Guest Opinion | Councilmember Tyron Hampton: What a Week It Has Been!

I pray this message finds you well and in good spirits. What a week it has been! On Monday night, we approved the 100% affordable housing project at 600 Rosemont in East Pasadena. This is considered a “by-right project,” meaning the city has no legal grounds to slow it down or request community input. There were community members who came to the council and expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency. There are also critics who argue that the amount of community input slows down the process, making housing less affordable. I believe that both are valid points. Here in Pasadena, we have extremely engaged community members, and we should listen to all concerns while trying to find a way for all voices to be heard, all while meeting our housing production goals.

One of the biggest issues that arose is that the city will continue to face challenges with projects utilizing SB 79 due to the lack of parking requirements for 133 units. This project has only 55 parking spaces, and since it utilizes state law, the city has zero leverage to require more parking. I will discuss with the City Manager ways to incentivize “by-right” developments to construct more parking spaces. More updates to come on this; we have about 25 projects in the pipeline that will be utilizing SB 79. If the state has taken away our authority, we now need to make this law work in the best interest of our entire community while simultaneously creating the crucial housing we need.

At the Public Safety Committee, I requested a contract for “Flock” automatic license plate readers to be discussed. As you may be aware, Flock has been in the news lately due to data breaches. Public safety is a top priority in our district. I hear from residents regularly about safety concerns in their neighborhoods. Technology is a vital tool that, when used appropriately, yields results that lead to arrests and prosecutions. When I was first elected, I would hear from residents about how, every time there was an issue in the neighborhood, everyone got pulled over, creating a blanket approach. However, that approach seemed like harassment and targeting. The use of technology has given our officers the opportunity to employ more surgical precision when conducting stops. Technology has been effectively used to apprehend murder suspects, kidnappers, car thieves, etc. This technology is also being used to arrest individuals who have discharged firearms in our neighborhoods, mistakenly believing they could drive away afterward.

However, the data collected should be used with the protection of our residents in mind. No company should be able to monetize or sell your information to other data collectors. Therefore, it is extremely important that we establish policies to prevent such occurrences and hold companies accountable if a breach occurs or if we discover our data is being sold. We have much more to discuss on this item, but I will not allow our residents to be monetized or our data to be sold. We will work on putting a strong policy together to hold these companies accountable. If it weren’t for technology, we would not have been able to find the suspects in the tragic case of a 13-year-old boy. Without this technology, those who think it is acceptable to discharge firearms in our communities would continue this dangerous behavior, as it was once a regular occurrence.

I also want to thank all of the neighbors who share their camera footage and make phone calls when they see things that are out of place in their neighborhoods. Safety in our parks and neighborhoods is one of my top priorities. We are not considered one of the safest districts in the city for no reason, so thank you for continuing to look out for one another.

Memorial Day is a heartfelt occasion dedicated to honoring and remembering the brave men and women who have made the ultimate commitment in service to our country. As we gather with family and friends to celebrate this day, we reflect on its deeper meaning: the understanding that freedom is not free. It is a time for gratitude and remembrance, a moment to pay tribute to those who fought valiantly to protect our liberties and uphold the values we cherish. We hope that through our observances—whether visiting cemeteries, participating in parades, or sharing stories of courage—we can instill in future generations a deep appreciation for the devotion shown in the name of freedom. This day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to honor their legacy by fostering unity and striving to create a better, more just world for all.
Love & Blessings,
Councilman Hampton

Tyron Hampton is the Pasadena City Councilmember representing District 1, which covers northwest Pasadena. He has served on the City Council since his first election in 2015 and previously served as vice mayor from May 2019 to December 2020. Hampton is a lifelong Pasadena resident, graduated from John Muir High School, and previously served on the Pasadena Unified School District board from 2013.