Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Altadena Residents Call for State Investigation into County’s Fire Response

By JOSE HERRERA, City News Service

Standing near the site of a destroyed home, a group of fire-impacted Altadenans and local organizations called on state Attorney General Rob Bonta Tuesday to investigate Los Angeles County’s response to January’s Eaton Fire, including delays in evacuation orders being issued to residents in the western Altadena area.

The group, Altadena for Accountability, urged Bonta to “compel testimony, examine withheld data and records and hold public agencies accountable for their failures before, during and after the fire.” The move comes in the wake of the county-commissioned “Independent After-Action Report” by the McChrystal Group that identified systemic failures in emergency notification and evacuation order procedures during the January fires.

“It shouldn’t be controversial to insist that we have an honest independent commission to examine the issues that wiped out this entire town and killed 20 people,” Cora Bella, an Altadena fire survivor, said.

According to the community group, the McChrystal report failed to answer key questions on evacuation notifications,

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

UCLA Forecast: Weakened California Economy Reflects Recession Worries

CITY NEWS SERVICE

California’s economy, traditionally hailed for growing faster than the United States as a whole, has continued weakening, with key sectors either falling stagnant or contracting and the unemployment rate remaining elevated, according to a UCLA forecast released Wednesday.

Key California economic sectors such as tech, manufacturing, entertainment and logistics have been faltering, leading to the state’s economy growing at only half the rate of the nation, UCLA Anderson Forecast Director Jerry Nickelsburg wrote in his report on the state’s economy.

“California’s unemployment rate has been over 5% during the 19 months ending August 2025, and as of August 2025, it is at 5.5%,” Nickelsburg wrote. “In the first eight months of this year, there has been a decline of 21,200 payroll jobs, the first sustained decline in payroll jobs since the pandemic.”

Nickelsburg wrote that another measure of employment, the survey of households, which includes independent contractors and gig workers, shows an increase in employment,

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Kaiser Permanente Subsidized Health Coverage Now Available

Kaiser Permanente Southern California is now accepting applications for its Community Health Coverage Program (CHCP), an initiative providing subsidized high-quality health care to individuals and families who lack access to other forms of coverage.

To qualify for the program, individuals and families must live in one of Kaiser Permanente’s service areas; live in a household with an income limited to up to 300% of the federal poverty level; and being ineligible for other public or private health coverage such as Medi-Cal, Medicare, cannot be enrolled in a job-based health plan, or receiving financial assistance through Covered California.

“At Kaiser Permanente, we believe everyone deserves access to high quality affordable health care regardless of their circumstances,” said Sandra E. Silva, senior director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Through charitable health coverage programs like CHCP, we’re working to break down barriers and support the health of individuals and families across the diverse communities we serve.”

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the CHCP subsidy will become a one-time benefit for adults aged 21 and older,

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Eaton Fire Survivors Demand Attorney General Probe County Response During Eaton Fire

Survivors and activists seek independent investigation, citing failures and inequities in official response to the deadly blaze

‘Survivors of the Eaton Fire’ and advocates from the ‘Altadena for Accountability’ coalition announced plans for a press conference to be held Tuesday, September 30 at 8 a.m. at 425 E. Las Flores in Altadena, standing where homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire once stood. The group will call on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to launch a full investigation into Los Angeles County’s response to the fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and claimed 19 lives.

Shawna Dawson Beer, Beautiful Altadena Community Organizer and total loss fire survivor who lived west of Lake Avenue, said, “The report confirms what we already knew—there was no plan.”

Beer is referring to the County’s after action report on the Eaton and Palisades Fire response, released late last week.

The McChrystal report on the Eaton Fire found no single point of failure but identified a series of weaknesses—outdated policies,

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Altadena Deputies Climb 75 Stories in Full Gear at YMCA Fundraiser

Officers complete 1,664 steps at U.S. Bank Tower event

Deputies from Altadena Sheriff’s Station climbed 75 stories in full patrol gear during the 32nd Annual YMCA Stair Climb & Urban Hike.

The officers tackled 1,664 steps at the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles on Friday. They participated in the Heroes Challenge, which requires full patrol gear.

The U.S. Bank Tower stands 1,005 feet tall and has the tallest stairwell west of the Mississippi.

About 4,000 participants joined the event. Some raced up the stairs while others walked. Climbers entered the stairwell at eight-second intervals and finished on the building’s roof.

After reaching the top, participants took a second stairwell to a resting floor. They viewed Downtown Los Angeles from nearly 1,000 feet up.

Free snacks and water were available for recovery. Climbers then took elevators to street level.

A block party awaited participants at Maguire Gardens. The event included food, activities, music and a beer garden.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

$3.3 Million Contract Targets Reservoir Damage from Eaton Fire

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

The City Council on Monday awarded a five-year, $3.36 million contract to General Pump Company, Inc. for maintenance and repair of the city’s water wells and booster pumps.

