Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce provides information on Pasadena City Council actions, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ meetings and more that may be of interest to members. If you would like information beyond what is provided here, please email paul@pasadena-chamber.org.

Pasadena City Council

On Monday, May 17th the Pasadena City Council resolved to oppose Arizona’s new law regarding enforcement of immigration status. The City of Pasadena will not boycott Arizona or any Arizona cities. The Council also approved the Outreach Report from the General Plan Update Advisory Committee. The Chamber voiced concerns consistently through the outreach process that commercial interests were not being fairly included, but the Council chose to approve the report in spite of those concerns.

On May 24th, the Council approved the scope of the Rose Bowl renovation program which will replace the press box with luxury suites, add club seating and amenities, improve access to the stadium and enhance the safety of Rose Bowl visitors during events. The Council also heard an update on street improvements that will be implemented around city hall, including decorative sidewalks and tree plantings.

Gold Line Foothill Extension
The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority hosts a groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of construction for the next phase of the light rail project. The milestone will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 10:00 a.m. at Newcastle Park at 101 West Colorado Boulevard in Arcadia. The public is invited to celebrate this milestone in the transit history of the San Gabriel Valley. Congratulations to the Authority and its staff who diligently worked to make the extension to Azusa a reality.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors considered a proposal to boycott Arizona. The Supervisors also accepted an $11 million grant to provide more personnel to oversee probationers aimed are reducing recidivism rates.

State of California

Democratic Legislators presented an alternative to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal. The Democratic proposal would rely on moving funds into the State General Fund from other sources rather than the service cuts the Governor proposed.

The California Public Utilities Commission
Hosts a workshop for anyone wanting to do business with the regulated utility companies such as Southern California Edison and the Gas Company. Helping Diverse Business Sell to Regulated Utilities takes place in the Carmel Room at the CPUC offices at 320 West 4th Street in Los Angeles on June 10th. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information. The CPUC urges everyone to call 811 to find out if there are electric, gas, telephone or water lines buried nearby before you dig.

Congressman Adam Schiff Hosts International Intellectual Property Discussion

Congressman Adam Schiff invites you to an important roundtable discussion on the issue of intellectual property (IP) protection. Stan McCoy, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, to join in this discussion.  Mr. McCoy serves as the chief policy advisor to the United States Trade Representative and the Administration agencies on intellectual property and trade issues, and is responsible for developing and implementing United States trade policy on intellectual property.

Intellectual property must be protected if our economy is to thrive – and enforcing these protections does not stop at the water’s edge.  American entrepreneurs invest their time, money and sweat into creating new technologies and justly expect to be compensated by the market. We must take much stronger action to ensure our overseas trading partners live up to their international obligations and respect U.S. intellectual property.

Please join Congressman Schiff and his special guest at our Intellectual Property Protection Roundtable on Monday, June 7^th from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.at DreamWorks Animation Studios (tentative), 1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201, as to discuss what actions are necessary to address these issues. To attend, please RSVP to Yvonne Hsu in my Pasadena District Office at (626) 304-2727 or Yvonne.Hsu@mail.house.gov.