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,

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

California Sets Aside $170 Million To Thin Vegetation, Forests To Help Prevent Wildfires

By Alejandro Lazo, CALMATTERS

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, April 14 signed new legislation that will provide more than $170 million in state funding to help prevent wildfires while signing an order aimed at speeding up the work by easing environmental permitting.

The funding — which the Democratic governor said was part of a broader effort to better protect communities ahead of peak fire season — comes as the state is under extraordinary pressure after the January infernos that devastated Los Angeles communities.

California has already experienced its second most destructive fire year on record, with more than 16,000 homes and other buildings damaged or destroyed by the two major fires in the Los Angeles area. Most of the destruction occurred in neighborhoods where development meets wildland, a high-risk area known as the wildland-urban interface.

The money comes from a $10 billion bond measure for environmental projects approved by California voters last year.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

School Board President Addresses Recovery from Eaton Fire, Budget Challenges in Annual State of Schools

Hall Lee highlights community resilience, academic achievements and fiscal strategies while confronting lead contamination concerns and declining enrollment

In a powerful State of the Schools address delivered Tuesday evening at Pasadena High School, PUSD Board President Jennifer Hall Lee detailed the district’s response to January’s devastating Eaton Fire that displaced staff and affected thousands of students. 

Speaking to a packed auditorium, Hall Lee shared her personal evacuation experience while outlining the district’s coordinated response to both fire recovery and recently discovered lead contamination in soil near schools. 

Despite these challenges, Hall Lee celebrated significant academic achievements, including an 88% graduation rate and 70% of students completing career technical education pathways. She highlighted successful programs including dual language immersion offerings in four languages, international baccalaureate curricula, and the student-led “Think Tank” initiative. 

The address also confronted serious financial hurdles, with Hall Lee acknowledging $12 million in reductions for the 2025-26 school year amid declining enrollment and rising costs. She noted the district’s Local Control Funding Formula allocation was approximately $193 million for the 2024-25 school year.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Pasadena Unified Reaffirms Immigration Policy After DHS Incidents At LA Schools

District emphasizes commitment to safe, inclusive environment regardless of immigration status

Pasadena Unified School District reissued its policy statement on immigration enforcement to community members on Monday, days after a Los Angeles incident in which Department of Homeland Security agents attempted to enter two Los Angeles elementary schools.

The April 14 PUSD email restated the District’s policies regarding immigration enforcement on school campuses.

“At the Pasadena Unified School District, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for every student, regardless of immigration status,” the District stated in its email. “We believe that schools must be places where all students feel secure, supported, and can focus on learning without fear.”

The policy reissuance came days after an April 7 incident where agents from the Department of Homeland Security attempted to enter Russell Elementary School and Lillian Street Elementary School in South Los Angeles. School administrators denied the agents access by following District protocols. According to multiple reports,

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

School Board President to Address State of the Schools Tonight

Annual presentation comes amid proposed staffing cuts, ongoing fire recovery, budget challenges

Amid ongoing recovery efforts from the devastation wrought by January’s Eaton Fire and with the District facing stormy financial seas, Pasadena Unified School District Board President Jennifer Hall Lee will deliver the annual State of the Schools address today.

This year’s annual presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Pasadena High School Library, with a livestream available at pusd.us/stateofschools.

Hall Lee, elected to the Board in 2020, is expected to address several critical challenges facing the District, including significant budget constraints and ongoing recovery from the Eaton Fire that struck earlier this year.

The address, required under the Pasadena City Charter, typically covers district finances, student achievement data and strategic goals for the coming year.

Education observers anticipate Hall Lee may discuss the district’s proposed staff layoffs and may also share updates on student performance in English language arts and mathematics.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Eaton Fire Recovery, Renters Protection Top Packed Agenda for This Week’s Altadena Town Council Meeting

Councilmembers will address ongoing Eaton Fire recovery efforts and new renter protection measures during the Altadena Town Council’s virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 15.

The meeting will address a large number of important subjects.

Southern California Edison representatives including Karla Sayles, Vice President of Local Public Affairs, and Robert Lloyd, Principal Manager, will deliver a special presentation.

Additionally, the Eaton Fire Collaborative, represented by Jill Hawkins, Darryl Qualls, and Robert Lloyd, will provide updates related to fire recovery efforts.

The Council’s Renters Protection and Recovery Committee, chaired by Darlene Greene, will present its latest initiatives. This committee was formed following the Eaton Fire to address displacement and housing insecurity among affected residents.

The Committee will report on current protection measures and recovery resources available to renters in the community.

Milissa Marona, who serves both as Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Altadena Eaton Fire Recovery Fund Advisory Committee, will provide updates on financial resources allocated for recovery efforts. The advisory committee oversees the distribution of funds to residents impacted by the fire.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tuesday ‘No Tax’ Day: IRS, State Extend Tax Deadline to October for County Residents

Los Angeles County residents affected by January wildfires and straight-line winds receive six-month filing postponement

This April 15 isn’t the usual “Tax Day” in Los Angeles County. Both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of California have extended deadlines for all federal and state tax returns until October 15, and no extension filing is necessary.

However, the postponement does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098, or 1099 series; Forms 1042-S, 3921, 3922, or 8027; or to employment and excise tax deposits outside the specified January period.

“Following the disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), individuals and households that reside or have a business in Los Angeles County qualify for tax relief,” the Internal Revenue Service stated in its earlier announcement. “The declaration permits the Internal Revenue Service to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area.”

The IRS clarified that qualified wildfire relief payments made to Los Angeles County taxpayers are excluded from income,