Wow, I will admit to being surprised at seeing such a young face as a former member of the ATC. My impressions from reading altadenablog and the Patch was the ATC was made up of older people who may not have caught up with shifts in thinking over the years. Basically, they're still in that old box and as such, have become irrelevant sans, perhaps, some special interests. Admittedly, I'm no spring chicken as I am in my 50s; however, most good organizations have what is called new member orientation where new members to the board, committee, counsel, whatever are given materials or instructions on what can be done and what shouldn't be done. Are they doing this? If so, they're not as thorough as they think they are. If not, they they are operating at their peril and changing the bylaws will not help.

Very good article. Stick with it please; you are doing a great job.

One solution, that is long over due is for Altadena to become a city. Then we could have elected officials and a completely different governing structure. Our sales tax revenues would more directly contribute to our success. We wouldn't be some forgotten arm of Los Angeles County and we could more effectively petition for our own school district. Isn't it about time?

I agree, but this is apparently an complicated process.

It is doable but services need to be contracted to the County the way La Canada has done. Sierra Madre is stressed because they tried to do it on their own. The incorporation document should include limits on the number of employees. The school distict administration should be contracted out.

Steve Lamb for mayor.

With County, State, anf Federal subsidies it is doable so long as the city government is contained. Study money is required but it should be available from the State.

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE

As a former Altadena resident, I was instrumental in the formation of the Altadena Town Council. I have read with with great sadness the increasingly divisive, and now it would seem, destructive politcal altercations dividing the community. While politcal dissent is healthy, tearing down the institutions that give voice to that dissent is not good for the community.

I would suggest the most positive contribution that that Mike Antonovich can make toward reviving community trust in the Town Council is to have its by-laws and procedures reviewed by county counsel and to suggest changes necessary to minimize the opportunity for abuse. The designation of a qualified volunteer parlimentarian by county counsel's office would also be a great help and facilitate more orderly meetings.

The Altadena Town Council has served as a very useful advisory body to the 5th District. It has managed to maintain a measure of independence for Altadena within a very large district with powerful competing interests. If that voice is lost, no will one profit, except more the powerful competing interests that will inevitably flow into the vacuum of silence - for example, Pasadena will never remain silent.

So the choice is yours, reform or abdicate what little control you may have to your southern neighbor.

Lisa?

Lisa Hastings,

People create children who are seemiingly defective and corrupt and I suppose we should all expect them to 'fix' the kids and when they don't - heap scorn of them. I didn't 'create' the town council, I supported what most of Altadena thought to be a good idea, including the League of Women Voters. It was a political process - and at the time it offered an attractive alternative to the many attempts by Pasadena to annex Altadena.

If it can't be fixed, it may no longer be a good idea. Like truculant children, the choices may only be 'silence', annexation or incorporation. It is, of course, for Altadena to decide.

If you remove polarization and anger from the equation it is not difficult to effect change - certainly not rocket science. Go find Steve Lamb, ask him to properly scourge the scallywags - he's younger than me, bigger too, makes a great shield against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and is in possession of a fiendish sense of humor - Lutheran, I think.

Best of luck, David.

David, thank you for your calm and clear-eyed assessment. And thank you for what I know must have been hundreds or thousands of volunteer hours spent in service of a worthy goal: building some form of representative government for our community when we had none. Even one with less than the full powers of a "real" city council is better than nothing, and has the potential to develop into something greater. I commend your vision, along with that of others such as the League of Women Voters, in putting yourselves on the line positively in the hard work of overcoming inertia for the greater good. There will always be those jeering from the rear, you don't need me to tell you that, or that those same people are not the ones who "show up" to do the real work — but know that most of the people reading this blog wish that we had more people like you currently residing in town to help us move forward.

@ Michele Zack: The town council is not a "representative government" body. As a former council member, you should stop perpetuating this "urban legend." The ATC has no legal authority or responsibilities, yet wields considerable influence over county government decisions, especially those concerning proposed development in Altadena. People who criticize the ATC and its members are not "jeering from the rear" and who do not "show up to do the real work," but rather astute individuals who are committed to our neighborhoods and community and are not sidetracked by smoke and mirrors. Where did this crazy misconception come from that people who complain and criticize were a bunch of do-nothing people who do not care? What a bunch of nonsense. Get your facts straight.

As I read the insinuations about me, a member of the ATC, I willingly step up to the light of truth and have you examine me. Whom have I cheated? What back door deals have I accepted? What personal gain have I acquired? I was asked to take this seat because I showed up as a concerned citizen about this community that I love. Excuse me for trying to unify people. Apparently there are those who like to sling it. They paint a brushstroke on the council as though we are a corrupt bunch of thieves with the actual authority to make your lives unbearable. Where have I done you wrong? Tell me! Excuse me for stepping up trying to make positive difference. Even though I have thick skin, with the lies and insinuations you impose on this body I see why we can’t move forward in a positive direction. If any of you would like run for my seat or the seat in your census tract, do so and allow others to falsely accuse you of things that are totally untrue. Excuse me for thinking I could make a difference. Yes our past is there, but we cannot allow it to restrict our future. If you want to paint us as thieves do it truthfully.

