Thursday, August 28, 2025

Harabedian Co-Chairs First Hearing of New California Housing Affordability Committee

The committee will host additional hearings in the fall and new year

Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) co-chaired the inaugural hearing Wednesday of the newly formed Select Committee on Housing Finance and Affordability, marking a the beginning of a new phase in the State Legislature’s efforts to confront California’s housing crisis.

The committee, created earlier this year by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, convened lawmakers, housing experts and advocates to examine pragmatic solutions for expanding housing access across the state. Harabedian leads the committee alongside Assemblymember Ávila Farías (D-Martinez).

“California families are being priced out of the very communities they helped build,” Harabedian said. “This Select Committee will attempt to cut through the gridlock and find tangible solutions that make housing affordable and attainable again.”

Farías called for a recalibration of housing policy that starts with bringing policymakers, industry partners and housing practitioners to the table.

Speaker Rivas spotlighted that California’s climate policies should deliver real results for Californians. “We can’t afford to leave any housing solutions on the sidelines,” Rivas said.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

NAACP-Pasadena Reflects on Voting Rights Legacy, Saying ‘Threats … Persist’

Organization marks 19th Amendment anniversary with call to protect ballot access

The NAACP Pasadena Branch marked the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment on August 26 with a reflection on Black women’s voting struggles and a call to defend voting rights. 

The organization posted a statement on Facebook acknowledging the difficult path Black women faced in gaining ballot access. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote but did not guarantee equal access for all women. 

“For Black women, that path was anything but easy,” the NAACP-Pasadena statement said. 

The group highlighted the political influence of Black women voters. Referencing “the 92%” in their statement, they said this demographic “has consistently shown that our vote is powerful, transformative, and undeniable.” 

Current voting rights challenges prompted the organization’s call for community action. 

“Today, as threats to voting rights persist, our community must stand united in fighting with everything we have to protect this fundamental right,”

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Golf Clinic Offers Respite for Eaton Fire Victims

Children displaced by the Eaton Fire found unexpected joy swinging golf clubs Saturday at Brookside Golf Club, where a free clinic offered families a brief escape from disaster recovery.

First Tee-Greater Pasadena, with sponsorship from East West Bank, provided golf instruction, clothing and financial literacy materials to youth and adults affected by the fire during the August 23 event.

“For many of the attendees, it’s their first exposure to the game of golf. At First Tee – Greater Pasadena, we take on a huge responsibility of introducing the game to the members of our community,” First Tee said in a statement.

The nonprofit uses golf instruction to teach core values including respect, confidence, honesty and courtesy. Its curriculum focuses on building character and life skills in young participants.

“The program aims to develop self-confidence and resilience that children can apply beyond golf. These qualities help kids in various aspects of their lives,” the statement said.

East West Bank’s sponsorship enabled the organization to expand its community impact.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Pasadena Congresswoman Demands Answers Over Presence of Armed Federal Agents at Newsom Event

Lawmaker seeks explanation for federal deployment outside the Governor’s recent Little Tokyo press conference

U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, who represents the Linda Vista area of Pasadena, is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security following the deployment of approximately 100 heavily armed federal agents outside Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Aug. 14 press conference in Los Angeles.

Friedman led a letter signed by 14 other members of California’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, questioning the scale, timing and intent of the operation.

The lawmakers are seeking a written response from the Department of Homeland Security by Sept. 4.

Media reports indicate that agents — many in tactical gear and masks — were stationed directly outside the Japanese American National Museum during Newsom’s remarks. Only two individuals were reportedly arrested, prompting concerns about the scale, timing and intent of the deployment.

“The American people must be able to trust that Immigration and Customs Enforcement,

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Pasadena-Based ForensisGroup Helps Communities Navigate Wildfire Insurance Claims and Legal Disputes

ForensisGroup, an expert witness referral firm based in Pasadena, is playing a pivotal role in helping local residents affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County and their lawyers navigate complex insurance claims and legal disputes, according to a company statement.

The firm, which connects attorneys with independent experts across thousands of technical disciplines, said its specialists are assisting with cause-and-origin investigations, fire behavior analysis, construction cost estimating, environmental remediation, and forensic accounting for business interruption claims. These services are being used to support litigation and mediation efforts across Southern California.

“Recovery for wildfire-impacted communities is about more than rebuilding structures—it’s about restoring trust,” said Mercy Steenwyk, CEO and founder of ForensisGroup. “Objective, credentialed experts bring clarity that keeps the process grounded in truth.”

The company noted that wildfire-related legal matters often require multidisciplinary expertise, including electrical and utility safety, meteorology, structural engineering, and psychological damage assessments.

