Tough Talk From Soft-Spoken Speaker

Tongue-Lashing: Pasadena businessman Joseph J. Jacobs apologized because laryngitis kept his voice soft when he spoke to the Urban League/Chamber of Commerce business outlook luncheon Tuesday.

But his message was far from it: The chairman and CEO of Jacobs Engineering delivered a blistering attack on Pasadena politicians, including Mayor Rick Cole, who had left after briefly welcoming the lunch guests.

Jacobs blamed the no-growth initiative of 1989 and what he called the City Council’s anti-business attitude for lost jobs and tax revenue. “Businessmen have too many other choices to try to fight those forces,” he said. “This city is in a race toward mediocrity led by its politicians.”

And he drew an audible gasp from the crowd of more than 500 at the Pasadena Hilton when he accused council members of smugness in denying that there is an economic problem in Pasadena: “There is a limit to the amount of pious posturing on Channel 55 that we can take,” he said.

“Dr. Jacobs’ frustration with the community goes back many years,” Cole said Wednesday. “These are tough economic times and it’s not surprising to hear tough talk coming from him. . . . I don’t think it’s a balanced perspective.”

New Nominees--The Mark Twain Democratic Club will honor Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-La Puente) and others who won Democratic nominations in the June 2 primary at a luncheon at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Parnell Park clubhouse at Scott Avenue and Lambert Road in Whittier.

Other nominees to be recognized are congressional candidates Al Wachtel of La Verne and Molly McClanahan of Fullerton; state Senate candidate Sandy Hester of Claremont, and Assembly candidates Stan Caress of West Covina and Grace Napolitano of Norwalk.

Tickets at $10 can be reserved by calling (310) 693-3969.

Perot’s Place: Supporters of the campaign to elect Ross Perot as President have opened an office at 233 S. Glendora Ave., Glendora.

People interested in volunteering or obtaining bumper stickers or other promotional materials can visit the office between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays.

Another tack: South Pasadena is getting some allies in its continuing fight against completion of the Long Beach (710) Freeway.

At the suggestion of South Pasadena Mayor Harry Knapp, the La Verne City Council adopted a resolution Monday saying state money set aside to complete the 710 Freeway through South Pasadena (which South Pasadena opposes) should be used to complete Route 30 through La Verne (which La Verne supports).

The resolution, drafted by South Pasadena, argues that because of the explosive growth of the Inland Empire and litigation over the Long Beach Freeway, Route 30 should have higher priority.