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We are fortunate to live in a country that cherishes freedom, individuality and opportunity. The things we, as Americans, enjoy that many in other countries can’t even imagine. Our freedoms, our quality of life, our ambitions and our expectations were put to... More »
– This is the third in a series to share updates on the carbon-free community we’re building together. – Thank you to everyone who joined Pasadena Water and Power on Thursday, June 25 for our second annual Open House. I am grateful that so many of you chose to... More »
As the nation prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial (try saying that three times really fast), Americans will gather beneath fireworks, wave flags, sing patriotic songs, and hear speeches about freedom, democracy, and the “wildly successful” American ex... More »
In the coming days, Pasadena’s Municipal Services Committee will decide whether two city athletic fields should remain covered in artificial turf or be restored to natural grass. At first glance, the issue may sound like a simple maintenance decision- a “repla... More »
California is a blue state, and one of the manifestations of its political orientation has been a tolerance for one of the nation’s highest levels of taxation. The state’s tax rates on retail sales and personal and corporate incomes are among the highest of an... More »
Running two restaurants in Southern California is not for the faint of heart. Between staffing, high food costs, and ensuring quality service for customers, there is no shortage of challenges. Our restaurants — Pez Coastal Kitchen and Pez Cantina — rely on a m... More »
This week, the Pasadena Unified School District will approve its Budget for 26-27 and its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The budget document is over 200 pages, and most of it is difficult to understand. For instance, what is the line for certifica... More »
I believe, in my heart, that when the majority of people are asked if they want to help the most vulnerable, care for those with the least, their first response will be: of course. If I don’t believe that, if we as a society don’t believe that, then our hope f... More »
Economist Herb Stein famously observed: “Things that can’t go on forever, don’t.” Across America, governments at every level are coming up against the painful reality of “Stein’s Law.” The quickest way to understand Pasadena’s fiscal challenge is to look at th... More »
The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education votes June 25 on its 2026–2029 accountability plan. The stakes are local, but the moment is national. This week, the federal government shifted day-to-day management and administration of federal special ... More »
There are three immutable aspects of economic life in California today. No. 1, Californians face the nation’s highest cost of living. It is 11% higher than the national average, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, including rents 53% higher t... More »
Across eleven Pasadena Unified campuses, 193 mature trees are scheduled to be cut down as part of the soil remediation that followed the Eaton fire. The district began the removals on June 11, and 16 trees have already been lost. I write as a parent whose son ... More »
