What is the WPRA?
The West Pasadena Residents' Association is an all-volunteer organization of the residents of southwest Pasadena dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the character of southwest Pasadena and the quality of life in Pasadena.
Your membership, contributions and volunteer support are key to the WPRA's success. All activities of the WPRA are funded through membership dues and contributions. The WPRA receives no public funding or other monies and has no paid employees. The WPRA does not endorse or otherwise support or oppose candidates for public office, and no WPRA funds are spent in support of or in opposition to candidates.
Become involved! See the links on the left for information on joining, donating, or volunteering with the WPRA.
We are pleased to display some of the work of local artist Joseph Stoddard on our web site. To learn more about the artist click here.
The Latest
WPRA Supports Using State Grant for Multi-Use Sports Field Improvements at Muir High School (Mar2013)
The Department of Public Works is soliciting public comment on a proposal to use the State of California grant funds associated with the Sycamore Grove Field project (also known as the Multi Benefit Multi Use Project -- MBMU) at Hahamongna Watershed Park for multi-use sports field improvements for Muir High School campus. WPRA wrote in support of the proposal. You can see our letter here. You can see a history of the Hahamongna Park controversy here.
In the letter, we concluded that "Hahamongna Watershed Park should be permanently removed from consideration for this project....Muir High School is the right choice for the City of Pasadena to collaborate with the Pasadena Unified School District to use these $1M State of California grant funds."
WPRA Urges Withdrawal of Tunnel Option from SR-710 Study (Feb2013)
Click here for a presentation showing why WPRA opposes the freeway tunnel proposal for SR-710 extension.
On February 27, WPRA wrote to the Metro Chairman (Supervisor Antonovich), and the Metro Board, with copies to Pasadena, county and state officials, expressing our concern "about continued waste of valuable transportation money in studying and promoting a clearly flawed concept for supposedly improving transportation in metropolitan Los Angeles." We provided specific examples where we believe "individuals in Metro ... are using biased assumptions to “game” the EIS/EIR process toward the result they have been advocating for decades -- a freeway extending SR 710." The letter was written because we understood that the SR-710 study would be on the Metro board agenda February 28. The item did not appear on the Metro Board agenda, so no action was taken.
A copy of the WPRA letter is here. Past statements we have made, including WPRA's opposition to all of Metro's proposed routes for SR-710 extension are here.
In addition, on February 21, Councilmember Steve Madson wrote to Supervisor Antonovich offering to "sponsor a panel of METRO experts whom he will select. I [Madison] would serve as moderator at this event where I will make time for the audience to question the experts." Councilmember Madison's letter is here. He urges that, "If you agree with my position, please join me by writing to the Board of Supervisors in care of Supervisor Antonovich at fifthdistrict@lacbos.org and copy me in your response."
If you want to receive regular updates from the NO 710 group, please can send a request to Sylvia at unitedagainst710@gmail.com
WPRA Supports EIR Suit Against City(Jan2013)
The WPRA Board on December 13, 2012, unanimously approved a motion to support a lawsuit filed by The Coalition For Preservation of the Arroyo. The coalition includes the Linda Vista~Annandale Association, the San Rafael Neighborhoods Association, and East Arroyo Neighborhood Preservation Committee. The lawsuit challenges the City Council’s certification of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) related to the potential temporary lease of the Rose Bowl by an NFL team. The WPRA also unanimously authorized a $15,000 contribution to help fund the lawsuit. Last April the Board had unanimously voted to inform City Council of its opposition to certification of the EIR, as it was presented in draft form. The Board based its decision on its conclusion that the City had failed to require that the EIR include analysis of certain aspects and conditions, which a December 2011 WPRA survey showed had to be met for our constituents to support such a project.
Despite a swelling chorus of opposition, City Council on November 19 voted to certify the EIR anyway and amend the relevant ordinances to permit an expanded number of major events in the Rose Bowl, which would likely accommodate the NFL’s needs. The WPRA hopes the lawsuit will persuade the City to rectify the deficiencies in the Final EIR and, by doing so, address and mitigate its constituents’ concerns if it should enter into negotiations with the NFL.
To support the The Coalition For Preservation of the Arroyo's lawsuit, either click on the “EZ donate” link in the left panel of this webpage, or click here for a copy of the Coalition’s solicitation flyer. The flyer describes the lawsuit and explains two options for donating.
Background note: Two competing corporations are attempting to bring a National Football League team back to the Los Angeles area. If one should succeed, the relocating team will likely need an interim game facility such as the Rose Bowl or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until its permanent new stadium is completed.
