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.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Altadena Main Library Reopens Tuesday After Two-Month Eaton Fire Closure

Community hub returns to normal operations while Bob Lucas branch undergoes renovation

The Altadena Library District is reopening its Main Library on Tuesday, March 4, at 10 a.m. following two months of recovery efforts after the Eaton Fire. The library has been remediated and is ready to resume services for residents who are rebuilding their community in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

“Over the past two months, we’ve partnered with many local organizations to support our community, including a fundraising campaign with LA County Library to provide free hotspots to our community,” says District Director Nikki Winslow. “We also helped staff the LA County Parks’ Care Camps, hosted programs at Pasadena Library branches, and have been to countless outreach events. But we are so happy to return to our library, to serve Altadenans here in our community. We want the library District to be a symbol of hope and recovery for our community.”

For nearly a century the Altadena Library District and its facilities have served as essential community gathering places.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Firefighters Honored At Academy Awards For Wildfire Response

Pasadena Fire Department among those recognized during ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien

Los Angeles area firefighters received a standing ovation at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, honored for their heroic actions during the Southern California wildfires in January. The recognition came during a ceremony that paused twice to acknowledge the destruction caused by the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire.

The Pasadena Fire Department shared news of the honor on Facebook, expressing gratitude for the recognition at the prestigious event. “And The Oscar Goes To…PFD & our Public Safety partners will be honored tonight at the Academy Awards,” the department posted on Sunday.

Firefighters were welcomed onto the stage at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, where celebrities and stars rose to their feet in appreciation. The moment marked the second time during the ceremony that the program acknowledged the devastation caused by the recent wildfires.

Conan O’Brien, who hosted the event, first mentioned wildfire relief efforts during his opening monologue.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Postal Inspectors Warn of Imposter Scams During National Consumer Protection Week

Officials urge consumers to verify identities before sharing personal information or sending money

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a warning about imposter scams as part of National Consumer Protection Week, which runs from March 2 to 8. These fraudulent schemes involve scammers posing as friends, relatives, or legitimate organizations to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims.

“There are many types of imposter scams,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group. “But they all start with messages like, ‘I’m in trouble…,’ ‘I need…,’ ‘You’ve won!..,’ or ‘I have a great offer for you!'”

Shen said these deceptive tactics create a false sense of trust that allows scammers to access privileged information and ultimately drain financial accounts.

The warning comes as part of a broader consumer protection initiative by the USPIS.

Postal authorities recommend several precautionary measures to help consumers protect themselves from these increasingly sophisticated scams. They advise taking time with financial decisions,

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Wildfire Victims to Receive Free Haircuts at Relief Pop-Up Salon

Local organizations partner to offer grooming services and essential products to those affected by recent disasters

Foothill Unity Center is collaborating with the Beauty Bus Foundation to host a Wildfire Relief Pop-Up Hair Salon on Friday, March 7, providing complimentary haircuts and styling services to those impacted by recent fires.

The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., will offer free grooming services to 90 pre-registered participants including both adults and children.

Taking place at the Foothill Unity Center’s Monrovia location, the pop-up salon will provide haircuts, styling, barbering services, and beard trims to help wildfire victims. Attendees will also receive premium hair, beauty, and skincare products donated by Henkel, Thrive Causemetics, and ella + mila.

“We’re excited to team up with the Beauty Bus Foundation to offer free haircuts to those impacted by the recent wildfires,” said Foothill Unity Center in a Facebook post on Feb. 26. The organization encouraged people to “come by and let us help you feel refreshed and renewed!”

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

30 LA County Probation Officers Face Charges Over Youth Violence at Juvenile Hall

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Thirty Los Angeles County probation officers are facing multiple criminal charges Tuesday including child abuse and endangerment following an investigation that detected cases of “youth-on-youth violence” at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.

As part of the indictment announced Monday, prosecutors allege the officers staged “gladiator fights” among the youth detainees at the troubled facility. According to state Attorney General Rob Bonta, 69 fights were allowed to occur between youths housed at the facility between July and December in 2023.

“Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have a duty to ensure the safety and well-being of those under their care,” Bonta said in a statement Monday. “Instead, the officers charged today did just the opposite — overseeing `gladiator fights’ when they should have intervened. The indictment – – and the filing of criminal charges — is an important step toward holding these officers accountable and addressing shortfalls at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Let today’s charges be a warning for all those who abuse their power: the California Department of Justice is watching,

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Massive Communal Dinner At Rose Bowl on Saturday Will Support Wildfire Recovery

1,000-person benefit event this Saturday aims to raise funds for Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities

This Saturday, March 8, the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium will host an extraordinary fundraising dinner featuring a 1,000-person communal table to support communities affected by recent Southern California wildfires. The “Day After Tomorrow” benefit event will bring together donors, first responders, and impacted community members for a family-style, farm-to-table meal prepared by Los Angeles’ top chefs, with all proceeds benefiting the Altadena Community Fund and the Palisades Community Fund.

“This is a powerful act of kindness by the food community to nourish the people of Altadena and the Palisades,” said Jim Denevan, founder of Outstanding in the Field, the organization producing the event. “We feel privileged to set this healing table just miles from where the Eaton Fire burned with the participation of the farmers and winemakers that care for our land.”

The community funds were established in January 2025 in response to the devastating impact of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fires.