| Dear First District Neighbors & FriendsToday was yet another busy day filled with engaging conversations with neighbors and discussions with city officials and organizations that have been invaluable during this challenging time.
While I’ve been out in the community, I’ve had the chance to speak with residents from Altadena. Many of them have raised important questions, such as: How did this situation arise? Am I your representative? Who should you reach out to? When can you expect to start rebuilding? Given everything they’ve experienced, I strive to provide as much assistance as I can, while recognizing that my authority primarily pertains to Pasadena. Fortunately, we have outstanding representatives, including our county supervisor, who is always available to support us. However, one intriguing question has surfaced repeatedly. About seven years ago, I approached the city council about the possibility of annexing a portion of Altadena surrounding the Floricita neighborhood, as this area is officially within Pasadena’s district. However, due to the United States Postal Service’s decision in the 1960s to assign Altadena addresses to these locations for easier mail delivery, the change was made. In light of the collective challenges faced by our communities, I think it’s worth examining the advantages and disadvantages of annexing Altadena.
Currently, the City of Pasadena provides water and other municipal services to over 6,000 residents and businesses beyond its borders.
The Pasadena Fire Department was among the first responders at the Eden Canyon fire.
A conservative estimate suggests that if residents leave our community, the Pasadena Unified School District could see a 10% decline in enrollment, which would significantly impact the services available to students in our area.
Economically, Altadena is home to over 40,000 residents who either have stopped supporting our local businesses or may do so in the future. Losing this customer base would be detrimental, as around 15-25% of our sales tax revenue comes from Altadena residents’ purchases.
I am confident that Pasadena will do everything possible to ensure that homes are repaired and restored swiftly for our residents. With the backing of our council, we will advocate for Altadena as well. If Altadena were to become part of Pasadena—while retaining its name, of course—I believe our city could expedite the rebuilding process by a year or two, leveraging our expertise and experience.
Additionally, when considering municipal services, Pasadena’s water and power systems are far more reliable. The water delivery infrastructure in Altadena has been severely compromised by the recent fires, and many local water businesses were already struggling financially. Currently, they are without customers.
I mention this because I feel the City of Pasadena has a responsibility to weigh the pros and cons of annexing Altadena and potentially uniting our communities as one.
I also received an email regarding issues with grocery delivery services like Uber Eats and Amazon Fresh. If you’re facing challenges with your grocery deliveries, Pasadena’s IT department is reaching out to these platforms to notify them that we are out of the mandatory evacuation zone and request that they resume service to Pasadena.
Sending blessings your way! There were many other events today, but this particular topic seemed worthy of discussion for all of us in Pasadena.
With love and appreciation, I look forward to connecting with everyone in the community. This isn’t a quick journey; it’s a marathon. We have much work ahead of us…
Blessings, Praying for everyone safety
Tyron Hampton |
