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Mayor Tornek Reinvigorates 710 Tunnel Fight at West Pasadena Residents Association Meeting

Tells WPRA annual meeting that the project will do ‘tremendous damage’ to the region

Published on Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 5:24 am
 

Calling it the “struggle of the decade” for the city, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek re-emphasized his newly stepped-up opposition to the proposed $5 billion, 5-mile 710 Freeway tunnel project which would join the 710 Freeway to the 210 Freeway during the annual meeting of the influential West Pasadena Residents Association meeting Wednesday night. [Continued below video]

“I’m telling you,” Mayor Tornek said, “that as soon as the November elections are over, they’re coming for us. (This project) is going to be pursued with unprecedented vigor.”

To much applause, Tornek told the group that he placed a request on the June 13 Pasadena City Council agenda to formally consider a November ballot measure that would repeal Measure A, the 2001 measure that officially positioned the City of Pasadena in favor of completing the 710 extension and which he said permanently prevents the city from opposing the tunnel.

Tornek said that he has been meeting with various mayors, elected officials, and transportation agencies “spending a lot of time lately trying to kill that project.”

“I must tell you,” he said, “that it was my expectation that the project was so flawed it would fail under its own weight, and I was wrong.”

“This is a terrible project, as you all know,” he continued, “and it not only threatens our city, but really is doing tremendous damage to our region. As long as Metro is preoccupied with this massive $5 billion project, they’re not making the kinds of improvements and devoting the kinds of analysis to other projects that could really improve our quality of life here.”

Local transportation agencies, said Tornek, have decided to “finesse the issue,” until after the November elections, when Measure R2, a new transportation sales, is due to come before the voters.

“They don’t want any discussion about the 710, because it might polarize people,” said Tornek, “and the reason that Metro is not producing answers to the thousands of questions and comments they’ve been receiving on the Draft EIR, is not because they can’t, but its because they don’t want to have any discussion on this idea.”

Tornek said he has already filed the initial paperwork to get the new proposed measure on the November ballot, and asked the members of the WPRA for their assistance in helping to pass the measure.

“Without this opposition, this project, which none of believe is even plausible, is going to be approved,” said Tornek.

The annual meeting, attended by by close to 200, was held in the student center of Maranatha High School and saw the election of a slate of Association officers, exhibits from a number of local organizations, and presentation by a noted urbanist.

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez also addressed the group, informing the residents that the current crime rate is down 15%, but that they must continue to be vigilant, emphasizing his longtime message of “See something, say something.”

Illustrating the Chief’s message, Lieutenant John Mercado told the group that the Pasadena Police recently stopped nine burglaries in progress in one week, all because neighbors had reported suspicious activity.

West Pasadena architect Stefanos Polyzoides also delivered a presentation on the “Connecting Pasadena” project, which would develop a a new neighborhood on the location of the “stub” of the 710 Freeway, instead of the 710 Freeway extension. The new development would be primarily residential with a large promenade centerpiece, evoking Boston’s famed Commonwealth Avenue. Polyzoides said the project would take at least ten years to complete.

The WPRA also approved the election of a new Board of Directors and officers. Kenyon Harrison was elected president, Sarah Gavit was elected vice-president, Justin Chapman was elected secretary, and Blaine Cavena was elected as treasurer. The new directors are Geoff Baum, Dan Beal, Bill Christian, Avram Gold, Ken Grobecker, Joan Hearst, Chuck Hudson, Audrey O’Kelley, Catherine Stringer, Priscilla Taylor, Bill Urban, John Van De Kamp, Nancy Walker, Gazelle Raye Wichner, Fred Zepeda, and Linda Zinn.

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