Thursday, April 17, 2025

Pasadena Unified Initiates Independent Soil Testing In Response to Lead Level Findings

PUSD also announces additional precautionary measures

In response to findings released last week by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health regarding elevated lead levels in soil samples collected near the Eaton Fire burn area, the Pasadena Unified School District announced Wednesday it is undertaking additional safety measures by conducting independent outdoor soil testing at all campuses. The District described the initiative is part of the District’s ongoing commitment to the safety of students and employees.

The recent findings were not from school grounds, and at this time, there is no indication that any PUSD campuses – or District sites – are unsafe or that anyone is in immediate danger, the District pointed out in a statement.

All PUSD schools remain open.

The areas where students and employees spend time daily, such as grass fields, astroturf, mulch, and gravel, are considered safe for children and adults, according to the District.

“The primary concern is with bare soil,

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Taking a Stand Against Social Security Cuts

By EDDIE RIVERA

Congresswoman Chu rails against Trump and Musk for proposed ‘Tax Cut for Billionaires,’ which would affect Social Security funding

“Let’s call this what it is — a backdoor cut to Social Security benefits,” U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu declared Tuesday morning outside the Social Security Administration office in Pasadena, flanked by a small but resolute crowd of advocates, retirees, and former Social Security employees.

“When someone can’t reach Social Security to get their monthly payment, that’s a cut. A delayed payment is a benefit cut,” she said.

Chu spoke forcefully against a proposed $4.5 trillion tax cut backed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, which she warned could gut essential programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

The cut, she said, would result in staffing reductions and office closures across the Social Security Administration (SSA), crippling a system relied upon by over 110,000 residents in her district alone — including seniors,

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Black Entertainment Professionals to Host Prom Salon for Students Affected by Fires

Local collective offers free beauty services to help students prepare for milestone events

Satin Bonnets on TV, a collective of Black women entertainment industry professionals, will host their first Prom Salon on April 26 to support Black high school students in Altadena and surrounding Los Angeles areas who were affected by the Eaton Fires. The initiative aims to provide essential beauty services for students preparing for milestone events like prom and graduation.

“We believe there is strength in personal care and seek to provide opportunities to offer direct aid in our communities,” said a representative of Satin Bonnets on TV. “Our goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of these students by partnering with local businesses and providers to ensure they have the support they need for their milestone events.”

The event will take place at Borner’s Barber College at 1284 N Lake Ave. in Pasadena from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering students complimentary beauty services including hairstyling,

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Volunteer Program Launches to Help Altadena Businesses Recover From Fire

Local chamber of commerce announces initiative to coordinate relocation efforts for affected enterprises

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce has launched a new volunteer-driven program aimed at helping local businesses rebuild after the devastating Eaton Fire. Announced on Tuesday, April 7, 2025, the “Back in Business” initiative will coordinate relocation efforts, connect business owners with resources, and work to restore the area’s economic vitality.

“Businesses are an essential part of a community,” says Delgado, an urban planner with disaster recovery experience. “Their return—through compassion, commitment, and cooperation— is at the very core of successful rebuilding.”

The program focuses on two main components: outreach volunteers and space identification. Trained local volunteers will contact affected businesses to assess their needs through structured questionnaires, listen and respond to needs of business owners coping with disaster-related trauma, build lasting relationships among neighbors aimed at reconnecting businesses with their client base, and connect them with pro bono assistance from legal, real estate, and architectural experts. Meanwhile,

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Recognized in LA County

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a motion to recognize April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day within the county.

The Armenian Genocide took place between 1915 and 1916, when millions of Christians in the Ottoman Empire were displaced. As many as 1.2 million people were killed, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia.

Los Angeles county is now home to the largest Armenian diaspora outside of Armenia.

Introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis, Tuesday’s motion condemned the Turkish government for denying the genocide despite historical evidence.

The motion also made reference to alleged ethnic cleansing efforts in recent years. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military attack on the Artsakh region in Armenia, followed by a 10-month blockade of the Lachin Corridor. In 2023, over 100,000 Armenians were forcefully displaced from their ancestral lands, according to the motion.

