Wednesday, April 2, 2025

LA Health Services Achieves Excellence In Patient Care And Innovation

Annual report highlights improved access, quality benchmarks and community health initiatives

The Los Angeles Department of Health Services has released its 2024 Annual Report documenting significant achievements in patient care, healthcare innovation, and improved access for vulnerable populations. The report said Los Angeles Health Services (LA Health Services) exceeded quality benchmarks and implemented new programs.

“Trust is at the heart of everything we do, which is why I am so proud to work alongside a team of dedicated professionals who are steadfast in their commitment to delivering high quality and timely care to each and every patient,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services,

The report showcases LA Health Services’ exceptional performance across multiple quality measures, surpassing the 90% percentile for California state benchmarks.

LA General Medical Center received two consecutive ‘A’ grades from Leapfrog Group, a nationally recognized authority on hospital safety, reflecting commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care for every LA County resident through unprecedented improvements in mortality rates,

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

LA County Declares April As Armenian History Month

Board of Supervisors recognizes cultural heritage and community contributions

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to designate April 2025 as Armenian History Month. The proclamation, authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, aims to honor the cultural heritage, resilience, and significant contributions of the Armenian community in Los Angeles County.

“My district is home to the largest Armenian diaspora in the world,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Thousands of my constituents are proud members of the Armenian community, and I have seen firsthand how their culture, resilience, and values are deeply woven into the diverse fabric of Los Angeles County. Proclaiming April as Armenian History Month is not just about remembrance—it is also a celebration of the strength, contributions, and enduring impact of Armenians who continue to shape our region in meaningful ways.”

The Board’s recognition provides a platform to remember the past and advocate for the future.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Los Angeles County Explores Efforts to Embrace Neurodiversity Employment

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The County Board of Supervisors is directing agencies Wednesday to study ways of increasing “neurodiversity” job opportunities for people with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or other such disorders.

The board on Tuesday directed the departments of Aging and Disabilities and Economic Opportunity to work with the County Librarian, County Counsel and the CEO and report back to the board in 180 days with recommendations.

The motion passed unanimously and Supervisors Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell cited reports noting that people with disabilities face challenges securing employment.

“Neurodiversity is the recognition that people have diverse ways of thinking, learning and interacting with the world. It includes conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia — natural variations of the human mind that do not necessarily impact job performance,” Hahn said.

“People with autism or other developmental differences have immense potential and valuable skills to offer, yet, are far too overlooked in the hiring process.”

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

County Supervisors OK Efforts to Support Small Businesses Affected by Fires

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Adding to a long list of incentives to support Eaton Fire victims, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a resolution authorizing the approval of pop-up retail and commercial use applications in vacant lots cleared of fire debris in Altadena.

The director of regional planning was authorized to approve applications for a five-year period, with an initial period of three years and two possible one-year extension options.

Additionally, the director of economic opportunity was directed to set aside 500 Youth@Work positions in Fiscal Year 2025-26 for youth impacted by the fire.

The CEO and other relevant county departments were asked to report back in 30 days with a plan to establish a satellite America’s Job Center of California site in Altadena.

The initiative was intended “to ensure priority access of worker and employer resources including job training, employer hiring and incentive supports, upskilling, resume and interview skills training, and rapid re- employment services,”

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

In California’s Capitol, Some Political Fights Span Decades

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

Were we able to transport ourselves back in time 50 years and into California’s Capitol, we would find a governor seeking and enjoying massive attention by national political media as he eyes some greater office. We’d also find a Legislature dealing with conflicts among influential interests with heavy financial impacts.

In other words, the Capitol’s dynamics in 1975 were pretty much what they are today.

The resemblance even extends to specific issues. For instance, then-Gov. Jerry Brown was touting a “peripheral canal” in 1975 to carry water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Gavin Newsom was seven years old then, but now as governor is waging the same campaign for a tunnel to do the same thing and is facing the same opposition.

Other conflicts that confronted Brown and legislators a half-century ago can be found again among the hundreds of bills introduced so far in the 2025 legislative session.

On Tuesday,

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Supervisor Barger Unveils Economic Recovery Initiative for Altadena After Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

In a decisive move to bolster Altadena’s recovery following the recent Eaton Fire, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously passed a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger which aims to provide essential economic support for local small businesses and workers affected by the disaster.

