Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Los Angeles County Seeks Public Input on Deputy Gangs

Residents urged to share experiences with Sheriff’s Department groups

Los Angeles County residents can now report their experiences with alleged deputy gangs through an online survey open through July 15.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission is collecting first-hand accounts about interactions with deputies believed to be part of deputy gang groups within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy gangs and cliques have existed within the Sheriff’s Department for decades, according to the Commission statement. These groups are characterized by conduct including potential law violations, excessive force, and threats to the public or fellow law enforcement personnel.

In February, the commission developed 27 recommendations to address deputy gangs, which the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted in March. The board directed the commission to compile community experiences with these groups.

Beyond the online survey, the commission will host a virtual Community Listening Session on July 10 to collect additional feedback.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Altadena Business Expo Seeks Resource Partners to Help With Wildfire Recovery Expo

STAFF REPORT

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is seeking resource partners for a business expo designed to help small business owners recover from the 2025 wildfires.

The Rebuilding Altadena Business Expo will take place July 12 from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Altadena Library, according to a letter from chamber president Judy Matthews. The event aims to provide critical resources and recovery guidance to local entrepreneurs working to rebuild their businesses.

Organizations can apply to participate as resource partners by Sunday, June 30. The chamber is seeking partners who can offer support in areas including access to capital, insurance claims assistance, business continuity planning and workforce recovery.

“We expect a strong turnout of small business owners from Altadena and nearby areas who are seeking assistance during this critical recovery period,” Matthews wrote in the invitation letter.

The expo is co-organized by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce and Operation HOPE. It will be held at the Altadena Library in Altadena.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Los Angeles County Supervisors Approve Permit Fee Relief for Wildfire Survivors

STAFF REPORT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday to defer and refund permitting and inspection fees for homeowners affected by the Eaton and Palisades Fires.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s motion provides immediate financial relief to residents whose properties were destroyed in fires that struck in January.

Eligible homeowners rebuilding single-family homes will have permitting and inspection fees immediately deferred. The county will also issue refunds to those who have already paid fees for qualifying rebuild projects.

To qualify, homeowners must have owned and resided in the property prior to the fires. County permit fees can exceed $20,000, presenting a significant financial barrier for survivors already struggling with insurance claims and rebuilding efforts.

A report estimated that waiving rebuilding and inspection fees for the Eaton Fire alone could cost up to $120 million.

“Families who lost everything in these devastating wildfires deserve every opportunity to rebuild without being burdened by County fees,”

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

LA County Supervisors Look to Assess Economic Impacts of Immigration Raids

By ANUSHA SHANKAR, City News Service

Amid stepped-up federal immigrant enforcement in the area, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday calling for a study of the raids’ economic impact on small businesses.

Intensified raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have prompted daily protests in the streets of downtown Los Angeles and other L.A. County sites that have occasionally turned violent and destructive over the past week. That led President Donald Trump to deploy the California National Guard and the U.S. Marines to the area, over the objections of local elected officials.

According to the motion by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn, the ICE raids have been removing people from workplaces, “leaving their families unaware and waiting for them to return home after a day at work.”

At a news briefing Tuesday morning, Solis said, “These raids are targeted at our immigrant neighbors, including finding people in parking lots, Home Depot, grocery stores,

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Fire Victims Sue State Farm Over ‘Grossly Underinsured’ Homes

Lawsuit claims California’s largest home insurer deliberately set replacement costs far below actual rebuilding expenses

Six couples and one individual who lost their homes in the devastating Los Angeles fires filed a lawsuit Monday against State Farm, alleging the insurance giant deliberately left them “grossly underinsured.”

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, targets State Farm General Insurance Company, claiming it systematically underestimated rebuilding costs to maximize profits while leaving fire victims without adequate resources to rebuild.

“State Farm, California’s largest home insurer, has engaged in a ‘multi-faceted illegal scheme’ that is designed to ‘reap enormous illicit profits by deceptively misleading over a million homeowners in California,'” the complaint alleges, according to The Spokesman-Review.

The lawsuit represents seven households from three communities devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires: four from Altadena, two from Pacific Palisades and one from Sierra Madre, according to Yahoo News.

