San Gabriel Valley : Pasadena Renews Prosecutor’s Contract

Despite complaints from African American activists, the Pasadena City Council voted 6 to O to renew a contract with the Los Angeles district attorney’s office for the services of Deputy Dist. Atty. Deanne Castorena.

Community activists had argued that a temporary restraining order filed recently by the district attorney’s office as a way to curtail gang activity in a troubled neighborhood violates the civil rights of those named in the order.

“This is a blatantly racist act,” Charles Bereal, president of the Pasadena branch of NAACP, said of the action. “All black males in the area are being harassed.”

At Castorena’s request last month, a Pasadena Superior Court judge granted the order against 35 alleged gang members who are believed to control an 18-square-block area of northwest Pasadena. Those named in the complaint are barred from such actions as using cellular phones and beepers.

Youth activist Michael Canty told the council that the action could lead to unrest. “The City of Roses will become the city of wreaths. . . . The pigs’ blood will be spilled.”

But Joyce Streator, an African American councilwoman whose district includes part of the 18-block area, said the city had to take action. “The people in that community were being held virtually prisoners.”

A hearing on the preliminary injunction was scheduled for today.