Monday, September 8, 2025

New California Law To Make Housing Projects Easier Can Also Make Them Cost More

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

Two months ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators from both parties celebrated enacting landmark legislation to remove the California Environmental Quality Act as an impediment to new housing construction.

Lopsided votes in the Legislature for Assembly Bill 130 and Newsom’s immediate signature seemingly ended decades of debate over how the environmental law, signed by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan more than 50 years ago, was being used to delay or kill residential developments.

“Saying ‘no’ to housing in my community will no longer be state sanctioned,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who has long advocated for CEQA reform. “This isn’t going to solve all of our housing problems in the state, but it is going to remove the single biggest impediment to building environmentally friendly housing.”

Newsom took obvious pleasure in achieving what had eluded other governors, including predecessor Jerry Brown, who once described overhauling CEQA as “the lord’s work.”

As Newsom signed the measure into law he thanked legislators and housing,

Monday, September 8, 2025

In Altadena, a Cash-First Model Lets Survivors Decide How to Spend

Eight months after the Eaton Fire tore through the foothills of Altadena, families are using modest relief grants for the basics — gas, rent, even fall school clothes — under a “dignity-based” model that lets survivors decide how best to spend the money.

The grants come from the Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund, a community-run initiative born in the wake of the January 7 wildfire.

Set up in February by the Altadena Town Council in partnership with GoFundMe.org, the fund is testing a philosophy of disaster aid rarely tried at scale: unrestricted cash assistance.

Applications opened June 25 and closed July 6, drawing more than 3,000 submissions, nearly two-thirds of them in just two days.

The first round reached 350 households, with grants generally between $500 and $1,000. Organizers plan another round of distributions later this month, with awards designed to range from $500 to $5,000 per household.

Applicants must state what the grant is needed for;

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Altadena Community Garden Rebuilds After Eaton Fire With Help From California Community Foundation

The garden’s restoration effort includes mushrooms, sunflowers and a major grant to detoxify fire-damaged soil

The Altadena Community Garden, a beloved local institution for more than 50 years, is undergoing a remarkable ecological restoration after being devastated by the Eaton Fire in January. A major grant from the California Community Foundation, along with support from neighbors, small businesses and environmental experts, is helping bring the 2.5-acre site back to life.

The fire leveled the garden’s 84 plots, shed and tools. Toxic ash from nearby burned structures contaminated the soil. Of the garden’s 120 members, 62 lost their homes.

“These people are my community,” said Mary McGilvray, vice president of the nonprofit that runs the Altadena Community Garden. “We need it. We need this place back.”

Restoration began in April after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed debris and four inches of contaminated topsoil. Volunteers laid down 525 cubic yards of compost—enough to fill 165 Volkswagen Beetles—and mixed in mycelium donated by a Long Beach mushroom grower.

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Breakthrough On California Housing Could Put Taller Buildings In Single-Family Neighborhoods

By Ben Christopher, CALMATTERS

A controversial housing bill that would pave the way for more apartment buildings near major bus stops and train and subway stations across urban California is one step closer to becoming law after its author struck a last-minute deal with a long-time political foe, one of the state’s most powerful labor groups.

The State Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents union construction workers, agreed to drop its opposition to Senate Bill 79 in exchange for an amendment that would require some of the projects that make use of the bill to hire union workers.

The bill, authored by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, would be one of the largest state-imposed housing densification efforts in recent memory. On residential and commercial lots within a walkable half-mile of well-trafficked public transit stops, developers would be allowed to build taller and denser housing — as high as six stories. That would apply in neighborhoods where local regulations restrict new development to single-family homes.

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Altadena Coalition, Alta Design Works to Mark Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting, Speakers and Performances

Alta Design Works and the Altadena Coalition plan to open a community hub at 409 E. Woodbury Road on Saturday evening with a 6:30–10:30 p.m. grand opening and ribbon cutting led by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers said the program will mix remarks from local, state and federal figures with live music, a resource fair and a curated art gallery.

The indoor program begins with Spanish guitarist Aaron Copenhaguen at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. ribbon-cutting.

Scheduled speakers include Chamber President Judy Matthews; Corey Williams, a Public Information Officer with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center–West; Elaine Miller-Karas, MSW, LCSW, co-founder of the Trauma Resource Institute; former Assembly majority leader and former Pasadena mayor Chris Holden; UCLA psychiatrist-anthropologist Dr. Helena Hansen; state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena); and U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.).

An awards segment recognizing contributions to community resilience is planned before a closing cocktail hour. 

