Lyon to Push Affordable Housing And Preservation on City Council

Councilmember Elect Jason Lyon told Pasadena Now on Wednesday which issues he would champion when he sworn in this December.

“The issues I am most focused on are the same ones we talked about during the campaign: balancing our need for housing that is affordable at every income level with the desire to manage development so we preserve the character of our city; helping our unhoused neighbors to find permanent housing solutions; and making Pasadena more environmentally sustainable,” Lyon said.

“I would add to that two issues that didn’t come up as often during the campaign: the need for long-term, creative solutions to our economic problems with the Rose Bowl, and facilitating a robust public conversation about how to make the best use of the newly reclaimed 710 stub.”

Lyon beat out Cira Hadjian and Allen Shay to capture the seat being vacated by Vice-Mayor Andy Wilson, who opted not to seek reelection.

“While all of these areas need immediate attention, I think the first priority for me will be to work with my colleagues on the Council, along with the City Manager and the Planning Department, to come up with a comprehensive adaptive reuse ordinance that allows conversion of commercial and industrial spaces to residential use. I would also like to see us institute a citywide tree-planting initiative in honor of Councilmember Kennedy, who was committed to ‘greening’ Pasadena.”

After settling in Pasadena permanently in 2010, Lyon joined the board of directors of Young & Healthy, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Pasadena’s uninsured and underserved children with access to high-quality health care at no cost to their families, according to his website.

He served as its president for two years, during which time he oversaw the establishment of a fund to ensure the organization’s long-term fiscal security.

Lyon was elected to the vestry of All Saints Church and became its senior lay leader in 2016.

In that capacity, he oversaw the parish’s transition from retiring rector Ed Bacon to Mike Kinman, he said on his website.

In 2018, Lyon joined the board of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, which works to advance the economic vitality and quality of life in our region. The same year, he accepted a seat on the board of Planned Parenthood Pasadena San Gabriel Valley, which provides equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care, including trans care.

Lyon was appointed to Pasadena’s Historic Preservation Commission in 2017. During his term on the commission, he worked to update the city’s ordinance limiting demolition of historic homes. In 2019, Councilmember Andy Wilson appointed Jason to the Planning Commission. Jason currently serves as the Vice Chair of both the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

“I believe leadership is all about service, so you can expect candor, a commitment to meaningful public engagement in city decision-making, and responsiveness to constituents’ needs in the district,” Lyon said.