City Hall Scoop

Last month, South Pasadena Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) launched its sixth cohort. TAB is made up of high school-aged volunteers dedicated to helping and improving the library. This semester TAB has 8 returning students and 10 first-time members.

This cohort will be busy! They have already provided feedback on a tutorial created by library staff for SPUSD’s e-book platform SORA. They studied the history of zines and made their own at home. Now they are testing the library’s new mobile app to provide the library with feedback before the app goes live. Throughout the spring, TAB will help the Library with a variety of ongoing projects, as well as advise on aspects of the Summer Reading Program for teens.

Check-out TAB Recommends, a list of reading recommendations for teens made by the fall TAB cohort. TAB members decided what genres to include and what books went under each genre.

TAB recruitment for the fall 2021 cohort will begin in July. For more information visit the TAB webpage or keep an eye on the library’s Instagram and Facebook for updates!

Cathy Billings
Library Director

2/22/21

The County reached an important milestone Monday that enables schools to open on-site learning for grades TK through 6. The key factor is the County’s sustained adjusted case rate of under 25 new cases per 100,000 people for five consecutive days, which meets the State’s requirements for reopening, provided schools are in full compliance with State and County directives. The criteria for reopening grades 7 through 12 will be met when the County’s case rate drops below seven per 100,000 people. For more information, go to: publichealth.lacounty.gov.

2/19/2021

Until enough people are vaccinated, keep staying safe and protecting those around you.

2/17/2021

Quarantine for 10 days and monitor for these symptoms if you were at a gathering with people you don’t live with and without face coverings or distancing. #SlowTheSpread

2/17/2021

Following state guidelines, grades TK-6 can reopen in counties where the adjusted case rate has been below 25 per 100,000 residents for five days. Los Angeles County reached that much-anticipated milestone on February 15.

Students in grades TK – 6 are permitted on-site learning if the school is in full compliance with state and county directives. Many of the directives are not new and very familiar to schools that re-opened under the waiver program or for services for high-need students. 

2/16/21

The COVID-19 Vaccines are safe, effective and prevent serious illness from COVID-19. Register at http://myturn.ca.gov to be notified when you’re eligible.

2/16/2021

Dining out? It’s important to know the risk to yourself and others. It is still not safe to dine with people you don’t live with. It’s important to know the risk to yourself and others. It is still not safe to dine with people you don’t live with.

2/16/2021

In observance of the Presidents Day holiday, City offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2021. We will resume service Tuesday, February16, 2021.

Both the South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments will have staff available to assist the public. For non-emergency assistance, you may contact the Police Department at (626) 403-7270, while the Fire Department can be reached at (626) 403-7300.

2/12/2021

Keep family traditions but celebrate Lunar New Year virtually this year. Even if elders have been vaccinated, it’s still important to keep everyone safe by celebrating with just your household. Consider virtual options when it comes to giving red envelopes, i.e., apps and online banking methods are a good way to share prosperity from a distance.

2/11/2021

We know that hundreds of thousands of county residents are still unable to pay rent.

Some hope was offered at the end of last month when the Extended Tenant Relief Act (Senate Bill 91) was passed in California. The bill extends protections for tenants who can’t pay rent. And as long as tenants pay at least 25% of their total rent from September 2020 to June 2021 by June 30 2021, landlords can’t legally evict them. Tenants must also submit a declaration form each month stating COVID-19 hardship. It’s important to know that this new law does not cancel rent. It also does not stop landlords from filing an eviction lawsuit. But, it does provide tenants with defenses to eviction if a lawsuit is filed for not paying rent. 

The new law also provides $2.6 billion for rental assistance to Californians via direct payments to landlords. Landlords who apply to the program will be paid 80% of any rent owed by a tenant if the landlord agrees to forgive the remaining 20%. If a landlord chooses not to apply, qualified tenants can apply to receive 25% of their unpaid rent to secure eviction protection.

To learn more about SB 91, the rental assistance program and other laws that protect tenants, check out our website at stayhousedla.org or join us for a tenants’ rights workshop. At the workshop, you’ll hear more about your rights and be connected to resources that can help keep you in your home.

Sign Up for a Workshop

2/11/21