McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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> p brown
Monday, April 13, 2026 12:42 AM
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COMMENT - 4/13 City Council Mtg: AGENDA ITEM 16 (710 Plan) I
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Dear Mayor Gordo, Vice Mayor Rivas and Council Members,
1. I write in SUPPORT of the Staff Recommendations regarding the SR710 Plan, with several comments and suggestions.
2. DITCH "THE DITCH", "710 STUB" ETC. IN FAVOR OF BETTER NAME - "VERNON PLACE"?: Pasadena should find an appropriate name for the project area that honors displaced residents. One idea might be "VERNON PLACE" to honor the street obliterated by the 710 demolition and the residences displaced, but let's give this task the affected families themselves.
3. PRIORITIZE HOUSING OVER OTHER USES - MAKE 1800 UNITS A MINIMUM GOAL: Given the lack of affordable housing in Pasadena and LA County, and the fact that additional housing at all price levels would possibly bring new residents to Pasadena, augmenting our tax base, and possibly relieve pressure on existing rents, we need to keep as much housing as possible as the overall objective. In addition, we should favor as much density as possible for new housing, while respecting the transition to the lower rise nature of the southern part of the project area. Again, the goal is more housing. With regard to Recommendation 2(g), 1800 units should be expressed as a MINIMUM target.
4. PRIORITZE ENGAGEMENT WITH DEVELOPERS AND SOURCES OF FINANCING: Pasadena should not keep planning flexible - and not put planning before conversations with developers and sources of financing. Otherwise, we risk spinning wheels on detailed planning that may be neither feasible nor practical. As Council Member Madison noted in the March 30 Council Meeting discussion, it has already taken several years to get to this preliminary point. If housing is truly a priority, then we must move quickly to engage those developers who are prepared to build, and take our lead from them and those with private funding to invest. Find out their priorities, and proceed from there.
5. FLEXIBILITY ON CARBON NEUTRALITY: While Carbon Neutrality is a very worthy goal, the overall priority should be to build out housing as soon as possible, regardless of whether the overall project is Carbon Neutral or not. Let's not make perfect the enemy of the good enough.
With regard to recommendation 2(c), the Council should consider waiving carbon neutrality if it gets more housing built sooner as part of this project.
6. CONSIDER PUBLIC FACILITY AMENITIES: / hope the project can possibly include new amenities for residents in the wider area, including a new branch library and an indoor recreation / fitness center. These would be an excellent legacy for the Council and a fitting, living memorial to the 104/13/2026
Item 16
people whose homes were sacrificed for the 710. Perhaps those amenities can be in exchange for greater flexibility for developers.
7. BETTER PED + BIKE CONNECTIONS TO DEL MAR STATION: As part of the project, perhaps one lane of Del Mar between the project and Fair Oaks could be sacrificed as a road calming measure, and replaced by a wider sidewalk or bike lane on the north side as a ped / bike connector to the Del Mar A Line station.
I live about seven blocks from the SR710 stub
Thank you for your consideration,
P.A. Brown
District 6
2 McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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PADRES PUSD
Monday, April 13, 2026 12:42 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse; Jomsky, Mark; Marquez, Miguel; Gordo, Victor; Rivas, Jessica; Jones, Justin; Hampton, Tyron; Masuda, Gene; Cole, Rick; Lyon, Jason; Madison, Steve
connie -- n; Phillis Griffin
Public comment 04-13-26-Agenda item #16 _710 stub Property and restorative justice PISCA Guanajuato PA at Latino Heritage Festival.jpeg; PISCA_ Guanajuato PA Cultural Art-Board and Flags at the Latino Festival (2).jpg;
PISCA_New_Affiliation_Policy(SCAP).pdf; Mayor Gordo_community assistant directed to remove his name and picture from the Mexico sister cities letter.jpg [ I] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
Public Comment - Pasadena City Council 04-13-2026
Agenda item #16
Discrimination has always been tied to the abuse of power.
Before the Emancipation Proclamation, it was visible and openly enforced through race-based control.
Centuries later, discrimination has evolved, but remains an abuse of power at its Core.
