Monday, June 30, 2025

Pasadena Unified’s Fire Lawsuit Against SoCal Edison Heads to Court Today

A case management conference is scheduled for Monday in the Pasadena Unified School District’s lawsuit against Southern California Edison Co., as the district seeks compensation for extensive damage from the deadly Eaton Fire.

The conference will be held in Department 17 at the Spring Street Courthouse, 312 N. Spring St.

Pasadena Unified School District alleges Southern California Edison equipment caused the January fire during gusty wind conditions. The district claims damages include classrooms, libraries, athletic fields, after-school program and performing arts facilities, roads and parking lots.

The lawsuit, filed in March, includes claims for inverse condemnation, negligence, trespass, nuisance and premises liability violations of Public Utilities and Health and Safety codes.

The Eaton Fire killed at least 18 people and burned more than 14,000 acres. It destroyed or damaged about 10,000 structures across areas in Altadena and surrounding communities.

Five Pasadena Unified School District campuses sustained substantial damage. Franklin Elementary School suffered 80% damage. Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School and three charter school campuses were also damaged.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Four Men Face Monday Preliminary Hearing in Altadena Fire Looting Case

Defendants Accused of Stealing Property During Emergency Evacuation

Four men are set to appear in court Monday for a preliminary hearing on charges of residential burglary during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, with prosecutors alleging the men stole property from a home while the area was under emergency evacuation.

Roy Sims, Ryan Sims, Naquan Dewey Reddix and Pierre Obannon will face a judge in Department H of the Pasadena Courthouse.

The defendants are each charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary. Prosecutors allege they entered a home around 5 p.m. during the fire and stole multiple items, including an Emmy Award belonging to the resident.

All four men have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the time of their arrests, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned potential looters: “Let me be clear: If you exploit this tragedy to prey on victims of these deadly fires, we will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

Monday, June 30, 2025

Controversial Climate Rule, Which Could Raise Gas Prices, About To Go Into Effect

By Alejandro Lazo, CALMATTERS

California’s revamped Low Carbon Fuel Standard takes effect on Tuesday, despite fierce Republican criticism and increasing Democratic trepidation over its potential to raise gas prices.

The new rules — which expand a program to reduce climate-warming gases and clean the air  — ratchet up requirements for cleaner fuels and broaden a $2 billion credit market aimed at cutting emissions from cars, trucks and freight.

No immediate hike in gas prices will occur. Experts say the future impact is uncertain because it depends on how much the oil industry spends on buying credits and then passes it onto consumers.

The previous fuel standard, which was set in 2011, added 9 cents to the cost of a gallon; a UC Davis researcher estimates that the new one could add 5 to 8 cents per gallon.

The Newsom administration is bracing for more political attacks as Republican legislators have seized on the issue.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Judge Rules California FAIR Plan’s Restrictive Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena homeowners whose property suffered smoke damage during the Eaton Fire in January got a big win in court last week when a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled against the California FAIR Plan’s restrictive smoke damage policy.

According to media reports, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled the California FAIR Plan violates the law by providing less coverage than is required by the state’s fire insurance requirements. The issue emanates from the way the plan covers smoke damage.

“Their position for years has been that these homes impacted by wildfire smoke damage are not damaged, they’re dirty. And they told people to clean them up themselves,” the homeowners’ attorney Dylan Schaffer said in April. “That advice is not just illegal under California law, it’s also dangerous because these houses are toxic.”

Schaffer said these repairs could often cost tens of thousands of dollars because they may involve replacing insulation, flooring, drywall and more.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Metro Board Elects Barger as Second Vice Chair, Poised for Olympic Leadership

County supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Pasadena, will lead transportation authority during critical Games preparation period

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger was unanimously elected Second Vice Chair of the Metro Board on Thursday, positioning her to lead the transportation authority during the 2027-2028 fiscal year when Los Angeles prepares to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 13-member Metro Board’s leadership rotation will elevate Barger to Board Chair as the county finalizes preparations for the international sporting events. Barger, who has served on the Metro Board since 2016, will succeed incoming Chair Fernando Dutra.

“I’m joining a strong, experienced, and principled Metro Board leadership team and am deeply honored by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me,” Barger said. Her leadership priorities include public and employee safety, transportation reliability, and increasing public trust.

Throughout her tenure, Barger has advocated for regional transportation projects, playing a key role in initiatives such as the Foothill Gold Line extension,

Monday, June 30, 2025

School Board Will Focus on Immigration Issues at Special Meeting Monday

District launches comprehensive immigration support program

The Pasadena Unified School District has implemented a multi-faceted safety initiative to support immigrant students and families that the Board of Education will review at a special meeting Monday night.

