We Get Letters

Dear Editor, the below regards a Proposed Project for the corner of Los Robles and Villa. I hope you will investigate this proposal further.

Dear City Council,

The Proposed Project is grossly inappropriate for the site and for the surrounding neighborhoods. The height of the Proposed Project, 67 feet, overwhelms the existing residential context. Just because there is a precedent in the tall retirement center next door, there is no reason why the maximum 36 feet should be ignored or abandoned. The 11-story senior building occurred in a different economic and cultural climate, when understanding the permanent impacts to neighborhoods was far less sensitive and when community concerns were ignored on behalf of “economic development.” Today, that climate is much different, and to allow this Proposed Project to proceed would deny such a vigorous and wholesome community concern, now much more aware of the consequences of such a project. Height and the elephantine massing is where the conversation needs to begin.

The project undermines the architectural character of the surrounding neighborhoods, whose associations were not informed (by contrast to the sole association named, inexplicably, the Downtown community.) Orange Heights, Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, all will be affected because such a massive building will have a huge ripple effect.

Other projects by this development firm are not in character in terms of architectural style with their historic neighborhoods, but follow an agenda that is upscale and largely generic “Modern” in appeal. Their massing, whatever the language employed, is still that of large, blocky volumes, with a meager salvo to any real open spaces and thoughtful reductions in scale throughout.

The entrance and egress for the 365 parking spaces onto Oakland does not address the capabilities of this narrow, quiet street. How does that make sense? Seriously?

ABOVE ALL, where is the affordable housing that is so desperately needed in the immediate neighborhood, in the City, in the San Gabriel Valley, and throughout the State? Are we still going to continue to ignore this fundamental cry for housing? This site would be perfect for such an endeavor, as Pasadena is now flooded with similar market-rate projects. We cannot allow this trend to continue and suffocate the very soul of the City.

Do not allow this Proposed Project as is to proceed. Do not allow the Northwest to be treated in such a patronizing and insensitive way.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Lamprecht, M.Arch., Ph.D

 

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Statement by Allen Edson, NAACP and Pablo Alvarado, NDLON; in response to the Public Safety Committee discussion on Police Oversight

We, the People Have Spoken

In the face of the racial justice crisis that our communities face across our country, both of our organizations called for mass mobilizations to demand meaningful police reform in our city.

We presented to all Pasadenans the Community Bill of Rights and Declaration of Interdependence: A document that outlines a new vision for policing in our city.  The fact is that systemic racism has polluted law enforcement and as a result a culture of violence and impunity has prevailed for generations.  The Community Bill of Rights constitutes a call for action and courage to everyone but especially to our elected leaders.  In it, we imagine a city where community safety does not mean police violence.

There is a list of 12 demands in the Community Bill of Rights. This past week, the Public Safety Committee initiated the debate about police oversight. It is deeply appreciated but the proposal outlined does not meet the community demands.  Police oversight is the first and main demand of the Community Bill of Rights and it reads as follows:

“First, impose civilian oversight of the Police Department. The City Council should create a Community Police Oversight Commission, to be made up of city residents, and hire a paid, full-time Independent Police Auditor. The auditor would have subpoena power, select the Commission staff and report to the City Council. The Commission’s and Auditor’s duties would include:

Holding public hearings.

Publicly reviewing the Department’s purchase and use of surveillance technology.

Issuing quarterly and annual comprehensive reports on police officers’ use of force or threats to use force, and on all officers who have had complaints against them for excessive force, racial profiling or other abuses. The report would include all disciplinary actions against sworn officers, the amounts spent to settle lawsuits against police officers and the officers involved. These reports should be available to the public to the maximum extent permitted by California law.”This is from our stand point the first step to start correcting and dignifying policing in our city.

There is no ambiguity in our demand and now the political class has to decide whether they deliver real reform or not.  We ask all Pasadenans for whom black lives matter to hold them accountable if they don’t.

All of them.

Got something to say, email Managing Editor André Coleman, at andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com