“Our small business owners are the backbone of Altadena’s economy, and we must do everything we can to help them recover,”Supervisor Barger said in a statement. She stressed that the approved motion aims to deliver financial relief and create opportunities for rebuilding the community.

Among several key provisions designed to revitalize the local economy and assist those impacted by the fire, the initiative allows for the establishment of pop-up restaurants and events in vacant lots across Altadena for up to five years, fostering community engagement and stimulating economic activity.

As part of the effort to support young residents, 500 Youth@Work positions will be allocated for the next fiscal year,

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Altadena Tenants Union to Hold First General Meeting Amid Post-Fire Recovery

The newly formed Altadena Tenants Union will hold its first general meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. online, bringing together local renters affected by the Eaton Fire to share experiences and discuss recovery efforts.

The virtual gathering comes as many Altadena residents continue to face housing challenges after the fire destroyed homes and left others covered in toxic ash, according to organization documents.

“No matter where you are right now, you are part of the Altadena community, and your experience is important,” states the meeting announcement. “For our first general meeting, we wanted to give folks a chance to share about what their experiences have been, and to build our bonds of community. We are neighbors helping neighbors, and it’s much more challenging when we can’t see each other on the stairs or at the grocery store, so this is an imperfect but hopefully useful effort to stay connected.”

The meeting registration link is here.

The Altadena Tenants Union was formed in response to challenges including unclear communication about cleanup responsibilities,

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

FEMA Granted $100 Million in Aid to LA County Fire Victims

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Federal Emergency Management Agency doled out more than $100 million in federal assistance in response to the Los Angeles County wildfires in Eaton Canyon and the Palisades.

An official with Federal Emergency Management Agency’s public affairs office told Pasadena Now on Tuesday that in total $104,827,937.86 was given out for assistance. LA County residents received $26,457,850.91 in housing assistance and $78,370,086.95.

There was no breakdown available showing what local residents in Pasadena and Altadena received.

Seventeen people died as a result of the Eaton Fire which destroyed 9,000 buildings in Altadena and Pasadena, and burned 14,000 acres.

More than 200,000 Californians were evacuated.

LA County residents received $2 billion in home and business loan offers from the Small Business Association.

The deadline for local residents impacted by January’s Eaton Fire to apply for federal disaster assistance, including disaster loans from the Small Business Administration and disaster unemployment assistance,

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Democracy in the Dark: How California Lawmakers are Trying to Shield Themselves from Public View

By Sameea Kamal and Yue Stella Yu, CALMATTERS

At town halls across the nation, including in California, residents have confronted their members of Congress face-to-face to voice their fears and frustrations over Trump administration policies, from cuts to overseas aid to Medicare.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the state Legislature have introduced about a dozen proposals that would make it harder to confront your local officials at public meetings and would shield more information from the public eye, according to an analysis of CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database.

The bills follow a streak of California officials’ attempts to shroud themselves in secrecy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently sent burner phones to major California business leaders with his number preprogrammed — paid for by his nonprofit, allowing him to communicate with executives without having to disclose the content publicly. Lawmakers and government employees signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from sharing details about taxpayer-funded renovations to the state Capitol.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Breaking Bread, Mending Hearts: New Horizon’s Eid Celebration Embraces Fire Victims

Community gathers for Eid breakfast, welcoming families affected by the Eaton Fire with open arms and traditional generosity

As hundreds of Muslim families gathered Sunday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at New Horizon School Pasadena, their festive breakfast took on special meaning for several attendees who recently lost their homes in the Eaton Fire and were welcomed free of charge, embodying the holiday’s emphasis on community support and charitable giving.

The annual Eid breakfast, hosted by New Horizon School Pasadena at its campus on 651 North Orange Grove Boulevard, brought together students, faculty, and members of the broader Muslim community for a morning of prayers, food, and fellowship. This year’s gathering, held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on March 30, was especially poignant, as organizers prioritized welcoming families displaced by the devastating wildfire.

“We wanted to ensure that families impacted by the fire could still partake in the joy and togetherness that this holiday represents,” said a New Horizon School Pasadena spokesperson.