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Thursday, August 10, 2017 - August 16, 2017
PASADENA_INDEPENDENT
Since 1996
VOLUME 20, NO. 32
PUSD BOARD PROHIBITS TRAVEL TO ‘DISCRIMINATORY STATES’ Gus HERRERA gherrera@beaconmedianews.com
T
he Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD) Board of Education recently held their final regular meeting before the new school year, which begins on Aug. 14. In a symbolic move of solidarity with the LGBTQ community, the board voted to ban district-funded travel to the following states, deemed to have “discriminatory” laws: Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. According to staff’s report, the resolution, which was approved by a count of 5-2 (Board Member Elizabeth Pomeroy and President Roy Boulghourjian in opposition) prohibits travel to any state, that after June 26, 2015, has “enacted a law that … has the effect of voiding … state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expressions … ” Additionally, states that discriminate against “same-sex couples” or have passed laws that create any exceptions to “antidiscrimination laws in order to permit discrimination” are also included in the ban. Originally, the resolution only applied to “certificated staff,” but Board Member
Michelle Richardson Bailey amended the act to include all district staff. Board Members Scott Phelps and Patrick Cahalan, both staunch supporters of the resolution, explained that the although the act may not have a significant fiscal impact, the true effect will be a symbolic one. “This wouldn’t have a dramatic fiscal impact … but I’d be happy to go to other districts and say, ‘why don’t you do this, it’s something we passed,’” said Phelps, “there is history of success … when people do something like this.” Cahalan agreed that the resolution might not be an “Earth-shattering contribution to the Civil Rights movement,” but he supported the act nonetheless. “Every rock on the right side of the scale matters … I’m happy to second this and I support this idea … I’m kind of jealous I didn’t think of this myself,” he said. Board Member Lawrence Torres also agreed with the spirit of the resolution, “the LGBTQ community that are in our care … [are] a very fragile population and they need to know that we’re a community … all of us, and we stand together.” On the other side of the coin stood Boulghourjian and Pomeroy, who both voted against the resolution. SEE PAGE 11
ACTIVE SEARCH IN EFFECT FOR MISSING SIERRA MADRE RESIDENT Sierra Madre resident Carl Foote was reported missing by his wife on Sunday, Aug. 6 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Carl was last seen walking in the vicinity of Merrill and Highland Avenues at approximately 10:30 a.m. Mr. Foote is a lifelong resident of Sierra Madre and is an avid walker, hiker and cyclist, and is SEE PAGE 11
Missing person Carl Foote. – Courtesy photo / Sierra Madre Police Department
Attempted Kidnapping Suspect Arrested Pasadena Police officers responded to the 100 block of West Maple Street regarding an attempted kidnapping investigation On July 29, at about 8:05 p.m. On arrival, officers talked with the victim who said she was walking west on Maple Street and when she saw a male standing near a parked truck with the passenger door open. As the victim walked by the truck, she felt someone pull her hair, causing her to fall. The suspect dragged the victim several feet back toward his truck and the victim began to scream for
help. A nearby witness noticed the struggle, which caused the suspect to release the victim. The suspect then entered his vehicle and drove away. The case was assigned to Detective Anthony Russo and on August 4, a composite sketch of the suspect and his vehicle was provided to the public. That same day a concerned citizen called the police department and told Detective Russo he had seen a vehicle similar to the SEE PAGE 11
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A male in his 20s from Pasadena was shot in the head early Monday morning according to local police reports. The murder took place on Maple Street near Catalina Avenue at 3:23 a.m. The man was transported to Huntington Hospital’s Trauma unit and died two hours later. Police have yet to identify the victim or the circumstances surrounding the death. Anyone with information is asked to call Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477.
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