We are witnessing federal agencies being used to target the people that are against of the President's agenda, the FBI and attorney General have persecuted the president's opponents, the federal administration is once again using century-otd laws that were wrongfully used to justify the incarceration of Japanese American families—many of them children—this time to separate and destroy hard working immigrant families of latin decent, history reminds us that when power goes unchecked, and mistakes are not acknowledged, injustice follows.
When societies fail to protect the rights of families and children, their future begins to collapse.
Today, I stand before you to say: that same pattern of abuse of power is happening once again here at home.
The Guanajuato Proposed Affiliation has been subjected to harassment, discrimination, and systematic obstruction. We have been ignored, misquoted, misrepresented, and targeted with personal attacks.
Most recently, during one of Pasadena's most significant Latino cultural celebrations, we were escorted away by law enforcement at the direction of a field representative to the Mayor, Vannia De la Cuba.
We were not disrupting the peace.
We were not blocking sidewalks.
1 04/13/2026
Item 16
We were simply engaging with the community—sharing our cultural work, displaying an art board created by PUSD students, and proudly presenting our Mexican flags.
Yet we were told we could not be there.
We were told we could not stand on the public sidewalk or display our flags, And we were removed by law enforcement.
Three members of our civic group including a fire-Victim whose house was destroyed were treated like criminals for celebrating our culture and escorted away.
That is not public safety—that is suppression.
This comes in the context of a broader pattern—where our efforts to end over 70 years of exclusion within the Sister Cities program have been actively undermined. Where political interests, alliances, and directives have been used to stall and redirect the will of the people.
The Mayor made a mistake by directing his field representative to remove his name and picture from official communications and shift focus away from Guanajuato entirely. The Mayor has invested so much energy delaying the Guanajuato Sister Cities Proposed Affiliation process, these actions are a real embarrassment to Pasadena, the Pasadena Mexican and Latin community and our heritage. These actions expand and cause harm in all directions.
Our Mexican culture has not being treated with the necessary respect, official cordial invitations when unanswered, and unapologetic and cold letters can not replace unique cultural aspects to consider, all cultures have unique cultural and diplomatic communications principles and traditions that must be highly respected, valued and returned, the cordial tone and gratitude for the relationship that has been built must be reflected and respected to demonstrate a commitment to the building the relationship of the subject culture , that is how we enrich our own communities by bringing different cultural aspects to Pasadena from our friends abroad.
At some point, we must ask:
Who is this system serving?
Because, as of now it is not serving or protecting the people's right to choose.
There is a limit to what any society should tolerate—even from those in positions of authority.
We cannot defend what is not defensible.
We cannot stand for nepotism or personal agendas over the rights of the community.
We can not
And we cannot accept a reality where residents are harassed for expressing cultural pride—whether that is a Mexican flag, a green flag, or a rainbow flag,
Our Civil and constitutional rights should not require permission or be negotiable.
They require protection from our elected officials and Police officers. 2 Honorable members of this Council—your integrity and Honor is being tested and our children will be either safegarded or exposed to future injustice and abuse of power.
You were elected to represent the people of Pasadena—not to protect a broken system.
If we tolerate injustice today, our children will inherit it tomorrow.
If we remain silent, we become silent accomplices
If we fail to act, we become part of the harm.
So Iaskyou:
How can we speak of restorative justice while allowing ongoing injustice? How can we claim to heal, while continuing to allow harm? We cannot extend one hand in healing while using the other to perpetuate injustice.
The "new Pasadena way" must be rooted in truth, accountability, and justice and no longer protecting wrongdoing.
A Pasadena that collectibly welcomes and supports ALL of its people with integrity. 3 s^ - j • i»y
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PASADENA INTERNATIONAL SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION
SISTER CITY AFFILIATION POLICY
1. POLICY
It is the policy of Pasadena International Sister Cities Association (PISCA) that any community group wanting to form an affiliation with a foreign city must register first with Sister Cities International and then follow the procedures set forth below.
2. PROCEDURES
2.1 There shall be evidence of the desire for a Proposed Affiliation (PA) by both parties including correspondence from the proposed city to the effect of wanting to join with Pasadena as a sister city and an indication of official and/or citizen support for the PA.
2.2 There shall be visits between cities followed by continuous contacts, both unofficial and official.
2.3 Acceptance for the PA shall be indicated by people joining or expressing interest in joining PISCA.
2.4 Strong commitment shall be shown to the development and maintenance of a successful affiliation including corporate and/or cultural support.
