Pasadena Politician’s Final Block Party Marks End of Era

Chris Holden, a fixture in Pasadena politics for over three decades, hosted his final annual community resource fair and block party on Saturday afternoon in front of his Jackson Street home in Northwest Pasadena.

The four-hour event was Holden’s 25th block party and his last. He will term out of his 41st District State Assembly position later this year. In March, he lost his bid to unseat Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

Hundreds of local residents, friends, and elected officials attended the gathering, which featured live music and dozens of community resource booths.

“I started the block party and resource fair when I was a member of the Pasadena City Council,” Holden said. “I decided that I would have an event that would be fun, but also educational.”

This year’s event featured free food, drinks, and activities for children, alongside valuable community resources. Local organizations, including Kaiser Permanente and the Pasadena Humane Society, provided services to attendees.

Among the attractions were a classic car show, live entertainment, and a bicycle helmet giveaway by the Highway Patrol. The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority continued its tradition of backpack giveaways for students starting school.

During the event, Holden awarded scholarships to local high school seniors through the Legislative Black Caucus and the Black Caucus Policy Institute.

“This year we’re giving … more in scholarship money,” Holden said, referring to four $5,000 scholarships.

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu presented Holden with a Congressional resolution recognizing his decades of service. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party plans to honor him as ‘Democrat of the Year’ this fall.

Reflecting on the event’s history, Holden recalled early fairs featuring a giant water slide, with the fire department connecting a hose to a hydrant.

“It … encapsulates family and community. It has just been a wonderful time,” he said.

Holden reflected on his long career in public service, calling his decades of political service the “privilege of a lifetime.” 

“It’s pretty much been my life for 36 years to be in elected office, to represent a great city like Pasadena, to be a part of innovation and ideas and public policy that could be showcased in a city of 140,000, and to serve as its Mayor and to be a member of the City Council even before it was the City Council and was the Board of City Directors.”

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he continued. 

“It’s all about community. When you’re serving Pasadena, you have to understand it’s a process of engagement. You can’t just come up with an idea and turn it into policy. You have to have a variety of commissions and the oversight of task forces.”

Before entering politics, Holden owned CHMB Consulting, a real estate firm, and was a former owner of a Subway franchise.

The politician’s journey began in 1989 when he was elected to the Pasadena City Council at age 28. He later served as Mayor from 1997 to 1999, becoming only the second African American to hold that position. During his time on the City Council, Holden played a significant role in creating jobs, preserving vital services, and expanding the light rail in Pasadena.

In 2012, Holden was elected to the California State Assembly, where he has served for 12 years. His District stretches from Pasadena in the west to Upland in the east, encompassing numerous communities. Earlier this year, Holden ran for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s Fifth District seat but was unsuccessful in his bid.

During his tenure in the Assembly, Holden achieved significant legislative successes. He established the College and Career Access Pathways Program in 2015, allowing high school students to take college-level courses. In 2020, he authored AB 979, mandating diversity on corporate boards for California-headquartered corporations.

Holden also made strides in public health and safety. He expanded lead testing in drinking water within California’s childcare centers and introduced legislation to address the state’s wildfire crisis. As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Holden held one of the most powerful positions in the Assembly after the Speaker. He also previously served as Assembly Majority Floor Leader.

Throughout his career, Holden worked on issues related to developmental disabilities, securing funding for service providers and fighting to increase reimbursement rates in cities with higher minimum wage laws.

“Even though I may not have the title, I’ll still be around to help,” he assured constituents.