Thursday, October 30, 2025

Radio Station Convenes Fire Victims and Edison Officials for Public Questioning

STAFF REPORT

Community event aims to ensure Altadena-Eaton Blaze survivors “have all the facts” on claims

A community town hall Thursday evening, November 6, will bring together survivors of the Altadena-Eaton fire and executives from Southern California Edison to examine the utility’s wildfire compensation fund, an event organizers say is designed to ask “tough questions” before victims make critical decisions about their claims.

KBLA Talk 1580 will host the free public event, “Understanding the Wildlife Recovery Compensation Fund,” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Victory Bible Church in Pasadena. The gathering will feature consecutive panel discussions focused on eligibility requirements and the claims process for SCE’s settlement fund, with panels moderated by radio hosts Tavis Smiley and Nii-Quartelai Quartey.

“Southern California Edison refers to its fire settlement fund as a ‘fast pay program,'” said Smiley, founder of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. and Chief Visionary Officer for KBLA Talk 1580. “We intend to slow things down a bit and ask the tough questions to ensure that survivors of the January 7th Altadena/Eaton fire have all the facts before making critical decisions.”

The event, which will be simulcast live on KBLA Talk 1580 AM, is open to the public but requires registration at KBLA1580.com.

Southern California Edison representatives will appear on both panel discussions alongside survivors, longtime residents, local activists and community leaders.

The first panel will include James Farr, host of KBLA Talk 1580; Dr. Echelle Williams, MFLT; Brandon Lamar, president of the Pasadena NAACP; Zaire Calvin, a high school football coach; and a Southern California Edison representative.

The second panel features Martin Gordon, chair of the Pasadena Community Coalition; Hon. Jacque Robinson Biesley, former Pasadena vice mayor; Toni Bailey-Raines, community organizer with Altadena Talks; Dr. William Syms, vice president of student services at West LA College; and a Southern California Edison representative.

The town hall builds on ongoing community dialogue about the fire’s aftermath. KBLA Talk 1580 airs a one-hour weekly live program called “Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,” hosted by James Farr, whose show is the go-to source for tracking Altadena’s recovery, amplifying survivor voices, and holding power to account.

KBLA Talk 1580 AM is a heritage station and the original home of the iconic hip hop station KDAY. Operating at 50,000 watts day and night, the station serves a coverage area of nearly 12 million listeners. KBLA Talk 1580 boasts an all-star lineup of hosts who speak candidly and passionately about the challenges people of color face daily as they navigate life and realize their hopes and dreams. The station describes itself as serving “an audience long ignored by talk radio in Los Angeles and now other American cities – people of color and progressives.”

The event will take place at Victory Bible Church, 1479 N. Hill Avenue, Pasadena.