Friday, August 1, 2025

Newsom Seeks $18 Billion to Replenish California Wildfire Fund

Governor proposes ambitious funding plan to address mounting wildfire costs and protect utility consumers

Governor Gavin Newsom is preparing draft legislation to inject $18 billion into California’s struggling wildfire fund, addressing critical financial challenges posed by recent catastrophic fires.

The proposed funding would be equally split, with $9 billion coming from electricity ratepayers through monthly fees and the remaining $9 billion from utility shareholders.

“We continue to work with the legislature on policy that will stabilize California’s Wildfire Fund to support the recovery of wildfire survivors and to protect California utility consumers,” said a spokesperson from Newsom’s office.

The proposed legislation comes at a critical time, with the existing wildfire fund facing potential depletion.

The Eaton Fire alone has resulted in estimated insured property losses of $15 million, threatening to exhaust the fund’s resources.

Currently, California ratepayers already contribute approximately $902,400 annually through non-bypassable charges on utility bills to fund half of the existing wildfire fund.

Friday, August 1, 2025

What Unionization Could Mean For California Uber And Lyft Drivers — And Riders

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

Uber and Lyft drivers in California have been fighting for years for higher wages and better working conditions — in the streets, before state lawmakers, in court and at the ballot.

Now, a bill making its way through the state Legislature would allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize.

If Assembly Bill 1340 passes, California would become the second state to give ride-hailing drivers the right to collectively bargain. Massachusetts was the first to do so after voters there approved a ballot measure last year.

The ride-hailing companies oppose the California legislation, saying it goes against the “spirit” of Proposition 22, the ballot initiative they bankrolled that voters approved in 2020. It cemented gig workers’ status as independent contractors in the state. The law also limited state lawmakers’ ability to establish collective-bargaining rights for gig workers, but an appeals court struck down that provision.

Drivers and other gig workers gained some benefits when Prop.

Friday, August 1, 2025

L.A. County Launches August Outreach to Connect Residents With Wide Range of Available Public Aid Programs

Monthlong campaign spotlights food, healthcare, employment support and civil rights resources

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services has launched “August Essential Services Month,” a digital outreach campaign designed to connect residents with critical programs and show them how to apply for support during hardship.

Targeting residents who may be unaware of available benefits, the department will use its weekly Essential DPSS newsletter, social media platforms and hundreds of poster ads donated by LA Metro to spotlight core services and simplify access. Outreach materials will be offered in multiple languages and feature direct links to websites and video guides with step-by-step instructions.

DPSS is one of 58 county-level social service agencies in California. It provides assistance with food and nutrition, health care, cash aid, employment services and in-home care for elderly, blind and disabled individuals.

Additional services promoted during the campaign include job opportunities, homeless support, civil rights and appeals, business-related resources, customer service and other community offerings.

Friday, August 1, 2025

Pasadena Schools To Recover $1.2 Million After Release Of Frozen Federal Education Funds

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

State officials announced California secured nearly $1 billion in previously frozen Trump administration funds

Pasadena schools are set to recover more than $1.2 million in federal education funding after California secured the release of nearly $1 billion that the Trump administration had previously frozen, state officials announced last week.

The Pasadena Unified School District projected a potential loss of $1,202,482 for the Fiscal Year 2025—26 during the freeze, with funds earmarked for professional development, English learners and immigrant students, and academic enrichment programs.

The breakdown included $604,612 from Title II Part A grants, $211,452 from Title III, $47,782 from Title III Immigrant and $338,635 from Title IV Part A. Title I-C funds were not applicable to the district.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said the California Department of Education received confirmation July 25 that the U.S. Department of Education will release the funds following weeks of delays.

Friday, August 1, 2025

In Altadena, Deputies Invite Residents to Park Saturday for Community Camaraderie and Crime Prevention

The Altadena sheriff’s station will host its annual National Night Out celebration on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lower Loma Alta Park, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., welcoming families for a community-building evening with local deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and county firefighters.

The event, part of the National Night Out nationwide campaign to foster police-community partnerships and strengthen neighborhood camaraderie, features music, games and other family-friendly activities.

The Pasadena Police Department will follow suit on Tuesday, Aug. 5 in front of its headquarters at 207 N. Garfield Ave. in Pasadena from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 PM.
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The Altadena station opted for a Saturday observance—rather than the official National Night Out date of Tuesday, Aug. 5—to better accommodate working families and encourage broader turnout. Officials say past weekend celebrations have helped “bring back a true sense of community” and created more opportunities for local engagement.

