We Get Letters: Watch Your Words

Commissioner Cole,

I am writing to voice my offense to your phraseology in the May 10th Planning Commission meeting in your referencing the ghettoization of the Northwest.  As I am aware of what you are referencing, I believe you could have chosen your words more carefully.  Not every neighborhood can be a Bungalow Heaven. However, I am reminded of a dear friend who served as president and her saying when there was a time when a great deal of people didn’t want to live there.

The Northwest is home to a great deal of hardworking individuals.   We live in beautiful homes, countless declared landmark, many with National Registry designations. Five houses on my street alone have been awarded Golden Arrows by Pasadena Beautiful for outstanding landscaping and attractive facades.  

We drive nice cars to respectable jobs.  We tirelessly work to promote our neighborhood schools. We live in beautiful historic neighborhoods complete with parks, libraries and cultural centers which we are extremely proud of.  Our bike paths are regularly travelled.  Our sidewalks welcome a steady stream of men, women and children who appear comfortable walking, jogging, pushing their babies in strollers and taking their dogs out on a leash.  Our streets comfortably accommodated the Pasadena Marathon.

Over the 20+ years that I have lived here, we have worked together to make this a better place, things have improved greatly.  We adhere to the admonition, “see something, say something.”  You appear to be very outspoken, very influential.  Perhaps you can use your influence to get City staff to do something.

As long as there is a ghetto in the Northwest there is a ghetto in the City.  If I am not mistaken, you were on council for twelve years, several as Mayor.  How much of this could have been remedied during that period?  

Sincerely,

Stephen Lipira
Pasadena Neighborhood Advocate and Former Commissioner

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