Monday, July 28, 2025

FEMA to Maintain Services at Recovery Center in Altadena as Los Angeles Site Winds Down

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Federal disaster assistance will remain available at the Community Center in Altadena even as the Federal Emergency Management Agency prepares to end its in-person support at a Los Angeles rebuilding center on July 31.

The recovery site in Altadena, at 730 E. Altadena Drive, will continue to host the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the U.S. Small Business Administration to aid survivors of the Eaton Fire.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened the recovery site in Altadena on Jan. 27, 20 days after the fire began.

The fire decimated Altadena, killing 19 people, scorching over 14,000 acres and destroying more than 9,000 structures and forced mass evacuations.

Federal and state programs remain active as rebuilding efforts continue.

The West Los Angeles One Stop Rebuilding Center at 1828 Sawtelle Blvd. will close to Federal Emergency Management Agency staff as demand for walk-in services decreases,

Monday, July 28, 2025

Appeal on Tap Monday in Government’s Bid to Resume Roving SoCal Immigration Raids

By FRED SHUSTER, City News Service

An appellate hearing is scheduled Monday in the Trump administration’s bid for a stay pending appeal of a temporary restraining order halting the federal government’s aggressive, month-long immigration sweeps across Southern California.

In granting the order earlier this month, a Los Angeles federal judge found that the roving immigration patrols were conducted without reasonable suspicion, and that the government was denying detainees access to counsel.

Attorneys for the administration of President Donald Trump are expected to argue before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that the immigration raids are carefully targeted, not random, and conducted with probable cause to make arrests.

The appeal before a panel of three judges — all nominated by Democratic presidents — will be streamed live Monday at 1 p.m. on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals website and on YouTube.

A coalition of civil rights, immigrant rights and local government agencies sought the TRO,

Sunday, July 27, 2025

County Supervisors to Weigh Price-Gouging Protections, Altadena Crime Rewards, and Capital Investments on Tuesday

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday morning to vote on extending rental price-gouging protections, renewing Altadena-related crime reward offers, and advancing key development and infrastructure projects, including expanded mental health facilities and new agreements with the FBI, according to the July 29 meeting agenda.

Housing protections at top of agenda

Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger will introduce a motion to extend price-gouging safeguards in the rental and hospitality sectors through August 30, citing a rise in complaints and the need to protect vulnerable residents.

Altadena crime reward renewals

Supervisor Barger will seek to reestablish a $75,000 reward in connection with the 2016 murder of Salvador Esparza III in unincorporated Altadena, along with a separate $10,000 reward for the 2020 Lancaster homicide of Ismael Zabala. Both motions aim to generate new leads.

Development initiatives and mental health infrastructure

Supervisor Janice Hahn will propose a 99-year ground lease with the State of California to support the LA County Care Community’s expansion at Metropolitan State Hospital.

Sunday, July 27, 2025

‘Joyful Resistance’ Gathering Near Site of ICE Detentions in Pasadena Set for Sunday

Music and resistance will converge Sunday at Villa Parke, where Los Jornaleros del Norte and special guests La Sonora Dinamita will headline “Al Son Del Pueblo: The Sound of the People — Turning Joy Into Justice,” a community event rooted in cultural pride and immigrant advocacy.

The gathering will run from 4 to 8 p.m. today at 363 E. Villa St., near N. Marengo Avenue at the location where two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 21.

Organizers describe the event as a “not-a-fiesta fiesta” — part social statement, part celebration — that will transform fear and pain into joy through music, dancing, and unity.

“This is the shape and sound of immigrant resistance today,” said Omar Leon of Los Jornaleros del Norte. “Our attackers want us to disappear — so we show up. They want us to be miserable and silent — so we get loud. And happy.”

For nearly 30 years,

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Trump’s Crackdown On Homelessness: What Does It Mean For California?

By Marisa Kendall, CALMATTERS

President Donald Trump’s new law-and-order approach to homelessness bears several striking resemblances to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s.

Trump wants cities to enforce laws that make it illegal for homeless people to sleep outside. So does Newsom.

Trump threatened to withhold funding from places that don’t. So did Newsom.

And the president wants to make it easier to force homeless people living with serious mental illness or addiction into treatment. So does Newsom.

It’s rare for Trump and Newsom, typically adversaries, to see eye to eye on anything. But when the president signed an executive order this week pushing cities and states to use law enforcement to get unhoused people off the streets, some of it read like déjà vu to Californians.

“I don’t know that there’s a huge contrast between parts of this order and what winds are already blowing toward in California,” said Ryan Finnigan, deputy director of research for the UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation.