Some homeowners were underinsured by more than $2 million when their properties were destroyed,

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Three PUSD Schools Named 2025 California Distinguished Schools

PUSD Principals, Administrators and Tony Thurmond pose together with the awards. Photo courtesy of PUSD

Three PUSD schools – Altadena Arts Magnet, Field Elementary, and Sierra Madre Elementary — have been named 2025 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. The schools were honored during a special ceremony in Anaheim last week. What an incredible way to close out the school year!

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), 351 S. Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 396-3600 or visit www.pusd.us.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

JPL Sensor on Space Station Eyes Contamination off California Coast

Instruments in space are helping scientists map wastewater plumes flowing into the Pacific Ocean from the heavily polluted Tijuana River

An instrument built at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena has revealed a breakthrough in water quality monitoring. The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, launched in July 2022, was originally designed to map minerals but has now demonstrated an unexpected ability to detect sewage contamination from its orbit high above Earth’s surface.

A recent study examined a large wastewater plume at the mouth of the Tijuana River near San Diego. Every year, millions of gallons of treated and untreated sewage enter the river, carrying pollutants through communities and a national reserve before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Contaminated coastal waters can impact human health and harm marine ecosystems, fisheries, and wildlife.

The instrument orbits Earth aboard the International Space Station, using advanced optical components to split visible and infrared wavelengths into hundreds of color bands. This allows scientists to discern molecules based on their unique spectral “fingerprint”

Monday, June 16, 2025

PUSD Issues Report to Community Highlighting Recovery and Achievement After Eaton Fire

District showcases resilience and academic progress despite unprecedented challenges from wildfire devastation

The Pasadena Unified School District released its 2025 Report to the Community this week, documenting the District’s recovery and academic achievements following the devastating Eaton Fire that destroyed or damaged five school sites and displaced numerous students, families, and employees at the start of 2025.

“This year has tested us in ways we could never have anticipated,” Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco said. “Our response has shown exactly who we are. A community that stands together, supports one another, and never stops working for the future of our children.”

According to a statement from the District, the comprehensive report, presented at the June 12 Board of Education meeting, demonstrates progress across the District’s five strategic pillars despite unprecedented challenges. 

Four Pasadena Unified School District schools earned California Distinguished School recognition: Altadena Arts Magnet School, Field Elementary School, Sierra Madre Elementary School, and Sierra Madre Middle School.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Vandalism Compounds Internet Woes For Fire-Damaged Altadena Neighborhoods

Attack in Van Nuys affects Altadena service

Altadena residents already struggling with internet service disruptions from January’s Eaton Fire faced new outages Sunday when vandals cut Spectrum fiber optic lines in Van Nuys, affecting more than 25,000 customers across Los Angeles County.

The attack highlights escalating telecommunications infrastructure vandalism particularly impacting Altadena, where crime has surged 250% following the fire that killed 18 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

“These acts of vandalism are not only a crime, but also affect our customers, local businesses and potentially emergency services,” Spectrum said in a statement following the June 15 incident.

Vandals severed fiber lines in multiple Van Nuys locations before dawn, leaving cut wires scattered after discovering the lines contained no copper. Customer reports began flooding DownDetector.com at 3 a.m. Pacific Time.

Altadena has become a particular target for metal thieves since the fire. Property crimes spiked 450% from January through April 2025 compared to the same period in 2024,

Monday, June 16, 2025

Altadena Town Council To Hold Comprehensive Meeting Tuesday

Community leaders will hear multiple agency reports and committee updates during virtual session

The Altadena Town Council will convene Tuesday evening for a comprehensive agenda covering public safety updates, community services, and committee reports during their virtual meeting.

The meeting, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 17 and to be led by Chair Victoria Knapp, will feature two special presentations. Chief Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshall, will address the council, along with a second presentation on Regional Planning from a presenter to be announced.

Public safety reports will come from Acting-Captain Ethan Marquez of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, California Highway Patrol Officers Keller and Bay, and Los Angeles County Fire representative Maria Grycan. Community services updates will be provided by Colonel Avichal from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Altadena Library District Director Nikki Winslow for library services, Samuel Estrada for parks, Southern California Edison representatives Lorena Munoz and Jennifer Ocampo, and Universal Waste Sysyems Vice President Matt Blackburn.

Eight committee reports will cover various community issues.