Editor:
This op-ed is provided to give Pasadena voters in the March 5 election a clear reason to vote for the office of mayor real leadership by providing you with an objective understanding of the role of the mayor of Pasadena under Section 406: The mayor shall be nominated and elected by the voters of the city at-large for a term of four years.
In 1998, the city charter was changed from a two-year rotational mayor to an elected mayor. Each of the three mayors elected was either part of the pre-rotational administration or employed by the city before being elected in their respective district and becoming mayor. Neither of the three elected mayors presented or executed the 1998 city charter change because of their association with special interest groups or personal self-interest, nor were they challenged to do so or held accountable in any manner until after the murder of Anthony McClain.
The role of the elected mayor vest authority to cast his or her one vote at the city council meeting and to use their influence as mayor to reach an objective outcome for the residents’ interest and serve as their voice. The mayor’s role is to serve as an oversight component for all of the residents; the mayor shall not intentionally act in a self-serving manner for any reason or on behalf of any special interest group irrespective of what the agenda item may be.
The mayor does not manage the city; the city is managed by the city manager and city attorney as the two top executives with the authority and power to terminate employees and carry out the day-to-day operations and duties of the city along with the department managers who are competent to sustain the city without a mayor. The staff and administrators are full-time employees of the city, and the mayor’s position is part time, with a small stipend as compensation.
Leadership and governance require respect, transparency, accountability and due process, which are the essence of good leadership and great governance of a city. As a result of the last two administrations, the city has shown a need for change (see video https://bit.ly/3SO8FqV, which shows a sincere call for leadership because of the issues in Pasadena 10 years ago, which exist today).
After 16 years as the only elected mayor, Mayor Bogaard stated that he would not be seeking another term as mayor; the residents of Pasadena were allowed to test the democratic process. The outcome resulted in the election of Mayor Tornek, and he served one term. The residents have come to see that if changes are needed after electing a mayor, it’s OK to vote new leadership into office, and that was how Victor Gordo was elected.
A historic incident and its aftermath occurred in August 2020, and Pasadena made history. The city’s leadership as well as the true test of full disclosure and government transparency would come to a head when Anthony McClain was murdered by Pasadena police with five cameras capturing the shooting incident. Not one camera had shown McClain committing a crime nor making threats upon the officer who had killed him. Nor had any camera shown McClain in possession of a gun in his left hand (only a cellphone) as stated in the officers’ reports (including Chief John Perez’s report of the incident). McClain’s murder has become Pasadena’s Emmett Till story, which brought major attention and liability from lawsuits against the city and its leaders, resulting in large settlements with the cost being passed onto the residents. This became the first time in Pasadena’s history when all of the leaders, who were either elected and/or employees in office, were removed. This consisted of the mayor, city manager and the police chief from one incident.
This was the case when Mayor Gordo was elected, and he used the premise to gain votes by stating that if he were to be endorsed and elected to the office of the mayor; he would bring justice in the McClain shooting, which was not true nor did it happen as he had claimed. He had also asserted that Mayor Tornek was out of the country and not available during COVID-19 in 2020 when the state of California was shut down to protect the health and public safety of its citizens by the governor.
For the past five years, the leadership of the city council under Mayor Gordo has been challenged by residents demanding accountability, compliance regarding climate change, an end to homelessness and an outcry for affordable housing for all residents. Moreover, the residents of Pasadena have been demanding changes to the charter to reflect the current and immediate needs of the city and its governance.
Is it OK for Mayor Gordo to disregard the need for public health and safety during COVID-19 for any reason?
Mayor Gordo’s website alleges, “Throughout his time as mayor, Victor has focused on fostering an improved quality of life and promoting safe, family-friendly environments throughout the city. As mayor, together with the city council, Victor has guided Pasadena through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery during a challenging time of social inequity, mass retirements and the search for a new city manager.”
All of the aforementioned are duties and or functions carried out by city staff, and if any further action and or expenditures are needed, the item would be submitted to the city council for approval and not the mayor as a unilateral act.
Furthermore, Mayor Gordo’s website claims that he is a labor leader (for a special interest group) who is also the longest-serving president of the Rose Bowl Operating Company (he should possess great knowledge of the history of the Rose Bowl), leading it through a successful renovation. The so-called “successful renovation” had led to a significant overrun of costs, which are debts the city continues to have on its books today.
It’s time for a change in Pasadena’s leadership.
Pasadena is known for hosting the annual Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl football game. On Jan. 25, 2024, Mayor Gordo attended a forum and was asked a simple question about the importance of the partnership between the city of Pasadena and the Tournament of Roses. The mayor stated that “he was protecting the game because it belongs to the residents and litigation resulted.”
The following video (https://youtu.be/5VQP3onCk40) will show Mayor Gordo’s self-serving intent (intentionally act in a self-serving manner), let alone, his disrespect for the Tournament of Roses and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Not to mention, he had a total disregard for the residents and visiting guests of Pasadena by placing importance of his strong desire to keep the game in Pasadena, which would have, in fact, placed the health and safety of the public in extreme jeopardy and made no sense because the state of California had the highest number of cases of COVID-19, which had required the governor to order the entire state to be shut down.
Mayor Gordo’s statement was a gross misrepresentation to the attendees and residents of the forum. He had shown his true self-interest in the case, that it was personal because he did not disclose that the true facts were that it was during COVID-19 pandemic, that the Tournament of Roses tried to get approval for the game in Pasadena from the governor but it was denied, and that the College Football Playoff Committee (CFP) had moved the Rose Bowl game to Texas not the Tournament of Roses. Also, the mayor knew that the Tournament of Roses did not own or control where the Rose Bowl game would be played during the COVID-19 crisis.
Mayor Gordo used the mayor’s office to carry out picking a fight with the Tournament of Roses and not with the (CFP). He certainly knew or should have known that the Rose Bowl game was moved out of Pasadena in 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor since Mayor Gordo had such a long history as the president of the Rose Bowl Operating Company. The actions taken by Mayor Gordo demonstrate how he violated the charter by asserting his self-interest in 2021 to pick a fight with the Tournament of Roses.
His misrepresentation and statements made to the residents on Jan. 25, reinforced that he does not have the intent to serve the interest of the residents, only to serve his interest and manipulate the facts.
Is such action by Mayor Gordo OK with voters?
The Tournament of Roses, which provides the parade and Rose Bowl game each year, is the city’s biggest partner; the consistent partner that has made Pasadena the city we all love. The Tournament of Roses is a partner that provides over thousands of jobs, partners with several hundred nonprofit organizations and works closely with small businesses around the San Gabriel Valley. The Tournament of Roses generates significant revenue for the city as high as $300 million per year. The contributions of over 900 volunteers and the media coverage that it brings each year to Pasadena make it the model city that it is today.
Call for action
The election ballots have been mailed, leadership renewal is needed in Pasadena, please vote for Allen Shay for mayor, who is committed to serving you and your interest.
Please visit Allen Shay for Mayor or watch the video link: https://youtu.be/5VQP3onCk40.
Allen Shay
Pasadena
