Friday, February 28, 2025

Altadena Talks and Altadena Talks Foundation Give Voice to Altadena Residents

STAFF REPORT

After the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena in January, it left more than just destruction in its wake—it sparked a movement.

Out of the ashes, Altadena Talks was born, a first-of-its-kind podcast dedicated entirely to the well-being of Altadena residents.

Hosted by Brian Baccus and Jamal Smith, both proud Altadena natives, the podcast delivers essential resources, real-time updates, and heartfelt conversations with community leaders, experts, and neighbors.

Broadcasting live Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, the podcast brings residents together like never before—offering hope, information, and a space to heal.

According to the hosts, Altadena Talks is not just a podcast, but a lifeline.

The podcast includes the Toni Talks segment hosted by Altadena native Antoinette “Toni” Bailey Raines.

The segment is dedicated to helping residents navigate change, whether through home design, community developments, or simply finding ways to adapt in an evolving world.

The hosts didn’t stop there.

Friday, February 28, 2025

PUSD Board Approves 151 Potential Staff Cuts Amid Post-Fire Recovery Concerns

District cites financial stability despite pleas from educators impacted by recent Eaton Fire disaster

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education voted 6-1 Thursday night to approve the elimination of approximately 151 full-time equivalent positions for the 2025-2026 school year, including 117.6 certificated staff and 34 classified positions, despite emotional pleas from teachers and parents still recovering from the devastating Eaton Fire.

District officials said these preliminary notices must be issued by March 15 under California Education Code requirements and final layoff determinations made by May 15. Based on historical patterns, the actual number of layoffs is likely to be lower after accounting for vacant positions, retirements, and internal reassignments. Last year, PUSD initially proposed 196 position cuts but finalized only about 90 layoffs.

“We deeply appreciate our staff’s dedication and recognize the impact of this decision,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco said in a statement after the meeting.

Blanco defended the cuts as necessary for the district’s long-term stability: “We’re going to continue to look for mental health money,

Friday, February 28, 2025

Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan Begins Friday Evening

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, will begin Friday evening upon the sighting of the moon, with fasting beginning on Saturday.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslim adults fast from dawn until dusk each day, unless they are ill, pregnant, diabetic, breastfeeding or traveling.

Fasting is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca.

During Ramadan Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity, both financially and feeding and supporting the local unhoused population. Individuals and organizations typically host iftars, the meal eaten when breaking the fast, to benefit those in need.

The end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, which will fall on March 30, according to Fiqh Council of North America, based on calculations determining the lunar calendar, will be marked by communal prayers called Salat al-Eid.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Local Chambers Partner With SBA to Help Altadena Fire Victims

Workshop aims to assist residents and businesses before March 10 loan deadline

The Altadena and Pasadena Chambers of Commerce are teaming up to host a Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Application Workshop on March 4 to help victims of the Eaton Fire and other Los Angeles fires access financial assistance.

The event, scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brookside Golf Club at 1133 North Rosemont Avenue in Pasadena, will provide on-site SBA counselors to assist applicants before the March 10 deadline.

“We are all working together to make sure assistance is available to everyone who is qualified and wants help,” said Judy Matthews, Executive Director of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. “The deadlines are approaching very quickly and we hope the victims of the Eaton Fire can apply before it is too late to access funds.”

The workshop offers direct support for completing loan applications for those who lost their home, business, nonprofit, or rental apartment.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Ralphs and Food 4 Less Donate Thousands of Cartons of Milk, Boxes of Cereal to Local Schools and Relief Organizations

The grocers noted that milk is one of the most nutritious but least donated items to food banks

Food 4 Less/Foods Co. and Ralphs Grocery Company have donated over 35,000 cartons of shelf-stable Chobani Super Milk and nearly 1,000 boxes of General Mills cereal to schools and relief organizations in Pasadena and Altadena, the grocers announced Thursday.

“Many students rely on their school for their first meal of the day,” said Salvador Ramirez, corporate affairs manager at Food 4 Less/Foods Co. and Ralphs Grocery Company. “With so many schools and community centers impacted by the wildfires, we are grateful to be a part of this effort to donate one of the most essential staples to help feed kids and their families during such a difficult time.”

The donation addresses a critical need identified by Feeding America, which reports milk as one of the most nutritious but least donated items to food banks.

