Mayor Takes New Drive to Repeal Pro-710 Measure Before Supportive Residents Association Tonight

The influential West Pasadena Residents Association Annual Meeting tonight will hear from a newly-energized ally in Mayor Terry Tornek, who Monday announced his intention to ask voters to repeal a 2001 measure advocating completion of the 710 freeway in order to fund a fight against building the tunnel extension.

Tornek was invited to the Association’s meeting for a question-and-answer session prior to announcing his decision to mount an urgent campaign to get a repeal of Measure A onto the November ballot.

“Deep thanks to Mayor Tornek … for spearheading this effort,” WPRA President Geoff Baum wrote Tuesday after learning of Tornek’s announcement. “We’ll have our work cut out for us in the coming year.”

City officials say Pasadena is stymied in spending funds to openly fight the 710 tunnel project through West Pasadena unless 15-year-old Measure A, passed by Pasadena voters, is overturned.

“Our neighborhood will work aggressively to counter any prospect of a tunnel being drilled through our neighborhood and we will use every measure available to us to fight it,” Baum said. “We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Tornek in helping that.”

Coincidentally, the WPRA meeting will also feature a presentation on alternatives to the 710 tunnel developed by the Connecting Pasadena Project and noted Pasadena architect and urbanist Stefanos Polyzoides.

Last year, Polyzoides along with several engineering and economic experts led workshops attended by Pasadena residents to start laying the groundwork for addressing the question of what uses could be introduced in the “710 stub” – the 50 acre area bounded by Walnut Street to the north, California Street to the south, St. John Avenue to the west and Pasadena Avenue to the east – to create economic and social value to Pasadena.

That area is referred to by WPRA board members as “the ditch” because it contains the very short northern-most sections of the 710 freeway which have long-awaited the extension’s completion.

Polyzoides and his team have worked to re-imagine “the ditch” and to produce a foundation for a draft master plan that “would create a beautiful new place in our City.”

Wednesday’s meeting will be held in the Maranatha Students Center, 169 S. St. John Avenue in Pasadena.

It begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception, which includes food from Los Tacos, beverages, exhibitors and spirited conversation. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. It will feature remarks by Steve Chang, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Maranatha High School, the President’s Address by Kenyon Harbison, and a presentation of the Maranatha Master Plan.

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez is scheduled to deliver a briefing and answer questions about public safety in West Pasadena.

Also, the WPRA will present its annual community service awards and elect its 2016-2017 slate of officers and directors.
Exhibitors for the annual meeting include Connecting Pasadena Plan, Day One Pasadena, Kidspace Children’s Museum, La Casita del Arroyo, Maranatha High School, No on 710 Committee, Old Pasadena Management District, Pasadena Community Gardens, Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Heritage, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena Sister Cities, Rose Bowl Stadium and the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Founded in 1962, the West Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the character of our community and the quality of life in West Pasadena. The WPRA fulfills this mission by keeping you informed of current issues, representing your interests and supporting the activities of other organizations that share the same interests.

The WPRA focuses on the area bounded by Colorado Boulevard on the north, Fair Oaks Avenue on the east, and the city limits on the south and west. All WPRA activities are funded through membership dues and contributions. The WPRA receives no public funding and has no paid employees.

The meeting is free and open to all. For more information, click www.wpra.net .