Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Sierra Madre Sues Edison Over Eaton Fire Damage

The city of Sierra Madre filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Southern California Edison seeking damages for destruction to public lands, trails and infrastructure caused by January’s devastating Eaton Fire.

The legal action follows the reported Feb. 6 disclosure by Edison to state regulators allegedly admitting a “fault was detected” on its Eagle Rock-Gould transmission circuit coinciding with the fire’s ignition time and location.

“The January fire devastated irreplaceable wilderness areas that are central to Sierra Madre’s identity and character,” Sierra Madre Mayor Robert Parkhurst said. “Our historic wilderness areas and the Mount Wilson Trail – treasured community resources that draw visitors from across Southern California – now require extensive rehabilitation that will burden our city for years to come.”

The lawsuit contends Edison failed to adequately de-energize equipment in high-risk areas despite National Weather Service warnings about extreme fire danger and forecasted winds reaching 100 mph in the foothills.

“What makes this disaster particularly troubling is its preventability,” Parkhurst added. “The documented weather warnings provided Edison with ample notice of the dangerous conditions developing in our community.”

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

City of Pasadena Files Lawsuit Against Southern California Edison for Damages to Public Infrastructure in Catastrophic Eaton Fire

The City of Pasadena today filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) seeking compensation for extensive damages sustained to municipal property and infrastructure during the devastating Eaton Fire that began on January 7, 2025.

The Eaton Fire, which spread rapidly through wind-driven conditions, destroyed critical community assets throughout the city, including police facilities, water infrastructure, and multiple public service buildings. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed approximately 9,400 structures, damaged over 1,000 structures, claimed 17 lives, and affected thousands of residents throughout the region.

“The destruction of public facilities essential to Pasadena’s operations requires significant investment to restore and rebuild,” said Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer for the City of Pasadena. “While our restoration efforts continue, we have a responsibility to pursue appropriate compensation for the costs of rebuilding the public infrastructure our community relies upon.”

The filing details extensive damage to several key municipal assets including, among others:

• The Pasadena Police Department’s Advanced Officer Training Facility
• The Pasadena Municipal Assistance,

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Virginia Charity to Cover Prom Tickets for California High School Seniors Affected by Wildfires

Actor Steve Carell announces $175,000 grant to support students at six schools impacted by devastating Eaton Fire

A Virginia-based charity will pay approximately $175,000 for more than 800 high school seniors in Altadena to attend their prom following devastating wildfires that ravaged their community.

Alice’s Kids, along with longtime supporter Steve Carell, made the announcement via video on March 4, at senior assemblies across six affected high schools.

The donation comes after the Eaton Fire tore through the Altadena and Pasadena areas, impacting over 9,400 structures and displacing approximately 10,000 families in January. Despite the widespread destruction, the six high schools remained intact and are proceeding with their scheduled proms.

“Going to prom should be a celebration, and we wanted to help make the big night just a little easier for seniors whose lives have been turned upside down by the wildfires,” said Ron Fitzsimmons, Executive Director of Alice’s Kids. “Senior year is a turning point, and hopefully this allows the students to unwind and have some fun after a devastating year.”

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Church Launches Free Support Space for Wildfire Victims

Local initiative provides resources and connection for hundreds of displaced families

La Cañada Presbyterian Church has established a new community resource called Healing Grounds to support hundreds of families displaced by recent devastating fires. The free support space offers practical amenities and emotional support for those struggling in the aftermath of local wildfires, providing more than just a cup of coffee – it offers a lifeline of hope and connection.

“We know a lot of people are spending time waiting around town or needing a place to work,” said Pastor Ross Purdy, explaining the inspiration behind Healing Grounds.

“We have Wi-Fi, coffee, and refreshments, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we open this up to the community?’ It’s about offering a space for healing, bringing people together, providing quiet rooms where they can work or communicate, and simply getting to know one another.”

Located at 626 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, the initiative operates every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

County Supervisors Seek More Detailed Plan on Hiring Freeze

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday asked CEO Fesia Davenport and the County Counsel’s Office to provide it with a more detailed plan on a hiring freeze.

The January wildfires destroyed thousands of structures, affecting property tax revenues, and recovery efforts have led to higher spending, forecasted to also affect the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

To protect the limited financial resources, County Counsel’s Office offered two recommendations to the board on Tuesday:

• a hard hiring freeze, excluding critical health, safety and other necessary positions; and
• freeze on non-essential purchases of services, supplies and equipment to reduce expenditures.

