Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Massive Underground Electrical Upgrade for Altadena Ahead, Utility Says

Southern California Edison plans comprehensive infrastructure rebuild to support community recovery

Southern California Edison is preparing to underground 63 miles of electrical infrastructure in Altadena, focusing on fire-damaged areas and supporting future clean energy adoption, company officials said Tuesday.

The multiyear project will initially target 23 miles in 2025, prioritizing areas with no existing electrical infrastructure to support community rebuilding efforts after the Eaton Fire.

David Fanous, SCE’s Operations Section Chief, said the project will be implemented in phases, with construction set to begin in July.

“We want to be ready when people start coming back to rebuild,” Fanous told the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

The upgrade will increase electrical capacity to support emerging technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps, he said.

The company plans to upgrade from a 4 kV to a 16 kV system in West Altadena, which Fanous noted will better support the community’s potential transition to all-electric technologies.

The undergrounding effort requires property owners’

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

So Cal Edison Unveils Collaborative Infrastructure Rebuild in Fire-Damaged Altadena

Utility seeks neighborhood-wide participation for electrical system upgrade

Southern California Edison said Tuesday it is pioneering a community-driven approach to rebuilding electrical infrastructure in fire-ravaged Altadena, requiring 100% neighborhood participation and offering $500 compensation to residents who sign right-of-entry agreements.

The utility plans to underground 63 miles of electrical lines across the Eaton Fire burn area, with 23 miles targeted for completion this year. Of those 23 miles, approximately half are in the high fire risk area, and half are in areas with no existing electrical infrastructure.

“We are deeply committed to building back Altadena stronger alongside the community,” said Karla Diaz Sayles, vice president of local public affairs for Southern California Edison.

The first phase of undergrounding will focus on areas near East Loma Alta Drive and Sunny Oak Circle, with additional areas planned for the west side of Lake Avenue in August and September. The project requires every property owner on a block to agree to infrastructure changes.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Community to Gather for Mariposa Night: Healing Through Storytelling

Caltech event offers space for reflection and solidarity after the Eaton Fire

Local residents will come together this summer for Mariposa Night, a free storytelling event designed to heal and reconnect the community in the wake of the devastating Eaton Fire. Produced by Leadership Pasadena, the event will be held at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium on Saturday, July 12, providing a powerful platform for residents to share their experiences of resilience and hope.

Organizers said the event draws inspiration from famed seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, who advocates for sustained community gatherings as a vital part of disaster recovery.

“We need to hold concerts and events, not just for the next three months but for the next three years, so that this remains a place that you want to be in,” Dr. Jones is quoted as saying.

Mariposa Night embodies this philosophy, offering an evening of collective care and connection.

The event will feature personal narratives from residents and workers impacted by the fires,

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

ArtCenter Hosts Los Angeles Design Festival with Focus on Futuristic Innovation

Four-day event explores design’s potential to drive connection and human potential

ArtCenter College of Design is set to be a key venue for the Los Angeles Design Festival this week, bringing together creatives, makers, and communities to explore the transformative power of design. The free, four-day event will take place from Thursday to Sunday, featuring a compelling lineup of talks, workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities.

The 2025 festival theme, Design Futurism, invites participants to imagine bold, purpose-driven futures where design serves as a catalyst for connection, innovation, and human potential. Hosted at ArtCenter’s South Campus, the event will showcase diverse programming that highlights design’s critical role in shaping tomorrow’s world.

Highlights include a range of compelling talks and discussions. Brydon Gerus will explore “It’s a Brand New World: How Brand Has Shaped and Will Continue to Shape Everything in the Age of AI” on Thursday. Brittany Moffett’s keynote on “Systems Thinking for Community Care” will follow, offering insights into design’s social impact.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Harabedian’s Wildfire Recovery Bills Advance to Senate Appropriations

Two wildfire recovery bills to help California residents affected by natural disasters

Two wildfire recovery bills authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) advanced this week, moving out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and heading to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

The bills, AB 238 and AB 493, are part of Harabedian’s legislative package to provide financial relief and long-term protections for Californians affected by natural disasters, including recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.

AB 238, known as the Mortgage Forbearance Act, would allow wildfire survivors to pause mortgage payments without penalties, foreclosure threats, or credit damage. The measure provides a 90-day forbearance period with the possibility of extending up to one year. It also requires lenders to follow clear guidelines and offer timely responses to homeowners during the recovery process.

