Friday, March 14, 2025

PUSD Certifies Positive Financial Status, But Acknowledges Fire Insurance Revenues Mask Shortfalls

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education certified a positive financial condition for the current and next two fiscal years on Thursday, though officials emphasized this status largely stems from temporary fire-related insurance revenues that are currently exceeding expenditures.

The certification, approved during a special meeting, confirms the District is projected to meet its financial obligations through the 2026-2027 fiscal year. However, District officials warned that significant budget challenges remain unresolved.

“The proposed reductions approved on February 27th were not sufficient to close the shortfall,” said Chief Business Officer Saman Bravo-Karimi during his presentation to the Board. “Additional reductions will be necessary in the future.”

The District is currently projecting operating deficits of nearly $40 million for the current year (2024-2025) and $29.5 million for 2025-2026, with a small surplus in 2026-2027 that depends on fire-related insurance funds, according to Bravo-Karimi.

Several factors are driving the District’s financial difficulties, including continued declining enrollment, the expiration of one-time COVID relief funds,

Friday, March 14, 2025

What to Know About Two New Measles Cases in California

By Lynn La, CALMATTERS

California public health officials are closely monitoring two residents who recently tested positive for measles. Officials are on high alert given ongoing measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and abroad.

The Los Angeles and Fresno public health departments each disclosed a case on Tuesday. In both cases, the infected individuals had traveled internationally, officials said. So far this year, the California Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of five cases. No deaths have been reported here. Nationally, more than 250 cases have been confirmed, the vast majority out of West Texas, where last month one unvaccinated child died.

L.A. health officials in their announcement said the individual who tested positive for measles arrived at LAX on March 5 on a China Airlines flight. The city’s public health department is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to notify people who were on that flight and may have been exposed,

Friday, March 14, 2025

Keys of Loss and Hope: Community Transforms Destruction Into Memorial Art Project

After January Eaton Fire, residents rally to collect keys as symbol of resilience

In the wake of the January Eaton Fire, a community-driven initiative has emerged to transform personal tragedy into a powerful collective statement of hope and rebuilding.

The Keychain Project, started by Altadena resident Kate Sullivan after losing her house, invites those who lost homes, apartments, or businesses to preserve their keys as part of a unique memorial.

Sullivan’s vision originated from a post on Nextdoor, capturing the imagination of local volunteers who saw deeper meaning in the humble household object.

“A key has power. A key is the last thing you put in your pocket or toss in your bag as you go for your neighborhood walk and you always fish around for when you get back,” explains Caty Maxey, a project volunteer. “Keys are among the most vital tools humans own; Hearing the jingle of your keys makes you feel safe.”

The project has established multiple drop-off locations across the San Gabriel Valley:

• Samy’s Camera (1759 E.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Teacher Layoffs Spark Outcry Amid School District’s Budget Crisis and Eaton Fire Recovery

Facing significant budget shortfall, PUSD Board hears emotional pleas about impact on traumatized community

[Updated] The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education faced impassioned pleas from teachers and parents during a Thursday, March 13 Special Meeting as the Board reviewed the possibility of 117 teacher layoffs amid a $37 million budget deficit.

The likelihood of cuts, in the wake of January’s devastating Eaton Fire, has raised serious concerns about stability for students already grappling with trauma.

“The wildfire you are unleashing on our schools is unconscionable,” Jonathan Gardner, president of the United Teachers of Pasadena, told the Board during the meeting. “The vast majority of the cuts you have enacted to balance your budget have been in our schools, resulting in 125 teachers being told they don’t have a job next year.”

The layoffs include 65 individuals who received pink slips last week, in addition to temporary teachers whose contracts will not be renewed, according to Gardner.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Experts to Speak on Resilience at Pasadena Event for Eaton Fire Families

Local experts to provide guidance on resilience and recovery for affected school communities

All Saints Church in Pasadena will host a free parent education event focused on resilience and recovery for families affected by the Eaton fire. The event, scheduled for Monday, March 17, will feature child development and psychology experts Robert Evans, Ed.D. and Michael Thompson, Ph.D., who specialize in post-traumatic events.

“We are honored to partner with St. Mark’s School by offering a venue for bringing together schools from Altadena and Pasadena that have experienced devastating losses in the Eaton Fire,” said Thomas Diaz, All Saints’ Director of Care & Connection. “All are welcome.”

The free session, which runs from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., is specifically designed for parents from school communities impacted by the fire. St. Mark’s School of Altadena is sponsoring the event as part of ongoing community recovery efforts.

