Human Relations to Vote on Recommendation That Could Lead to Removal of Former Mayor’s Portrait

The Human Relations Commission on Tuesday will vote to recommend the Pasadena City Council authorize the removal of portraits and plaques dedicated to former City leaders that took part in hate campaigns.

The recommendation could lead to the removal of the portrait of former mayor A.I. Stewart and the posthumous stripping of the Arthur Noble award given to Herbert L. Hahn in 1974 and removing his name from City Council Chambers.

Stewart and Hahn led the drive for white-only covenants in Pasadena real estate in the early part of the last century. The covenants were designed to stop African-American, Latino and Asian people from owning property in the city.

Stewart and Hahn’s cause became the primary mission of the Pasadena Improvement Association in 1939 two weeks after Black residents sued to desegregate the Brookside Plunge, a local municipal swimming pool.

African-American residents were allowed to use the pool one day a week. It was drained and refilled for white residents.

The stated goal of the Pasadena Improvement Association was to place “race restrictions on all of the Pasadena residential districts now occupied by Caucasians” to prevent non-whites, especially African Americans, from being able to buy most of the homes in Pasadena.

“The Pasadena Human Relations Commission recognizes that the results of campaigns for racial segregation and injustice delivered historic trauma that continues to be felt to this day by affected Pasadena residents and/or their descendants,” according to the resolution.

“… The Pasadena Human Relations Commission asserts that portraits and plaques of individuals who led or participated in such campaigns located in City Council Chambers and in any City facilities no longer inspire civic pride.”

The controversy began earlier this year after an email began circulating calling for the removal of A.I. Stewart photo from City Hall. Stewart served as Mayor of Pasadena from 1941 to 1943.

The email also called for the City Council “as a body to acknowledge and apologize for the role City government played in furthering racial segregation in Pasadena.”

The resolution by the Commission also recommended the Council publicly acknowledge that the historical establishment of racially restrictive housing covenants by A.I. Stewart and Hebert Hahn was unfair and continues to impact human relationships with residents of color in Pasadena to this day, honor truth in City Council Chambers by displaying the true historical account of Pasadena’s “campaign for racial segregation” and resulting ripple effects and open dialogue with all Pasadena residents to heal racially-motivated housing hurts in the past and present, identify short and long-term solutions, and promote racial unity and equity.

Commissioner Wilhelmina Robertson provided research on the matter to the Commission.

The City recently replaced a plaque in Mills Alley after it was discovered that the original commemoration failed to acknowledge that a fire that destroyed Asian business was the result of a racist attack. A memorial was also set up at the Parson’s project on Walnut Street to acknowledge minority residents displaced by freeway construction.