Local Government
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
View MorePasadena residents allege rent control petition fraud
Pasadena residents told a City Council committee that signature gatherers for a proposed charter amendment falsely claimed the petition would lower rent, when it actually seeks to repeal and replace Measure H. The county has until Oct. 22 to verify whether the petition's 29,000 signatures meet the 13,700 threshold for the March 2028 ballot.
Local Government
View MorePasadena council creates Black Legacy District in Fair Oaks plan
The Pasadena City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to adopt the Fair Oaks–Orange Grove Specific Plan, formally designating a Black Legacy District and allowing denser mixed-use development along a historically Black commercial corridor in northwest Pasadena.
Local Government
View MorePasadena sales tax hits 11% as Measure ER starts Thursday
Pasadena's sales tax rises from 10.5% to 11% on Thursday, Oct. 1, under Los Angeles County's voter-approved Measure ER, while Mayor Victor Gordo pushes the county to increase Pasadena's share of the revenue beyond the current 1% allocation.
Local Government
View MorePasadena council limits police drones to SWAT in 7-1 vote
The Pasadena City Council voted 7-1 on Sept. 29 to approve a police drone policy but restricted use to SWAT only and banned vendor testing inside the city, rejecting the department's request for citywide drone operations.
Local Government
View MorePasadena rent cap rises to 2.5% on Oct. 1
Pasadena's rent cap for stabilized units rises from 2.25% to 2.5% on Oct. 1, 2026, after the Rental Housing Board adopted the new Annual General Adjustment in June. A walk-in registration session for landlords is set for Sept. 30 at Robinson Park.
Local Government
View MorePasadena weighs denser housing, heritage districts on Fair Oaks
Pasadena's City Council holds a public hearing Tuesday on a plan to allow denser housing along North Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard while creating four named districts honoring the area's Black and Latino heritage, including a Robinson District for Mack and Jackie Robinson.
Local Government
View MoreFederal judge weighs ban on suspicionless immigration stops
A federal judge heard arguments Thursday in a case brought by three Pasadena men that seeks to bar immigration agents from making stops without individualized suspicion across the Central District of California, a case in which Pasadena formally intervened.
Local Government
View MoreNewsom launches $100M rebuilding fund for Eaton Fire survivors
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a $100 million state program on Sept. 17 to help low- and moderate-income Eaton and Palisades fire survivors finance rebuilding through interest rate buydowns and loan-loss guarantees administered by CalHFA.
Local Government
View MorePasadena's Rose Parade wins $500,000 in California state budget
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez secured a $500,000 allocation in the 2026-27 California budget to support public safety and operations for the Rose Parade.
Local Government
View MorePasadena vice mayor seeks end to Flock camera contract
Pasadena Vice Mayor Jess Rivas, who voted to approve the city's Flock camera contract in 2023, now says she wants to end it without renewal after a teach-in documented widespread audit failures in a neighboring city's camera program.
Local Government
View MoreNewsom signs three Harabedian wildfire bills in Altadena
Gov. Newsom signed three bills by Assemblymember John Harabedian in Altadena on Sept. 15, creating the nation's first wildfire contamination testing standards, extending mortgage forbearance for Eaton and Palisades fire survivors, and establishing a statewide mortgage-relief program for disaster-displaced homeowners.
Local Government
View MoreSupreme Court clears mail-in voting for Pasadena's Nov. 3 midterm
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Trump's mail-in voting restrictions Monday, clearing the way for California to mail ballots on schedule for the Nov. 3 midterm. Pasadena voters can track ballots, use drop boxes and vote in person.
©2026 Pasadena Ledger
Powered by Surround Sound Media