Guest Opinion: William Paparian: Pasadena City Council Must Demand Full Disclosure on the Rosemead Family Apartments Project

The City of Pasadena sets the standard for transparency and accountability in local government. Yet the handling of the 133-unit Rosemead Family Apartments at 600 N. Rosemead Boulevard represents a disturbing failure of that proud tradition — one the City Council must correct immediately.

Under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA). The Council must hold a public hearing and vote on issuing up to $65 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing revenue bonds through the California Municipal Finance Authority. These bonds, paired with the developer’s 4% tax credits (CTCAC project CA-25-799), are the financial lifeblood of the project.

This is not a routine formality. It is the public’s last clear opportunity — and the Council’s obligation — to demand full disclosure before handing over massive tax benefits to this development.

In the Design Commission process, Elysian Housing and city staff  described the project solely as “100% affordable housing for working families, special needs residents, and those displaced by the Eaton Fire.”

The developer’s own publicly available CTCAC application binds them to set aside 50 of the 133 units — 38.168%, exclusively for homeless households. These units will be prioritized through Los Angeles County’s Coordinated Entry System, in partnership with The People Concern, under a Housing First model. This critical information was buried in state filings while hidden from East Pasadena residents, the Design Commission, and the public record.

This was  a material omission that stripped residents of any chance to meaningfully comment on real neighborhood impacts — parking, scale, traffic, services, and community readiness. The Design Commission’s findings rest on a flawed, incomplete record.

The time to act is now. The TEFRA process gives the City Council an immediate second chance to restore integrity. Because these bonds require public approval to retain their tax-exempt status, the Council has both the power and the responsibility to refuse business as usual before it is too late.

Councilmembers should reject any approval at the upcoming hearing until the developer and staff provide full, upfront disclosure of the CTCAC unit-mix table, tenant selection plan, service partnerships, and operational impacts. Demand a corrected staff report. Allow fresh public testimony.

When developers and city officials conceal fundamental aspects of a project, they betray public trust and damage the very cause of affordable housing.

The City Council should demand the full unvarnished truth in open session. Hold a genuine TEFRA hearing with complete disclosure. Approve these bonds only after East Pasadena residents have finally been treated with the honesty and respect they deserve.

Our neighborhoods are watching. The credibility of our city government hangs in the balance. The Council must act for the sake of transparency, trust, and the future of our community.

William Paparian is a former Mayor of Pasadena (1995–1997) and City Councilmember for East Pasadena (1987–1999).

Note: This opinion article contains the author’s interpretations and assertions regarding a public project and the conduct of involved parties. Readers are encouraged to review official public records and proceedings for additional context.