Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Proposition 50

CITY NEWS SERVICE

California voters Tuesday approved Proposition 50, the statewide congressional redistricting proposal.

What supporters dubbed “The Election Rigging Response Act,” led 64.4%-35.6% with 68.3% of election night precincts partially reporting, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

“Tonight, California voters stood up to Donald Trump, rejecting his attempt to steal elections in states like Texas, Florida, and Ohio,” Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine, said in a statement.

“The maps created by Proposition 50 are a direct response to Donald Trump’s unprecedented power grab.”

Assemblyman David Tangipa called passage of Proposition 50, “A sad day” because “the people of California have been lied to.”

“They’ve been lied to by Governor Newsom and the elites here in Sacramento, and these election results just proved that they campaigned on a whole lot of lies and drove emotionally charged arguments to get people to vote against their best interests by protecting the gold standard on the redistricting committee,”

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Fire Survivors to Benefit from Expanded Soil Lead Testing, County Support

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion to expand soil lead testing and bolster remediation efforts in communities impacted by the Eaton and Palisades Fires, including areas in and around Pasadena.

Co-authored by Board Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, the motion directs the Department of Public Health to broaden its free soil testing program to residents living within and downwind of the Palisades burn area. It also calls on California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to explore cost-effective insurance solutions for homeowners, such as volume purchasing agreements and low-cost financing. The motion reinforces the County’s advocacy with Lara’s office and supports partnerships aimed at restoring confidence and peace of mind for fire survivors.

“It’s been ten months since the wildfires and far too many survivors are still living with uncertainty about whether their soil is safe,” Barger said in a statement. “Resources for actual soil remediation remain a critical gap. Residents deserve clear answers and tangible support.”

The Eaton and Palisades Fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures and burned over 40,000 acres.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Wellness Conference Offers Healing Path for Eaton Fire Survivors

Free event brings trauma-informed care, sound therapy to displaced Altadena-Pasadena residents

Community members still reeling from the Eaton Fire will gather Saturday, Nov. 8, for a day of healing workshops and wellness activities designed to address trauma and displacement.

The Rising Phoenix Wellness Conference runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Harambee Center, located at 1609 Navarro Ave. in Pasadena. The event is free.

The Harambee Center’s Live Above the Hype organized the conference in response to the fire that destroyed more than 7,000 structures. The blaze also claimed lives.

“Families are rebuilding from ashes,” organizers said in the event announcement. “Youth are struggling to process overwhelming events, and community servants continue to lead despite their own personal hardships.”

Participants will experience sound healing sessions, trauma-informed workshops and movement activities. The evidence-based practices aim to restore mind, body and spirit.

Live Above the Hype founder K-Rahn Vallatine will deliver a trauma-informed keynote address.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Guest Opinion | Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater: Our Doors Are Open

As we enter a second month of the government shutdown, an image keeps coming to me: open and closed doors. The doors of the government are currently closed, with neither side able to figure out how to end the stalemate that doesn’t involve just blaming the other side. But, with those doors closed, the doors of Friends In Deed have remained open. Through COVID, the Eaton fire and now the shutdown, our doors, and our hearts, remain wide open to those most vulnerable in our community.

Last week, we served 848 households, shattering any previous record of people coming through our doors. And while that in and of itself is mind-boggling, another number also got our attention: 65 first time people. These folks expressed fear about the cancellation of their SNAP benefits, so they were coming to ‘stock-up.’ We can only imagine that those numbers will increase now that the benefits are fully cut. And even with the announcement that the administration will release some contingency funds,

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Southern California Edison Will Be A No-Show at Altadena Town Hall About Fire Recovery Fund

STAFF REPORT

Southern California Edison has withdrawn from a scheduled Altadena town hall focused on wildfire recovery compensation, prompting sharp criticism from community leaders and KBLA Talk 1580, according to the event’s co-organizer.

KBLA made the announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 4, ahead of the Thursday, Nov. 6 event titled “Understanding the Wildlife Recovery Compensation Fund.”

The town hall, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. at Victory Bible Church, 1479 N. Hill Avenue in Pasadena, will proceed without Edison’s participation. It aims to provide fire survivors and residents with information on fund eligibility, navigating the claims process, and broader recovery efforts following the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire.

KBLA accused the utility of avoiding accountability and backing out of a public commitment to engage with affected residents.

