Friday, September 26, 2025

School Board Greenlights Start of Labor Agreement Negotiations, Faces Pressure Over Staffing and Safety

The Pasadena Board of Education on Thursday authorized district leaders to begin negotiations on a sweeping labor pact with local building trade unions, while parents and teachers pressed trustees on staffing shortages, school safety, and class consolidations that have roiled campuses in the wake of the Eaton Fire.

By unanimous vote, the board approved a resolution directing Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco or her designee to enter into talks on a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) that would set uniform terms for wages, benefits, and hiring on upcoming bond-funded construction projects

District officials said the move is intended to ensure labor stability and expand opportunities for local and small businesses as more than $1 billion in facilities projects get underway.

Union representatives filled the boardroom, urging adoption of enforceable local-hiring goals and apprenticeship pathways for students.

“This is an opportunity to build not just schools, but also trust, opportunity and equity.” said Ronald Matthews, a local hiring coordinator, who pushed for binding targets for small business participation and female workers.

Friday, September 26, 2025

Bill That Would Have Allowed AT&T To End Landline Service Held

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

A bill that would have allowed AT&T to end traditional landline service in Pasadena and the rest of the state has stalled.

The state’s Senate Appropriations Committee has held AB 470.

The bill would have allowed AT&T to drop its “carrier of last resort” obligation requiring it to provide copper-wire phone service to anyone who wants it.

A committee chair or the committee itself can “hold” a bill, which usually means it will not get a vote and therefore will not advance to the full chamber.

According to older Americans only 5% of Californians have landline services and most of them are senior citizens.

AT&T, which reported $12.3 billion in profit last year, says its carrier-of-last-resort duties cost $1 billion annually.

Last year, AT&T applied for a waiver that would have allowed it to stop servicing traditional landlines in California.

Older copper wire-based telephone systems lines would have been replaced with faster and more advanced technology that is not compatible with landlines.

Friday, September 26, 2025

Congresswoman Chu Demands Accountability After Report on Eaton Fire Evacuation Failures

Los Angeles County’s independent review of January’s Eaton and Palisades Fires—released Thursday, Sept. 25—has drawn sharp criticism from Rep. Judy Chu, who called the findings “disturbing” and urged immediate reforms to emergency alert protocols. Chu represents Altadena and Pasadena in Congress.

The report, commissioned by the County Board of Supervisors, examined evacuation procedures and alert systems during the deadly Eaton Fire, which claimed 19 lives in west Altadena. Investigators found that evacuation alerts were delayed for hours despite 911 calls confirming fire activity in the area. Chu asked, “Why critical evacuation orders for west Altadena were delayed for hours, even after 911 calls confirmed fire in the area?”

Chu, who previously called for an independent investigation, said the report “raises more questions than it answers,” particularly regarding the lack of timely warnings for residents who were physically unable to evacuate without assistance. “Without alerts, many residents either went to bed or waited too long to make plans for someone to come help them,” she said.

Friday, September 26, 2025

California Lawmakers Wanted To Get Tough On Data Centers. Here’s What Survived

By Khari Johnson, CALMATTERS

California lawmakers started the year signaling they were ready to get tough on data centers, aiming to protect the environment and electricity ratepayers. Nine months later, they have little to show for it.

Of four data center bills in play, two never made it out of the Legislature, including one that would have required data centers to publicize their power use and another that would have provided incentives for them to use more clean energy.

Two others are on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, but in substantially reduced form. One mandates disclosure of water use by data center operators, although now in a way that may elude public access. Another originally aimed to protect energy customers from shouldering infrastructure costs driven by data centers but now merely lets regulators figure out if that is happening.

Data centers have the seemingly mundane job of storing and transmitting the contents of the internet.

Friday, September 26, 2025

Grant To Provide Health Care Vans in Los Angeles County Announced

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A $1.8 million grant to the nonprofit organization Visión y Compromiso to fund a three-year program to provide mobile health services in Los Angeles County was announced Thursday.

The grant from the health care insurance provider Health Net and the Centene Foundation will support the Mobile Outreach for Vulnerable and Engage Support program which will consist of vans staffed by community health workers known as promotoras, registered nurses and community outreach coordinators to provide free health screenings, chronic disease management education, access to specialty care and suggested referrals to other resources.

“We believe that health care should come to people — in the places where they live, work and build community,” Maria Lemus, executive director of Visión y Compromiso, said in a statement.

“Through the MOVES program, communities can access holistic health care services and well-being supports, and expand our commitment to elevate community-driven solutions to create a healthier Los Angeles for years to come.”