A similar freeze had been implemented during the Great Recession in 2008 and COVID-19 pandemic.

Davenport was assigned responsibility to administer the hiring freeze and spending as necessary.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath questioned the hiring freeze and how it would affect those seeking employment in the county.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

UCLA Report: Immigration, Tariff Policies Make California’s Economic Future Uncertain

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Rapid-fire changes in immigration and economic policies implemented during the first two months of the Trump Administration have elevated economic uncertainties in California, according to a UCLA report released Wednesday, which predicts the state’s economy will grow on par with the nation for the next two years.

But actual conditions could change depending on the impacts of the new federal policies, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast for the state.

“Indeed, the disruption of the previous functioning of national government combined with executive orders on immigration and tariffs present an economic policy landscape with unique challenges for evidence-based analysis and forecasts,” UCLA Anderson Forecast Director Jerry Nickelsburg wrote in the report. “While we have data on the impact of tariffs on California, and data on the impact of deportations, we do not have data on the implementation of the three grand policy changes taken at the same time. Therefore, the uncertainty that is associated with any forecast is now very much elevated with respect to this one.”

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

LA County Supervisors Back Assembly Bill to Defer Mortgages for Fire Victims

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is throwing its support Wednesday behind an Assembly bill calling for a pause in mortgage payments for wildfire victims experiencing financial hardship.

Assembly Bill 238, introduced by Assemblyman John Harabedian, D- Pasadena, would allow borrowers impacted by the January wildfires to request deferral of monthly mortgage payments for up to 360 days.

During that period, borrowers would not be assessed late fees, penalties or additional interest, and foreclosure proceedings would be prohibited.

County Supervisor Kathryn Barger wrote in her motion that the January wildfires displaced thousands of residents, and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures.

“The scale of the devastation has left families and businesses across the county facing an uncertain financial future,” Barger’s motion read. “As communities move toward recovery and rebuilding, financial relief is needed to support residents who lost their homes or their livelihoods.”

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena Hosts Fire Relief Event

“Come Take Care of Yourself” Served over 200

The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena hosted a “Come Take Care of Yourself” event on Saturday, March 1, for Club families affected by the Eaton Fire. The Club’s East Del Mar Boulevard “Slavik” Clubhouse was transformed into a gathering hub for over 200 Club kids and families.

The goals of the “Come Take Care of Yourself” event were to show support for fire-affected Club families; provide financial assistance and essential items including new clothing and shoes; and give families a safe space to enjoy hot meals, kids’ games and art activities with Club staff, and massages for parents.

The Club distributed approximately $90,000 on Saturday in their “Phase 2” of their Family Assistance Fund. Many Club families also took home $100 gift cards from Vons/Albertsons, which were donated by the Tournament of Roses and Alberstons Companies.

Over 30 volunteers supported the event, with groups from SoCal Gas, All Hands and Hearts,

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Community Leaders To Host Discussion On Land Ownership And Property Values

“Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen” series aims to educate residents on community-driven land use strategies

A coalition of community organizations in Pasadena will launch a new discussion series focused on property values, land acquisition and community-driven development strategies. The inaugural event, titled “The Value of the Land,” is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church in Pasadena.

The session, part of the “Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen” community series, will bring together experts to address concerns about property ownership and land use. Heavenly Hughes from My Tribe Rise will moderate the panel discussion featuring three specialists in housing and economic development.

“On this journey to rebuild and understand, POP wants to hold spaces for conversations of learning about property values, purchase, and the acquisition of land through community-driven land use strategies,” according to the announcement shared by NAACP-Pasadena.

The panel will include Remy De La Peza, founder of Morena Strategies; Demetrius Gray, described as a market analyst specializing in economic challenges;

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

‘Too Damn Hard to Build’: A Key California Democrat’s Push for Speedier Construction

By Ben Christopher, CALMATTERS

A California legislator wants to solve the state’s housing crisis, juice its economy, fight climate change and save the Democratic Party with one “excruciatingly non-sexy” idea.

Oakland Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks sees the slow, occasionally redundant, often litigious process of getting construction projects okayed by federal, state and local governments as a chief roadblock to fixing California’s most pressing problems, from housing to water to public transportation to climate change.

Last year, Wicks helmed a select committee on “permitting reform” — a catch-all term for speeding up government review at all stages of a project’s development, not just its literal permits. The committee went on a state-hopping fact-finding mission, taking testimony from experts, builders and advocates on why it takes so long to build apartment buildings, wind farms, water storage and public transit, to name a few notoriously slow and desperately needed project types.