Friday, March 21, 2025

Guest Opinion | United Teachers of Pasadena President Jonathan Gardner: Congress Needs to Step Up and Protect Students

Dismantling the Department of Education, laying off thousands of dedicated Department of Education staff, appointing someone who has never spent a day teaching in a classroom to be our Secretary of Education…these are more than just headlines. They are direct threats to public education and the future of students and families across our community.

The Trump/Musk Administration is betraying public school students and educators. Education is a nonpartisan issue. Students in poverty and students with special needs deserve resources and support in our schools — we can all agree on that.

The Trump/Musk Administration is targeting students and families in our communities with these vicious plans to dismantle public education. It’s unacceptable and we and our state and federal affiliates to our union are fighting back.

We need more resources for special education. This administration is showing us that we can’t trust them to deliver what Pasadena students deserve. We demand that members of Congress do their jobs and step up to protect our students at this critical time.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Tenants Return to Fire-Damaged Apartments in Altadena, Seek Help with Toxic Cleanup

Comité de Inquilinos 403 highlights environmental dangers faced by residents living in aftermath of Eaton Fire

Tenants who have returned to live in fire-damaged apartments in Altadena said they are seeking urgent help from government officials and landlords to address toxic contamination and safety concerns in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.

The Pasadena Community Job Center, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and allied organizations will join the a tenants’ rights group called Comité de Inquilinos 403 on Thursday at 5 p.m. on Figueroa Drive to highlight the environmental hazards that the residents face.

“We were forced to return to our apartments, even though we knew they might be contaminated, because we have nowhere else to go,”said Brenda Lopez-Ardon, a tenant representative of the Comité de Inquilinos 403.

“We know we are putting our health at risk, but we don’t have the resources to do anything else. What’s most heartbreaking is that the company that owns the building is lying to us and offering no help.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Insurance Denials Can Devastate Mental Health Patients. California is Considering How to Fix That

By Jocelyn Wiener, CALMATTERS

Frustrated Californians have long complained that they can’t get their health plans to cover desperately needed mental health treatment.

These days, state lawmakers appear to be hearing them—and trying to act.

One bill introduced this session would require health plans to cough up more data on coverage denials—and penalize those that wrongfully deny claims most often.

Another would require plans to wait at least 28 days after approving a patient to go into a substance use treatment center before they reassess whether the patient can remain there.

A third would prohibit health plans from requiring prior authorization for mental health and substance use treatment before and during a patient’s stay in a hospital.

The list goes on.

Four years after state leaders passed landmark legislation to improve mental health and substance use coverage, polls portray a public still deeply unhappy with what they’re getting.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Eaton Fire Collaborative Focused on Recovery and Rebuilding Local Community

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Members of the Eaton Fire Collaborative held a press conference at the Rose Bowl to talk about efforts to rebuild homes and community in the wake of the destructive Eaton Fire which destroyed homes in Altadena and Pasadena.

The destructive fire burned more than 9,000 structures, left 17 people dead and scorched 14,000 acres.

Former Pasadena Police Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls said the collaborative was born shortly after a fire. Qualls received calls from Muir Alumni Jill Hawkins and Muir Principal Lawton Gray and Phil Knapp, who told him they were doing a distribution center at Pasadena City College.

“I went out there and, man, we had all this stuff coming in,” Qualls to Pasadena Now. “I mean, from all over the place. So we started putting it together, starting sorting it and started getting the word out.”

Days later, the center was closed because many of the people in need had left the area,

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Day One Hosts Community Event Offering Housing Resources and Local Market for Eaton Fire Recovery

Monthly gathering aims to support those affected while fostering neighborhood connections

The DENA Home Market, a monthly Eaton Fire Recovery event, will return to Pasadena on Sunday, March 30, offering a combination of vital resources, support, and connection for area residents. The event, organized by Day One, will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their location at 175 North Euclid Ave. in Pasadena.

The event specifically targets residents of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, bringing together these neighboring communities for resources, support, and connection.

Designed as a monthly gathering to support those impacted by the fires, the market divides its offerings into two distinct sections. The Housing Fair, situated in the Day One Yard, will provide essential assistance to those impacted by the fires during the three-hour event.