“Southern California Edison cannot be trusted. After destroying lives and property and then creating a settlement fund that consumer advocates have called ‘fast but not fair,’ now Edison chooses to cancel its participation in a town hall designed to give African American families in particular a chance to ask pertinent questions alongside community leaders,” said Tavis Smiley,

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Voters Get Last Chance to Cast Ballots in Special Election on Redistricting

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Tuesday is the final day to cast ballots in the special election on Proposition 50, the statewide congressional redistricting proposal.

Vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A complete list and map of vote centers in Los Angeles County is available at locator.lavote.gov, including optional GPS tracking to identify the location nearest at the time of the query.

Additionally, eligible voters who missed the registration deadline can visit any vote center, complete a conditional voter registration, and cast a provisional ballot.

More information is available at www.lavote.gov/home/voting- elections/current-elections/find-my-election-information.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters will have 66 vote centers open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents can find their nearest vote centers by visiting ocvote.gov/votecenter.

Voters can also use one of 124 secure ballot drop boxes or three ballot drop-off locations in the county,

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Pasadena Village Van Brings Fire Survivors Home After 10 Months

FireAid grant funds transportation service helping older adults rebuild lives after Eaton Fire

Ten months after fleeing the Eaton Fire, displaced older adults are finally moving back home, thanks to a van service funded by FireAid. 

Pasadena Village, a nonprofit serving seniors, purchased a hybrid Kia Carnival minivan with grant money from the January 2025 FireAid wildfire relief initiative. The organization also hired a part-time driver. 

The van has so far logged more than 30 trips, a Pasadena Village statement posted on social media said. It has helped members return to their homes after nearly a year of displacement. 

The service extends beyond moving assistance. It provides rides to recovery events, community meals and healing concerts. 

In one instance, the van helped a local artist retrieve her canvases. The artwork was displayed in an “Out of the Ashes” exhibit. 

The vehicle serves as a “third line of defense” for transportation needs, according to the organization’s statement.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

California Special Election Tuesday Features Extended Voter Access

All registered voters received mail ballots; vote centers opened up to 10 days early

California holds a statewide special election Tuesday featuring a single ballot measure.

Senate Bill 280 called the election, which was signed into law as Chapter 97 of the 2025 legislative session.

Every active registered voter in the state should have received a vote-by-mail ballot. Counties began mailing ballots Sept. 25.

The election includes several provisions to expand voter access. Voters can register and cast ballots conditionally through Election Day.

Vote centers in some counties opened as early as Oct. 25. Counties using the Voter’s Choice Act opened one center per 10,000 registered voters starting Nov. 1.

Ballot drop boxes have been available since Oct. 7. Traditional polling place counties provided at least two drop-off locations or one per 30,000 voters.

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 20. But conditional registration allows people to register and vote through Tuesday.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Opens Registration for Annual Toy Giveaway

Registration runs through November for holiday event serving families in need

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station is accepting registrations through Nov. 30 for its annual Toy Giveaway program.

The initiative targets Altadena residents and families in need. Registration opened Saturday, Nov. 1.

Families can register online through a QR code or web form. Those who sign up can also register other families requiring assistance.

Station officials will compile the list after registration closes. Each registered family will receive details about pickup times and locations for the Holiday Fest Toy Pickup.

The program serves children from birth through age 18.

The sheriff’s station is collecting new, unwrapped toys. Donations help provide holiday gifts to local children.

Community members can contribute toys to support the annual event.

Registration is available through this online form.

Monday, November 3, 2025

Pasadena Nonprofit Launches Nation’s First Certification to Flag Ultra-Processed Foods

A Pasadena-based nonprofit has launched the first U.S. food certification program aimed at helping consumers identify and avoid ultra-processed foods, citing health risks and insufficient federal oversight.

The Non-UPF Program, headquartered in Pasadena and trademarked in June 2024, began operations in December and now offers a certification mark for food products that meet standards for minimal processing, based on the Nova Classification System. The Nova framework, used by nutrition scientists, categorizes foods into four groups, with ultra-processed foods falling into Group 4.

“Our goal is to help Americans cut through the confusion in food labeling and provide clear guidance for less processed foods,” said Melissa Halas, founder of the Non-UPF Program and a nationally recognized dietitian and nutrition expert, in a statement issued Oct. 30.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with chemical additives and ingredients not commonly found in home kitchens, such as artificial flavors, modified starches, and high-fructose corn syrup. These products often undergo multiple industrial steps to enhance shelf life and texture.