Visitors from Japan

Several high school students from our sister city of Mishima, Japan, visited Pasadena City Hall yesterday. They're in town for about 10 days, staying with local host families, and are learning about the community plus seeing the sights.

They were in Little Tokyo yesterday when the earthquake hit. Welcome to Southern California, kids!

Barney Melekian met with them in the council chamber to discuss how local government works in Pasadena and what his responsibilities entail.


Then I took them on a tour of the building.


Many thanks to Bryan Takeda of the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee for arranging the visit.

Your Little Old Tour Guide, Me

Among my other responsibilities at the City of Pasadena, I give tours of City Hall.

Today from 9 to 10 a.m. it was the government class from Hillside School and Learning Center in La Cañada Flintridge. They're taking a summer course.



After the tour, in the air conditioned comfort of the council chamber, we discussed how local government ticks, the city manager form of government, what happens during council meetings, the California Public Records Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, Pasadena's sister cities and more. They're very bright with compelling questions and comments, which I always appreciate.

Thanks for coming, everybody!