Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Senator Pérez Names Eaton Fire Advocate Joy Chen as 2026 Woman of the Year

The recognition highlights Chen’s role building a 10,000-member survivor network from a post-fire WhatsApp group in Altadena

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) honored Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, as the 2026 Woman of the Year for Senate District 25 during a ceremony on the California Senate Floor.

Chen was recognized for transforming a post-fire WhatsApp group into what EFSN describes as the nation’s largest fire survivor recovery network, now connecting more than 10,000 Eaton, Palisades and Malibu fire survivors and allies, according to the organization’s website.

The network says it has helped unlock over $100 million in delayed insurance payouts deposited into survivor accounts during its first year.

The annual Woman of the Year program, founded in 1987 and organized by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, recognizes 120 women statewide each March — one from each of the state’s 40 Senate and 80 Assembly districts.

Pérez presented Chen with a framed resolution during the ceremony,

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Pasadena Assemblymember Urges State Budget Funding for Eaton Fire Soil Testing

Harabedian tells budget panel that fire survivors need contamination data to decide whether to return home

Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) urged state lawmakers at a recent budget hearing to include funding for comprehensive soil contamination testing in the state budget, arguing that Eaton Fire survivors in Pasadena and Altadena cannot make informed decisions about returning home without it.

The push highlights a gap between the scale of contamination risk and the testing resources available. The Eaton Fire destroyed 9,414 structures, according to Cal Fire damage assessments, yet the EPA has committed to testing soil at only 100 properties, according to an EPA press release issued in January 2026. LA County allocated up to $3 million for lead testing through its Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program, according to the LA County Department of Public Health, but that program was expected to run through December 2025.

“The state has already allocated two and a half billion dollars for Los Angeles wildfire recovery,”

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

PUSD Students Take the Stage in Eight Spring Musicals Across Pasadena and Altadena

The spring musical season at Pasadena Unified School District opens this week, with eight middle and high school productions set to run across Pasadena and Altadena through May 15, 2026.

The district’s annual lineup spans eight campuses, eight titles, and nearly two months of performances — beginning Thursday at Thurgood Marshall Secondary School, which will present Alice By Heart March 19-21. In Altadena, Eliot Arts Magnet will mount Bring It On! The Musical March 26-28, giving that community its own moment in the season. The Altadena middle school’s production is among the most closely watched events of the spring lineup: Eliot was among the schools directly affected by the January 2025 Eaton Fire, according to a statement on the school’s own website.

The full 2026 schedule, as announced by PUSD, is:

• Thurgood Marshall Secondary School — Alice By Heart, March 19-21
• Eliot Arts Magnet (Altadena) — Bring It On! The Musical,

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

PUSD School Consolidation Survey Closes Wednesday as Advisory Committee Narrows Options

Residents have two days to weigh in on priorities; nine schools already removed from consideration

The Pasadena Unified School District’s community survey on potential school consolidation closes Wednesday, March 18, giving families across Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre two days to submit input on a process that could reshape the district by the 2027-28 school year.

The “Transforming PUSD” survey, which opened March 3 and was extended by Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, seeks community priorities as a 33-member advisory committee evaluates options to address the district’s projected $30 to $35 million budget shortfall for 2026-27. The survey is one of several input channels; the district also planned two town halls, seven committee meetings open to the public, and Board of Education meetings with public comment, according to district materials.

The Superintendent’s School Consolidation Advisory Committee voted March 9 to remove nine schools from the list under consideration for closure or consolidation. Those schools include John Muir High School, Pasadena High School,

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

County Board Mulls Extending Rent Protections, Approving Pasadena Humane Deal for Altadena

Nearly $5 million in state homebuyer aid and continued fire-recovery contracts also on Tuesday’s agenda

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on extending anti-price-gouging protections for wildfire-displaced renters and formalizing a no-cost agreement with Pasadena Humane to continue animal care and control services in Altadena and surrounding unincorporated communities.

The items are among several on the March 17 agenda that directly affect Altadena residents still contending with the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures beginning January 7, 2025. The Board will also consider accepting nearly $5 million in state funds for homebuyer downpayment assistance, adopting new street sweeping traffic regulations in Altadena, and continuing emergency fire-recovery contracts.