Resources available at the Housing Fair include free essential goods, financial assistance, and information on lot sales. Attendees can also access guidance on reverse mortgages, permits, contractors, architects,

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Walk MS Event To Go Ahead On March 30

Annual fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research will take place on March 30 at Rose Bowl

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced that its annual Walk MS: Greater Los Angeles fundraiser will proceed as scheduled on Sunday, March 30, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

Despite recent devastating California wildfires, organizers decided to move forward with the event after consulting with local officials and community partners.

“We are holding all of those affected by the devastating California wildfires in our hearts,” said a statement from Walk MS organizers. “After speaking with local officials, community partners and many of our dedicated Walk MS fundraisers and volunteers, we’ve made the decision to proceed with Walk MS: Greater Los Angeles on March 30.”

The statement emphasized the importance of community gathering during difficult times: “We are confident we can host this event safely, and we heard loud and clear from our Walk MS community that coming together is more important than ever.”

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Community Radio Program Examines Federal Response to Eaton Fire Disaster

FEMA Deadline looms for Altadena fire victims, radio program zeroes in on current recovery progress

A radio program dedicated to tracking recovery efforts in Altadena’s Black community following the devastating Eaton Fire will focus on FEMA’s disaster response as victims face a critical March 31 application deadline.

“Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,” hosted by local James Farr, enters its third weekend with an episode titled “Fighting for Justice: Altadena’s Fire Victims Confront FEMA Deadlines and Fading Hope.”

The program airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KBLA Talk 1580, with rebroadcasts Sundays at noon.

“As the March 31st deadline looms, can Altadena trust FEMA to deliver, or will the community be abandoned?” Farr asks in the episode preview. He promises to “cut through the government talking points to get to the truth.”

This week’s program will feature FEMA spokesperson La-Tanga Hopes returning with critical updates for fire victims facing what the show describes as “an overwhelming maze of red tape”

Thursday, March 20, 2025

College Access Plan Launches ‘Strong Futures’ Initiative to Support Students Affected by Eaton Fire

Organization welcomes new Board members as it responds to community crisis

College Access Plan (CAP) has launched a new initiative to support students and families affected by the Eaton Fire that has displaced approximately 82% of its current students and alumni. The Pasadena-based organization announced its Strong Futures Initiative on March 12, alongside the addition of two new Board members to help guide its response to the crisis.

“Our community has changed fundamentally and we are so pleased to welcome Kelly and Greg to our Board at this critical juncture. Approximately 82% of CAP’s current PUSD students and alumni have lost their homes or have been displaced. As the District’s college readiness collaborator, CAP is resolute in our desire to stand by our community as we grieve, rebuild, and plan for an equitable future,” says Dominick Correy, CAP’s Board Chair. “We created the Strong Futures Initiative in order to seek substantial funding to aid in maintaining educational opportunities as our community faces long-term economic- and health-related challenges.”

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Caltech Team Launches Air Quality Monitor Network in Altadena to Monitor Dust, Ash Levels

Community-based sensors track particulate matter during Altadena recovery efforts

In response to the Eaton fire that destroyed air quality monitoring equipment in Altadena, Caltech researchers have established a new PHOENIX network of particulate air quality sensors to provide residents and officials with real-time data on airborne dust levels as debris removal and rebuilding continue in the affected areas.

“With phase-2 debris removal underway, we wanted to give the community a source of independent air-quality measurements,” says Haroula Baliaka, a graduate student in environmental science and engineering at Caltech who has been working to install the PHOENIX sensors.

“At the same time,” Baliaka said, “the data can be used by agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers to gauge how well dust-mitigation efforts are working.”

The network — whose name stands for Post-fire airborne Hazard Observation Environmental Network for Integrated Xposure-monitoring — consists of 19 sensors strategically placed across Altadena, including one at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Political Gumbo: It’s Only a Matter of Time

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Hard to believe in a few weeks, it will be 90 days since the deadly fire on the mountain and a once in a lifetime wind event combined to decimate Altadena and do serious damage to some homes in Pasadena.

Yes, let’s not forget the losses suffered in Pasadena as the rebuild effort in Altadena continues.

I got the first call this week, the Army Corp. of Engineers is going in to knock down my living room wall, which is about the only thing standing at my place.

They have to do it to make the property safe before the debris removal can proceed.

No shock there.

Truth to tell I’m surprised anything was left standing based on the devastation left in the wake of the fire.

Still, things are moving forward. Plans for the new house are all but done.

No insurance issues, knock on … well knock on debris.