Friday, January 17, 2025

‘We Love Our Town Deeply’

BY ANDRE COLEMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

One week after losing their homes to a devastating fire driven by hellacious winds, Altadena residents now begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.

The Eaton Fire began on Jan. 7 and has killed 16 people and burned more than 14,000 acres and obliterated the community, leaving thousands displaced or homeless.

To make matters worse, now they face additional fears.

Many believe big developers and predatory realtors will prey on those who lack insurance and financial means to seize the land which will lead to changes in their beloved community.

“Altadenans from all over town are expressing concern about developers who are already contacting home and business owners about their properties,” said Monica Hubbard. “We love our town deeply. We are committed to restoring our town and finding ways to preserve the rich and highly-valued diversity of our community. Conversations are taking place about establishing a Community Land Trust and Community Co-Housing to help those who have lost everything,

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Man, 86, Goes Missing in Altadena

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Thursday sought the public’s help in locating an 86-year-old man who went missing in Altadena, authorities said.

Roosevelt Pullem, who was believed to have been displaced by the Eaton fire, was last in contact with his family on Friday near the 2800 block of Highview Avenue, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Pullem was described as 5-foot, 6-inch tall Black man weighing 165 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information that might lead to Pullem was asked to call the sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8477.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

LA County Responds to Immigration Enforcement Concerns

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The L.A. County health department Thursday said it does not collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other immigration enforcement agencies.

The statement from the Department of Health Services — the second largest municipal health system in the nation — was issued in response to community concerns regarding potential ICE enforcement measures under incoming President Donald Trump.

“DHS is committed to providing high-quality, equitable and compassionate care to all, regardless of their immigration status,” the county agency said. “We want to assure our community that DHS, in compliance with California law, does not collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other immigration enforcement agencies.”

The statement continued, “This commitment is protected by the California Values Act (SB 54), which prohibits the use of county resources, including health care facilities which are designated as sensitive locations, for federal immigration enforcement activities. In alignment with this state law as well as L.A. County Board Policy,

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Pasadena Unified Announces Phased School Reopening Plan Amid Eaton Fire Recovery

STAFF REPORT

In the wake of the devastation caused by the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Unified School District has announced a phased reopening plan over a two-week period to ensure campuses are safe and ready to welcome students back.

The Eaton Fire significantly affected the District, with severe damage reported at five campuses: Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Franklin Elementary (closed in 2020), and three charter school sites—Edison, Loma Alta, and Noyes. More than 10,000 of PUSD’s 14,000 students were evacuated from their homes.

To restore a sense of normalcy and provide stability for students, campuses located further from the fire’s impact will reopen first, allowing the community to begin its path toward healing.

“We will reopen, we will rebuild, and we will rise,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco said. “Despite the challenges we face, our commitment to our students and families remains unwavering. We are dedicated to coming together, rebuilding, and ensuring the well-being and success of our community.”

Pasadena Unified’s Maintenance and Operations team,

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Southern California Wildfires Impact Caltech Community

By JULIA EHLERT NAIR, CALTECH

The Caltech community is responding to a natural disaster of historic scale as several wildfires continue to impact Southern California, including the Eaton fire and the Palisades fire. Many staff, faculty, postdocs, students, and their families have experienced significant losses: More than 250 individuals and families across campus and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have lost their homes to the fires, while more than 1,800 remain temporarily displaced due to evacuation orders; lack of working power, gas, and/or safe water; and other circumstances.

“Words seem inadequate to capture the scale of the devastation,” says Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum. “So many of our campus and JPL colleagues have seen their homes go up in flames, losing not only their possessions but the material links to their past. Even more have been uprooted, not knowing when and if they can return. The Caltech community has responded with compassion and generosity, seeking to help each other and working heroically to permit Caltech and JPL to resume their fundamental missions of learning and discovery.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Coping With the New Everyday

By EDDIE RIVERA

Editor’s Note: Ten days after the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Now is taking a closer look at the lives of some of those who lost everything in the disaster, and talking with them about their lives before the fire, their current circumstances and their hopes for the future. In this occasional series, we begin with actor Allan Poe.

