Thursday, February 27, 2025

FireAid Donates $8 Million for Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery

Relief funds target households, workers and businesses affected by Eaton and Palisades fires

Los Angeles County has received $8 million in wildfire relief grants from FireAid to provide direct financial assistance to residents, workers and small businesses impacted by recent wildfires. The donations will fund multiple relief programs addressing different aspects of recovery, with applications for household assistance opening today and running through March 12.

FireAid was organized in response to the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires. The nonprofit initiative raised an estimate $100 million in a star-studded January 30 concert.

“Los Angeles County is deeply grateful to FireAid and everyone who supported the January 30 benefit concert—residents, nonprofits, and all who stepped up to help,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Your generosity and compassion remind our impacted communities that they’re not alone—we’re in this together, and we’ve got their backs as they recover and rebuild.”

The largest portion of funding includes $2.5 million for the LA County Household Relief Grant program supporting residents displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Thursday, February 27, 2025

LA County Supervisors to Review Homelessness Programs, Arts Initiatives at March 4 Meeting

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will address several significant issues affecting County residents at their upcoming meeting, including homelessness initiatives, arts education programs, and budget presentations.

The regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 381B at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. The meeting will begin with an invocation led by Reverend Cassie McCarty from Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, followed by a presentation of pets for the County’s Pet Adoption Program.

A key agenda item includes a presentation by the Executive Director of the Homeless Initiative on the implementation of homelessness missions and emergency proclamation tools. The report, originally requested in October 2023, was continued to March 25, 2025 at the February 18 meeting, although it remains on the March 4 agenda as a set matter for 11:00 a.m.

Supervisor Solis is recommending the Board proclaim March 2025 as “Arts Education Month”

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

PUSD Trustees to Consider 151 Preliminary Position Cuts, But Final Layoffs Typically Reduced

California education code creates two-step process that often lowers initial numbers significantly

Pasadena Unified School District trustees will review proposals to eliminate 151.6 full-time equivalent positions for the upcoming school year at Thursday’s board meeting. The resolutions represent an early step in California’s structured layoff process, which typically results in fewer actual job losses. 

The California Education Code mandates school districts issue preliminary layoff notices by March 15, followed by finalized decisions by May 15. 

During this two-month window, several mechanisms typically reduce the number of affected employees. 

“Districts over-propose to avoid missing March 15 deadlines, ensuring they retain legal flexibility,” according to district documentation explaining the layoff process. 

The current proposal includes 117.6 certificated positions and 34 classified positions. Based on historical patterns, final actual layoffs could lkely affect about 100 employees after accounting for vacant positions and staff departures.

State law prioritizes seniority in determining which employees ultimately lose positions. Longer-tenured staff can “retreat”

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy Among Park Projects to Receive Funds From $17 Million Grant to Increase Green Space

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County officials Tuesday announced 13 recipients of Measure A competitive grants totaling $17 million to support the purchase of new parkland across the region.

Among the recipients is the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy, for Altadena.

The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) hosted a news conference and an event downtown to celebrate the grant recipients, emphasizing the funding’s role in expanding green space, protecting natural habitats and enhancing climate resiliency.

“Whether it’s for hundreds of acres of open space or small neighborhood parks, investments by the Regional Park and Open Space District directly serve residents in every part of the county,” L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a statement.

The grants will fund the creation of more than 623 acres of new parkland, with more than 50% of funding directed toward communities with high park needs to promote equitable access to open space.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Memorial Diamonds to be Created from LA Wildfire Home Ashes

A Texas-based memorial diamond company and well-known motivational speaker and philanthropist Tony Robbins have launched a program to help Los Angeles wildfire victims preserve memories of their destroyed homes.

The initiative, called “Ashes to Diamonds: A Piece of Home,” will transform carbon from home ashes into memorial diamonds for three selected families affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, according to the company.

“Our homes are the places where we build our lives—where we share laughter, milestones, and our deepest moments of joy,” said Adelle Archer, CEO of the diamond creation company Eterneva. “When you lose a home, you lose so much more than just a structure—you lose the anchor to your past, your sense of belonging, and the memories that define you. With this initiative, we aim to help these families hold onto that sacred space, and preserve a tangible connection to their past while finding hope for the future.”

