Friday, March 21, 2025

After the Fire: Tenants of Fire-Damaged Altadena Apartments Demand Urgent Action from Landlords and Officials

By EDDIE RIVERA

Months after Eaton Fire, tenants claim ‘lack of basic necessities’

“We are here to ask for basic empathy for basic necessities—necessities that have been neglected for three months,” said Brenda Lopez, a resident of 403 Figueroa Drive in Altadena, at a press conference held Thursday to demand immediate action on ongoing health and safety hazards in their fire-damaged apartment complex.

Tenants of the fire-damaged building were joined by a host of community organizations, including the Comité de Inquilinos 403, in partnership with the Pasadena Community Job Center and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), along with local allies. 

The tenants, many of them immigrant workers, said they returned to unsafe homes after the Eaton Fire, having no other way, alternatives, and have faced neglect from building management and insufficient cleanup by authorities. 

“We had to go all the way to their office to ask questions, to ask them what their plan was,” Lopez said.

Friday, March 21, 2025

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna Challenges Subpoenas from Oversight Body

CITY NEWS SERVICE

In a heated discussion, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna Thursday refused to comply with subpoenas issued by an oversight body that requested information related to possible deputy misconduct and use of force.

The county’s Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission issued subpoenas demanding records related to three cases in which deputies allegedly beat, shot, and used excessive force on young men. Luna said the department has “nothing to hide,” but county counsel instructed him not to send the information.

“As you’re aware, we filed a declaratory relief action to go to court so that we can get clarification for all of these requests,” Luna said. “This isn’t an issue of trying to hide any information. We just want clarification so we can follow the law.”

“What you’re asking us to do right now violates the law, according to county counsel.”

Earlier this week, Luna filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, asking a court to decide whether the LASD should comply with the COC’s request.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Recent Rains Boost Stormwater Capture in LA County

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The series of late-winter storms that brought much- needed rain to the region last week raised the total volume of stormwater captured by Los Angeles County to 11.9 billion gallons just weeks before the end of storm season on April 15, but officials said dire drought conditions persist Friday.

To date, downtown Los Angeles has received only 6.5 inches of rainfall since Oct. 1, 2024, less than half the annual average of 15.4 inches, according to L.A. County Public Works.

By contrast, downtown L.A. received 21.2 inches of rain last year, enabling the county to recharge its groundwater aquifers with more than 117 billion gallons of stormwater — enough to meet the needs of nearly 2.9 million people for a year, according to the county.

The unusually dry winter underscores the need for continued investments in stormwater management and water conservation, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.

“While recent storms have boosted our local water supply,

Friday, March 21, 2025

Harnessing Sunlight to Make Sustainable Fuels

By Kimm Fesenmaier, CALTECH

Increasing energy demands and problems associated with burning fossil fuels have heightened interest in more sustainable energy sources, such as sunlight. But there are still areas where carbon-based fuel remains the standard, such as in the aviation industry. To address this need, scientists have been working to devise a way to use sunlight to generate solar-thermal heating that could then drive the chemical reactions that are needed to make jet fuel with net-zero carbon emissions.

Now, a team at Caltech that is part of a Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Innovation Hub known as the Liquid Sunlight Alliance, or LiSA, has developed such a solar-thermal heating system on a small scale and demonstrated that it can successfully drive an important reaction for jet fuel production. Completely powered by solar energy, the so-called photothermocatalytic reactor incorporates a spectrally selective solar absorber to maximize the generation of solar-thermal heating. The modular design of the reactor takes advantage of current fabrication technologies and existing silicon solar panel production infrastructure.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Guest Opinion | United Teachers of Pasadena President Jonathan Gardner: Congress Needs to Step Up and Protect Students

Dismantling the Department of Education, laying off thousands of dedicated Department of Education staff, appointing someone who has never spent a day teaching in a classroom to be our Secretary of Education…these are more than just headlines. They are direct threats to public education and the future of students and families across our community.

The Trump/Musk Administration is betraying public school students and educators. Education is a nonpartisan issue. Students in poverty and students with special needs deserve resources and support in our schools — we can all agree on that.

The Trump/Musk Administration is targeting students and families in our communities with these vicious plans to dismantle public education. It’s unacceptable and we and our state and federal affiliates to our union are fighting back.

