My name is Anton (Antonio) Anderson, and I have been elected to be one of your representatives 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.
People frequently ask me, especially after the fires, when I first came to Altadena. My answer is simple: it’s when my parents brought me home from the hospital!
Me, with my mom, overlooking JPL and Altadena, circa 1971
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!
I want our two young children to continue to grow up in such a friendly, caring community.
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.
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.
As we look to restore and rebuild Altadena, I am committed to preserving the legacy of Altadena, so all our children (including my own) can remember what came before, even as we move forward. I am excited to collaborate with fellow Town Council members, county officials, state officials, and other groups dedicated to making Altadena a fantastic place to live, work, and visit.
It is important for state and county officials to know that we in Altadena are still here and still care about our town. Regardless of where you live in Altadena or the candidate you prefer, please do take the time to be engaged in our community and vote!
If you live within Altadena, west of Fair Oaks and south of Ventura, I am one of your two representatives - be sure to let your voice be heard!