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Pasadena Rep. Judy Chu’s Disaster Tax Relief Bill Signed Into Federal Law by President Trump

Law grants extended tax deadlines during state-declared emergencies

A tax relief bill first introduced by Pasadena-area Congresswoman Judy Chu in 2019 is now federal law, following President Donald Trump’s signing of the bipartisan Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act on Thursday.

The legislation, H.R. 517, expands the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to extend federal tax filing deadlines for residents in state-declared disaster zones—even before a federal disaster declaration is made. Under the new law, impacted taxpayers will receive at least 120 days of filing relief, doubling the previous minimum of 60 days.

“When catastrophe strikes during tax filing season, families and businesses should be able to focus on recovery without the risk of tax penalties,” said Chu, who represents California’s 28th Congressional District, which includes parts of Pasadena. “Our bill extends this support to more taxpayers by giving Treasury and the IRS the authority to act early when a governor declares an emergency.”

The measure’s co-sponsor,

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Metro Announces Sept. 19 Opening for Pomona A Line Extension, Expanding Access for Pasadena-Area Riders

STAFF REPORT

Metro announced Thursday that its 9.1-mile light rail extension from Glendora to Pomona will officially open on Friday, Sept. 19, expanding regional transit access to Pasadena-area communities and the broader San Gabriel Valley.

The $1.5 billion expansion of the A Line—formerly known as the Gold Line—adds new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona.

The extension will allow travelers in Pasadena and neighboring cities to reach a range of destinations by rail, including major colleges and universities, hospitals, parks, museums, medical centers, and retail and entertainment venues.

The new Pomona North Station will also connect riders to Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line, offering a new gateway to the Inland Empire. Access to the Pomona Fairplex, which will host Olympic cricket events in 2028—the first such inclusion since 1900—will be available via the extended route.

“By way of coming attractions, we’re excited to soon be opening the Foothill A Line Extension to Pomona,” Metro Board Chair and Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra said at Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting.

Friday, July 25, 2025

LA County Investigates Measles Case in Traveler

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Public Health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a traveler who passed through Los Angeles International Airport while infectious earlier this month.

County Department of Public Health officials warned that people may have been exposed, with the risk of infection higher for people who are not immunized against measles.

According to health officials, the patient was at LAX on July 5, but the exact time and flight information were still under investigation. The patient is also believed to have visited the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Blvd., between 7:30 p.m. July 5 and 1 p.m. July 7.

Health officials warned that people who were at those locations during those times could be at risk of developing measles between seven and 21 days from exposure. Such people should verify their vaccination status and monitor themselves for symptoms.

“Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can linger in the air and on surfaces,

Friday, July 25, 2025

Fire-Scarred Altadena Residents Gather This Weekend to Paint Prayers on Community Mural

A healing art project transforms collective trauma into hope and environmental awareness

Four months after the Eaton Canyon fires devastated in Altadena, residents will gather this weekend to create a unique community mural that transforms personal loss into collective healing. 

The “Prayer for the Earth Mural” project, led by environmental muralist Ekaterina Sky, invites fire survivors to write their prayers directly onto a mural that will be ceremonially sealed in gold, offering a therapeutic outlet for community resilience.

“The most meaningful realization has been how deeply people long for community, especially after loss,” said Sky. “This project is about more than art, it’s about collective healing.” 

The four-day project, organized by local business owners John Hopkins and Sev Dhar from the former Oh Happy Day Vegan Café, will unfold from July 24 to 27. Participants will construct a mobile wall, paint a base design, and culminate in a Sunday evening ceremony where community members will write their prayers,

Friday, July 25, 2025

Altadena Rotary Announces Quarterly Fire Recovery Grants to Boost Community Rebuilding Efforts

The Rotary Club of Altadena has announced the recipients of its second-quarter Altadena Rotary Fire Recovery Grants, reinforcing its commitment to helping the community rebuild after the devastating Eaton Fire.

Managed through the Restore Altadena initiative, the grant program offers awards ranging from $500 to $5,000, exclusively to 501(c) nonprofit organizations or to efforts sponsored by them.

All funded projects must be executed within the unincorporated Altadena area and demonstrate both tangible impact and community need. While matching funds are encouraged, they are not required, and grants may also support components of broader efforts.

Applications are evaluated quarterly, with upcoming deadlines on September 30 and December 31. The application is available through the Rotary’s official website, and donors can support the effort through the dedicated platform at givebutter.com/EatonFireARC..

The latest slate of awards backs a cross-section of recovery efforts—from mental health programming and digital literacy workshops to musical instrument replacement, gardening education and direct financial relief to displaced families.