Local Neighborhoods Open Their Doors for ‘National Night Out’

Block parties and barbeques broke out Tuesday across Pasadena as the city joined thousands of neighborhoods across America to celebrate the 40th annual “National Night Out.”

 The national, community-based event, which first took place in 1984, in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania,  honors police and first responders and focuses on neighborhoods joining together against crime.

About a dozen events took place in Pasadena, anchored by the main event at the Pasadena Police Headquarters.  Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris and Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin were joined by hundreds of residents in a friendly atmosphere.

“This is significant,” said Chief Harris. “You just look around and see all these people coming together. It’s so important for community and law enforcement, and members of public safety, to coalesce around one thought. And that is that we want — to unify against crime. We want our people to feel safe in this community, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Harris continued, “We need to work together to make this the safest community in America.”

Fire Chief Augustin concurred.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know the community we work for, and for the community to get to know us.” 

“Usually,” Augustin reflected, “when we show up, someone is having the worst day of their life, when they call 911. This is an opportunity when there isn’t an emergency, for us to get to know each other, and for them to share ideas with us, and for us to attach a name to a face, and it’s just such a wonderful event.”

National Night Out gatherings were held across the city.

Outside the Linda Vista Branch Library, high above the Rose Bowl, nearly a hundred neighbors gathered for tacos and shaved ice, along with a live rock band, the RockTops,  as they celebrated their annual block party. 

Among the many community-based booths and attractions, children enjoyed a magic show and stepped into a parked Foothill Transit bus for a quick tour. 

It was all so neighborly.