Director Emily Steenwyk said expert analysis helps translate complex technical issues into defensible insights for negotiations and trial.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

PUSD Students Return to Upgraded Campuses After Summer Renovation Projects

Bond-funded improvements enhance facilities across 34 schools as district welcomes nearly 14,000 students

Students at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) returned to significantly improved campuses Aug. 18 as the 2025-2026 school year began.

The district welcomed an estimated 13,591 students across 34 campuses that Monday. Many found their schools transformed by summer renovation projects funded by voter-approved bond measures.

“The Power of PUSD was on full display,” said Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, PUSD superintendent, in a message to the community about the school year’s start.

Hamilton Elementary School students discovered a newly transformed playground featuring fresh paint and revitalized surfaces. Pasadena High School received a refreshed entrance and new walkways with landscaping.

At John Muir High School, facilities teams installed new partitions and repaired ceilings and walls in restrooms. The 1926-built school at 1905 Lincoln Ave. also received front-entry security system installations as part of safety improvements.

“We have wanted this capability for a long time,”

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

California GOP Takes Newsom To Court Over Redistricting, Again. Will Trump Sue Next?

By Maya C. Miller and Alexei Koseff, CALMATTERS

Fresh off their failed attempt to kill Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, California Republicans and anti-gerrymandering groups this week launched an all-out resistance to defeat what they regard as an unconstitutional ballot question.

Republican legislators in particular, many of whom lambasted Democrats in fiery floor speeches last week, have stressed that independent redistricting should be a nonpartisan affair. A few even ventured to lightly scold President Donald Trump for urging their counterparts in red states  to redraw maps for political gain. And several filed a new lawsuit against the Newsom administration on Monday, their second in a week.

But despite their best efforts, California Republicans can’t completely separate Trump from the battle over redistricting, a fight that the president initiated earlier this summer by calling for gerrymandering in Texas to benefit the GOP. On Monday, the president offhandedly threatened to sue California to halt Newsom’s plan.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Harabedian Presses for Insurance Reform to Aid Local Wildfire Survivors

The Assemblymember joined survivors and officials in Altadena to demand action from the California Department of Insurance

Assemblymember John Harabedian (D–Pasadena) joined wildfire survivors and local officials Monday to demand urgent reforms from the California Department of Insurance, citing widespread delays and denials of claims stemming from the Eaton Fire and other recent disasters affecting residents in Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding communities.

Speaking at a press conference held in Altadena alongside the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Harabedian called on the California Department of Insurance to enforce existing laws, expedite claims, and increase transparency in insurance practices. He also spotlighted Assembly Bill 238, legislation he authored to allow disaster-impacted homeowners to pause mortgage payments for up to one year.

“Our responsibility is clear: to protect survivors, give them the time and resources to rebuild their home and their lives, and ensure they can do so with security and peace of mind. That’s why I am leading this effort — calling on the California Department of Insurance to act swiftly and decisively,

Monday, August 25, 2025

Schools Superintendent Outlines Roadmap to Close $30 Million Budget Shortfall

Community advisory committee and nine workstreams will feed proposals to School Board for November decisions

The Pasadena Unified School District faces a projected budget shortfall of about $30 million this year, Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco told school families in a Friday night email, calling the situation “a serious and urgent challenge” that requires the community’s full attention.

Blanco attributed the gap to sharply rising costs — including employee health benefits, utilities, and property and liability insurance — combined with declining enrollment that reduces state funding tied to average daily attendance. She described the mismatch as a “structural imbalance” the District must address “strategically and proactively.”

To close the gap, the District has launched a multi-pronged Fiscal Stabilization Process, Blanco said. Workstreams include a Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee, special education efficiencies, grant maximization, central office reductions, contracts and procurement review, transportation analysis, asset management, and staffing and vacancy evaluations. Each area will be reviewed for savings while protecting “resources closest to our students,” Blanco wrote.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Altadena Neighborhood Coalition to Host Legislative Update Tuesday

The meeting will feature updates from representatives of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and Assemblymember John Harabedian

The Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA) will hold a virtual meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m., featuring legislative updates from representatives of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and Assemblymember John Harabedian.

Although ACONA meetings are traditionally held bimonthly at the Altadena Community Center, the Aug. 26 session will be conducted via Zoom. The meeting is open to all Altadena residents, and the link is available at ACONAonline.org.

Representatives from Pérez and Harabedian’s offices will provide a general overview of active legislation, followed by focused discussion on three bills with direct local impact: SB 629, AB 797 and SB 782. SB 629, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, proposes reclassification of high fire zones.

AB 797, introduced by Harabedian, seeks to stabilize property values in disaster-impacted areas through the Community Stabilization Act.

SB 782, sponsored by Pérez,