Greg, while of course it offends one's sense of fairness (and it is hurtful) to be called corrupt and evil, and to have one's actions lied about and/or twisted — you give slanderers oxygen by responding. I have ALMOST learned to sit on my hands and ignore, although it goes against every instinct. I will certainly be flamed for writing this — but since untruthful attacks by misguided bullies are the blood on which websites allowing them feed, we can expect more of the same. Sad, especially as Patch, which has brought much good to our community, celebrates its first month in Altadena.

In the case of the Town Council, there is plenty of room for criticism — both of its overall effectiveness, as well as of certain actions (and non-actions) of members. But criticism and comment must be specific and fact-based to be constructive and to improve the institution for the community's benefit. To infer that most council members over the last quarter of a century enriched themselves through nefarious back room deals is preposterous. I grow weary of being accused of such things in a public forum like Patch, and I am happy to answer any question in this regard. But I know, because I've tried to answer some of Ms. Hastings' particular accusations, that she is not interested in facts — her motivation comes from some other place. I invite anyone in the community to query me on any subject of public concern at michelezack@mac.com — I'm finished with this thread.

@Michele Zack. FACT: you have not provided any FACTS in your post here. Your accusations consist merely of vague and general complaining. FACT: I have never accused you of any backroom deal. In fact, I have always provided FACTS when making comments about you. FACT: You voted to approve the massive Monte Cedro project while practically the entire neighborhood publicly registered their opposition, so yes, this does cast a shadow on your yes vote. FACT: You did not reach out to the neighbors surrounding the Monte Cedro development prior to casting your yes vote. FACT: You voted to approve the massive Monte Cedro project (along with the rest of the ATC - unanimously), without requiring sufficient, specific, and detailed promises in writing from the developer that they would provide end of life care, nursing, and hospice care to Altadena residents, regardless of ability to pay. Your yes vote, along with the yes votes of the rest of the council, was irresponsible and inconsistent with the needs and desires of OUR neighborhood which will be subject to this massive, densely populated development that will provide an expensive option for only healthy seniors, an option that excludes seniors with limited financial means and seniors requiring nursing and hospice care---services that the demolished Scripps Home provided our community.

Antonovich's sneaks. Think about it.

Having been a resident of our fair town for a long time, I am very glad to see this seemingly unbiased forum. Thank you.I truly hope that this blog adds to the debate in a positive and constructive manner.
As a veteran of Altadena politics, I must say that I am deeply troubled by the recent changes to the ATC by-laws. Sadly, the ATC has done yet again more damage to it's reputation by further excluding willing Altadena residents from serving their community. Why, one might ask? Ego and power. Read the changes and they again will show protectionism of those few folks that give our fine town a bad reputation. Sad but true. Considering the amount of actual power ATC members have, that leaves ego. Unfortunately, this exclusive mindset tends to prevent many of Altadena's finest from serving. My 7 or 8 years of service was riddled with pressure from a few to vote this way or that. When I brought up legitimate concerns, I was shown the door by another co-opted ATC member in a position to relieve me of duty. This happened three times. I was one who brought up legitimate concerns about the funding of Monte Cedro and the plight of those elderly residents that were forced to move. Guess what? I was shown the door again. I think anyone that ever worked with me (that would include a few of those above) on a project would vouch for my interest, knowledge and willingness to properly investigate the issue at hand and my fairness in all matters.

My efforts were rewarded with back-room plotting and my removal again and again and reappointment by the next incoming member. All of this for asking legitimate questions and actually spending the necessary time to look into matters and try to find creative solutions to problems facing our community. Since my last departure from the LUC, I have found other methods and contacts to get what needs to be done in my neighborhood. My life is simpler and things actually get done. My sincere hope is that one day, the monkey business stops and Altadena residents finally receive the fair and honest representation they deserve. But this present action does not give me hope. For those of you that have served the ATC with honesty and objectivity, thank you for your service and for those few of you that have not, June is coming.. I hope the good people of Altadena end your political careers once and for all.

@ Greg M. Thank you for confirming that we don't make this stuff up.

....at the next ATC elections, support and vote for someone running opposed to an incumbent. OR, show up at a mtg and let your voices be heard! Demand that your census tract rep understand your neighborhood's needs.
All this bellyaching and whining doesn't get it done....step up! Calling the ATC out on a message board isn't gonna make things change.
My census tract rep seems OK, but I'm sure this person is one of the ppl targeted in all this finger pointing. In all fairness, I don't ask much of this person but I take the bull by the horns when I want something done in my neck of the woods....which means I get it done myself.