Pasadena City Manager Cynthia Kurtz To Appear On ‘NewsRap Local’ TV Show Friday to Discuss the City’s Priorities

Pasadena Media’s local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” continues at 5 p.m. on  Friday with featured guest Cynthia Kurtz, interim city manager for the city of Pasadena.

“With over a century-worth of institutional knowledge leaving the city in recent weeks, Pasadena finds itself at a critical crossroads,” said host Justin Chapman, a Pasadena-based journalist who writes for Pasadena Now. “We’ll talk to Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz about how she plans to guide the city through this potentially tumultuous transitional period.”

Kurtz previously served as city manager of Pasadena from 1998-2008.

She has also worked as the interim city manager for the cities of Covina and Santa Ana, as well as the chief operating officer of River LA. She served as president of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership and currently serves as vice chair of the Metropolitan Water District. She was selected by Pasadena City Council to serve as interim city manager after previous city manager Steve Mermell announced his retirement effective Dec. 2.

“NewsRap Local” launched in April and airs on the third Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.

In each episode, Chapman provides analysis on local news, presents a “lightning round” of the month’s top stories and interviews a special guest or hosts a panel for a deep dive into an important issue facing the community. It is the only TV talk show that focuses exclusively on Pasadena news and politics.

“NewsRap Local” is written by Chapman, directed by Joshua Morales, produced by Chapman and Aaron Wheeler and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

Previous guests on “NewsRap Local” included Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, director of the Pasadena Public Health Department; Rick Cole, former mayor of Pasadena and current executive director of the Congress for the New Urbanism; Congress member Judy Chu (D-27); Congress member Adam Schiff (D-28); and many others.

“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Chapman is also the writer, host, producer and editor of the show “Well Read with Justin Chapman,” which also airs on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps. In October, he placed 2nd in the Hard News category and 3rd in the Obituary category at the LA Press Club’s 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has written hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Now and many others.

“Join me on the third Friday of every month at 5 p.m. for my analysis of Pasadena news and politics and to hear directly from community movers and shakers,” Chapman said.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.