Proposal to Provide Food for Needy Children Rejected

The Pasadena City Council has refused to back a proposal by three of its members for a pilot project to provide some children who now receive free lunches with nutritious food to take home, despite a study showing that more than 19,000 youngsters go hungry on a regular basis.

A majority of the seven-member council Monday voiced opposition to the plan to provide the snack packages to about 3,000 needy children who will participate in the school district’s daily summer meals program, citing the $45,000 cost, the city’s poor financial condition and the program’s stopgap nature.

After it became clear that there were not enough votes, Councilman William Crowfoot offered two successful measures to help tackle hunger. The council agreed to provide the necessary staff to produce lunches for a 10-day gap between the end of the Pasadena district’s school year and the beginning of lunch program, and to seek funding from the private sector for the broader pilot program.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed. This would address basic nutritional needs for some kids who don’t get food over entire weekends,” said Mayor William Paparian. He argued that some of the profits from parking meters in Old Pasadena should be used to feed the children. His view was supported by Crowfoot and Councilman Paul Little.

Nonetheless, council members Chris Holden, Joyce Streator, Ann-Maria Villicana and William E. Thomson Jr. opposed the program. Holden and Villicana shared concerns over costs, while Streator said it would not be a solution to hunger. Thomson feared there was no guarantee that the snacks would be consumed.