Councilmember McAustin to be Honored by the Commission on the Status of Women

Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women on Wednesday, Nov. 4, will meet to discuss honoring District 2 Councilmember Margaret McAustin for her support of the commission and contributions to the community, including her support to the recent HERStory event.

McAustin, who has challenged the city’s discrimination against women, will receive a certificate of appreciation, the commission said.

McAustin announced last year that she would not be seeking reelection. 

McAustin was elected to the Pasadena City Council’s District 2 seat in April 2007. District 2 is home to some of the most venerable neighborhoods and Historic Landmark districts, including North Pasadena Heights, Historic Highlands, Bungalow Heaven, Crawford’s Vista and Brigden Ranch. The district also includes the many businesses in the commercial corridors along Washington Boulevard, Lake Avenue, and Allen Avenue, serving the needs of the residents of north central Pasadena.

As a City Councilmember, McAustin currently serves as chair of the Pasadena Municipal Services Committee, responsible for directing city policy in the vital areas of water and power. She also serves on the Finance Committee, is the Pasadena representative to the Foothill Transit Joint Powers Authority, the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Steering Committee, and serves on the Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee of the League of California Cities.

McAustin has championed quality of life issues, including promoting a safe, secure city, preserving and acquiring open space, parks and affordable housing, and protecting the character of Pasadena’s residential neighborhoods. She began her 30 years of civic involvement as a neighborhood activist and continues to support, encourage, and develop neighborhood leaders and neighborhood involvement through community participation in city government.

She served as Pasadena City Planning Commissioner from 1993 to 997 and was appointed again to the Planning Commission in 2005. She served as a member of the City’s 1998 Charter Reform Task Force. Committed to community service, McAustin served as co-president of the Historic Highlands Neighborhood Association and was a founding member of both the Victory Rose and the Washington Square Neighborhood Associations.

In her 25-year career as an asset manager for a privately held real estate management company, McAustin acquired extensive experience in managing multimillion-dollar projects and budgets, municipal bond financing, litigation oversight, project management, and acquisitions and sales. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State LA.

McAustin moved to Pasadena more than 30 years ago. She lives with her husband, John, and their superdog, Wrigley, in the Historic Highlands neighborhood.

The Commission on the Status of Women meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday. To access the meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/82303553966 or call (669) 900-6833 and use the webinar ID 823 0355 3966. 

Public comments may be sent by email to tsabha@cityofpasadena.net prior to the day of the meeting or submitted through www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment.