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Submarine Named for Pasadena

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Mayor John Crowley called it a “distinction” for Pasadena. City Director Rick Cole called it a “cruel insult.”

Their differing opinions followed the announcement this week that, in honor of the city’s centennial, a nuclear-powered Navy submarine has been named the Pasadena. The christening culminated a yearlong campaign by Ken Schechter of the Pasadena Council of the Navy League to have a vessel named for the city.

But Cole, during the announcement at Monday’s meeting of the Board of City Directors, criticized the city’s new namesake, an attack submarine capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

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“It’s ironic that as we’re losing dollars for child care, housing, services for senior citizens, what we get in return is an attack submarine named after our city. I think it’s a cruel insult,” he said.

Crowley, however, said, “It is a distinction for the city of Pasadena to be again recognized by the U.S. Navy.” Two other naval vessels named after Pasadena were used in the two world wars. The submarine Pasadena will be launched in 1988.

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