Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Eaton Fire Survivors to Press Lawmakers for New Recovery Financing at Altadena Gathering

Assemblymember John Harabedian and Congresswoman Judy Chu are expected at Wednesday’s gathering as residents seek additional state and federal rebuilding resources

Eaton Fire survivors plan to gather Wednesday for a media conference with Pasadena Assemblymember John Harabedian and other officials to call for new state and federal financing programs intended to help residents rebuild homes, reopen businesses and avoid permanent displacement from Altadena.

The conference is scheduled to occur on a fire survivor’s property on East Las Flores Drive in Altadena.

Congresswoman Judy Chu is also expected to participate, according to an Oct. 19 announcement by Beautiful Altadena, a community organization involved in the effort.

The proposals seek to attract public and private investment to supplement federal disaster assistance as residents continue to face rebuilding costs that exceed available insurance proceeds and other financial resources.

In letters to state and federal lawmakers, six Eaton Fire survivors are requesting three financing initiatives: an updated version of Assembly Bill 797, a proposed California Disaster Investment Fund and a federal Disaster Opportunity Zone program.

The state proposals, addressed to Harabedian and state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, would seek to make bank and private investment available for recovery projects, with provisions for oversight, public reporting and community participation.

The federal proposal, addressed to U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Representative Chu, would temporarily extend investment tax incentives to qualifying disaster areas. Organizers say the approach could attract additional capital for housing, businesses and other rebuilding projects.

The initiatives are intended to complement, rather than replace, federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding and other assistance.

Harabedian previously authored AB 797, the Community Stabilization Act, which passed the Legislature in 2025 but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The legislation would have established a state-administered financing mechanism involving securities to support redevelopment and stabilize property values in disaster-affected communities.

“Families are still facing a gap between what it costs to rebuild and the resources available to them,” Harabedian said in the organizers’ statement. “These proposals deserve serious consideration, and survivors deserve a clear answer on what we can do next.”

California has already established a separate $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program, announced by Newsom on Sept. 17. That program provides financing assistance through interest-rate reductions and loan guarantees intended to improve access to rebuilding loans. The additional investment fund sought by Altadena survivors is a distinct proposal.

Shawna Dawson Beer, an Eaton Fire survivor and creator of Beautiful Altadena, said residents should have a direct role in developing recovery programs.

“Survivors need a meaningful role in identifying the problems, developing the solutions and deciding how recovery resources reach the people who need them,” Dawson Beer said in the organizers’ statement.

Other participants identified in the announcement include Stephen Sachs, Milissa Marona, Anton Anderson, Shimica Gaskins and Sylvie Andrews. Organizers said the participants are acting in their individual capacities rather than representing the official positions of their affiliated organizations.

The group is calling for safeguards to ensure additional investment supports existing homeowners, renters and local businesses rather than accelerating property speculation or displacement.

The announcement did not identify a proposed funding amount for the new investment mechanisms or a timetable for their introduction in the Legislature or Congress.