The timing comes amid rising crime concerns: residential burglaries in Altadena surged more than 240% from January through May compared with the same period in 2024,

Thursday, July 31, 2025

CA Lawmakers To Consider Change To Life Without Parole

By Lynn La, CALMATTERS

For California prisoners who committed crimes when they were young and received life sentences without parole, few opportunities exist to get a second chance. The possibility of a parole review is slim, while the likelihood of dying behind bars is all but guaranteed.

But one bill — which the Legislature is holding for consideration until 2026 — could change that if passed.

As CalMatters’ Joe Garcia explains, state Sen. Susan Rubio’s bill would open parole eligibility for some prisoners serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed when they were 25 or younger. The individual would have had to have served at least 25 years of their sentence already, and eligibility for parole does not guarantee release, according to the West Covina Democrat.

If signed into law, the measure could help Nathan Gould become eligible for parole. He is one of the more than 5,000 California prisoners serving life without parole.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Museum Exhibition Honors Altadena’s Black Artistic Heritage After Devastating Fire

Show features work by artists whose homes and studios were destroyed in January blaze

The California African American Museum in Los Angeles is hosting an exhibition celebrating Altadena’s rich Black artistic legacy after a devastating wildfire destroyed thousands of homes in the community.

“Ode to ‘Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena” runs through Oct. 12 at the museum in Exposition Park. Admission is free.

The exhibition was organized in just three months as a direct response to the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire, which destroyed over 9,000 homes and businesses in Altadena.

“Originally, the California African American Museum wanted to do something in response to the fires,” said Dominique Clayton, the exhibition’s independent curator. “So, about a week after the fires broke out, they contacted me.”

Clayton, founder of Dominique Gallery and a Los Angeles native, previously worked at The Broad and Jeffrey Deitch Gallery. She said the museum asked her to help with coming up with some ideas on how to honor all the Black artists that had been impacted.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

County Supervisors Champion Mental Health Support for Eaton Fire Survivors

County takes comprehensive approach to address community healing six months after wildfires

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday to strengthen mental health support for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, directs County departments to identify properties and infrastructure for expanding trauma-informed mental health and recovery services in the San Gabriel foothill region.

“Now that we’re past the six-month mark, the grief, stress, and mental health challenges brought on by the Eaton Fire remain very real,” Kathryn Barger said. “Recovery can be a long journey, so it’s important that we continue to mobilize the County’s resources to support emotional healing and community resilience.”

The comprehensive plan includes directing the Department of Mental Health to collect data on local mental health needs and connect service providers with available spaces through Los Angeles County’s Business to Business Space Share program.

Agencies are expected to report back to the Board within 30 days with an inventory of viable properties and an assessment of community mental health needs.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Debris Cleared From Nearly 99% of Properties Affected by Eaton Fire

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Crews have removed nearly 99 percent of ash and debris from properties damaged in the deadly Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County officials announced this week, marking a major milestone in recovery efforts seven months after the blaze swept through Altadena and nearby areas.

As of this week, 5,527 properties—about 98.6 percent of those enrolled in the County-run debris removal program—have been cleared, according to officials. Of the 5,604 enrolled, just over 500 property owners declined to join. Officials also said 5,471 properties, or 97.1 percent, have had their rights-of-entry returned, allowing rebuilding to start.

The January fire killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and burned over 14,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, making it among the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County history. Thousands of residents fled as flames swept into neighborhoods in Altadena and northeast Pasadena.

This week’s update, delivered July 28 by Col. Sonny Avichal—who has supervised debris operations—marked his final briefing as he prepares to hand over command to a successor.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

LA County Fire Chief Defends Eaton Fire Response

After an LA Times investigation reported that just one fire truck was stationed in West Altadena during the early hours of Jan. 7 when the devastating Eaton Fire broke out, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney responded Monday with a recorded message to victims and survivors, defending his department’s actions and pledging transparency.

The January fire, the deadliest in Los Angeles County history, killed 19 people and forced thousands to evacuate Altadena, northeast Pasadena and surrounding unincorporated areas.

The report, based on vehicle tracking data, found more than 100 engines deployed elsewhere as flames swept into the predominantly Black and Latino foothill community.

Forty engines were battling the Palisades Fire miles away, and another 64 were concentrated in East Altadena and neighboring areas.

West Altadena, where 18 of the 19 fatalities occurred, was left largely unprotected as thousands of homes and structures burned.

During his statement at Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s weekly community meeting, Maroney did not say how many fire trucks were in West Pasadena.