City Hall Scoop

The City of South Pasadena, in partnership with Senator Anthony J. Portantino, will host a community discussion of Senate Bill 381 on Monday, March 29, 2021, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The community forum is an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide input on the bill as it advances in the legislative process.

SB 381, introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino, would allow for more local control over the disposition of the state-owned properties along the SR 710 corridor and put the city in a much better position to safeguard and champion the interests of the South Pasadena community.

In October 2019, Governor Newsom signed legislation definitively ending six decades of attempts to construct an extension of the SR 710 freeway. At its January 2, 2021 meeting, the California Transportation Commission readily acknowledged that residential property management and maintenance is not a core competence of the transportation department and contemplated transferring property management and disposal of the SR 710 freeway surplus properties to another State agency. 

With the threat of the freeway extension averted and the possibility of further delays and mismanagement of the disposition of SR 710 freeway surplus properties, the City’s next challenge will be to explore and implement a strategy that provides the City and their residents a more favorable disposition outcome. SB 381 seeks to expeditiously provide existing and qualified Caltrans tenants the opportunity to purchase while at the same time allow the City and their housing partners to acquire and renovate the unoccupied properties.  The City hopes that this effort will restore neighborhoods suffering the numerous adverse consequences of decades-long neglect of many of the residential properties located within the corridor. The bill proposes changes to the existing surplus disposition process and provides a path for South Pasadena to determine a favorable disposition of the surplus Caltrans properties.

“City Council looks forward to the opportunity afforded by this forum to provide additional information regarding SB 381, and to listen to community concerns and suggestions for improvement,” said Mayor Mahmud. “There will be multiple opportunities for community input as the bill wends its way through the Legislature and beyond.” 

The virtual meeting will be conducted over ZOOM and broadcast live on the City Council meeting webpage. Questions and comments may be submitted in advance of the meeting to SB381comment@southpasadenaca.gov. There will also be opportunity for questions and comments during the live workshop. Registration is required to participate in the live forum. Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_51yHRVk4ThqvR1hN3HrQiw

The City has created a webpage on their website to provide information and ongoing updates regarding SB 381. The new webpage provides the ability for anyone to sign up and receiving updates as they become available.  For more information on SB 381 and to register for updates, please visit: https://www.southpasadenaca.gov/visitors/state-route-710/senate-bill-381-portantino

3/24/21

Regular Meeting, March 24, 2021, 7 p.m.
Kathay Feng, Esq., National Redistricting Director of Common Cause, will be speaking on ‘Redistricting 101’ at tonight’s CRC Regular Meeting.

The agenda and additional supplemental materials are posted at:
https://redistricting.lacounty.gov/virtual-meetings/

The CRC’s regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

You can join the meeting in several ways:

Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82726060927

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/LACountyRedistricting/

listen

Listen only, call:

(669) 900-9128, enter: 827 2606 0927#

Write

Submit written comments via the Public Comment Form:

https://publiccomment.redistricting.lacounty.gov/

3/24/21

Tell your child to tell you if they feel sick and contact your provider if they experience symptoms of COVID-19.

3/24/21

Reminder, you need to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 or if a provider thinks you have COVID-19.

3/24/21

Senseless acts of hate have been directed to the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders community since the beginning of the pandemic. We support all residents of LA County to unite against, report, and resist acts of hate. We stand unequivocally in support of the Asian American community.

What you can do?

• Report hate as a victim or bystander with LA vs Hate or StopAAPIHate.org
• Share a message of compassion and solidarity with your community using one of our digital GIFs
• Print posters or use Zoom backgrounds to promote inclusion at home and at work
• Equity in Los Angeles continues to be intersectional, to learn more, please visit the Explore Justice Website

Visit lavshate.org/aapi for more information on how you can stand with us, united against hate.

3/23/21

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to.”

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Filing Form 4868 gives taxpayers until October 15 to file their 2020 tax return but does not grant an extension of time to pay taxes due. Taxpayers should pay their federal income tax due by May 17, 2021, to avoid interest and penalties.

The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds associated with e-filed returns are issued within 21 days.

This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Taxes must be paid as taxpayers earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In general, estimated tax payments are made quarterly to the IRS by people whose income isn’t subject to income tax withholding, including self-employment income, interest, dividends, alimony or rental income. Most taxpayers automatically have their taxes withheld from their paychecks and submitted to the IRS by their employer.

State tax returns

The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax (including tax on self-employment income) payments otherwise due April 15, 2021, not state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other type of federal tax.

The California Franchise Tax Board extended the deadlines for individual taxpayers to file their 2020 income tax returns and pay their 2020 taxes from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. 2020 income returns filed on or before May 17 will be considered timely, and no interest or penalties will accrue on account of 2020 income tax payments made by May 17.

3/23/21

.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:

• The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
• There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

How to Apply:

In April, FEMA will begin accepting applications. If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:

• An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.

3/23/21

As of March 17th, LA County has administered 3,234,989 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of these, 1,057,794 were second doses.

Currently, people who are eligible for the vaccine include healthcare workers, residents and staff at long-term care facilities, residents who are age 65 or older, education and childcare workers, food and agriculture workers, emergency service workers and law enforcement, people with serious health conditions or disabilities, people who live or work in high risk congregate living spaces (shelters, jails, and residential behavioral health programs), janitorial, custodial, and maintenance services workers, and people who work in the transportation and logistics.

Due to low vaccine supply, the remainder of appointments this week are dedicated to providing second doses.

Visit vaccinatelacounty.com for more information on vaccination eligibility or to make your second dose appointment.

3/23/21

Make sure your mask covers your nose AND your mouth and that it fits snug to your face. If you are double masking, make sure to wear a disposable mask underneath your cloth mask.

3/23/21

The South Pasadena City Council, on behalf of the City and all residents thereof, denounce hate crimes, hateful rhetoric and hateful acts against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and reaffirm our commitment to ensure that API Americans feel safe and welcome, both during this COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. On Wednesday March 17, 2020 South Pasadena City Council voted to approve this  Resolution 7710.  

3/23/21