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.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Friends In Deed Presents EmpowerHER Series for Women’s History Month

Nonprofit launches three-week celebration focused on wellness, creativity and community connection

Friends In Deed, a Pasadena-based human services agency celebrating its 130th anniversary, is introducing EmpowerHER: Lifting up Women, Wellness, and Creative Expression, a three-week event series throughout March 2025. The program mirrors activities offered at The Women’s Room, the organization’s daytime refuge for women experiencing homelessness or at risk in the community, providing supportive services with compassion and dignity.

“This series is a reflection of the work we do at The Women’s Room—creating a space where women can feel safe, empowered, and supported,” said Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Executive Director of Friends In Deed.

Each event was thoughtfully designed to relate directly to activities at The Women’s Room, such as meditation, creative writing, flower arranging, and games like bingo.

The series features three distinct events: a restorative Wellness Workshop on March 15 offering yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy; Books and Bouquets on March 18 combining insightful book discussion with hands-on flower arranging;

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Altadena Grocery Store Reopens — A Symbol of Eaton Fire Recovery

CITY NEWS SERVICE

In a major sign of recovery after the devastating Eaton Fire, an Altadena grocery store that has long served as a social hub in the community reopened Wednesday amid a sea of destruction.

Altadena Grocery Outlet, which escaped major damage in the Eaton Fire despite the devastation around it, opened its doors to the public Wednesday morning at 2270 Lake Ave. In the weeks since the fire, the store — adorned with a banner reading “Altadena Strong — We Will Rebuild!” — has served as a centralized location for various relief efforts, including workers from the American Red Cross, ShelterBox USA, the county Department of Public Health and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“In many ways, it’s a banner day for our community, and a sign of hope for many residents who worry that they’ll be forgotten. We’ve truly missed serving our customers,” Sandra Valenzuela, who owns the Grocery Outlet store along with her husband Jose, said in a statement in advance of the store opening.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Caruso Nonprofit Fire-Recovery Group Announces Free Prefab Home Program

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Steadfast LA, a nonprofit fire-recovery organization spearheaded by businessman and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, announced Wednesday it has partnered with a prefab-home construction company to provide new houses for low-income residents who lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires.

The prefab homes built by Samara will be offered to “low-income homeowners in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades who lost homes in the wildfires and lack the economic resources to rebuild,” according to Steadfast LA.

The homes will be fully funded through the Steadfast LA Foundation, which will collaborate with an outside organization to oversee the eligibility, building and installation process between property owners and Samara.

It was unclear exactly how many such homes will be provided through the partnership.

According to Steadfast, Samara and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia will donate $15 million to the effort — an initial $5 million donation followed by $10 million in matching donations. The Caruso Family Foundation will provide an unspecified amount of “seed funding”

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

County Supervisors Back Proposal To Protect Renters Hurt Financially by Fires

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday evening to take the initial step to provide limited eviction protections for renters and small business owners financially impacted by the January wildfires.

The vote directs the Office of County Counsel to draft a resolution to be presented at next Tuesday’s board meeting.

The amended resolution will cover tenants throughout Los Angeles County who are financially impacted by the January wildfires, who have signed up for relief programs, unemployment insurance or emergency benefits, owing to a loss of at least 10% monthly income.

Landlords will be prohibited from imposing late fees, interest, or other charges on rental debt, but allowed to challenge a tenant’s eligibility for free of charge.

If approved, the resolution will remain in effect until July 31. The initial proposal was to remain in effect until Jan. 31, 2026.

Tuesday’s motion also directed the CEO and the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to report back to the board in 15 days on developing financial parameters of a fund,

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

LA Supervisors Support Assembly Bill on Price-Gouging Extensions

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is throwing its support behind an Assembly bill Wednesday that would extend price- gouging protections on hotels, food, and essential goods and services for the duration of an emergency declaration, an increase from the existing 30-day cap.

Assembly Bill 380, introduced by Assemblyman Mark González, D-Los Angeles, would require that price gouging protections remain in effect for the full duration of an emergency declaration.

A motion introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath notes that the January wildfires displaced thousands of residents, and several anti price- gouging laws have been in effect since, with penalties set to a maximum of $50,000 per violation. The motion states that some investigations have found short-term rental companies listing units at significantly inflated prices, some increasing by over 50% compared to pre-disaster levels.

The California Department of Justice has issued warnings to more than 200 hotels and landlords for alleged violations, according to the motion.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Altadena Woman Reported Missing in Eaton Fire

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs’ Department’s Missing Persons Unit is seeking the public’s help Wednesday in locating a  94-year-old Altadena woman who authorities believe was displaced by the Eaton Fire.

Mercedes Broussard Terrell last had contact with members of her family on Jan. 6. –one day before the fire, authorities said. Her last known location was on the 400 block of East Mendocino Street and Oliveras Street.

Terrell is Black, 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, has gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

Anyone who has seen Terrell or knows of her whereabouts was asked to call the Sheriff’s Missing Persons Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Federal Official Says Eaton Fire Cleanup Will Be Completed by January 8, 2026

[Updated] Altadena, county, state and federal officials unveiled more details about the Eaton Fire comprehensive recovery plan including a new relief fund, the debris removal timeline, and a streamlined rebuilding process during Tuesday’s virtual Town Council meeting.

“I mean, I anticipate being done with every property by the one year anniversary of the fire. So around January 7th, January 8th, 2026,” said Colonel Eric Swenson of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. “I think the vast majority of [properties] will be done much sooner than that.”

Swenson said there will no doubt be some properties that could take longer if their owners did not return necessary legal paperwork or opted out of the Army Corps program.

The cleanup effort represents the largest wildfire response in Environmental Protection Agency history, with over 1,600 staff members currently in the field. EPA officials reported completing 82% of Altadena’s household hazardous waste removal since work began on January 28th, with a March 31st deadline for property owners to submit Right of Entry forms.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Latino Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund Focuses on Tenants Rights and Multi-Racial Coalition Building During Recovery

Relief efforts target vulnerable communities, organization says

The Latino Community Foundation has intensified its support for Pasadena’s January wildfire recovery, directing substantial portions of its second-round $1 million grant allocation to community-based partners, including the Boys + Girls Club Pasadena and Pasadena Tenants Union.

The foundation announcement said it aims to establish a sustained long-term recovery process focusing on tenant rights advocacy and multi-racial coalition building in the community.

The grants, part of a larger $2.1 million relief package for Los Angeles County, aim to provide rental assistance, culturally rooted mental health services, and direct cash assistance to communities affected by January’s devastating wildfires, according to foundation officials.

“Philanthropy must continue to lead as Los Angeles rebuilds and recovers. We must act swiftly to prevent a compounding economic and housing crisis,” said Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. “By investing in organizations that are prioritizing tenant rights and immediate financial relief for immigrant, Latino, Black,