Altadena from afar

Altadenans, our hearts feel your pain, even from afar. The devastation of the Eaton fire touches all of us, even if we haven’t lived in the San Gabriel Valley for decades. I moved to the Inland Empire in the late 1970s to take a coaching job at Yucaipa High School, but I have fond memories of the time I spent in Altadena during the 1950s.

My father, Frank, taught shop and coached football at Eliot Junior High, now greatly destroyed, throughout the 1950s before opening the new campus at Pasadena High School. He also ran the Saturday rec program at Eliot where I spent much of my early childhood as a “gym rat.” I remember shooting free-throws in the gym with Rod Sherman, an Eliot football star. Rod went on to play for USC and the Oakland Raiders, and in both the Rose Bowl Game and the Super Bowl.

Special condolences to those who lost loved ones. Be “Altadena Strong.” Even the pain of property loss also passes slowly. You are showing the world what a special place Altadena is with your generosity and goodwill toward each other. To everyone else, please join me in donating to your favorite charity, including the California Fire Foundation and Red Cross: https://www.cafirefoundation.org

Again, our thoughts and prayers are with you, even from afar.

— David Matuszak, Friends of Live Oak Canyon Firewise Community, Redlands

Annexing Altadena

Maybe it Iis time for Altadena to become part of Pasadena. I am a proud Altadenan who values our township’s diversity and independent spirit. I also like our lower tax rate. But the firestorm has highlighted our township’s shortcomings.

First, our reliance on Los Angeles County Fire and Sherriff’s departments limited the resources available to fight the fire in its early and more containable stage.

Second, our reliance on nonpublic water systems is a hidden flaw that drought and fire have revealed. While drinkable water is available in the parts of Altadena served by Pasadena Water and Power, the nonpublic water supply remains contaminated.

Third, as we look to rebuild the Altadena destroyed by the fire, we need vigilant oversight of what is built. I hear every day from underinsured or frightened homeowners who do not plan to rebuild. As you read this, developers are eyeing the devastation with intent to build apartment and condo complexes, and gated communities. More disturbing are plans to build mansion estates replacing the smaller homes that defined our town. Altadena’s charm is the middle-class homes that make up its neighborhoods. Without local, engaged, strong and effective leadership and oversight, Altadena will in future not be the place we loved and still love. As much as I hate to say it, Pasadena Planning and Community Development and the City Council are our best hope to preserve our town’s character.

Our Supervisor Kathryn Barger is an admirable successor to Mike Antonovich, but the Board of Supervisors’ focus is the whole county, not Altadena.

Our Town Council is chosen in nearly secret elections by the few people who know when and where to vote. It is not a true representative of the people of Altadena. We need directly elected Pasadena City Council members. More importantly, The Altadena Town Council lacks authority to enforce building codes or the oversight authority to develop and mandate a plan for the rebuilding of Altadena.

So, perhaps reluctantly, we Altadenans must internalize what the firestorm has made apparent, we cannot rebuild our beloved Altadena without help.

— Charles Hay, Altadena

Jan. 6 pardons

You, President Trump, campaigned as a “law and order” candidate. But on solemnly taking the oath of office you promptly issued a blanket pardon to over a thousand convicted criminals who desecrated our Capitol Jan. 6, 2021. My November letter to editor cautioned you against this deceitful act contrary to your platform.

Your action commuted long jail terms for those insurrectionists that threatened the life of Vice President Pence and most of our congressional representatives. What an affront to several officers who died defending our Capitol and the more than 100 police injured in that overwhelmed defense!

The kowtowing MAGA Republicans who stole my party will applaud this action, but history will treat you as a traitor of the United States and the existence of our republic.

As a life-long Republican I had cautioned that your legacy will be tarnished by this treasonous action; now I believe history will utterly trash your legacy!

— Lee Willard, Whittier