The program aims to help families maintain a connection to their lost homes through the creation of these memorial diamonds,

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Local Teachers Urged to Apply for $500 Grants for Class Projects

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Teachers with innovative ideas for class projects are being encouraged Wednesday to apply for grants through the California Credit Union Foundation’s spring Teacher Grant program.

Ten grants of $500 each will be awarded to area teachers in April.

The grant program is available to full-time teachers in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, or credit union members teaching in California, looking to fund special learning opportunities for their students.

Projects must have clearly defined learning objectives tied to students’ academic needs, display creativity and benefit a significant number of students.

“Providing resources to help teachers and schools thrive and support students is an important aspect of the Foundation’s work,” California Credit Union Foundation President Marvel Ford said. “Our long-time teacher grant program provides those extra funds that enable our dedicated educators to bring creative new projects to their students. We encourage all our teachers to submit their ideas so we can support their great work.”

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

LA County Supervisors Approve Anti-Eviction Resolution for Fire Victims

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution to provide eviction protections for renters and small business owners financially impacted by the January wildfires.

In last week’s meeting, the board directed the County Counsel’s Office to draft the resolution, which was approved Tuesday in a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining her vote.

The resolution covers tenants throughout Los Angeles County who are financially impacted by the January wildfires, who have signed up for relief programs, unemployment insurance or emergency benefits, owing to a loss of at least 10% monthly income.

Landlords will be prohibited from imposing late fees, interest, or other charges on rental debt, but allowed to challenge a tenant’s eligibility for free of charge.

The resolution will remain in effect until July 31. The initial proposal was to remain in effect until Jan. 31, 2026.

The board also directed the CEO and Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at last week’s meeting to report back on developing financial parameters of a fund,

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

LA County Ratifies Local Emergency for Winter Storm

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday ratified a local emergency proclamation for this month’s winter storm, which caused damage in areas made vulnerable by January’s wildfires.

The board voted 4-0 Tuesday to proclaim a local emergency to allow for faster access to resources and aid.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath was away from the meeting during the vote.

“As a result of the winter storm, the County has been impacted by high winds, substantial precipitation, closure and damage to highways and roads, evacuation warnings and orders in areas impacted by burn scars, debris flows, and significant river and urban flooding, land movement incidents, widespread power outages, and other significant damage,” Tuesday’s motion said.

The proclamation of a local emergency enables first responders and county departments accelerated procurement of vital supplies. An emergency status can potentially lead to reimbursement and assistance from the state and federal government.

Heavy rainfall caused debris and mudslides in coastal areas decimated by the Palisades Fire,

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

California Lacks the Capacity to Store Water that Atmospheric Rivers Dump on the State

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

President Donald Trump is obsessed with how California manages its water supply, demanding changes as one price of giving the state billions of dollars in aid to cope with Southern California’s deadly and destructive wildfires.

However, Trump’s specific complaints are not grounded in hydrologic or managerial reality — such as his insistence that a lack of water from Northern California was a factor in either the fires’ eruption or the firefighting efforts. Hydrants dried up largely because systems were designed to deal with individual structure fires, not widespread wildfires involving thousands of buildings.

That said, there’s much to criticize in how California, once a global leader in large-scale water management, has faltered. Population growth and evolving agricultural practices have increased demand, while federal and state environmental laws, judicial decisions, political foot-dragging and climate change have restricted supply.

One major failing has been a slow response to an obvious need for more water storage — either in reservoirs or underground aquifers — to capture winter rains and spring snowmelts as a buffer for dry years.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Application Deadline Approaches for LA County Wildfire Relief Funds

Los Angeles County officials are urgently reminding residents affected by January’s wildfires that the deadline to apply for critical financial assistance is rapidly approaching. Business owners, nonprofit organizations, and workers impacted by the January 2025 wildfires, including the Eaton Fire, have until March 2 at 5:00 p.m. PST to apply for emergency relief through the LA Region Small Business Relief Fund and the LA Region Worker Relief Fund.

“I urge all eligible businesses and workers impacted by the January wildfires to apply for this critical financial relief before the March 2 deadline,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “These funds are designed to provide immediate support as our communities work toward long-term recovery. I want every bit of relief that’s available to wildfire survivors to be accessed. If you need assistance, help is available—don’t wait to apply.”

The Worker Relief Fund offers $2,000 cash grants to workers who lost income or employment as a direct result of the disaster.