Azerbaijan claimed full control over the region, which has been in dispute between the two sides since 1918.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Supervisors Approve Recommended $47.9 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26

By ANUSHA SHANKAR, City News Service

The county Board of Supervisors gave initial approval Tuesday to a $47.9 billion budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with the recommended spending plan including 3% cuts to some departments and the elimination of 310 vacant positions, but no layoffs.

The recommended budget reflects efforts to “offset extraordinary budget pressures,” according to a statement from the county, including more than $1 billion in costs related to the January wildfires. The county will also begin to feel the pain of a proposed $4 billion settlement of nearly 7,000 claims of sexual abuse against county workers, mainly at probation camps and halls.

County CEO Fesia Davenport presented the budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, beginning the public process of reviewing, revising and adopting the spending plan.

Presenting the budget to members of the media on Monday, Davenport said the county’s future financial picture is also threatened by the possible loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

LA County Restores Funding for Homeless Youth and Prevention Programs

Following weeks of back and forth, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion to restore funding for transitional age youth and key homelessness prevention programs, and is exploring other ways Wednesday to sustain those programs.

In a report presented earlier this month, the Chief Executive Office suggested cuts to some programs in the 2025-2026 Homeless Initiative Funding Recommendations, generating some criticism.

Introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Holly Mitchell, Tuesday’s motion reinstated $5.6 million in funding to programs for people aged 16 to 25 who are at a higher risk of homelessness.

Funding was also partially restored to other prevention services and legal and financial support programs.

The restored programs will be funded by redirecting allocations within the Public Defender’s Office, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the Department of Health Services.

“This restoration is about protecting our most vulnerable youth and ensuring we don’t let up on the progress we’ve made to prevent homelessness before it begins,”

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

$3 Million to Support Soil Testing for Eaton Fire Victims Allocated by LA County

CITY NEWS SERVICE

After tests found elevated levels of lead in soil near the Eaton Fire burn area, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday to allocate $3 million to help affected property owners conduct more detailed testing.

The county Department of Public Health released test results last week that showed levels of lead above health screening thresholds in the soil at properties downwind from the Eaton Fire.

“The source of lead in the fire is reasonably expected to be from the burning of homes with lead-based paint, which was common prior to 1979,” according to the department. “Caltech reported that more than 90% of the houses in Altadena were built before 1975.”

The county agency noted that “because there are many potential sources of lead in soil in the Los Angeles area, additional assessments will help understand how much of the lead found in the samples came from the 2025 wildfires versus other sources.”

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

UCLA Survey: Frustration Remains High for LA County Residents

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Concerns over the high cost of living kept the satisfaction of Los Angeles County residents at its lowest-ever level for the second year running, with worries about the pervasive problem of homelessness adding to the feeling of pessimism, according to a new UCLA survey released Wednesday.

The latest edition of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ quality of life index reveals that despite the sunshine, beaches and excellent tacos, living in Los Angeles is essentially a downer for respondents.

There was no overall change in the survey this year. However, the score of 53 matches last year’s lowest ever in the 10 years of the report’s existence. The survey has hit this low point in three out of the last four years.

The cost of living remains a primary concern as people worry about losing their homes or feeding their families. Many residents said job security and the state of the economy adds to their uneasiness.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

LA Youth Photography Competition Launches For Aspiring Artists

Local nonprofit invites young photographers to showcase talent in citywide contest

Mount of Angels, a nonprofit focused on youth artistic development, has launched its first-ever LA Youth Photography Competition open to all Los Angeles residents under 18 years old. The competition aims to provide young photographers with a platform to display their work professionally without traditional barriers to entry.

“Photography is a powerful way for young artists to tell their stories and share how they see the world,” said Jesse Cohen, Founder of Mount of Angels. “We want to create an inclusive platform where every child has the chance to express themselves without the traditional barriers to entry in the art world.”

The competition is now accepting high-resolution photo submissions through the organization’s website at https://mountofangels.com/photo-contest.

While the suggested theme is “Resilience — Post Fire Life in LA,” participants are welcome to submit any original photographs. Selected submissions, based on available space, will be professionally printed,