District 6 Candidates Make Their Cases for Your Vote

Pasadena Now concludes its series of candidate statements with responses from candidates in District 6. In this year’s election incumbent Steve Madison is facing Ryan Bell and Tamerlin Godley.

District 6 includes the West Pasadena neighborhoods above the Rose Bowl, much of Old Pasadena, the Art Center College of Design, the Convention Center and Civic Auditorium, most of the Arroyo Seco, the historic Colorado Street Bridge, and the Tournament of Roses House.

Residents here have successfully fought to keep the NFL out of the Rose Bowl, but have lost battles to remove archery from the Arroyo. Some residents opposed Desiderio Park located below the historic Colorado Street Bridge where dozens of people have jumped to their death.

The 710 stub, 50 acres of land seized by Caltrans using eminent domain, could be returned to the city at some point.

 

Ryan Bell

My campaign is about making Pasadena work for everyone. Pasadena is a city that I think we all love, but it works better for some people than for others, most notably tenants and lower-income individuals. It’s not easy for some people to be a part of this community. So I entered this race as an advocate for tenants, as a tenant myself, wishing to represent District 6 residents better than they’re being represented right now. We are at a crucial point in Pasadena and business as usual isn’t getting it done. We need new and bold ideas and leadership to keep Pasadena livable for everyone.

I’m running for city council because I saw the apathy and disregard for members of the community when they came on Monday night to city council speaking about their living conditions, most of the time tenants, sometimes homeless people, and they were offered next to nothing. And then when we got a slightly strengthened tenant protection ordinance, it was celebrated as if it was real tenant protections when it obviously was not. People are still being abused by their landlords. And the answer from city council was, “that’s an issue between the landlord and the tenant. That doesn’t have anything to do with us.” And I don’t think that that’s right. Fifty-eight percent of Pasadena residents are tenants and they’re just not being adequately represented.
In addition to the needs of tenants, the relationship between the city council and the school district is crucially important. There’s a broken trust there that needs to be restored. With my years of experience brokering community relationships, I can help heal that broken trust. I also believe very strongly that the Pasadena Police Department needs civilian oversight as part of the overall city involvement with Pasadena police, and the incumbent does not share that view. He feels that the public safety committee is adequate. I disagree.

 

Tamerlin Godley

I have walked door to door since last March. I have knocked on every single knockable door, talking to thousands of voters. I have also personally called thousands of voters. I know more than any other candidate the issues and concerns of the residents of District 6.

These are challenging and disruptive times. The solutions of the last 20 years are not going to be the solutions for the next 20 years. The status quo has resulted in the congestion, thoughtless overbuilding, and affordability crisis in Pasadena. We need new and innovative thinking. We need re-energized and engaged leadership. We need a City Council person who responds to constituents.

I am the only one in the race with a plan for reducing homelessness. I am the only candidate in the race with the knowledge, relationships, and interest in meaningfully supporting our schools. The City Council currently has one woman councilmember and she is not running again. In 2020, this is ridiculous. District 6 voters understand they have the opportunity to elect a talented, qualified woman to a City Council to rectify this situation—one that knows their concerns and will return their calls. In short, the residents of District 6 overwhelmingly believe it is time for a change.

 

Steve Madison

West Pasadena’s great neighborhoods need proven, experienced leadership now more than ever. Talking is easy; delivering results hard, especially on an eight-member City Council with no tie-breaker. During my time on the Council I’ve fought state efforts to weaken local zoning controls; led the successful fight to kill the 710 freeway extension, saving historic homes and neighborhoods; raised the minimum wage and strengthened tenant protections; built nine affordable homes and a neighborhood park at Desiderio; persuaded PUSD to not close San Rafael School; rebuilt and rededicated John Van de Kamp Bridge, and rebuilt Fire Station 39. Crime is down. We’re moving to cleaner, greener energy, and pushing our municipal utility to meet our goals for renewables sooner than required. Financially, Pasadena is stronger than ever—the “structural deficit” is now a “structural surplus,” and our reserve exceeds $60 million – after providing PUSD $7,000,000+ annually to help all of Pasadena’s children meet their full potential.

 

I’m proud of my record, but even more excited about challenges ahead: Reacquiring and repurposing the 50-acre 710 “stump”; ensuring public safety by hiring and retaining more police officers and firefighters and by preserving all of Pasadena’s fire stations as we saved Fire Station 39; ensuring that PUSD prudently invests the new tax revenue the City will provide the District so it benefits students in the classroom, not administrators at district headquarters; minimizing traffic and congestion by opposing senseless over-development; reducing homelessness and providing affordable housing; and securing the Rose Bowl’s finances. As development pressures intensify, we cannot allow our neighborhoods be overwhelmed with traffic and congestion.

 

I’m also proud that (as I have in every single campaign I’ve ever run), I signed Pasadena’s Fair Campaign Pledge, promising to campaign honestly, openly and fairly, and agreeing to exchange mailers with my opponents 48 hours before sending them out. Regrettably, one of my opponents refused to sign the Fair Campaign Pledge, although she has never explained why. Signing the Fair Campaign Pledge is consistent with the “Pasadena way” and what my constituents have come to expect—proven, progressive, transparent leadership. I’m honored to have more organizational endorsements than any other candidate in any other Pasadena race in the elections this year. So far, I’ve been endorsed by the Pasadena Police Officers Association, the Pasadena Firefighters Association, ANCA (Armenian National Committee of America Pasadena Chapter), ACT, the Arroyo Democratic Club, LA County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Advocates Pasadena & San Gabriel Valley, United Teachers of Pasadena, Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors, BizFed and many others. Also proud to be endorsed by both our members of Congress, Adam Schiff and Judy Chu, both our State legislators, Anthony Portantino and Chris Holden, former Mayors Bill Bogaard and Bill Thomson, and many other elected officials and opinion shapers. But I’m most proud of the support I have from the residents of District 6. I will continue to work extremely hard to deserve their confidence.