Social services group cries foul over proposed cuts

Looks like the West Pasadena Residents' Association won't be the only group lobbying for a change in city policy at tonight's council meeting.

While the WPRA is urging residents to show up en masse to protest city staff's suggestion to increase speed limits on nine Pasadena streets, El Centro de Accion Social is also trying to fire up the community about proposed cuts in the amount of money the group receives from the city through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

In an e-mail sent to supporters and the media, El Centro Executive Director Randy Jurado Ertll took exception to a Human Services Commission recommendation to cut funding to the group's youth education programs at Muir High School and Jefferson Elementary School. From the e-mail:

We would like to simply know why? What was the assesment/criteria used in making this decision?
are youth programs a priority? El Centro helps many students who are English-language learners and who are recent immigrants.

Jurado Ertll urged the community to speak out against the cuts when the council takes up the matter at tonight's meeting. Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers.