Tomorrow is Election Day - Please vote
June 2nd is Election Day. There are city council races in Pasadena, an LA County sales tax increase and more on the ballot.
Your vote is important. Help influence the future through the ballot box.
Pasadena Chamber Board Urges No Vote on LA County Sales Tax Increase
At its March meeting, The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce voted overwhelmingly to oppose LA County Measure ER which would raise the local sales tax rate by 0.5 cents. The tax is intended to raise money to support Los Angeles County's health department and services provided to LA County residents.
In opposing the measure, the Chamber Board noted the already high costs of consumer goods, as well as the current high prices related to increased gas prices and inflation generally.
The Board also noted the County's failed efforts to alleviate homelessness that are being funded by the most recent sales tax increase.
Though some funds will flow to the Pasadena Public Health Department, Los Angeles County has proven to be a very poor steward of public funds and very lax at any sort of oversight. Entrusting them with even more money seems foolish.
Be part of the solution - support Make Real Change - help prevent homelessness in our community
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation is reviving the community effort to alleviate homelessness in our community. Working with Friends in Deed, we are raising money to support the effort to prevent homelessness in the greater Pasadena area.
100% of funds raised will be donated to Friends in Deed to support their efforts to keep people housed.
You can find more information here: https://pasadenachamberfoundation.org/about
You can donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=T3OFLZ9DlmE5hEbtta6MaXXq6DzGFbOoyNkTSNBT4n84jiggy4Lbqu31h9n1rANT1uxXfg2wp7IKdtR_
We hope to engage the business community in our efforts. You can put a poster in your window, inform your customers about the initiative nd donate to make areal difference in the lives of families at risk of homelessness.
A.I. Is Making Scams Hard to Spot. Here’s How to Protect Yourself.
From the New York Times on May 28th: A criminal could be masquerading as a celebrity, web store or family member asking for your money. Detecting scams requires a new approach. By Brian X. Chen (Brian X. Chen is the author of Tech Fix, a weekly column about the tech we use.)
An email riddled with typos. A customer service agent with a thick accent. A blurry Craigslist photo.
Those used to be telltale signs of internet scams. But today, thanks to generative artificial intelligence, those red flags have mostly vanished. Low-cost chatbots, image generators and voice-cloning tools make it simple for criminals to produce pristine copy, create seemingly legitimate websites and even replicate identities.
A.I.-powered internet scams have become so convincing that I confess I almost fell for one. While mindlessly scrolling through TikTok videos, I came across an ad for a pair of Hoka sneakers marked 80 percent off. When I tapped on it, a website loaded that looked like an authentic clearance outlet for the shoe brand.
But after I added the shoes to the shopping cart, my Spidey sense went off. A quick web search revealed that users on Reddit had been scammed by this site; Hoka had even published a warning about a surge of fake web stores masquerading as its brand.
These look-alike websites are one of several A.I.-fueled internet scams that have recently been on the rise, security experts say. The F.B.I. reported last month that cybercriminals had defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion last year, with about $893 million in losses linked to A.I.
Because A.I. makes it effortless to build websites and digital avatars, we may have to rethink our approach to protecting ourselves from online fraud.
Read the whole story here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/technology/personaltech/scams-ai.html
LA County property tax revision could save small businesses money
A measure unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week that I believe will provide meaningful relief to small businesses throughout Los Angeles County.The measure that will modernize the County’s “Low Value Ordinance” (LVO) by increasing the minimum threshold at which business personal property becomes subject to taxation. Specifically, I proposed raising the threshold from $5,000 to the maximum amount permitted under state law: $10,000.
The LVO establishes the level at which businesses are required to report on their annual Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) and pay property taxes on items such as equipment, machinery, furniture, and fixtures. The current $5,000 threshold has remained unchanged for many years despite rising administrative costs, inflation, and the increasing financial pressures facing small businesses.
