Monday, March 3, 2025

Supervisor Barger All In on Altadena Rebuild

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Supervisor Kathryn Barger told Pasadena Now she wants to continue to build the momentum in Altadena as the rebuild effort continues.

Currently the Army Corps of Engineers is clearing properties impacted by the Eaton Fire.

The fire destroyed more than 9,000 properties, mostly in Altadena. The Environmental Protection Agency completed Phase 1 in the unincorporated town in less than 30 days.

“It’s not just the County, but the community working together. That is a success,” Barger said.

“I want to keep the momentum up,” Barger said. “I want to put myself in the shoes of people who want to help and not hinder those who want to rebuild.”

But Barger said she is still concerned about predatory actors looking to take advantage of people rebuilding their homes.

“I want to hear concerns about bureaucracy and build a list so people know who they can use for the rebuilding,” Barger said.

“I want people to be cognizant of rights. You don’t do 50% down.”

Barger is not receiving complaints from Altadena residents. Instead, residents have shown the four-term supervisor gratitude.

“People are not coming up and saying how screwed up the country is, they are thanking me and saying how screwed up insurance is,” Barger said. “That bothers me because I like to fix things.”

According to a longtime insurance agent, about 10% to 15% of homeowners are underinsured.

Underinsured homeowners have policies with coverage limits that are too low to fully cover the cost of rebuilding their home in the event of a major damage event like the Eaton Fire, which decimated homes in Altadena.

Key factors that can lead to being underinsured include choosing a policy based on market value instead of replacement cost and not considering the potential costs of rebuilding to current building codes.

Barger said she is excited about several developments, including developer Rick Caruso has donated 50 prefab homes that can go up quickly.

According to media reports, the prefab homes built by Samara will be offered to low-income homeowners who lost homes in the wildfires and lack the economic resources to rebuild.

Barger also had great words for Governor Gavin Newsom, who she said has recognized community efforts to build back better.

Still Barger said more funding is needed.

“We have to provide funding for people who want to do solar and hardening,” she said.

She is working with the state to find a ‘stream of funding.’

“For me the glass is half full,” Barger said. “Every day I feel we are making strides on the rebuild.”