Wednesday, July 23, 2025

L.A. County Supervisors Designate Altadena’s First Historic District

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to approve the County’s first-ever historic district and landmark designation in Altadena, marking a milestone in the preservation of the area’s architectural and cultural heritage.

The newly adopted ordinance adds the northern portion of the Historic Highlands neighborhood to Title 22 (Planning and Zoning) of the Los Angeles County Code, officially recognizing the Historic Highlands Historic District. The district comprises 77 parcels, primarily early-20th-century single-family residences, and enters the County Register effective immediately upon adoption.

The designation reflects the recommendations of the Historical Landmarks and Records Commission and the Regional Planning Commission, following years of community engagement and local advocacy. More than 50% of property owners in the area supported the proposal, exceeding the County’s threshold for historic district consideration.

“Altadena recently suffered a great loss, and it is especially meaningful to take this action now to ensure that the community’s historic treasures are preserved,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Today’s vote affirms our commitment to honor Altadena’s past while safeguarding it for future generations.”

The Historic Highlands neighborhood is noted for its concentration of Craftsman,

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Red Cross Urges Immediate Blood Donations Amid Summer Shortages, Offers Incentives

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give blood or platelets to help stabilize the national supply, with a special emphasis on Type O blood donations. Critical shortages can occur suddenly, potentially jeopardizing care for trauma victims, cancer patients and new mothers, officials warned Tuesday.

To encourage participation, the Red Cross is offering several incentives. Donors who give by July 31 will receive a Fandango Movie Reward via email. Those who donate between Aug. 1-28 will be eligible for a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Additionally, successful August donors will receive a free A1C test—used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes—limited to one test result per 12 months.

“Even a strong blood supply can drop quickly,” the Red Cross said in a statement, adding that maintaining availability through the summer is vital to ongoing patient care.

Appointments can be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Here are details on upcoming blood donation opportunities in Pasadena:

7/22/2025: 10 a.m.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Los Angeles County Board to Consider First Historic District in Altadena

The public hearing will explore landmark designation for 77 parcels in Historic Highlands neighborhood

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to consider designating Altadena’s Historic Highlands neighborhood as the county’s first official historic district.

The hearing will take place in Room 381B of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and marks the culmination of a six-year community preservation campaign.

If approved, the designation would cover 77 parcels in unincorporated Altadena and introduce long-term protections for early 20th-century architectural resources, including Craftsman bungalows and Spanish and Tudor Revival homes.

The move follows unanimous recommendations by the County’s Historic Landmarks and Records Commission and the Regional Planning Commission.

Designation would require a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes and make properties eligible for Mills Act tax relief.

The proposal represents the first district designation since the County’s Historic Preservation Ordinance was adopted in 2015.

It follows years of grassroots advocacy led by the Historic Highlands Neighborhood Association,

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Los Angeles County Home Sales Decline in June

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Home sales fell in the Southland in June, while rising statewide after three straight months of decline, the California Association of Realtors announced.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 264,260 last month. June home sales activity rose 4% from the 254,190 homes sold in May but was down 0.3% from a year ago, CAR announced on Thursday.

The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2025 if sales maintained the June pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

Los Angeles County’s sales figure was down 5.4% from May, but up 1.1% from June 2024. Orange County sales were down 1.2% from May, but up 0.1% from June 2024.

Meanwhile, home prices increased locally but fell statewide. The median sold price of an existing, single-family home in Los Angeles County was $903,650 in June,

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

California OSHA Inspectors Don’t Visit Worksites Even When Workers Are Injured

By Jeanne Kuang, CALMATTERS

California’s worker safety agency is under-inspecting workplaces after accidents and worker injuries, failing to enforce labor regulations in a way that “may undermine” them because it does not have enough employees to do the inspections, a state audit found.

In a review of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health published Thursday, state auditors found understaffing was a primary factor leading inspectors to skip in-person inspections of worksites even in cases where auditors found — and division managers agreed — it was likely warranted.

Nearly one-third of the division’s 800-plus positions were vacant last year, a rate that is even worse in some district offices and among some of the staff responsible for inspections and enforcement.

“When it does perform inspections, Cal/OSHA’s process has critical weaknesses,” state auditor Grant Parks wrote.

The weaknesses, he wrote, included inspectors failing to review employers’ required injury prevention plans, document notes from interviews with workers,

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Trump Administration Releases After School Grant Money — With A Catch

By Carolyn Jones, CALMATTERS

California after-school and summer programs will get some of their funding back after the federal government said on Friday that it would restore grants it had previously withheld. But the money is contingent on states complying with Civil Rights laws – a cudgel the White House has used in the past to crack down on diversity efforts.

