Armenian school in Pasadena still has not received permission to start rebuilding after the fires

Pasadena’s Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School, which was completely burned down in California fires, has ceased its activities and students have moved to other places.

The Armenian National Committee organized a visit of officials to the school site, which was attended by ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian, ANCA-WR Chairman Oshin Harootonian, ANCA-WR Board member Lara Yeretsian, Armenian Assembly of America’s Talin Yacoubian and AGBU Western Region Chair Kev Zoryan.

The infamous American bureaucratic system prevents work from being organized quickly, which negatively affects the rebuilding of the school. Congresswoman Judy Chu and California Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, emphasizing the historical and cultural significance of the school, promised to support the rebuilding work.

“I want to make sure that is done as soon as possible. This school has another problem, which is that the kids have to go to some other place while they are rebuilding. And there is a permitting process that they are facing,” Judy Chu told Alpha News.

“I know the governor has made a commitment to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and make sure that we are streamlining these processes, so we are taking a look at everything,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez.

ANCA-WR Chairman Oshin Harootonian had previously met with California Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss state assistance in rebuilding the school.

“Our job here is to make sure that our local politicians from Altadina, whether it be state county or local county or federal level, be involved in the rebuilding process. As you know, there is a lot of bureaucracy that is tied in permitting, maybe funding, cleaning up the site, or expediting construction permits. Our job as an organization is to help facilitate these issues. We are also going to request to meet with County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. We want to make sure the school gets rebuilt and the Armenian students are back to the school,” Oshin Harootonian told Alpha News.