more