Friday, February 14, 2025

Guest Opinion: Cate York: “It Was My Dream to Work for the U.S. Government”

By CATE YORK

Years ago, wrecked with climate anxiety, I left my Hollywood job for something much sexier: Midwestern utility consumer advocacy. I drove around Illinois, scraping ice off my windshield and spreading the good word of the clean energy transition. Feeling lost in the indifference of an inequitable energy system, I went back to school to expand my scope and to deepen my capacity to contribute something – anything – to a planet that is dying. Graduating with my master’s in Environmental Management this past May, I couldn’t believe it – I had two (!!) job offers in the federal service, one with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, and one with the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program.

Then the election happened. I spent days anxiously gaming out the incoming administration and reading the not-so-subtle tea leaves of Project 2025. The EPA job was in DC, and in the Climate Change Division, while the DOE job was remote,

Friday, February 14, 2025

Los Angeles County Seeks Rental Units for Families Displaced by Eaton Fire

County urgently seeks one- and two-bedroom units within 10-mile radius of fire zone

Los Angeles County officials have launched an immediate initiative to secure rental housing for families displaced by the Eaton Fire. The Los Angeles County Development Authority is working alongside the American Red Cross to identify available one- and two-bedroom rental units within a 10-mile radius of the Eaton Fire boundary, with properties in Pasadena, Glendale, and Monrovia especially needed. 

“We have an immediate need to support wildfire survivors who have been displaced from their homes and want to remain close to their communities,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Many of these families are struggling to rebuild their lives while ensuring stability for their children. I urge property owners with available units to partner with us and provide a lifeline for those in need.” 

Displaced renters will be responsible for covering rental costs similar to any other private market tenant. 

“Property owners are the key to helping the County’s impacted residents start to rebuild their lives,”

Friday, February 14, 2025

Should Builders Permit Their Own Projects? Post-Fire LA Considers A Radical Idea

By BEN CHRISTOPHER, CALMATTERS

The speedy processing of building permit applications is not typically considered a popular political cause.

The recent Los Angeles firestorm may have changed that.

Thousands of Angelenos are now desperate to rebuild their homes as quickly as possible. They have the sympathy and focus of elected leaders at every level of state government. And many of them — particularly in well-heeled Pacific Palisades — have pull at city hall.

That’s helped bump the otherwise dull-as-drying-paint politics of permitting policy to the top of many lawmakers’ agendas.

Exhibit A: The L.A. city council voted unanimously last week to consider a building permit “self-certification” program.

Rather than require architects and engineers working on small residential construction projects to submit their plans to the city’s building department and wait — often months, if not years — for the green light, self-certification would allow them to sign off on their own handiwork and start construction immediately.

Friday, February 14, 2025

LA County Launches Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Recovery

CITY NEWS SERVICE

In response to the devastating January fires, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Thursday unveiled a committee aimed at better preparing the region for climate change and guiding recovery efforts.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, in partnership with UCLA, will develop a set of recommendations to serve as a roadmap for the county. The recommendations are expected to guide the region for future extreme weather such as heat, drought and flooding. which are becoming more frequent and severe.

“Los Angeles County cannot afford to simply rebuild what was lost — we must build for the future,” Horvath said in a statement. “This is our opportunity to rethink how we design communities, fortify infrastructure and protect lives from the growing threats of the climate crisis.”

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk described the commission as a “terrific example” of the university and the county working together. He added, “UCLA is not just a university in Los Angeles.

Friday, February 14, 2025

Storm Pummels Pasadena and Altadena, Triggers Mudslides and Debris Flows

CITY NEWS SERVICE and PASADENA NOW

Officials urge continued vigilance because mud/debris flows can still occur several days after the rain stops

A destructive storm is making its way out of Southern California Friday, but not before flooding streets, neighborhoods and freeways, causing crashes and congestion, and leading to evacuation warnings and orders in recent burn areas.

Heavy rain pummeled most of the Southland Thursday and intensified late in the day and evening, sparking flooding and mud flows in Altadena and Pasadena.

“We survived the Eaton fire, and now we have flash floods,” lamented one X follower who lives in Kinneloa Mesa.

“We did have moderate mud/debris flow on Park Vista where mandatory evacuations had already occurred, and a few other residents voluntarily left after the slide between two homes.  There will be clean-up this morning on streets especially near foothills of Upper Hastings Ranch but no other major storm-related incidents we’re aware of yet,” Pasadena City spokesperson Lisa Derderian told Pasadena Now early Friday.

