Friday, February 21, 2025

LA County Board Grants $506,000 to Keep Foster Siblings Together

Innovative village project aims to maintain foster sibling bonds in Palmdale

Los Angeles County is taking steps to prevent the separation of siblings in foster care through a major funding initiative. Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger presented a $506,488 check yesterday to Together California, a visionary child welfare organization that works to keep siblings in foster care housed together.

The presentation brought together key leaders and supporters, including renowned actor Christian Bale, his wife Sibi Blaži?, Eric Esrailian, and Tim McCormick.

“I’m thrilled to support this important organization that will uplift our local foster youth,” said Supervisor Barger. “Together California’s innovative model will break the cycle of trauma that happens when you separate siblings when they enter foster care. Keeping siblings together and providing supportive homes and services is sure to make a lifelong positive impact on many youths’ lives.”

The funding, allocated through Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health program, will significantly contribute to the construction of essential resources for the new Together California village in Palmdale,

Friday, February 21, 2025

Altadena Rite Aid Reopens

Local pharmacy restores critical health services to Altadena community

The Rite Aid pharmacy at 735 East Altadena Drive in Altadena has reopened with restored essential pharmacy services and retail operations following Eaton wildfire destruction in the area, returning to serve the needs of the local community.

“Customers impacted by the fires can fill their prescription at any Rite Aid pharmacy location convenient to them. Additionally, while a state of emergency is in effect, pharmacists located within the affected and surrounding counties are able to provide emergency refills of certain prescriptions to customers impacted by the fires.”

For uninsured people affected by disasters, the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program offers support in accessing necessary medications. Customers can learn more about this program through the aspr.hhs.gov website or by speaking with their local pharmacist for more information.

The reopened location will operate its pharmacy services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

Friday, February 21, 2025

County Launches Task Force to Reform Local Government Structure

Measure G implementation group to shape County’s future governance through 2028

Los Angeles County is seeking community leaders and residents to join a new Governance Reform Task Force that will help transform how the County is governed. The task force, established following voter approval of Measure G last November, will develop recommendations for implementing major changes to the County’s governance structure planned for 2026, 2028 and beyond.

“This is a great opportunity for those passionate about public service to make a meaningful impact on the governance reform in Los Angeles County,” said Edward Yen, Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors will oversee the task force, which must hold its first meeting by May 30. Members will serve through December 3, 2028, unless the term is extended, and will receive compensation on a per diem basis.

The task force will bring together community leaders and residents who will work collaboratively to provide recommendations to the Board during this transition period.

Friday, February 21, 2025

LA Building Industry Mobilizes to Speed Wildfire Recovery

Industry professionals collaborate on strategies to rebuild communities devastated by the Eaton and Palisades Fires

More than 800 architects, engineers, designers, contractors, and developers gathered at a two-day summit on February 13 and 14 to accelerate the rebuilding of communities devastated by recent wildfires. The initiative, launched by Los Angeles County, aims to fast-track reconstruction while enhancing resilience against future disasters.

“I’m thrilled this convening took place because there is a lot of rebuilding work ahead of us and we need to work smart,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger.

“We need every voice at the table so our County can facilitate an efficient and timely recovery… This isn’t just about rebuilding structures—it’s about restoring whole communities so that families have a place to call home and businesses can re-open and thrive.”

The Rebuilding Together summit, hosted by Los Angeles County Public Works, originally planned as a single-day event, expanded to accommodate overwhelming interest from industry professionals.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Variety Show at Glendale’s Alex Theatre Planned, Will Aid Eaton Fire Survivors, Local Artists

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena Heritage and Altadena Rotary are among the organizers of a variety show featuring performers affected by disaster

A group of community-minded organizations including Pasadena Heritage, Altadena Rotary, and Glendale’s Alex Theatre plan to host a 90-minute variety show fundraiser to support survivors of the Eaton Fire, particularly focusing on artists who lost homes, studios, and instruments in the disaster.

The benefit concert, scheduled for Thursday, March 27, in the Alex Theatre at 216 N. Brand will bring together internationally recognized musicians, dancers, magicians, and theatre artists from the affected area for an all-ages showcase.

“Many of our friends and neighbors lost their homes, businesses, jobs, schools, and places of worship. Our whole community lost important historical and cultural sites with a presence beyond our community,” said Pasadena Heritage Interim Executive Director Zoot Velasco. “We are coming together to help our Arroyo neighbors from the Eaton Fire area get back on their feet.”

The event is planned to feature performances by Upstream,

Friday, February 21, 2025

Today: Labor Groups to Distribute Supplies to Local Fire Survivors at Pasadena Headquarters

Relief event targets families affected by devastating Eaton Fire

Labor and healthcare organizations will distribute essential supplies Friday to families displaced by the catastrophic Eaton Fire.