The contract with TKE Engineering, Inc. provides  construction management and inspection services tied to reservoir repairs and other water infrastructure projects damaged in the Eaton Fire and windstorm.

The City’s utility, Pasadena Water and Power, operates 14 reservoirs citywide, including the Allen Reservoir, a 4.1-million-gallon concrete storage facility that suffered partial structural damage in the 2025 disaster.

The Don Benito Reservoir’s two steel storage tanks were demolished in August by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after being declared unsalvageable. Both projects — along with upcoming work at the Arroyo Seco Area 2 Intake Structure, expected to begin in fiscal year 2027 — are eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement.

Under the agreement, TKE would handle construction schedules, project coordination and inspection to ensure compliance with safety standards and contract requirements.

Monday, September 29, 2025

From Crisis to Catalyst: Pasadena Community Foundation’s Russo Transforms Fire Recovery Into Long-Term Community Vision

Eight months after the devastating Eaton Fire displaced thousands of residents in Altadena, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is channeling its record $72 million relief mobilization into a blueprint for long-term recovery.

Eight months after the devastating Eaton Fire displaced thousands of residents in Pasadena and Altadena, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is channeling its record $72 million relief mobilization into a blueprint for long-term recovery. Under new President & CEO Khanh Russo, who took the helm in June, the foundation continues its traditional grantmaking across many programs while also mobilizing resources for immediate and longer-term fire relief and recovery efforts — an expanded approach Russo calls “advocacy through action.”

“After the Eaton Fire, we raised $72.4 million and quickly distributed $12 million to support food, childcare, and housing needs… That’s more than just grantmaking—it’s advocacy through action,” Russo said.

PCF has committed $4.55 million to its supporting organization, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to rebuild 22 homes in Altadena.

Monday, September 29, 2025

Guest Opinion | Paul Starita: Eaton Fire Victims Should Consult Legal Experts Before Joining SCE’s Compensation Program

Southern California Edison (SCE) has announced a new compensation program for victims of the devastating Eaton Fire that swept through Altadena and Pasadena communities. The fire claimed 19 lives, destroyed nearly 9,500 structures, and caused widespread business disruption throughout the region.

The utility company’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program promises direct payments to survivors for home and business destruction, partial structural damage, business interruption, smoke and ash damage, and injuries and fatalities. SCE has retained experts who previously worked on large-scale compensation funds, including those established for 9/11 victims, to develop the program.

However, experienced wildfire attorneys are strongly urging fire victims to consult with legal experts before participating in the voluntary program. The lack of specific details about the program’s structure raises significant concerns about potential trade-offs that could severely impact victims’ ability to fully recover their losses.

“Victims need to understand what they’re potentially giving up before they make any irreversible decisions about this compensation program,” said Gerald Singleton, founding partner of Singleton Schreiber.

Monday, September 29, 2025

Three Neighbors Who Lost Homes Lead Vision for Altadena’s Public Spaces After Fire

Michele Zack, Mark Goldschmidt, and Hans Allhoff lost their homes in January’s Eaton Fire. Now the three longtime Altadena residents are organizing neighbors to shape their community’s public spaces at an October 4 open house.

The free gathering will bring residents, architects, and County planners together to design parks, streets, and gathering spaces that preserve what made and makes Altadena unique — before market forces decide for them.

“Things are happening in Altadena and following the fire change is inevitable,” Zack said. “We need the community at the table so changes that occur are not just left to pure economic forces.”

SWA architecture/urban design firm and Disney will provide free professional design support at the October 4 event at Loma Alta Park Gym, 3330 N. Lincoln Avenue.

County staff will explain new rebuilding regulations adopted in 2024 but never tested until now. The event includes activities for children. No registration required.

Home rebuilding has consumed about 98 percent of recovery efforts since January,

Monday, September 29, 2025

Workshop Empowers Women to Run for Office, Offers Recovery Resources for Seniors

A civic engagement event will feature elected officials and senior support programming

A workshop titled “Run for Office and Win!” will take place Sunday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. The event is open to elected officials, community members and aspiring candidates, offering speakers, networking and lunch. Confirmed speakers include Laura Friedman, Wendy Carrillo, Sabrina Cervantes, Luz Rivas, Lisa Calderon and Blanca Rubio.

“We’re looking for women who want to run for office and win!” reads the promotional announcement. Attendees may RSVP at https://www.nwpcsgv.org/events/run-for-office-and-win or email info@nwpcsgv.org.

Speaker Ursula Hyman, director of the Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation, continues her work supporting civic organizations and housing recovery. Founded by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the nonprofit organization helps secure affordable financing for businesses, churches, schools and community institutions, while seeking innovative housing solutions.

Hyman also leads Fire Recovery Programs at Assistance League of Pasadena, where she developed the Navigator Program to help seniors rebuild after disasters.