AB 493, the Disaster Interest Accrual Act, would ensure that homeowners, rather than banks, receive interest earned on disaster-related insurance payouts held in escrow. The bill mandates a minimum annual interest rate of 2% and prohibits financial institutions from reducing that rate through fees,

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

LA County to Consider Extending Price Gouging Protections

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion Tuesday to extend price gouging protections on local rental housing for another 30 days, with two board members saying the issue continues to pose a problem in the aftermath of the January wildfires.

On Jan. 7, a state of emergency was declared in the county following the windstorm and deadly wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, activating price gouging protections that barred price hikes of 10% or more on critical goods and services, including housing.

The wildfires destroyed thousands of structures and displaced residents and businesses who continue to navigate the repercussions, a motion by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger states.

The motion stated the protections are “still necessary,” citing a recent Los Angeles Times report indicating that rent prices at properties adjacent to the burn areas are rising faster than other areas in the county.

“Families that signed six-month short-term leases in the immediate wake of the fires,

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

In Pasadena, State Senator Announces California Bill Amendments to Ban Masks for Federal Agents During Operations

By EDDIE RIVERA

Proposed amendments would hold federal agents accountable and protect local police from confusion in field

In an emotionally charged press conference Monday morning on the steps of Pasadena City Hall, State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, joined by Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and an assemblage of state and local leaders—including members of the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Community Clergy Coalition, and the Pasadena Job Center—introduced sweeping proposed amendments to California Senate Bill 805, a bill aimed at increasing transparency and accountability for law enforcement and federal agents operating in California.

Dubbed the “No Vigilantes Act,” the bill would require any law enforcement personnel conducting operations in the state to clearly display their name or badge number and prohibit the use of masks or facial coverings during active duty.

The proposed legislation arrives in the wake of what speakers described as 18 straight days of terrifying, unannounced raids conducted by masked and often unidentifiable federal officials across greater Los Angeles—including residential neighborhoods,

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Altadena Meals on Wheels Resumes Serving Seniors After Eaton Fire Knocked It Out of Action

Nonprofit delivers hot meals to homebound seniors following five-month suspension

Altadena Meals on Wheels has resumed delivering hot meals to homebound senior residents after suspending operations for five months due to the Eaton Fire, which damaged the Altadena Senior Center in January. The organization relaunched its delivery service on June 2, following the securing of a new operational base.

“We serve all the Altadena residents who are confined to their homes,” said Shelley Mitchell, Altadena Meals on Wheels board member. “They cannot leave because a lot of them might be ill, in wheelchairs. Some of them are just old and can no longer operate a stove to cook a meal.”

The Eaton Fire disaster severely affected the Altadena Meals on Wheels organization; of its 45 volunteers and board members, 38 lost their homes.

Despite these challenges, 14 volunteers have returned to help with deliveries, even though many now commute from different cities.

The organization currently delivers hot meals to 14 households across Altadena.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Pasadena Unified Reaffirms Campus Safety Amid Community Challenges

School district offers support to families during uncertain times

Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth J. Blanco addressed current community concerns in an email issued Monday, confirming that all summer programs remain open and campuses are secure.

Blanco directly acknowledged the emotional impact recent local events are having on families, offering support through counseling services and alternative meal options.

“We understand that some families may need flexibility during this time,” Blanco wrote.

She encouraged families experiencing difficulties to contact summer program administrators or teachers directly.

The district has established an online resource hub at pusd.us/immigrationresources to provide legal and wellness support for families.

Counselors stand ready to assist students struggling with fear, stress or anxiety.

“We are in this together,” Blanco said, while emphasizing the district’s commitment to student and employee well-being. “Thank you for your trust, your strength, and your unwavering partnership as we navigate these challenges, always with the care of our students and employees at the center.”

Monday, June 23, 2025

Threatened Historic Homes Find New Life in Altadena

Standing in the living room of an aging but elegant house in Los Feliz, interior designer Gwen Sukeena broke down.

“When I walked in, I just started crying,” she remembers. “It’s so magical.”

In about three weeks, that century-old structure will be cut into four large pieces, lifted onto giant steel cribs, and hauled through winding foothill roads in the dead of night to a cleared lot in fire-ravaged Altadena—where Sukeena plans to rebuild her life after the Eaton Fire destroyed her home.

Sukeena — who is President of the Pasadena chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers — is turning to an unconventional rebuilding strategy: relocating a historic home threatened with demolition, rather than constructing a new one.

The approach represents an intersection of economic necessity, environmental consciousness, and historic preservation, and it offers Sukeena a faster and more affordable path forward.

The economics are compelling. A two-story, 2,500-square-foot historic home can cost roughly $550,000 to move and restore—while rebuilding from scratch often runs double or triple that in the current market.