Hello Friends and Neighbors,

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend the recent Community Conversation. The turnout was incredible, and the support you showed did not go unnoticed — your neighbors truly appreciate it.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a conversation. Instead, it turned into an hour-long lecture about state requirements. (Yawn!) To put it another way: when I go to a CPA, I don’t want them to read me tax law — I want to hear the bottom line and discuss real possibilities. That’s exactly what was missing.

Transparency is a key point of this petition. One thing that caught my attention was the $40,000 reportedly spent on “outreach” and “public engagement.” Many of the claims made during the meeting are now being fact-checked by qualified neighbors with decades of professional experience.

If you’d like to see for yourself, the video of this portion of the meeting is available on YouTube (9/30/25, starting at 52 minutes in).

According to the City’s own website, here’s where that $40,000 in “outreach” went:

• Open House #1 and online survey: 33 total attendees, 13 Glendora residents (10/1/24, 12–3 pm, Library)
• Virtual Open House #2: 35 total attendees (4/28/25 6–8 pm; 4/29/25 10–12 pm)
• Online comment period: 4/23/25–5/18/25 — 16 comments total, one in support of the plan
  400 flyers mailed within the “vision boundary” — no evidence any were received

That is unacceptable outreach in a City of $51000 to approve such a major plan. 

I want to see a breakdown of that $40,000.00  How was the consensus required for the Metro Grant of $200,000 received?

We certainly wouldn’t have supported this plan — and 99.9% of those who signed our petition did so because of this plan and the lack of outreach. So why did City staff proceed? And why did our elected Council Representatives vote 4–1 in favor? These are questions they must answer. This is their legacy to our city.

Only a handful of questions were asked that night, but imagine how many more there could have been if the format had been simple, open, and engaging — asking us what matters most, what we’d like to see, and how to make it happen. Instead, there was no genuine outreach, no true involvement.

We must be absolutely clear: rezoning and upzoning based on this plan cannot and will not move forward without genuine community input and approval. This plan would have a lasting impact on Glendora, and residents deserve to be heard before any changes move ahead.

But this isn’t over — not even close. Even though they’ve called it a “plan,” a “vision,” or a “wishlist,” that’s fine — because if it’s a wishlist, it can and should be redone to reflect the people it’s meant to represent. Yes, we must comply with state law, but just like building a house, we still have choices about design, scale, and character. We have options here, too.

When something important is on the line — whether it’s building a home, facing a medical diagnosis, or making a major financial decision — it’s always wise to get a second opinion. This is no different. Let’s do that here.

We asked to be included. We asked who created this plan — and you saw the response. They didn’t answer. They shifted the blame to “the state.” But let’s be clear: the state makes laws — it didn’t design this plan. The City of Glendora did. They adopted it. And they must take responsibility for their own work and their own votes.

We have incredible, talented, and highly qualified residents who do not support this plan in its current form. If you have ideas, expertise, or a desire to get involved, please reach out — we’d love to hear from you.This is a rare opportunity for residents to shape the future of our city and ensure it truly reflects our shared values. What’s your vision? Expanding our Village? Rooftop dining with foothill views? More local restaurants and gathering spaces? Let’s hear it!  Email us at: glendoraprideoffoothills at gmail.com

There’s more to come, but I’ll leave you with this: we are strong together, and we care deeply about our city. Glendora matters — and we will protect its character, charm, and heart for generations to come.

Let’s continue to enjoy our Village as we have for decades — the pumpkin patch just opened yesterday, and I hope to see many of you downtown as always.

Thank you for showing up, for speaking out, and for standing together. Keep sharing the petition and helping it grow — it truly matters.

With appreciation,