Community Fights for San Rafael Elementary's Future (Jan 2013)
Step on to the grounds of San Rafael Elementary today, and you’ll encounter a thriving community of children learning in two languages, and a vibrant campus that boasts many improvements to play spaces amid the historic buildings and towering trees, which are a signature of the neighborhood. San Rafael is currently the only operating public school in West Pasadena, and the WPRA Board has actively supported it by organizing volunteer events, providing financial support for enrichment programs, and advocating on a range of issues affecting the school and its students, staff and families.
Since the May disclosure of seismic faults running beneath the nearly century old campus, San Rafael parent leaders and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) officials have continued to discuss the options for rebuilding or relocating the school and its highly successful Spanish/English Dual Language Immersion Program. The school had been planning several upgrades to the campus (funded by the Measure TT bond program) when the faults were discovered. The State prohibits structural improvements to public school buildings within 50 feet of faults.
Many parents of San Rafael students, following months of conversations with PUSD staff and board members, have advocated for either rebuilding on a portion of the San Rafael campus outside the setback zone (50 feet from projected fault lines) or relocating the school to Linda Vista Elementary, which was closed by the District some years ago and is the only other PUSD school site west of the Arroyo.
At its December 11 meeting, the PUSD Board of Education discussed the potential closure of additional school campuses in the District due to declining enrollment at many of its school sites and projected budget shortfalls in the coming years. San Rafael was on the short list of schools considered for closure during the last round of PUSD school consolidations in the fall of 2010. The school was spared closure at the time, and in the two years since has seen its enrollment increase significantly with demand for the Dual Language program. The school now draws families from the immediate neighborhood as well as throughout Pasadena and surrounding cities.
For now, the District has agreed to keep open the option of relocating the school to the Linda Vista site, despite a hefty price tag to renovate and expand campus buildings needed to accommodate the rapidly growing program at San Rafael. District officials have largely dismissed the notion of rebuilding at San Rafael because of the even greater projected expense. Leadership of the Linda Vista~Annandale Association (LVAA) has expressed support for reopening the Linda Vista campus and appeared at the December 11 meeting to urge the Board to reopen Linda Vista as a public school.
The Board will not make a final decision about San Rafael Elementary’s future until sometime next year, and the school will remain open at least through the 2013-14 academic calendar. Meanwhile, the students, staff and families continue to invest in a program that is widely recognized as a rising star among education programs in the city.
The campus, despite going without its promised upgrades, sports new murals and playground equipment thanks to the efforts of parent volunteers, and buzzes with the excitement of teachers and students creating a unique learning community for the 21st century — building on a strong foundation poured nearly 100 years ago.
— By Catherine Stringer, WPRA vice president. Catherine’s two children attend San Rafael and participate in the dual-language immersion program.
Rose Bowl Renovation Underway (Mar 2011)
The $152 million Rose Bowl renovation project approved by the City Council last year started on January 10, 2011. Construction will be complete in time for the 100th Rose Bowl Game, January 1, 2014.
New Rose Bowl Renovation Roundup. The Rose Bowl Operating Company publishes a newsletter to let the community know what's been going on, what's on deck, and some surprises. View the newsletter here.
WPRA and other neighborhood organizations are working with the Rose Bowl Operating Company to minimize affects of the construction activity on our neighborhoods.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) about construction and mitigations has been developed and approved by Rose Bowl Operating Company, East Arroyo Residents Association, Linda Vista Annandale Association and West Pasadena Residents Association. The MOU focuses on areas of potential impact, and how they could be mitigated, and also outlines a communication process between neighborhood organizations adjacent to the Rose Bowl and the Rose Bowl construction management team.
For information on the renovation, please go to www.rosebowlstadium.com or you may contact Rose Bowl Event Manager, Abie Bacon at (626) 577-3101. In addition, you can contact WPRA (click on "contact us" in the left margin) or Takako Suzuki, our (District 6) City Council Field Representative.
Sign Up for Pasadena Fire Alerts through Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System (Mar 26)
The City of Pasadena Fire Department has implemented a system for sending emergency and other urgent messages to community members through text and voice messages. The Fire Department urges community members to sign up for the system, called PLEAS (Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System). Click here for details and sign-up.
This is in addition to the Pasadena Police community information service, Nixle, which provides routine (rather than emergency) information releases. Click here for Nixle information and sign-up.
For more information, visit http://cityofpasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS. Please direct all inquiries to PasadenaLocalAlert@cityofpasadena.net.
Check Out Updated Crime Statistics (thru July 2012) and Recently Reported Incidents
Neighborhood safety was a key concern expressed in our recent resident survey. The WPRA Neighborhood Safety Committee is continuing to work with Pasadena Police Department and other agencies on these issues.
The WPRA is a 501c3 non-profit public benefit corporation. Membership contributions and donations are fully deductible to the extent permitted by law.
