Thursday, March 20, 2025

Community Radio Program Examines Federal Response to Eaton Fire Disaster

“Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,” hosted by James Farr, enters its third weekend with an episode titled “Fighting for Justice: Altadena’s Fire Victims Confront FEMA Deadlines and Fading Hope.”

FEMA Deadline looms for Altadena fire victims, radio program zeroes in on current recovery progress

A radio program dedicated to tracking recovery efforts in Altadena’s Black community following the devastating Eaton Fire will focus on FEMA’s disaster response as victims face a critical March 31 application deadline.

“Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,” hosted by local James Farr, enters its third weekend with an episode titled “Fighting for Justice: Altadena’s Fire Victims Confront FEMA Deadlines and Fading Hope.”

The program airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KBLA Talk 1580, with rebroadcasts Sundays at noon.

“As the March 31st deadline looms, can Altadena trust FEMA to deliver, or will the community be abandoned?” Farr asks in the episode preview. He promises to “cut through the government talking points to get to the truth.”

This week’s program will feature FEMA spokesperson La-Tanga Hopes returning with critical updates for fire victims facing what the show describes as “an overwhelming maze of red tape” in the application process.

Tony Cosby, a newlywed and renter, will share his deeply personal story about balancing family responsibilities while caring for elderly grandparents who lost their home in the fire. According to the show description, Cosby’s grandparents had their house paid off but no fire insurance, leaving the family “caught in an impossible situation.”

Attorney Bradley C. Gage will join to discuss potential legal action against Southern California Edison, examining the company’s possible liability and legal strategies fire victims might employ. The show notes that Gage will also explore “the hurdles that families face in getting the compensation they deserve and whether the legal system can be a meaningful ally in their fight for recovery.”

The show aims to document Altadena’s recovery, amplify survivor voices and hold officials accountable in the aftermath of the fire that devastated parts of the community.

Last week’s episode featured Martin Gordon, Chair of the Pasadena Community Coalition, alongside La-Tanga Hopes. Gordon highlighted ongoing struggles securing federal aid, while Hopes provided guidance on navigating the process before the March 31 deadline. Their discussion brought to light what the show described as “the grave desperation felt by many in the community.”

Farr describes his program as “the show of record chronicling Altadena’s fight for justice and recovery for the nation.”

Previous episodes, including the first show featuring civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are available on YouTube.

Farr, a regular contributor to KBLA’s morning show “First Things First” with Dominique DiPrima, co-produced the station’s three-hour remote broadcast from the fire zone immediately after the disaster.

KBLA Talk 1580, a heritage station and the original home of the iconic hip hop station KDAY, broadcasts at 50,000 watts to nearly 12 million listeners. The station primarily targets progressives and people of color and is available on Instagram (@KBLA1580), Twitter (@KBLA1580), Facebook (facebook.com/KBLA1580), YouTube (youtube.com/KBLA1580), and through a mobile app for iPhone and Android.