Friday, February 14, 2025

Boys & Girls Club Opens Doors to Fire-Displaced Odyssey Charter School Students

Students resume classes after six-week disruption from Eaton Canyon blaze

The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena has transformed its two main clubhouses into temporary classrooms for Odyssey Charter School students, providing educational continuity for 840 children displaced by the Eaton Canyon fire.

The partnership, announced February 13, enables students to resume their education after a six-week interruption caused by the destruction of one campus and the other being deemed unsafe and uninhabitable.

“We’ve been 100% focused on how to help Odyssey get kids back with their teachers,” said Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena Chief Executive Officer Lisa Cavelier. “The Eaton Fire hit before these kids returned from their winter break, so their time out of school turned into six weeks. We felt we had to take action to help them settle back into a safe, educational routine, so we opened our doors. It’s the right thing to do. Though admittedly cramped, the important thing is that the children and staff are together.”

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Los Angeles County Seeks Rental Units for Families Displaced by Eaton Fire

County urgently seeks one- and two-bedroom units within 10-mile radius of fire zone

Los Angeles County officials have launched an immediate initiative to secure rental housing for families displaced by the Eaton Fire. The Los Angeles County Development Authority is working alongside the American Red Cross to identify available one- and two-bedroom rental units within a 10-mile radius of the Eaton Fire boundary, with properties in Pasadena, Glendale, and Monrovia especially needed.

“We have an immediate need to support wildfire survivors who have been displaced from their homes and want to remain close to their communities,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Many of these families are struggling to rebuild their lives while ensuring stability for their children. I urge property owners with available units to partner with us and provide a lifeline for those in need.”

Displaced renters will be responsible for covering rental costs similar to any other private market tenant.

“Property owners are the key to helping the County’s impacted residents start to rebuild their lives,”

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Los Angeles County Opens Emergency Food Aid Applications After January Wildfires

Disaster CalFresh program provides one month of benefits to affected residents not currently receiving food assistance

Los Angeles County began accepting applications through Feb. 19 for emergency food assistance for those impacted by January’s devastating wildfires.

The temporary food aid initiative, known as Disaster CalFresh, is available to individuals and families who lived or worked in fire-impacted areas and suffered losses from the disaster.

Recipients will receive one month’s worth of benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, which can be used to purchase food at authorized retail stores throughout the County.

The program, federally designated as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), became available after a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance and restoration of commercial food distribution.

Current CalFresh recipients affected by the disaster may qualify for supplemental disaster benefits, while new applicants could receive a full month’s allotment of emergency food assistance.

To qualify, households must have purchased or planned to purchase food during the disaster period and experienced at least one hardship: loss of income,

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Evacuation Warnings Issued in Altadena and Pasadena as Major Storm Bears Down on Southland

Ten Pasadena homes issued mandatory evacuation orders

With a potentially dangerous storm bearing down on the Southland, evacuation warnings will take effect in multiple areas Thursday amid fears that steady downpours could spark flooding, mudslides and debris flows.

Much of the northern portions of Altadena and the Kinneloa area of Pasadena are under Evacuation Warnings which were to take effect at 7 a.m. this morning and remain in force until 2 p.m. on Friday.

Pasadena police and Altadena Sheriff’s deputies went door to door Wednesday evening in affected areas issuing evacuation warnings.

Fire officials said specific homes considered to be at high risk will be subject to mandatory evacuation orders.

Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said 10 homes in Pasadena were issued mandatory evacuation orders.

The brunt of the storm — which began with generally light rainfall across the region Wednesday — is expected to hit the Los Angeles area around mid-afternoon Thursday,

Thursday, February 13, 2025

LA County Revamps Emergency Alert System After Wildfire Failures

Officials detail multi-layered notification approach while federal investigation of cellular providers continues

Los Angeles County officials outlined improvements to their emergency notification system Wednesday, describing a refined strategy that emphasizes targeted in-person warnings alongside enhanced mass alerts following widespread failures during recent wildfires.

“During the entire wildfire event, we were using our opt-in program successfully, and then it was being bolstered with the wireless alerts from the state,” said Kevin McGowan, Director of the County’s Office of Emergency Management.

The County resolved internal alert system issues through partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), though McGowan acknowledged ongoing concerns about service providers.

“I can’t guarantee that other organizations infrastructure, like our cell service providers have completely corrected their issues. That’s their responsibility,” he said.

Representatives Mike Garcia and Congressman Whiteside have requested a federal investigation into major carriers’ performance, according to County officials, since telecommunications oversight occurs at the federal level.