Anton Anderson for Census Tract 4610
My name is Anton (Antonio) Anderson, and I am running to be your next representative on the Altadena Town Council. I am excited to represent census tract 4610, which is a portion of Altadena that includes a vibrant mix of residents and businesses. Professionally, as a technology strategy consultant, I find myself often championing small businesses, and I want to see our local businesses thrive even as we retain the core residential nature of our town. I am an Altadena native, and as your representative, I will work to ensure all our voices are heard.
What is my connection to Altadena?
As a member of a multigenerational Altadena family, any time I drive through the burn area, it hits especially hard when I pass streets where my uncles’, aunts’, or cousins’ homes once stood prior to the devastation. My family first came to Altadena when an uncle bought his home on Glenrose after returning from the Korean War in the 1950s. His siblings followed; at the time of the fire, twenty households in my family called Altadena home… all but four burned.
Growing up, I enjoyed living in The Meadows, and when neighbors would see me huffing up that hill on Canyon Crest, they were often kind enough to give me a lift! I spent many summers at the Palm Street YMCA camp and was able to walk to my uncle’s home on Ewing afterwards.
Altadena has always been my home, having lived on the east side right after college on Mendocino, then near the village area on Mariposa, and now my wife and I are raising our family further west, purchasing a home off Figueroa 15 years ago. When I first moved in, my neighbor across the street even brought over homemade cookies!
With the encouragement of a neighbor (the same one who brought the cookies), I have been thinking about running for Altadena Town Council over the past year, even prior to the fires. As a lifelong member of the Altadena community, and raising a family here, I am deeply committed to its wellbeing and recovery.
My overarching goal is to ensure that the southwestern portion of Altadena has a voice, and is heard, as decisions are made concerning Altadena.
While I have a good sense of the issues in the area, my first step, should I be elected, will be to reach out to the residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to hear what they –you– have to say.
Professionally, my Altadena-based technology consulting practice involves making complex systems and issues simple so leaders can make effective decisions. I look to bring that same perspective to my work on the Town Council and help ensure that the residents also are informed about how and why decisions were made.
• I am committed to helping Altadena rebuild in a way that honors Altadena’s residents and legacy.
• I am a supporter of small enterprises, and I will promote fair and responsible development policies.
• As a lifetime resident, I have built trust by working with neighbors from all backgrounds and I have professional skills to finding practical solutions to complex problems.