Jason’s Priorities

Our housing is too expensive for most young families to make a start here. A family of four now needs to earn roughly 160% of the area median income to afford housing in Pasadena — a challenge I am tackling through adaptive reuse ordinances and local inclusionary policies.

As both a City Councilmember and as chair of the Planning Commission, I have led the charge to bring down the cost of housing in Pasadena while preserving our city’s unique look and feel.  I advocated for and passed measures to develop housing within our existing footprint that can be affordable at a variety of income levels. These include Pasadena’s comprehensive adaptive reuse ordinance, which creates a simple process to convert existing underused buildings into housing, and voting to spur accessory dwelling units by reducing permitting and transportation fees. I also served on the task force that created an economic development strategic plan to grow and retain good-paying jobs in Pasadena. Currently, I’m working with the City Manager to reduce permitting and inspection times to lower the cost of housing construction. I am determined to balance local planning priorities with the realities of state housing mandates, ensuring new density aligns with Pasadena’s thoughtful zoning and preserves its character. The result is a more inclusive housing mix without sacrificing what makes Pasadena unique.

Prior city leaders deferred critical infrastructure maintenance for years. Local tax revenues are in decline, and the federal government is cutting funding for the social safety net. Through my work on the Municipal Services Committee, I have worked to improve the core functions you expect from city government. For three years in a row, I have successfully pressed my colleagues on the Council to double the City’s street paving budget, resulting in incremental improvements to our overall road quality. I have worked with Pasadena’s transportation engineers to improve traffic management and create streets that are equally inviting to pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation users, and drivers alike. I have facilitated ongoing dialogue between District 7 residents and their neighborhood schools to ease traffic congestion and improve relations.

I also led the movement to adopt and fund modern equipment and additional management positions in the Pasadena Fire Department to ensure that we remain prepared for any emergency. Climate change has increased our fire risk exponentially. It is critical that we elect leaders to City Hall who are equipped to meet these challenges head-on so that we not only protect our current quality of life but also advance it for future generations. In the wake of the Eaton Fire, I have made fire resilience and emergency preparedness top priorities, supported new fire equipment and planned for additional stations to protect the foothill and urban areas alike.

Over the past few years, Pasadena has maintained a steady or declining unhoused population, thanks to a housing-first model that meets people where they are and connects them to services quickly.

I’ve also increased the budget for the city’s motel voucher program, which provides immediate shelter, and I’m working with Housing staff and local nonprofits to create a sustainable, year-round transitional housing plan. I’m also leading the effort to establish a permanent Planning, Housing, and Homelessness Committee to ensure these issues get the focused, long-term attention they deserve. With the right leadership and investment, we can solve this crisis, and I’m committed to doing just that. The next priority is bringing a year-round shelter online for chronically unhoused residents, ensuring that Pasadena’s compassionate approach remains both humane and effective.

The Eaton Fire, which was exacerbated by extreme weather conditions, has only increased the urgency of achieving our goal. My work to achieve a more sustainable Pasadena didn’t end with carbon-free energy. I am proud to celebrate Pasadena’s historic achievements in water conservation, and now the average indoor use is less than 38 gallons per person per day, among the lowest in California. I will continue to pursue policies to green the city’s vehicle fleet and expand the tree canopy.

I successfully advocated for the creation of a dedicated sustainability supervisor in the City Manager’s office to ensure environmental policy is integrated into all areas of city planning. I also voted to make drought water conservation measures permanent, bringing clarity and long-term water security to residents. Meanwhile, we’ve planted more than 140 trees in District 7 in my three years in office, and we are well on the way to surpassing my goal of 200 new trees by the end of my first term.

I will continue working closely with the City Manager and his Department directors to embed sustainability into every project the city touches. Cleaner air, greener streets, and safer infrastructure all contribute to a healthier city. As a dad, I want my children and yours to grow up in a resilient, thriving Pasadena.