LA28 Transportation Procurement Forum
Upcoming LA28 Procurement Series webinar, taking place on Tuesday, June 2 at 10:00 AM. The session will focus on LA28’s procurement plan, forecast and transportation industry related contract opportunities.
This would be of particular interest to transportation-related services, logistics, fleet operations, driver services, mobility, event transportation, and related industries.
Download the flyer here:
How to spot small business coaching scams (yes, these exist)
Have you seen ads promising that a training or coaching program will help you build a thriving business or make significant money investing in markets like crypto, forex, or precious metals? Offers like these might sound exciting, but could be coaching scams in disguise. Do you know how to spot them?
Scammers promote training programs that claim to teach you how to succeed by investing in ecommerce businesses, financial markets, or real estate. They make it sound easy to make money and say, for a fee, they can show you how. But if they promise guaranteed income, large returns for little work, or say they have a “proven system to make money,” it’s likely a scam.
If you or someone you know is trying to start their own business and considering a coaching program, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Be wary of promises that you’ll make quick money. No one can guarantee you’ll make lots of money with little to no risk. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- Take your time and talk to someone you trust. Scammers will pressure you to get involved now or “risk losing out.” Ask questions and get a second opinion about the business offer or coaching program from someone who has your best interests in mind.
- Do some research. Check with your state attorney general for complaints. If you don’t find any complaints it doesn’t guarantee that a company is honest, but complaints might tip you off to possible problems.
- Read success stories and testimonials with skepticism. Glowing stories of success could be fake or misleading, and positive online reviews may have come from made-up profiles.
Have you spotted a business you think is a coaching scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
AT&T Upgrades coming over the next five years
The FCC has established a nationwide path to retire legacy copper networks, including in CA, and AT&T plans to move forward within that framework.
As a result of being able to modernize our network in CA, we are making an unprecedented commitment to the following:
- Invest $19B in CA over the next 5 years to accelerate network deployment.
- Committing to bring fiber to an additional 4 million households and businesses in the state by the end of 2030.
- Strengthening our wireless coverage with more than 1,200 new cell sites across California by 2030.
As part of this process, some customers will begin receiving notices. There will be no changes to anyone’s existing service before June 2027.
Pasadena Water and Power commercial electric customers are eligible for a rebate
PWP commercial electric customers are eligible for a rebate of $0.40 / Watt, up to a maximum of $80,000 per meter, when they purchase and install a new, permanent, rooftop solar PV system or expand an existing system.
For a limited time! PWP is not charging plan review and inspection fees for solar and battery systems. The fee waivers apply only to PWP‑related solar and battery project costs. Structural, Building & Safety, meter, and other non‑energy‑related fees may still apply.
Installing a rooftop solar PV system on your business is an environmentally conscious way to offset your energy usage, contribute to the City of Pasadena’s climate action goals, and save on your utility bill. In addition, when combined with on-site battery storage, the excess green energy produced from solar panels can be stored within the battery unit, which can allow for an independent source of power during utility outages and provide critical grid flexibility.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Allstate Main Street Grants Program,
Presented in partnership with Hello Alice and GEN, this initiative will support up to 250 small business owners through a 12-week virtual Boost Camp accelerator focused on strengthening business foundations and setting up long-term growth. Participants will receive access to expert-led sessions, weekly resources, and a connected digital community.
In addition to the full Boost Camp experience, 100 participants will be awarded $20,000 grants to help fuel their next stage of growth. Click here for more info and to apply.
LA28 Informational Webinars Open to Anyone Seeking Information on Vending, Tickets, Volunteering and More
You are invited to join LA28's Community Relations team for "First Friday's" webinars. Please use this link to register: LA28 Community Relations “First Fridays” Webinar Series.
As a reminder, these webinars provide high level updates on progress towards the 2028 Games. These are easy ways to listen in and hear the latest from our community relations team. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions.
You are encouraged to share the information about the webinar widely. All registered guests will receive the Microsoft teams link the Thursday evening prior to the webinar.