The price gouging extension, submitted by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, would push protections through April 28, 2026, under California Penal Code Section 396. The provision caps rent increases at 10 percent above pre-emergency levels and prohibits excessive hotel and motel rates. The motion also proposes raising the rental price formula for housing not rented within one year before the emergency from 160 percent to 200 percent of fair market rent set by the U.S.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Whistleblower Complaint Alleges Emergency Management Employee Slept During Eaton Fire Response

STAFF REPORT

A whistleblower complaint filed by a Los Angeles County emergency management employee alleges that a colleague assigned to a key leadership role during the early hours of the Eaton Fire response was asleep for portions of the shift, according to a report by Eyewitness News Channel 7.

The complaint centers on activity inside the county’s Emergency Operations Center during the first night of the wildfire that erupted Jan. 7, 2025, in Altadena.

The Emergency Operations Center coordinates the county’s overall response during disasters, bringing together officials from multiple departments to monitor conditions and support field operations.

The employee who filed the complaint told Eyewitness News that the individual assigned to serve as Emergency Operations Center director overnight had a crucial responsibility to monitor the operational picture during the unfolding wildfire response. According to the complaint, staff members working overnight said the director was asleep at times or absent from the operations floor during portions of the shift.

The whistleblower told the station he arrived early the following morning to take over the role and was informed by staff that the director had been sleeping during the overnight activation.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Keynotes Women’s History Month in Pasadena Unified

Thurgood Marshall Secondary School hosts the ninth annual Pasadena Unified School District Women’s History Month Assembly on March 25.

Thurgood Marshall Secondary School hosts the ninth annual Pasadena Unified School District Women’s History Month Assembly in the Pasadena Unified School District on March 25 at 6 p.m. The event is free. We are excited to announce that the keynote is California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Additional addresses to the assembly will be from former Cornell Women’s Basketball Player and Senior Marketing Director for the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) Claire Perry, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco. The theme of this year’s event is “The Power of Teamwork”. The event is live and will also be livestreamed.

Created in 2018 by Principal Lori Touloumian and Pasadena Unified School District Trustee Jennifer Hall Lee, the Women’s History Month Assembly has a yearly prompt for essays and art for middle school and high school participants.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Tax Relief Session Offers Vital Support for Fire Victims in Altadena

Altadena Community Center to host expert-led information session on disaster-related tax relief.

Altadena residents grappling with the financial aftermath of natural disasters and wildfires have a crucial opportunity to gain clarity on available tax relief. This Thursday, the Altadena Community Center will host an information session led by Deanna S. Newton, a distinguished attorney specializing in low income tax matters. The session aims to demystify the complexities of tax implications following such devastating events, offering practical guidance and support to those most affected in the community.

Newton, an Associate Professor of Law at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, brings a wealth of expertise to this critical topic. Her extensive background includes a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, a J.D. from Pepperdine Caruso Law School, and an LL.M. in taxation from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Her previous work at KPMG’s International Tax Group further underscores her deep understanding of tax law, making her an invaluable resource for attendees seeking assistance. The session is particularly timely given California’s ongoing vulnerability to wildfires,

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Black Family Wellness Expo Will Offer Free Screenings, Workshops and Mindfulness Activities Saturday at Robinson Park

A free wellness expo Saturday in Pasadena will offer health screenings, mental health workshops and women’s health programming, with a particular focus on children and families affected by the January Eaton Fire.

The Pasadena-Altadena Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will host the annual Black Family Wellness Expo from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

The event is part of a nationwide initiative by The Links — an organization of professional women of African descent founded in 1946 — that unites chapters across the country for a Black Family Wellness Expo National Impact Day of Service focused on health and economic outcomes for Black families, according to the chapter’s media advisory.

The Expo is open to all community members regardless of race, color or national origin.

The chapter said this year’s Expo will place special emphasis on the mental health and overall well-being of children and families, particularly those impacted by the wilfire disaster.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Equip Yourself: Protecting Seniors from the Evolving Landscape of Fraud

Altadena event offers crucial insights into safeguarding against modern scams

In an era where digital threats constantly evolve, the fight against fraud targeting older adults has never been more critical. A forthcoming event in Altadena aims to arm the community with essential knowledge, bringing together experts to demystify the sophisticated tactics employed by scammers, from impersonation schemes to the alarming rise of AI and deepfake technology. This timely gathering underscores the urgent need for proactive education in protecting vulnerable populations.

Lisa Carroll, a Certified Fraud Examiner with over 25 years of experience, will lead the discussion. Carroll, whose expertise in uncovering fraud and managing financial records has supported countless legal cases and business operations, is certified in fraud examination by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and in bookkeeping by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). Her presentation promises to be an engaging session designed to heighten awareness about the most common scams prevalent today. Attendees will gain practical strategies to recognize and defend against these pervasive threats.