Evans and Thompson bring extensive experience supporting communities after disasters, having worked with recovery initiatives following Hurricane Katrina,

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Purim Celebrations Mix Joy With Purpose as Pasadena Chabad Continues Fire Relief Efforts

Traditional Jewish festival takes on deeper meaning for community recovering from disaster

As Chabad of Pasadena prepares for Purim celebrations this week, the traditional Jewish festival of resilience and charity takes on added significance for approximately 60 families displaced by the devastating Eaton Fire. Rabbi Chaim Hanoka is connecting the holiday’s ancient themes with ongoing emergency relief efforts for affected congregants.

“The message of Purim is kind of a celebration of Jewish resilience and courage in the face of danger,” said Rabbi Hanoka, Executive Director of Chabad of Pasadena. “But the message of resilience is all the more so apropos today after having suffered all the tragedies of eaten fire and people still sadly having a lot of difficulty being out of their homes, not having home, et cetera.”

The two-day celebration begins Thursday, March 13 at 7:15 p.m. with a Megillah reading and festive gathering at the Chabad of Pasadena community center. Activities continue Friday with a children’s carnival from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Pasadena Unified Superintendent Issues Late Night Email Addressing District’s “Extraordinarily Difficult Decisions”

In a somber open letter to the community emailed shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco addressed the District’s current stark financial reality: years of structural deficits have forced painful budget cuts, including layoffs, despite recent voter support through a local parcel tax.

Dr. Blanco described the financial challenges confronting the District as severe but manageable through strategic, phased cuts and community involvement.

The District, still reeling from the devastating Eaton Fire, faces a $37 million three-year deficit — reduced from an original $47 million deficit after voters approved Measure EE in November. This financial challenge is driven by declining enrollment, rising costs and insufficient state funding. PUSD is not alone in its troubles, with “the overwhelming majority of California school Districts” experiencing similar challenges, according to Dr. Blanco.

While the advancement of insurance funds has helped the District maintain a “positive certification” in its Second Interim Financial Report, these monies are in fact already designated for school restoration and cleaning.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

No Rebuild Permits Issued Yet for Destroyed Altadena Homes, Officials Say

County aims for 30-day approval timeline as applications begin processing

Los Angeles County has not issued any full rebuild permits for homes destroyed in recent wildfires in Altadena, though officials report approximately 80-100 applications are currently under review, according to statements made at Wednesday’s LA County Recovers press conference.

Mark Pestrella, Director of Public Works for Los Angeles County, told reporters that the County has established an ambitious timeline for processing applications.

“Our goal is to issue a permit once permit applications have been submitted, within 30 days. This is an incredibly high goal for us in which we intend to meet,” Pestrella said.

The County has a target of completing initial reviews within two weeks.

It has been more than two months since the Eaton Fire, and the recovery effort faces continuing challenges. With rain forecasted in the coming days, officials warned of mudflow and landslide risks in fire-impacted communities.

An important March 31 deadline is approaching for property owners to decide whether they will use government assistance for debris removal or handle it privately.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

California’s Cities and Schools Face Big Budget Gaps, Few Options

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

California’s state budget is mired in what fiscal authorities call a “structural deficit,” meaning its revenues cannot keep up with spending mandated by current law.

For several years, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have papered over the chronic gap between income and outgo with gimmicks, including on- and off-budget borrowing and creative accounting, plus dips into “rainy day” funds set aside for emergencies.

Those maneuvers merely postpone the day of reckoning, because the administration and the Legislature’s budget analyst, Gabe Petek, project yearly multibillion-dollar shortfalls indefinitely.

The state’s dilemma has several roots, most notably an erroneously high multi-year revenue forecast in 2022 that led to a belief that there would be an immense budget surplus and to sharply increased spending. The administration later pegged the revenue error at $165 billion over four years.

That factor was exacerbated by what Petrek dubbed “a sluggish economy.”

“Outside of government and health care,

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Relatives of Late Grandson of Nickerson Gardens Founder Sue SCE For Eaton Fire Death

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Relatives of the grandson of the founder of Watts’ Nickerson Gardens housing complex sued the Southern California Edison Co. Wednesday, alleging the utility failed to properly maintain its equipment and prevent the Eaton Fire that claimed their loved one’s life in his Altadena home in January.

The late Rodney Nickerson’s grandfather was William Nickerson Jr., who founded the housing development that carries his name. The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations by Rodney Nickerson’s family members include inverse condemnation, trespass, nuisance and negligence.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. An SCE representative issued a statement Wednesday regarding the suit, expressing sympathy for the recovery victims and stating that the complaint will be addressed “through the appropriate legal process.”

Plaintiffs’ attorney Carl E. Douglas said Nickerson “was more than just a victim of the Eaton Fire, he was a pillar of his community and a link to a historic legacy. His death was avoidable and Southern California Edison must answer for its role in this tragedy.