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THE MELODIC LIFE OF TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PRESIDENT GERALD FREENY
VOLUME 22, NO. 4
Alleged Arsonist Charged With Pasadena Church Fire A La Puente man was charged Monday with setting fires at multiple houses of worship, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Christian Michael Garcia faces 20 felony counts: 13 counts of vandalism of religious property; three counts of arson of a structure; two counts of second-degree commercial burglary; and one count each of attempted
The first African American president hopes diversity will continue within the 935 member organization
second-degree robbery and arson of property of another. Case BA465045 also charges Garcia with two misdemeanor counts of vandalism under $400 and includes hate crime allegations. Arraignment was scheduled Monday and continued to Feb. 26 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice SEE ARSONIST PAGE 10
PPD & City Officials Meet With Media Regarding Recent Lawsuit Motorist alleges false arrest; excessive use of force; video contradicts Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez, City Attorney and several other highranking officials, including City Manager Steve Mermell, coordinated a meeting for
local media at the Pasadena Police headquarters to discuss a recent lawsuit filed by a motorist against the police department. Pasadena -while no stranger to such lawsuits - is SEE PPD PAGE 10
PASADENA FACES BUDGET CHALLENGE City to explore alternative revenue measures; conduct community outreach Gus HERRERA gherrera@beaconmedianews.com
or many years, the Tournament of Roses has been considered, by some in the Pasadena community, a rather exclusive club which paid little or no attention to diversity in the executive branch. After public pressure and
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SUMMER Opportunities Fair
SEE FREENY PAGE 11
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tive in seeking minorities to fill vacancies. Enter Pasadena Tournament of Roses®Board of Directors who wisely confirmed a remarkable man, Gerald Freeny, as President for the 2018-2019 Tournament of Roses year. Freeny just happens to be the very first African America to hold the
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tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
many meetings with several groups, the Tournament hired Terrence Roberts Consulting to help them address complaints from various public and private individuals, organizations, corporations, and municipalities that they were essentially a “Whites Only” organization. The efforts paid off enormously and over the past few years the Tournament has been proac-
Lea
Story & Photos Terry MILLER
Per Mayor Terry Tornek’s suggestion, the Pasadena City Council recently deferred taking action on the endorsement of a proposed fiscal strategy that would call for continued fiscal responsibility and explore the possibility of a three-quarter-cent general sales tax. The strategy, submitted to the council by the finance department and mentioned by Mayor Tornek during his
State of the City Address, is an attempt to maintain city service levels and address capital needs in the face of “rising operating costs and stagnant revenue growth,” as described in city staff’s report. While property tax has grown to become one of the city’s strongest revenue streams, other sources, such as the utility users tax and sales tax, “have been flat and declining,” according to City Manager Steve Mermell - “it’s SEE BUDGET PAGE 11
ONE OF THE LARGEST CAMP INFORMATION FAIRS IN THE U.S.!
FREE admission! Summer programs for boys and girls ages 5-18. Live entertainment, games, food and more! For more information, visit Westridge.org/SOF