Pasadena accepts Clean California designation as state program marks 100 communities

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo accepted a Clean California Community designation on behalf of the city at a ceremony where state and transportation officials praised the statewide anti-litter program.

"We want is a culture that believes in zero litter," Mayor Victor Gordo said, thanking state partners and city staff. He said Pasadena will continue using local resources such as the city’s MASH (Municipal Assistance Solution and Hiring) program to track and respond to litter, debris, illegal dumping and abandoned items.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, speaking for Governor Gavin Newsom, framed the program as a response to pandemic-era increases in roadside litter. He said the governor proposed nearly $2 billion for right-of-way cleanup in 2021 and that the enacted package provided $1.2 billion over three years. "$1.2 billion over a 3-year period to clean up the right-of-way across the state of California," Omishakin said.

Omishakin offered cumulative metrics for the program’s impact: "3.8 million cubic yards of litter has been picked up across the state of California," he said, adding that the total equates to roughly 200,000 dump-truck loads. He also said the program has funded about 320 community and state grants used for projects such as murals, playground improvements and bike lanes.

Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy, whose department manages Clean California projects, described on-the-ground benefits including job creation, improved community spaces and morale. She recognized Rio Hondo College in Whittier as the first college to receive the Clean California Community designation and explained that qualifying communities must meet 10 of 15 criteria to be eligible.

El-Tawansy offered a second visual comparison for the accumulated trash removal: "That's 600 football fields of trash 3 ft high," she said, as an illustration of the program’s scale. She emphasized that Caltrans relies on city leadership, volunteers and partner organizations such as Keep California Beautiful to multiply results.

Officials at the ceremony named several participating jurisdictions and community groups in the region, including Duarte, Rosemead and the Pico Union neighborhood, and they applauded local partners and volunteers for their contributions.

The event closed with Pasadena’s mayor reaffirming the city’s commitment to continuing cleanup efforts and to integrating the program’s goals into everyday community practices. No votes or formal council actions were recorded at the ceremony.