The “Hopeful Horizons” program, established in January, has the mission of creating secure learning environments through extensive staff training, policy development, and specialized safety protocols for summer programs.

The board will discuss Resolution 2830, which directs the superintendent to develop a comprehensive plan protecting students and families from immigration enforcement activities on school grounds.

Key components of the initiative included mandatory training for principals, administrators, counselors, and support staff by F3 Law in February, and additional training for summer program leads in June.  F3 Law is an education law firm representing more than 500 of California’s educational institutions, including school districts, community college districts, SELPAs, county offices of education, private schools, and related agencies.

Summer safety protocols feature secure campus entry points,

Monday, June 30, 2025

State Bill Banning Law Enforcement Masks Could Get City’s Support

Proposed legislation would prohibit officers and agents from wearing face coverings during public interactions

Pasadena’s Legislative Policy Committee will consider supporting state legislation that would ban law enforcement officers from wearing masks while interacting with the public. Senate Bill 627, authored by Senators Scott Wiener, Jesse Arreguin, and Sasha Renée Pérez, would make it a crime for law enforcement officers to wear masks or personal disguises during their duties. The bill includes exceptions for undercover assignments, medical masks to prevent disease transmission, wildfire smoke protection and SWAT team protective gear. The City Manager’s Office will explain the recommendation during a Legislative Policy Committee meeting scheduled for July 1. It will go before the full City Council on July 14.

The proposal comes after recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, including Pasadena, raised public safety concerns. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel involved in these actions often wear face masks or other materials to shield their identity and agency affiliation.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

ICE Agents Detain Mother In Front of Her Children in Pasadena

Immigration agents detained a mother of two in front of her children in Pasadena on Saturday morning in an incident that prompted a 911 call about a suspected kidnapping, according to multiple reports.

“On Saturday, June 28, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Pasadena Police (PPD) received a 911 call of suspicious activity at Del Mar Blvd/Catalina Ave. Officers and a Supervisor responded to evaluate the circumstances and discovered it was an ICE operation and PPD verified their identification,”  Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris said in a statement.

“The agents detained one female without incident and PPD did not assist ICE in the apprehension as PPD was solely there for the call for service.”

Witnesses reported that the woman’s name is Rosalina Luna Vargas.

The operation was partially captured on video by witness Jillian Reed, a Caltech alumna, according to KTLA News.

Three plainclothes agents — all wearing federal badges on lanyards and two wearing masks  — attempted to place Vargas into an unmarked vehicle while her children were present,

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Rebuilding Hope: Altadena Businesses Get Crucial Support

Local Expo Offers Lifeline to Entrepreneurs Seeking Recovery

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Operation HOPE will host a comprehensive Rebuilding Altadena Businesses Expo on Saturday, July 12, providing local entrepreneurs with critical resources to restore and revitalize their business operations.

The free resource fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Altadena Library, offering small business owners direct access to support services designed to aid in community recovery.

Participating organizations will provide guidance on crucial business challenges, including funding, insurance claims, and strategic rebuilding.

“We expect a strong turnout of small business owners from Altadena and nearby areas who are seeking assistance during this critical recovery period,” said Rebecca Rasmussen, Altadena Chamber of Commerce Board Member and Webmaster.

Attendees will have opportunities to engage with resource partners offering support in key areas such as emergency funding, legal assistance, business continuity planning, marketing strategies, and property rebuilding support. Organizations will host resource tables,

Sunday, June 29, 2025

United Way Launches $1.8 Million Wildfire Recovery Fund for Pasadena and Altadena Communities

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is investing $1.8 million to support recovery efforts in Pasadena and Altadena following the devastating wildfires that struck in January. The funding will provide critical assistance to residents through a community-driven rebuilding approach that focuses on housing support, legal protections, and community healing.

“We are committed to supporting the long-term recovery from the wildfires disaster by funding a community-driven rebuilding approach,” said Elise Buik, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. The organization will work with six local community-based organizations to address the widespread impact of the fires.

The collaborative rebuilding effort will include targeted support such as pro-bono legal assistance, case management for elderly residents and small business owners, and tenant protection services. Participating local organizations include the NAACP Pasadena and other community groups focused on public benefits, mutual aid, and policy advocacy.

Key components of the recovery fund include:

• Legal protections for tenants
• Trauma-informed healing events
• Community mapping for future resilience
• Assistance for housing and economic recovery

The funding builds on the organization’s previous disaster response experience,