We need more resources for special education. This administration is showing us that we can’t trust them to deliver what Pasadena students deserve. We demand that members of Congress do their jobs and step up to protect our students at this critical time.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Tenants Return to Fire-Damaged Apartments in Altadena, Seek Help with Toxic Cleanup

Comité de Inquilinos 403 highlights environmental dangers faced by residents living in aftermath of Eaton Fire

Tenants who have returned to live in fire-damaged apartments in Altadena said they are seeking urgent help from government officials and landlords to address toxic contamination and safety concerns in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.

The Pasadena Community Job Center, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and allied organizations will join the a tenants’ rights group called Comité de Inquilinos 403 on Thursday at 5 p.m. on Figueroa Drive to highlight the environmental hazards that the residents face.

“We were forced to return to our apartments, even though we knew they might be contaminated, because we have nowhere else to go,”said Brenda Lopez-Ardon, a tenant representative of the Comité de Inquilinos 403.

“We know we are putting our health at risk, but we don’t have the resources to do anything else. What’s most heartbreaking is that the company that owns the building is lying to us and offering no help.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Insurance Denials Can Devastate Mental Health Patients. California is Considering How to Fix That

By Jocelyn Wiener, CALMATTERS

Frustrated Californians have long complained that they can’t get their health plans to cover desperately needed mental health treatment.

These days, state lawmakers appear to be hearing them—and trying to act.

One bill introduced this session would require health plans to cough up more data on coverage denials—and penalize those that wrongfully deny claims most often.

Another would require plans to wait at least 28 days after approving a patient to go into a substance use treatment center before they reassess whether the patient can remain there.

A third would prohibit health plans from requiring prior authorization for mental health and substance use treatment before and during a patient’s stay in a hospital.

The list goes on.

Four years after state leaders passed landmark legislation to improve mental health and substance use coverage, polls portray a public still deeply unhappy with what they’re getting.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Eaton Fire Collaborative Focused on Recovery and Rebuilding Local Community

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Members of the Eaton Fire Collaborative held a press conference at the Rose Bowl to talk about efforts to rebuild homes and community in the wake of the destructive Eaton Fire which destroyed homes in Altadena and Pasadena.

The destructive fire burned more than 9,000 structures, left 17 people dead and scorched 14,000 acres.

Former Pasadena Police Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls said the collaborative was born shortly after a fire. Qualls received calls from Muir Alumni Jill Hawkins and Muir Principal Lawton Gray and Phil Knapp, who told him they were doing a distribution center at Pasadena City College.

“I went out there and, man, we had all this stuff coming in,” Qualls to Pasadena Now. “I mean, from all over the place. So we started putting it together, starting sorting it and started getting the word out.”

Days later, the center was closed because many of the people in need had left the area,

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Day One Hosts Community Event Offering Housing Resources and Local Market for Eaton Fire Recovery

Monthly gathering aims to support those affected while fostering neighborhood connections

The DENA Home Market, a monthly Eaton Fire Recovery event, will return to Pasadena on Sunday, March 30, offering a combination of vital resources, support, and connection for area residents. The event, organized by Day One, will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their location at 175 North Euclid Ave. in Pasadena.

The event specifically targets residents of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, bringing together these neighboring communities for resources, support, and connection.

Designed as a monthly gathering to support those impacted by the fires, the market divides its offerings into two distinct sections. The Housing Fair, situated in the Day One Yard, will provide essential assistance to those impacted by the fires during the three-hour event.

Resources available at the Housing Fair include free essential goods, financial assistance, and information on lot sales. Attendees can also access guidance on reverse mortgages, permits, contractors, architects,

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Walk MS Event To Go Ahead On March 30

Annual fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research will take place on March 30 at Rose Bowl

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced that its annual Walk MS: Greater Los Angeles fundraiser will proceed as scheduled on Sunday, March 30, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

Despite recent devastating California wildfires, organizers decided to move forward with the event after consulting with local officials and community partners.

“We are holding all of those affected by the devastating California wildfires in our hearts,” said a statement from Walk MS organizers. “After speaking with local officials, community partners and many of our dedicated Walk MS fundraisers and volunteers, we’ve made the decision to proceed with Walk MS: Greater Los Angeles on March 30.”

The statement emphasized the importance of community gathering during difficult times: “We are confident we can host this event safely, and we heard loud and clear from our Walk MS community that coming together is more important than ever.”