Patrick Conyers, Executive Director of Pasadena Educational Foundation,

Friday, February 28, 2025

Free Application Assistance Available Today for Wildfire-Affected Businesses, Workers

Friday event at Pacific Oaks College offers help with expiring loan, grant deadlines

Local business owners and workers affected by recent wildfires and windstorms can receive free one-on-one application assistance today for disaster relief programs with approaching deadlines.

The in-person clinic runs from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. today, Friday, Feb. 28, at Pacific Oaks College, 45 W. Eureka St., Pasadena, offering direct support for applications to disaster relief funds that expire as soon as March 2.

Representatives from the Small Business Administration, Altadena Chamber of Commerce, City of Pasadena, and LA County Department of Economic Opportunity will provide personalized consultations for fire-impacted businesses and workers.

“In anticipation of the forthcoming application deadlines, attendees will receive 1:1 assistance from a business consultant to apply for the following,” according to event organizers.

The event features presentations in Classrooms 7 and 8 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., with individual consultations available in Classrooms 9 and 10.

Crucial deadlines include March 2 for the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund and March 10 for SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans.

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Altadena Chamber to Host Open Session Board Meeting With Special Guests on Tuesday

Community members invited to virtual event featuring presentations from local leaders and experts

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce will hold an Open Session Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 4 at 9:30 a.m., designed to foster community engagement and transparency. The virtual event will feature presentations from four special guests representing various sectors and aspects of community resilience and development.

“The Open Session allows the Chamber to keep members and the entire community engaged and informed while promoting transparency and encouraging community participation,” states the Chamber’s announcement.

Colonel Eric Swenson, Ph.D., from the US Army Corps of Engineers will lead the presentations, followed by Dan Davidson, Executive Director of the Altadena Business Resilience Project. Other featured speakers include Mark Goeser, CEO of Hope Ventures, and Maria Grycan, Community Service Liaison for LA County Fire Department, Division 3.

The meeting will be accessible to all community members via Zoom. The Chamber will post the link on their website two days before the event,

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Paris Hilton, GoFundMe Launch $300,000 Wildfire Relief Grant for Local Women-Owned Businesses

At the prestigious Upfront Summit, Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org will unveil a comprehensive $300,000 grant initiative to support women-owned small businesses devastated by the Eaton Fire. The collaborative effort will provide direct financial assistance and year-long support to help local entrepreneurs recover from significant fire damage.

“Supporting women entrepreneurs is deeply personal to me, as is helping those impacted by my community’s devastating wildfires. I’m so proud to support the Pasadena Women’s Business Center and help resilient female business owners recover and rebuild. This initiative continues the incredible impact we’ve already made alongside GoFundMe.org. Together, we will ensure these women-owned small businesses get the support they need to flourish,” said Hilton, Founder of 11:11 Media Impact.

The initiative will distribute $25,000 grants to 11 women-owned businesses, with funding matched by GoFundMe.org. An additional $25,000 will support the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, providing approximately 300 hours of business coaching to over 100 businesses. The program prioritizes businesses with strong recovery potential that have suffered significant property damage,

Thursday, February 27, 2025

California Insurance Commissioner Meets Privately with State Farm, Hopes to Make Rate Hike Decision Within Two Weeks

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

California’s largest insurer should know within a couple of weeks whether it can raise premiums on its nearly 3 million policies in the state after making its case in a face-to-face meeting with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today.

In comments after the closed-door meeting, Lara said he would carefully consider the request, which he previously rejected. He said he hoped to reach a decision within two weeks.

State Farm General — the state arm of the national State Farm Group — had asked to increase homeowner premiums an average 22% on an interim basis outside the usual approval process under California insurance law. It wants to bypass the rate hearing that would normally be required, saying it has been waiting for the Insurance Department to approve rate increases it requested last year, and that payouts from the Los Angeles County fires have worsened its financial position.

In the request, made at the beginning of February, the company said it wants to start charging customers the “emergency” rate increases in May. 

Thursday, February 27, 2025

LA County Secures $14.5 Million for Wildfire Relief for Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Workers

New funding will support small businesses and workers affected by Palisades and Eaton fires

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), has secured $14.5 million in new funding to help small businesses, nonprofits, and workers recover from recent wildfires. This financial boost includes $10 million from Governor Gavin Newsom and $4.5 million from FireAid, expanding the County’s ability to provide critical support to communities affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

“I applaud Governor Newsom for his critical investments in our region’s recovery,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, who represents Pasadena.

“This funding will provide much-needed relief to workers and small business owners who have faced incredible hardship due to recent wildfires. By expanding support through the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds, we are helping to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen our local economy. I look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that all those affected receive the assistance they need.”