Guest Opinion: Councilmember Gordo Calls for Safety as We Work Together for Pasadena

The city of Pasadena has faced many difficult and challenging times–the AIDS epidemic, earthquakes, the Halloween murders, September 11, the 2008 housing and financial crisis, and the embezzlement of city funds—just to name a few.

Each time, we have rolled up our collective sleeves, engaged in vigorous debate, considered all points of view and worked the problem together to arrive at the best solution. The community was stronger in the end.

Consensus building is Pasadena at its best, with ideas bubbling up from residents, neighborhood associations, commissions, and the business community.

But, just when we are facing our greatest crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, those at the top of city leadership have abandoned the public and inclusive process that has served us so well.

With this crisis, we should all be concerned that Pasadena is not prioritizing its resources and working together.

Since March 9, when the Council approved the Public Health Department’s Emergency Declaration, the top of city leadership has cancelled four Council meetings and 12 council committee meetings.

Many of us on the Council asked to keep the Council and committees working. In response, the city staff leadership argued that resources are limited and told us the technology is too challenging to figure out.

But, then city staff leadership proceeded to schedule a Planning Commission meeting to approve two cannabis permits for large retailers from outside of Pasadena. How is it that, in the middle of our greatest crisis, approval of two cannabis permits are prioritized above all else?

We need to reset our priorities.

We need to get our Economic Development Technology Committee (EDTech) working to discuss challenges to our local businesses which are facing devastating impacts. For example, EDTech must discuss how many health inspectors it will take to support reopening local businesses.

We need to have our Public Safety Committee meeting to address issues like the rise in domestic violence since the Stay at Home order.

We need to re-start our Finance Committee to discuss the gaping financial deficit in this year’s budget and the even bigger hole in next year’s budget which begins July 1, not to mention the complete shut-down of the Rose Bowl and Pasadena Convention Center.

The full City Council must be given the opportunity to focus on the immediate needs of those that are going without a paycheck, food, childcare, and healthcare for their families.

I am not alone in this view. Many of my City Council colleagues and community members also have demanded the same.

Instead of trusting all of us to work the problem together as a community, the top of city leadership seems to be using the emergency to make unilateral decisions without public input or oversight. There is no room for unilateral decision making on the part of any one or two people. Our full Council is elected to be the voice of the people and must engage with all our stakeholders to move our City forward. I know the talent and commitment of my Council colleagues. This is the time for all of us to work together.

Together, let’s develop the framework to move Pasadena forward through this crisis when it will be safe to modify our Stay at Home order. We must define what that will look like, what measures must be met, what staffing will look like, what modifications should be made to our Municipal Code to keep our community safe while supporting the needs of our residents and businesses.

The economy of Pasadena is unique—we are a destination city with beautiful neighborhoods, a diverse community, and an economy reliant on tourism, dining and entertainment, Rose Bowl events, and the Pasadena Convention Center. As we address these challenges, we also must recognize that we are part of a region. Especially in this pandemic, we should be prepared to move in concert with our neighbors, and the region, when it is safe to do so.

Let’s get back to working together as we have always done in times of crisis. That is how we will arrive at the best solution, and Pasadena will be stronger for it in the end.