Guest Commentary | The State of Black Pasadena: A Continuing Story

By PASADENA DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMEMBER JOHN J. KENNEDY| This story builds upon the previous article I authored on April 21, 2014 entitled: THE STATE OF BLACK PASADENA: An Incomplete View. Before you ponder my comments below, may I suggest that you consider reading or rereading the referenced article which appeared in the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal.

The battle for complete justice and equality in Pasadena must be broad and inclusive of every race, religion, gender, identity, income-level, and level of academic achievement. In my view, what is good for African Americans is good for all Americans, i.e. the Greater Pasadena Community. The beauty of the discussion is that African Americans are working to realize the full promise of America just like everyone else:

1. Affordable quality health care, prenatal assistance and training;
2. Local, fresh, and reasonably-priced food;
3. Clean, safe and affordable housing;
4. Top-notch preschools and “head start” education;
5. Public schools that prepare children and adults for the real world of life-learning;
6. Free junior college;
7. A workplace without unconstitutional bias or prejudice;
8. Access to jobs, capital and economic incentives to fuel investment and commerce;
9. Income equality; and
10. Impartial, socially-sensitive and fair institutional arms of government, e.g., policing.

All ten of these areas deserve full exposition, but I will consider, briefly, only half of them with the headings noted herein. The State of Black Pasadena: A Continuing Story is an effort to advance a community dialogue about the plight of African Americans in Pasadena, a microcosm of the United States.

Health and Food

In order to build a healthy Pasadena we must eliminate violence in our city, particularly gun violence. Violence and guns continue to be a problem in Pasadena. Unlike the assertion of some in powerful positions, violence and guns know no boundaries. The Pasadena Police Department has had a record seizure of guns in our community. Last count, over 1,000 guns have been removed from our “streets” over the past 24 months. African Americans are disproportionately affected by gun violence. Increasingly the evidence supports the conclusion that most of the gun violence is perpetrated by young men under the age of 35.

When we view violence as a disease, the diagnosis gives professionals a confidence that it can be cured with the timely right intervention and treatment. The shot in the arm is tied to so many areas, steady quality education starting at the earliest levels life and beyond; building and reinforcing self-esteem; the promotion of non-violent sport activities for children and young adults (“intentional civility”);    modeling good behavior; and the wholesale push by the community to develop employment opportunities for all of our residents. There is no disagreement that the solutions are more complex than mere words, but the intent is to foster collective thinking by a highly-intelligent community brain-power and voice to address and solve the problem.

As it relates to food, Type II Diabetes is ravaging our community. It does not have to be so. Type II Diabetes is highly-manageable and even curable. There are an abundant number of fast food restaurants in our community where we strain to find healthy foods on the menu. We can change that with the power of a request and the strategic use of our dollars.

We must encourage supermarkets in our neighborhoods to sell and promote fresh fruits and vegetables. Home gardens are a real option as was the case at our home with my wonderful mother having grown up on a farm in Mississippi. No, one does not have to have had grown up on a farm to plant and enjoy the fruits and vegetables in a garden.

Let’s work together to bring Farmer’s Markets to several areas north of the 210 Freeway. Lastly, I see a real opportunity to bring a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods to Northwest Pasadena. The stale argument that significant profits cannot be made here simply is not true. Don’t forget, before heavy consolidation in the grocery industry, there was a time when the Von’s located at the Southwest Corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard was their award-winning store.

Housing 

Bad public policy has helped to decimate the housing stock of a once very strong and vibrant black community in Pasadena. Freeway alignments, eminent domain and the demolition of historic structures and homes under the guise of urban renewal continue to have negative rippling and lasting impacts.

Currently, the housing market in Pasadena is roaring with tremendous demand and scarce supply to meet the needs of those who would like to call the City of Roses home. It is true that Blacks were intentionally barred from living in certain neighborhoods in Pasadena by use of now outlawed racist restrictive covenants. However, the issue now is one of affordability and employment. Those two elements seem  to be in cahoots working with one another to drive out more African Americans who have called Pasadena home for generations.

If bad public policy started the mess, then good public policy can now stem the tide. With the abolition of “redevelopment law” in the State of California, cities have been left to create new tools to fund affordable housing. The City of Pasadena is making a concerted effort to leverage local, state and federal dollars to stimulate the build of affordable housing. The City requires large private developers to include in their respective developments affordable units or pay an in-lieu fee so that others can build affordable housing. A wonderful development on Fair Oaks Avenue, between Painter Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, Heritage Square Senior Housing Project is marching to completion in several months. This development of 69 units of senior housing will become home to one of the most vulnerable populations in our community. The community is demanding that African Americans receive a fair share of those residences.

 Schools and Colleges

African American parents, and those entrusted with the care of our children, must require that the video game is turned off and that homework is done before it is turned on.

The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Unified School District are working together under the umbrella of Collaborate PASadena to foster educational solutions for children and adults in our community. I had the privilege of serving on this body, along with then Councilmember Terry Tornek, as the appointee of our former mayor. Mayor Terry Tornek has demonstrated the importance and commitment of the City by continuing to serve on this body. I serve as the Mayor’s alternate.

On Sunday, 15 May, Dr. Rajen Vurdien, the President/Superintendent of Pasadena City College addressed a predominantly African American Church in Northwest Pasadena and said that African American students are in fact welcomed at PCC. Additionally, he announced the appointment of a number of African American faculty and administrators. African American Trustee Berlinda Brown was in the audience as President Vurdien spoke to congregants about a number of educational initiatives he is championing. Trustee Brown is credited with inaugurating a brilliant program at John Muir High School that allows high school students to take college courses for credit on the Muir campus. It is no secret that the best equalizing force in the world is a quality education.

 Political Participation

All voters and particularly African Americans voters must exercise the franchise, their vote, to demonstrate they matter on every level of this great city and country of ours. The right to vote, for African Americans, was won by a civil war, constitutional amendments and the repeal of laws that prevented such. So many paid the ultimate price so that you and I could enjoy the right to determine our own destiny. Therefore, African Americans must be vigilant in demanding our rights by expressing our wishes at the ballot box.

African Americans continue to have one of the highest levels of civic participation of any ethnic group in America. So, it is particularly disheartening not to have an African American presently serving on the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Trustees. This must change and there is a clear opportunity for an African American educator to be elected in District 1 to the School Board. With the right candidates stepping forward with broad experience and appeal to all voters, who knows, maybe two African Americans will be elected.

Entrepreneurship and Jobs

The Internet has helped to reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of the world. No more can lack of access to capital, ignorance, racism, and redlining be the limiting factors that prevent African Americans from realizing their economic dreams. Yes, weighty barriers still exist, but the internet provides greater opportunity for us to expose and overcome them!

Tech and hospitality jobs will continue to be among the fastest growing sectors in Pasadena. African Americans must be prepared to take advantage of the swing. I am particularly buoyed by the high-tech collaboration between Cross Campus and the Pasadena Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Councilmember Andy Wilson has provided real leadership in this area of engagement!

Below is an analysis of the City’s 2014 employment figures, which clearly show the lack of opportunity for African Americans as captured that year.  The 2013 and 2012 figures are much the same.

The 2014 Equal Opportunity in Employment Annual Report Figures show the following impacts to African American employees and applicants (excluded both Native American due to small numbers and Armenians who are perceived as white in the workforce):

• African Americans are the least represented among management—significantly lower than Hispanics:  15.7% Black vs. 33.8% white, 24.5% Hispanic, 21.7% Asian;

• African Americans are the only minority group to have experienced a decrease in workforce representation from 2011 to 2014 while the other groups saw an increase: 19.7% to 18.6% (Black), vs. 34.2% to 36.6% (Hispanic) and 12.7% to 12.9% (Asian);

• Whites and Hispanics accounted for the majority of promotions: 32.5% White and 38.6% Hispanic vs. 12.1% Black;

• Men were over 2 times as likely to be promoted as women: (67.5% male vs. 32.5% female);

• African Americans are the least represented among new hires: (14.6% Black vs. 21.9% white, 40.6% Hispanic and 15.6% Asian);

• Asians are disproportionately represented in management: Asians account for only 12.9% of the workforce but are 21.7% of management;

• African Americans are disproportionately represented in “Non-Management Maintenance and Skilled (manual laborers)” vs. all other groups (23.5% of all African American employees fall within this bottom category, the highest percentage of all employment categories for Blacks).