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Review of Eaton, Palisades Fire Response Finds Weaknesses, Outdated Policies

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A series of outdated policies, weaknesses and systemic vulnerabilities hampered the effectiveness of emergency notifications and evacuation orders during January’s devastating and deadly Eaton and Palisades wildfires, according to a county-commissioned independent review released Thursday.

The “Independent After-Action Report” was commissioned by the Board of Supervisors and produced by McChrystal Group, a consulting firm led by retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The firm was charged with conducting “an independent after-action review of alerts and evacuations” to provide “a comprehensive picture of actions taken during the catastrophic January wildfires along with recommendations to help guide future Los Angeles County responses.”

Some concerns arose during and after the fires regarding the effectiveness of community notifications in terms of evacuation warnings and alerts — particularly following warning messages that were accidentally transmitted to thousands of residents across the Southland who weren’t intended to receive them. Questions also arose regarding the effectiveness or absence of warnings for many Altadena-area residents at the onset of the Eaton Fire.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Town Hall to Address LGBTQ Impact of Eaton and Palisades Fires Set for Saturday in Altadena

A community event will gather feedback to improve disaster recovery efforts for LGBTQ+ residents

A community town hall focused on the impact of the Eaton Canyon and Palisades wildfires on LGBTQ+ residents will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Altadena Main Library in Altadena.

The town hall will share findings from LGBTQ+ respondents to the Los Angeles County Wildfire Needs Assessment and invite attendees to contribute further insights. Spanish interpretation and discussion groups will be available to ensure accessibility.

Hosted by Altadena Pride, the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, the Transgender Latin@ Coalition, the Williams Institute, the Los Angeles County LGBTQ Commission, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the event aims to gather feedback and improve inclusivity in disaster recovery efforts. Doors open at 2 p.m. for lunch, with discussion and community input scheduled from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

The first 60 attendees will receive a free air purifier. Lunch and drinks will be provided.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Pasadena School Board to Consider Textbook Sufficiency, Review $200 Million Bond Plan at Thursday Meeting

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will convene Thursday evening to certify textbook sufficiency, review a $200 million bond issuance strategy, and vote on environmental exemptions for campus modernization projects, among other pressing matters.

There is no agenda item focused explicitly on the District’s budget deficit.

The meeting is scheduled for a 5 p.m. closed session and a 6 p.m. open session at the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave. The public portion will be broadcast live on Charter Channel 95 and streamed online.

Trustees will hold a public hearing and vote on Resolution 2839, affirming that all students have access to adequate instructional materials in mathematics, science, history-social science, reading/language arts, and foreign language for the 2025–2026 school year. The resolution states that “each classroom uses one or more textbooks from this approved list” for the academic year. The annual certification ensures compliance with state textbook sufficiency requirements.

A second public hearing will address the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Pasadena Chapter 434’s initial proposal for a successor collective bargaining agreement with the district.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Pasadena Joins County Billboard Campaign to Support Fire-Affected Businesses

Local businesses impacted by January wildfires included in regional recovery effort

Pasadena is among several cities participating in Los Angeles County’s new billboard campaign aimed at helping small and micro businesses recover from the January wildfires, including the Eaton and Palisades fires.

According to a press release issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, the County has installed 23 billboards across the region to promote its “Shop Local. Dine Local. Recover Local.” initiative. The campaign encourages residents to support businesses that suffered property damage, revenue loss and customer decline due to the fires.

The billboard placements include digital premier panels, digital bulletins, transit shelters and printed postal panels. They will remain in place through November. Clear Channel Outdoor partnered with the County to display the messaging.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and their recovery is essential to our communities’ recovery,” said Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Millennial Democrat Ian Calderon Announces Bid For California Governor

By Jeanne Kuang, CALMATTERS

Former state lawmaker Ian Calderon is joining the crowded 2026 race for California governor, he announced Tuesday.

The Whittier Democrat is framing his candidacy as one from a “new generation of leadership.” He was 27 when he became the first millennial to be elected to the state Assembly in 2012.

But he was no newcomer even then — Calderon comes from a line of politicians from southeast Los Angeles County. His father, Charles Calderon, started the dynasty when he was elected to the Assembly in 1982. Two of his uncles also served in the Legislature — and federal prison for corruption.

Ian Calderon left the Assembly, where he was majority leader, in 2020 to focus on his young family and his stepmother Lisa Calderon now holds his seat. But he’s been biding his time for a return.

In a campaign video that heavily features his wife and children,