As the shock of the Eaton Fire wears off, evacuees are now contemplating their new futures and dealing with the harsh reality of meeting their everyday needs.

Outside the Red Cross shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center, the food trucks have gone and the area outside the center is lightly sprinkled with Red Cross employees, a few members of the media, City workers, and disaster volunteers.

Allan Poe, an actor, who, along with his wife lost their Altadena home, is sitting on the steps of the Convention Center, speaking with a friend on his cell phone.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Pasadena Unified School District to Host Friday Community Event Supporting Healing and Recovery

The Pasadena Unified School District will host a community gathering this Friday to help students, families, and staff reconnect and begin to heal together.

The “Pasadena Unified Community Connector” District-wide event from 2 to 4 p.m. at Pasadena City College will offer vendors providing free food along with music, art activities, and essential resources.

“We will reopen. We will rebuild our community. We will rise,” declares the District’s message to its community members.

“Pasadena Unified School District is committed to the well-being of students, especially during times of crisis,” the District said in a community email.

When the fire burned through neighborhoods within the District, officials implemented immediate support measures, including Grab and Go meal distribution centers. The District also developed a curriculum of self-directed studies to keep students engaged while schools were closed, and with the support of community partners, started free childcare services for families and coordinated housing assistance.

District schools are already being cleaned and sanitized to ensure students will have a safe and healthy learning environment when they return.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

LA County Board To Consider Rental Protections Following Fires That Caused Massive Property Damage

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, led by Chair Kathryn Barger and Chair Pro Tem Hilda L. Solis, will convene Tuesday to consider measures responding to last week’s continuing fire disasters as well as development plans that could reshape housing availability across multiple communities.

The Supervisors will consider a resolution on rental protections and short-term rentals following the Proclamation of Local Emergency for the January 2025 Windstorm and Critical Fire Events.

The Board will also review the South Bay Area Plan, which proposes Housing Element changes to accommodate 5,361 potential units across 94 properties in eight communities including Alondra Park/El Camino Village, Del Aire, and Lennox. The plan also includes technical changes affecting 2,511 properties and additional changes to 283 properties in Del Aire and 13 opportunity area sites.

Parallel to this, the Westside Area Plan proposes enabling 5,548 housing units across 62 properties in seven communities including Ladera Heights, Marina del Rey, and Ballona Wetlands. Both plans aim to increase housing density near transit while preserving community character.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Free Stays at Hilton Hotels for Local Residents Who Lost Homes to Eaton Fire

L.A. County residents who lost their homes to the wildfires can apply for a hotel voucher to stay free at Hilton properties for up to seven nights, officials announced Wednesday.

Hilton, American Express and 211 LA announced plans Wednesday to provide the vouchers, making 20,000 hotel room nights available. Residents can apply to 211 LA for housing assistance at bit.ly/211-Emergency-Services- Request.

Residents who have already applied through 211 LA do not need to fill out another application.

“We are deeply grateful to Hilton and American Express for their emergency support during this heartbreaking time,” Maribel Marin, executive director of 211 LA, said in a statement. “Their generosity in providing shelter to those who have lost so much, as well as to the brave first responders on the front lines, reflects the best of what it means to come together as a community.”

Before any vouchers are distributed, the organizations will verify evacuation zones to ensure fire victims can receive aid.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

County Health Officer Issues Order Prohibiting Removal of Fire Debris

CITY NEWS SERVICE

An order prohibiting the cleanup or removal of debris from critical fire areas, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, until a hazardous materials inspection is completed was issued Wednesday by Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis.

Fire debris, ash and dirt from residential and structural fires may contain asbestos, heavy metals and other hazardous substances, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Exposure to those toxic substances can occur through inhaling ash and fire dust particles, contact with skin or contamination of drinking water supplies.

Improper handling or disposal of fire debris can increase these risks, spreading hazardous substances throughout the community and endangering workers, residents and the environment, the statement said.

Removal of fire debris will be conducted in a two-phase process.

The first phase will consist of a hazardous materials assessment of all burned properties by the Los Angeles County Fire Health &