This Week's Highlights: Revisiting the Rialto & More

Many of our stories this week generated strong reactions from local residents. Here's a look into what they had to say: 

THE RIALTO: A LANDMARK OF CINEMA HISTORY

"If I win the lottery, I'm going to pay to have it put back to its original glory. LOVED that old rinky-tink piano. Certainly it made me smell the smoke rising up in front of the screen, and the smell of men's hair oil and ladies' rose water. Fabulous. I hope things brings more awareness and maybe a movement to renovate that aging beauty."

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"Renovated old buildings have a way of bringing business. At least it works in Pasadena. In my hometown of DeKalb, Illinois, there's a theater called the Egyptian. Much like the Rialto, years ago it was falling to ruin. It was saved from the wrecking ball when a group of citizens started fundraising. You can't expect the Landmark company or whoever owns the Rialto to have a sentimental, architectural or historical interest in the Rialto. If South Pasadena wants to keep this gem, then South Pasadena's citizens are going to have to organize, raise the funds, buy it and rebuild it. Google DeKalb's Egyptian, contact them and find out how they did it. Then start. The corporations aren't going to fix this place up for you just because they're nice."

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"The South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce through it's Vision Rialto study looked into the plight of the Rialto and analyzed the potential opportunities to revitalized it. The 100 page report and the 200 page appendix was delivered to the City Council in February of 2009. A copy is available to by emailing your request to info@southpaschamber.com. For photos and pictures and a brief, work-in-progress history of The Rialto, plus links to other theatre renovation sites, visit www.rialtosouthpasadena.com."

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FAIR OAKS MEETING: CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT AFFECT JULY 4 PARADE

 "My partner drives trucks for a living and says concrete roadways are much better. Asphalt remains smooth only for the first couple of years and then its downhill from there. The noise difference is minimal. Hot asphalt is terrible to walk on or near. At the very least, the city should consider keeping the intersections concrete like the intersection of Del Mar and Arroyo Parkway. http://bit.ly/jbFYHe" 

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"The bulb outs at corners are a TERRIBLE idea. If traffic laws are followed, the lead car in the right lane will have to wait for any pedestrians to cross. There use to be enough room for a third car/lane to the right for those waiting to turn right. Now the bulb outs prohibit that so everyone in the right lane will be held up by those waiting to turn right. I've already encountered this at Monterrey. It's ridiculous. BAD PLANNING."

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"The City's Fair Oaks Avenue fact sheet does not accurately portray the finished product. Specifically, in the illustration the finished roadway is concrete. See: http://www.ci.south-pasadena.ca.us/publicworks/projects/20101101-fair-oaks-fact-sheet.pdf. I've adjusted this image to more accurately portray the end result of the asphalt. See: http://tinyurl.com/FairOaksBlacktopped"

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SOUTH PAS VULNURABLE AFTER SUPREME COURT ORDERS STATE TO RELEASE INMATES

"I appreciate Police Chief Payne's concern about the pending release of CA inmates. However, the conditions in CA prisons were so shocking that the Court felt compelled to take this unprecedented action. Evidence showed there was one preventable medical death a week in CA prisons due to inadequate resources to screen inmates., and some mentally ill were kept in cages due to lack of living quarters. Hard to believe, I know, but someday you or I may have a son, brother or nephew who makes a mistake and is incarcerated for property crime. It has been said that " compassion makes us stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves." (Cooley) I hope we can find that compassion for all around us, and recognize that if we think its OK to violate the basic rights of any among us, including those who have committed a crime, we will be hard pressed to protect those rights for ourselves and our loved ones."

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"I DO NOT care how appalling jail conditions are for inmates. I DO NOT care if they feel their rights are being violated. If you don't like jail conditions, don't break the law and go there! CHIEF PAYNE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT in his statements! Public safety comes first!"

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"What planet are you people from who believe that breaking the law doesn't come with consequences.How many times are there repeat offenders? Many criminals commit the same crimes over and over. While it is unfortunate the conditions are not that of a five star hotel, why should they be? I have heard stories of people committing crimes because of the "three hots and a cot"; not to mention the state provides insurance and food stamps for the criminals family! Wake up!!!"

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