2.5 A member ofPISCA shall be appointed subcommittee chair and given responsibility for all matters dealing with a PA. This person should be an active member ofPISCA. The newly formed subcommittee members shall have:
1. A clear understanding of sister city relationships and purpose of affiliations (see attached Sister Cities International affiliations policy and procedure statements).
2. The ability to generate at least ten new members to the PISCA.
3. Several experienced members who can assist the endeavors of the subcommittee.
4. Preliminary commitments, where possible, for support in hosting, cultural and business exchanges, fund raising, student exchanges, etc.
2.6 The subcommittee shall take the lead role presenting the PA to the commun|t|| I. Both parties must bear m mind the SCI ideals of people-to-people associations.
2. The subcommittee should attempt to gain media coverage to promote the affiliation.
PISCA_Affiliation_Policy.doc 1 of 2 Rev: 10/2025
2.7 An "action plan" shall be developed setting forth each step toward a formal presentation for PISCA's executive committee and general membership, and should include such items as:
1. Similarities to Pasadena in light of cultural, physical and social aspects of the PA (i.e. size, location, population, educational and cultural facilities, aspects of economy, etc.).
2. The potential for student and citizen exchanges.
3. The potential funding sources.
2.8 A formal written report shall then be prepared for the Executive Committee of PISCA.
The report will include:
1. Items 2.1 through 2.7, as applicable.
2. Photographs and contact names from the PA.
3. Any other non-PISCA local support for the PA.
4. List of all cities reviewed for the PA.
2.9 After the EC has reviewed the report, it shall be distributed to the active general membership with the EC'S recommendation. The distribution will take place 10 days before the general membership meeting date. The general membership will then discuss and vote on the proposed affiliation.
2.10 If the PA is approved by PISCA general membership, the proposal will then be presented to the city council.
2.11 If the PA is adopted, the selected city and Pasadena shall make arrangements for an exchange of official delegations for the purpose of acceptance and signing ceremonies in each city.
1. These official delegations shall include mayor, council members, city manager, PISCA President, and any other community members who wish to attend.
2. The new affiliation shall have comparable city officials in their delegation.
PISCA_Affiliation_PoIicy.doc 2 of 2 Rev: 10/2025
From: De La Cuba, Vannia <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:08 PM
To: >;
Co: ; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Bell, Cushon <[email protected]>; Chapman, Justin <[email protected]>; Marquez, Miguel <[email protected]>; Qordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: Re: MEXICO EXPLORATORY VISIT - Final Documents for Email DJstributton Thank you for your patience. TKffNayor suggests that it would be best to remove the City Seat, along witlllllsnam^^^^^ and photo, from the first page of the Pasadena Overview document. Regarding the letter, hs atso recommends s removing "Mayor Victor Gordo*" from the first line of the second paragraph on the second page. tneluding this could I Igive the impression that the Mayor fulty supports the establishment of a Sister cityrelationship with GuanaJuatgJ which is premature at this stage.
l^kddittonaUy, the Mayor would Uke to schedule a meeting to introduce you to representatives from various Mexican cities wtio have reached out to him and with whom he has met on several occasions. Several of these representatives have expressed interest in formalizing relationships, such as Friendship City agreements, and exploring whether a Sister City partnership might be appropriate. jh^| yld like mbeginwthttoFederad^eIs^/ Otybes Zacatecanos Ael Sur de Cal.rfQreja, as a significant portion of Pasadena's Latino population, including both Mayor Gordo and City Manager Marquez, hails from Zacatecas. In fact, the Federacion de Clubes Zacatecanos held its annual Congreso in Pasadena just last year-Other municfpaUties of interest include Ensenada and La Paz, both in Baja Caiifornia.
Please let me know the best way for us to coordinate scheduling these meetings with you.
Kindly,
Vannia
Vannia De La Cuba
Deputy to Mayor Victor M. Gordo
City of Pasadena
100 N, Garfield Ave. (2nd Floor. Rm. S228 [Pasadena, CA 91109 Tel: (626) 744-4741 | Fax (626) 398-1836 i Email: vds'.SG.ba'a.cKyofpa^adena.nst 15