Labor Community Services (LCS) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 121RN will host the resource distribution event at SEIU’s Pasadena headquarters, providing week-long food packages, air purifiers, and hygiene supplies to fire-affected families.

The distribution, scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1040 Lincoln Avenue, will offer food packages designed to feed a family of five for a week, along with feminine care products, air purifiers, and diapers.

SEIU 121RN’s headquarters has served as a hub for wildfire relief resources throughout the crisis.

The event builds on LCS’s track record of emergency response through the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, including similar food distributions across Norwalk, San Fernando, and Culver City.

“Traditional disaster assistance programs often miss informal service workers and uninsured households,” said Ulisses Sanchez of LCS.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Community Organizations Rally Saturday to Aid Families Affected by Pasadena-Area Fire

Relief event to provide shoes, supplies and federal assistance to displaced residents

A coalition of community groups and corporate sponsors plan to host a comprehensive relief event Saturday, February 22, for families impacted by the recent fire in the Pasadena-Altadena area.

The community-led resource hub, taking place at Metropolitan Baptist Church at 2283 North Fair Oaks Avenue will open its doors from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with volunteers arriving at 9:30 a.m.

DVS Skateboarding, alongside Steve Berra of The Berrics, Tyler Peterson, Timmy Johnson, and Uggs, will distribute free shoes and gear to displaced families who can demonstrate proof of residency.

Children from impacted households can receive assistance by showing proof of enrollment at local schools, according to event organizers at Music Changing Lives, who are coordinating the relief efforts.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and Los Angeles County, will be on-site to provide community resources and guidance for affected residents.

Additional support will come from organizations including Global Empowerment Mission and Soul Saving Productions,

Friday, February 21, 2025

Unusual “Heat Wave” to Push Temperatures Near 90° Next Week

Get ready for Spring-like conditions well ahead of schedule

An unseasonal late February warming trend is set to bring near-record temperatures to Pasadena and surrounding areas, with forecasters predicting highs reaching 88° degrees by mid-week, the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard office said today.

The warm spell, driven by building high pressure and offshore wind patterns ranking in the 97th percentile for this time of year, is expected to peak Tuesday and Wednesday.

Current conditions show temperatures Friday will reach the mid-70s under sunny skies.

While recent rains have helped minimize fire concerns, officials noted humidity levels will remain relatively low during this warm spell.

The detailed forecast shows a steady climb in temperatures: Friday reaching 79 degrees, Saturday also near 79, and Sunday hitting 81. Overnight lows will range from 50 to 57 degrees through the period. By Wednesday, temperatures could reach 88 degrees, with Thursday showing a slight cooling to 82.

The Weather Service has issued Wind Advisories for nearby mountain areas,

Friday, February 21, 2025

Should Fossil Fuel Companies be Forced to Pay for Los Angeles Wildfire Losses?

By DAN WALTERS, CALMATTERS

As wildfires swept through Los Angeles County last month, the New York Times published a commentary by former insurance commissioner Dave Jones, who suggested that oil companies should pay for the disaster’s immense losses of human life and property, not insurance companies.

“Major oil and gas companies have known for decades that burning their products could lead to potentially catastrophic events like the higher temperatures and abnormally dry conditions that fed the fires still being battled in Los Angeles,” Jones, now director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley, wrote, adding, “We should require these highly profitable companies to compensate communities, homeowners, businesses and even insurers for the losses.”

Jones cited what happened after the Camp Fire destroyed the rural community of Paradise in 2018 as a model for going after the oil industry. After paying the claims of Paradise property owners, insurers recovered $11 billion from PG&E because the failure of a single metal hook on a transmission tower was deemed to have ignited the fire.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

California Lawmakers Scramble To Fix ‘Lemon’ Vehicle Law — Again

By RYAN SABALOW, CALMATTERS

For more than half a century, California’s “lemon” law was considered one of the best in the nation at giving consumers the legal right to demand car companies fix or replace defective vehicles still under warranty.

Now, California lawmakers are scrambling to repair recent changes they made to the law to satisfy the very car companies accused of making so many lemon vehicles that their lawsuits have been clogging the state’s courts.

But the “fixes” lawmakers are considering have angered consumer groups, frustrated legislators and seemingly divided the car makers between ones that face a lot of lemon lawsuits and the ones that don’t.

“I think what we have is a messy and frankly — all due respect — illogical resulting situation,” Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican whose family owns several car dealerships in the Sacramento area, said at a hearing last week. “I feel like I’m in Alice in Wonderland, quite frankly.