Sabha, Tamer
Subject:FW: May 31 Public Safety Committee item 1A
From: William M. Paparian, Esq/
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2022 6:21 AM
To: Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>
Subject: May 31 Public Safety Committee item 1A
Gentlemen:
For the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services budget I am requesting that a specific line item be added for the annual
Pasadena Veterans Day program. Every year our Special Events Coordinator, Dolores McConnell, does an outstanding job
helping the Veterans Day Committee organize the event with the limited funds that she has available. The problem we encounter
each year is that the event is inadequately funded by the city. Members of the Veterans Day Committee, including myself, have
to cover event costs out of our own pockets. Local veterans groups have to donate funds. Supervisor Barger donates thousands of dollars
everry year. And last year even a member of the Public Safety Committee, Councilmember Kennedy, donated money so that the event could
go forward. Some veterans have been heard to complain that at an event meant to honor them by the City of Pasadena, they
have to pay for it themselves!
Please consult with Dolores McConnell and add a specific line item for the Pasadena Veterans Day program in the Parks, Recreation,
and Community Services budget.
By the way, Memorial Day is coming up on May 30. The City of Pasadena no longer sponsors an official event. Nevertheless, Vietnam
Veterans of America is holding an event in Memorial Park at 10:30 am. The public is invited. I hope that all of you will be there.
In order to host the only Memorial Day Commemoration in the City of Pasadena, Vietnam Veterans of America was required to pay fees to the City of Pasadena in the amount of $717. Although these fees are partially refundable, the question remains why were these fees even reqjuired to be paid at all. The entire amount should be refunded.
Finally, there is the lingering issue of the need for professional cleaning and polishing of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorial was first dedicated in 1993 under the rotunda at City Hall and then rededicated in 2004 in Memorial Park. It's had many years now of exposure to the elements and more respectfully attention needs to be made by the city to the ongoing maintenance of the memorial.
Very Respectfully,
1 William Paparian
William M. Paparian
Attorney at Law
Pasadena, CA 91101
https://www.criminalattornevinpasadena.com/
2