An outdoor stage will run in parallel with sets by DJ Gil (opening and closing) and performances by Hera Lynn,

Saturday, September 6, 2025

After Losing So Much in the Eaton Fire, Students and Families Get Digital Lifelines

Students and families received something essential to rebuilding their lives after the Eaton Fire: 100 refurbished laptops that reconnect their children to school and parents to work.

The distribution, organized by AT&T and nonprofit Human-I-T with the Pasadena-Altadena Ivy Foundation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., addresses a cruel irony facing fire victims – losing their digital connections in an era when internet access determines access to education and employment.

The laptops and school supply-filled backpacks went to pre-selected recipients as part of AT&T’s “California Summer of Connectivity” initiative, which targets the 41 percent of low-income California households that lack full digital access, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

The initiative builds on AT&T’s broader national campaign to provide 30,000 backpacks and laptops to qualifying households ahead of the school year.

For AT&T, the Pasadena distribution represents a small piece of its $5 billion commitment to connect 25 million Americans to high-speed internet by 2030, focusing on accessibility,

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Altadena Chamber Rallies Fire-Ravaged Businesses With Grand Reopening Push

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce announced Friday it will host grand reopening celebrations for every local business that wants one, marking an aggressive push to revive the community’s economy after devastating wildfires.

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association’s all-inclusive approach — extending celebrations to any business regardless of size, industry or chamber membership — represents a strategic and symbolic act designed to foster recovery, unity, and economic revitalization.

“As communities continue their healing journey, these celebrations serve as a reminder that unity and perseverance are key to rebuilding stronger and more resilient neighborhoods,” said Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

The reopening events aim to counter one of wildfire recovery’s most pressing concerns: the displacement of residents and the migration of customers away from the affected area. By creating highly visible celebrations for each participating business, the chamber hopes to signal that life is returning to normal while giving individual owners a platform to reconnect with the community and contribute to the collective recovery effort.

Thursday, September 4, 2025

L.A. County Reports 1,744 Rebuilding Applications for Eaton Burn Area; 282 Permits Issued

Los Angeles County has received 1,744 rebuilding applications for the Eaton burn area as of Thursday morning, according to county officials. The total includes all permit types, ranging from single-family homes and accessory dwelling units to garages, multi-family developments and non-residential structures.

Of the submitted applications, 886 parcels have advanced into the building review stage with full building plans. Because separate permits are required for each structure, the county is currently reviewing 1,302 individual structures at various stages of the process.

To date, 282 permits have been issued. An additional 100 permits are awaiting clearance from water and school districts before they can be finalized, while 35 are ready to be issued pending final action from applicants.

County officials also noted that 328 applications have been returned to applicants with comments requesting further information or updates. Staff are conducting weekly outreach calls to these applicants to schedule virtual meetings and clarify next steps.

In a statement, Los Angeles County Public Works emphasized its commitment to a “safe,

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Federal Government Sues SoCal Edison for Damages Alleged in Eaton, Fairview Fires

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles Thursday sued Southern California Edison over its alleged role in the devastating Eaton and Fairview fires, which burned tens of thousands of acres of National Forest lands, killed a total of 21 people, and destroyed thousands of buildings.

Both fires damaged federal government-owned land and property. The lawsuits seek to recover tens of millions of dollars in costs due to fire suppression and rehabilitation of national forest property.

“The lawsuits filed today allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “We hope that today’s filings are the first step in causing the beginnings of a culture change at Southern California Edison, one that will make it a responsible, conscientious company that helps — not harms — our community. Hardworking Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison’s negligence.”

Thursday, September 4, 2025

California Lawmakers Pass Bills Requiring Parental Notification of Immigration Enforcement at Schools

The legislation aims to protect immigrant students and restore trust in educational institutions

California lawmakers on Wednesday approved two urgency measures that would require schools to notify families when immigration enforcement officers are present on campus, aiming to protect immigrant students and restore trust in educational institutions. 

Senate Bill 98, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), mandates that K-12 schools and higher education institutions immediately alert students, parents, faculty and staff when immigration enforcement is confirmed on school grounds. Assembly Bill 49, introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and co-authored by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), prohibits immigration officers from entering nonpublic areas of school campuses without proper identification, a judicial warrant or written District approval. 

Both bills include urgency clauses, allowing them to take effect immediately if signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Oct. 12 to act. 

The legislation follows a widely publicized incident on Aug. 11, when a 15-year-old student with disabilities was mistakenly detained by federal immigration agents outside Arleta High School in Los Angeles.