PASADENA ANC VISITS LOCAL ARMENIAN BUSINESSES WITH STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER PORTANTINO

Asbarez
Dec 16th, 2009

>>From left to right: Lerna Kayserian Shirinian, aide for
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, State Assemblymember Anthony
Portantino (D-44), and Pasadena Watch Company owner Kevork Zeytounsian.

PASADENA, CA – Leaders of the Pasadena Armenian National Committee took
California State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-44) on a tour
of Armenian American businesses in the City of Pasadena on December
11, 2009 to help the Assemblymember better understand the challenges
facing Armenian American business owners in this challenging economy
and what actions, if any, the State can take to improve the economy.

Since November 2006, Portantino has represented California’s 44th
Assembly District, which is home to a large and very active Armenian
American community.

"We are pleased to have hosted a walking tour of Armenian American
businesses for Assemblymember Portantino," remarked Pasadena ANC
Executive Director Ishkhan Boghossian. "I believe the Assemblymember
got a diverse view of the many Armenian owned businesses here in
Pasadena. From visiting an auto body shop, to a restaurant, to a
retail store, he saw that our community is engaged in every aspect
of our region’s economy," added Boghossian.

"In this tough business climate it was extremely valuable for me to
spend time with Armenian-American business owners in my district. It
is always important to support local shop owners and businesses
and the Armenian-American community has had a long and successful
record of entrepreneurial accomplishment." Remarked California State
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-44) "During this Holiday season
I wanted to hear first hand about the challenges and successes these
owners have been having as we see small businesses continuing to play a
greater role in our economic success." Added Assemblymember Portantino.

The business tour with Assemblymember Portantino began with a brief
visit to the new Pasadena Armenian Center on Foothill Boulevard.

Following that visit, Portantino met with Varoujan Derderian, longtime
owner of Johnnie’s Auto Body. The company, established by Derderian and
his brother in the 1960s, is well known in the area as an outstanding
business. The tour then took Portantino to the Pasadena Watch Company,
where proprietor Kevork Zeytounsian talked to the Assemblymember about
some of the economic challenges facing his business sector. The tour
concluded with a visit to Cafe Santorini, where Vazken Haitayan gave
Portantino an overview of the business environment facing restaurants.

Assemblymember Portantino was elected to serve the 44th Assembly
District in November, 2006. The district encompasses, in part, areas
with large Armenian American populations, including Altadena, Duarte,
La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena and South Pasadena.

Assemblymember Portantino served nearly eight years on the La
Canada Flintridge City Council and two terms as its Mayor. He has
served as President of the League of California Cities Mayor’s and
Councilmember’s Department and the Executive Board of the California
Contract Cities Association. He is also a past member of the Pasadena
City College Bond Oversight Committee. While serving as Vice Chair
of the Santa Monica Mountains Advisory Committee, Assemblymember
Portantino was very active in preserving open space in Los Angeles
and Ventura Counties.

Anthony currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee
on Higher Education and is a member of the Government Organization,
Human Services, Labor and Employment and Revenue and Taxation Standing
Committees. He is also a member of the Assembly Select Committees on
the Preservation of the California’s Entertainment Industry, Foster
Care, and Community Colleges.

The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural,
and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels.