Free Compost for City of Pasadena Residents

Greg de Vinck, Director of Public Works, invites residents to pick up free compost throughout the month of April as part of the City’s Earth Month celebrations. Compost will be available for self‑serve pickup at 176 West Dr. (adjacent to the intersection of West Dr. and Seco St. near the Rose Bowl), with four deliveries of 24 tons scheduled for April 2, 9, 16, and 23. Residents should bring their own containers, and material will be available while supplies last. Limit 30 gallons per person.

Compost is a valuable resource that enriches soil, improves water retention, reduces erosion, and supports healthy plant growth without the need for chemical fertilizers. It also plays a meaningful role in protecting the environment. When organic materials are sent to landfills, they decompose without oxygen and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting prevents those emissions while creating a nutrient‑rich soil amendment that strengthens local landscapes. Pasadena’s program brings this full circle: the compost available to residents is made from yard waste collected right here in our city and returned to the community to help build more resilient gardens and ecosystems.

Residents are encouraged to take part in this local, sustainable effort that keeps organic waste out of landfills while supporting healthier soil and a more climate-resilient Pasadena. Visit CityOfPasadena.net/Recycle or call (626) 744‑7311 to learn more about organics recycling in the City of Pasadena.

From Dirt to Dinner: Celebrating the 13th Annual Ventura County Farm Day

Have you ever stopped to consider the journey your food takes before it hits your plate? In Ventura County, that journey is often just a few miles down the road. On Saturday, April 11, 2026, the community will have a front-row seat to this process during the 13th Annual Ventura County Farm Day.

From 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, over 15 local farms, ranches, and agricultural hubs will swing open their gates for a day of free, family-friendly exploration. Organized by SEEAG (Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture), this event is a rare chance to “meet the hands that feed you” and see the innovation behind one of California’s most productive agricultural regions.

A Self-Guided Adventure

One of the best things about Farm Day is that you are the navigator. Using an online Trail Map, visitors can curate their own itinerary across the county—from the coastal plains of Oxnard to the rolling orchards of Ojai and Santa Paula.

Whether you want to spend the whole day at one sprawling ranch or “farm-hop” to three or four different sites, the experience is entirely customizable.

What’s on the Menu for 2026?

The 2026 lineup features a diverse mix of traditional agriculture and cutting-edge sustainability. Highlights include:

• Tractor Rides & Tours: Locations like Prancer’s Farm and McGrath Family Farmers offer behind-the-scenes looks at organic and regenerative farming.

   

• The Science of Soil: At Agromin, you can witness the fascinating process of turning organic waste into nutrient-rich compost (and even snag a free bag of soil for your own garden).

   

• Bee-hind the Scenes: Blue Ridge Honey provides a deep dive into the world of beekeeping, complete with an observation hive where you can see the colony at work under specialized red light.

   

• Fruit & Veggie Tastings: From celery seedlings at Duda Farm Fresh Foods to olive oil pressings at Ojai Olive Oil, your taste buds will get as much of a workout as your walking shoes.

Why It Matters

Farm Day isn’t just about cute animals and tractor rides—though there are plenty of those. It’s a vital educational tool. Ventura County agriculture contributes billions to the local economy, yet many residents are disconnected from the land. By visiting places like Petty Ranch or the Agriculture Museum of Ventura County, families learn about water conservation, pest management, and the sheer hard work required to maintain our food security.

Know Before You Go

• Cost: The event is 100% FREE, though pre-registration is highly encouraged to skip the check-in lines at each site.

   

• Wear: Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are a must. You’ll be walking in orchards and dirt fields!

• Bring: Sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and perhaps a cooler—many farms have produce stands where you can buy fresh goods directly from the source.

The Stalled Engine: Why Pasadena’s Rent Stabilization Department is Failing Residents

When Pasadena voters passed Measure H in 2022, there was a palpable sense of hope. The mandate was clear: establish a robust, independent system to protect tenants from skyrocketing rents and arbitrary evictions. Fast forward to 2026, and that hope has been replaced by a growing sense of frustration. At the center of this storm is Helen Morales, the Executive Director of the Rent Stabilization Department (RSD), whose leadership has become a lightning rod for criticism from tenants and property owners alike.

A Pattern of “Glitches” and Misinformation

The primary duty of the RSD is to create a transparent, functional rental registry. Instead, the process has been defined by technical failures and shifting goalposts. Throughout 2025 and into early 2026, the department has been plagued by “data collection” controversies.

Specifically, critics point to instances where Director Morales allegedly provided conflicting information to the Rental Housing Board. In late 2025, public comments and internal reviews revealed that the RSD was demanding sensitive tenant data and rent increase notices that were not explicitly required by Measure H—all while Morales claimed the department was “not collecting” such information. This lack of transparency doesn’t just create administrative headaches; it erodes the foundational trust needed for a new government agency to succeed.

Budget Surpluses While Service Stagnates

One of the most damning critiques of the current administration is the bizarre paradox of the department’s finances. As of early 2026, reports indicate the RSD is sitting on a multi-million dollar budget surplus—approximately $3.1 million in unspent funds.

While the department boasts about its revenue collection, it simultaneously struggles with:

• Persistent Staff Vacancies: Multiple positions in outreach and compliance remain unfilled.

• Delayed Petitions: Tenants seeking relief from illegal rent increases often face months of bureaucratic silence.

• Confusing Outreach: While “Chats & Snacks” events are marketed as community wins, they feel like a thin veneer over a department that lacks the internal infrastructure to process the actual claims being filed.

Leadership or Lip Service?

Critics argue that under Morales, the RSD has functioned more like a revenue-collection arm of the city than a protective shield for residents. The department’s focus has seemingly shifted toward aggressive late-fee schedules for landlords rather than the urgent task of hearing tenant petitions.

Furthermore, the “independence” of the Rental Housing Board—a core promise of Measure H—feels increasingly compromised. Internal communications suggest the department is operating under heavy influence from the City Manager’s office and outside legal firms, rather than following the direct guidance of the Board. When a department head appears more responsive to city hierarchy than to the board they serve, the “independence” of rent control becomes a myth.

The Path Forward

Pasadena’s tenants didn’t fight for a new department just to see it become another bogged-down bureaucracy. If the RSD is to fulfill its mission, it requires leadership that prioritizes accountability over optics.

Director Morales must address the allegations of misleading the board and explain why millions in taxpayer and fee-payer funds are sitting idle while the department remains understaffed. Until there is a fundamental shift in how the RSD is managed, Measure H will remain a promise unfulfilled—a stalled engine in a city that desperately needs to move forward on housing justice.