“It’s a big relief,” said Heather Williams, director of policy and outreach for the California AfterSchool Network. “The funding freeze was very disruptive and there was a level of chaos. We’re hopeful that anyone that canceled or paused programs can jump back in.”

The U.S. Department of Education announced on June 30 – a day before the money was set to be released – it would not give out grant money for after-school programs, migrant education, English learners, professional development for teachers and other programs, pending a review of whether the programs were in line with President Donald Trump’s priorities. The funding freeze affected nearly every school in the state,

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Altadena Recovery Meeting Unveils AI Permitting, Infrastructure Plans

Officials spotlight AI tools and recovery benchmarks in post-wildfire rebuilding push

At a July 21 community meeting, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and regional agency leaders presented key updates on wildfire recovery efforts and introduced tools to fast-track rebuilding in Altadena.

Barger announced the opening of a USPS Village Post Office inside Webster’s Community Pharmacy, restoring convenient postal access to residents. She reiterated her opposition to any new taxes or homeowner costs, stating, “Unlike the Blue Ribbon Commission, my vision for recovery does not include new taxes or added cost to homeowners.”

Barger proposed establishing a dedicated recovery authority to consolidate permitting, inspections, and utility coordination—expanding on the Altadena One-Stop Permitting Center’s success.

A central feature of the meeting was the debut of eCheck, AI-assisted permitting software available at echeck.lacounty.gov.

Created by Archistar, the pilot program currently performs zoning compliance checks for single-family homes in R1 zones. So far, nine plans have been submitted,

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Altadena Detectives, Deputies Travel Six-Hour Round Trip to Arrest Felony Suspect Accused of Exploiting Fire Victims

Altadena Sheriff’s Station detectives and deputies drove six hours round-trip on Thursday, July 17, to arrest a felony suspect accused of targeting Altadena residents recovering from wildfire devastation.

The coordinated multi-location search warrant operation spanned Pasadena and an area near Pismo Beach, leading to the recovery of a firearm, stolen property, and illicit drugs connected to the suspect, who remains in custody, according to station officials.

“This individual took advantage of vulnerable members of our community, and we made sure they were held accountable,” the station said in a statement following the arrest. “Our team’s dedication to justice doesn’t stop at city limits—we go where we’re needed.”

The suspect allegedly stole from victims of the Eaton Fire, a disaster that precipitated a 250% rise in crime in Altadena—including a reported 400% spike in residential burglaries. In response, county officials formed a Looter Suppression Team and intensified patrols in the burn zone.

Altadena Sheriff’s personnel acknowledged assistance from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office in making Thursday’s arrest.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

‘Hire a Survivor’ Job Fair Today Offers Jobs, Services for Thousands of Fire Survivors

Hundreds of fire-affected families are expected to attend the “Hire a Survivor” job and recovery fair today at PazNaz Church, located at 3700 East Sierra Madre Boulevard in Pasadena. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a formal speaking portion scheduled for noon.

Hosted by First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena in partnership with Global Empowerment Mission, Los Angeles County’s Department of Economic Opportunity, the California Office of Emergency Services, and other organizations, the fair serves families displaced by the devastating January wildfires that scorched over 57,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.

Attendees must present two forms of identification confirming residence in the impacted fire zone. Survivors can explore on-the-spot hiring, resume assistance, job coaching, free food, live music, and family-friendly entertainment, including a Kids Zone. A concurrent Recovery Pop-Up will provide giveaways, essential services, and long-term support.

Job opportunities available include roles such as laborer, crew supervisor, intake specialist, case manager, childcare worker,

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Federal Officials Again Ask Appeals Court to Stay Ruling Barring Roving Patrols

By FRED SHUSTER, City News Service

Federal officials Saturday are continuing their push to reverse a Los Angeles federal judge’s ruling barring immigration agents from detaining people without reasonable suspicion beyond their race, ethnicity or occupation.

In their latest move, government attorneys again asked an appeals court to issue a stay of the order, according to court papers obtained Friday.

Government lawyers contend the judge’s order halting so-called “roving patrols” of federal immigration agents in the Los Angeles area is a “straight-jacket” that prevents President Donald Trump “from ensuring that immigration laws are enforced.”

On Thursday evening, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong denied the government’s request for a stay of the ruling, writing that the government hadn’t shown that it will suffer any harm from the restraining orders she issued last week and because “the federal government did not follow the rules for making this request.”

The judge also denied a request from Southland cities for an expedited hearing on their request to formally participate in the case.