Thursday, September 25, 2025

Pasadena School Board to Consider Textbook Sufficiency, Review $200 Million Bond Plan at Thursday Meeting

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will convene Thursday evening to certify textbook sufficiency, review a $200 million bond issuance strategy, and vote on environmental exemptions for campus modernization projects, among other pressing matters.

There is no agenda item focused explicitly on the District’s budget deficit.

The meeting is scheduled for a 5 p.m. closed session and a 6 p.m. open session at the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave. The public portion will be broadcast live on Charter Channel 95 and streamed online.

Trustees will hold a public hearing and vote on Resolution 2839, affirming that all students have access to adequate instructional materials in mathematics, science, history-social science, reading/language arts, and foreign language for the 2025–2026 school year. The resolution states that “each classroom uses one or more textbooks from this approved list” for the academic year. The annual certification ensures compliance with state textbook sufficiency requirements.

A second public hearing will address the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Pasadena Chapter 434’s initial proposal for a successor collective bargaining agreement with the district.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Pasadena Joins County Billboard Campaign to Support Fire-Affected Businesses

Local businesses impacted by January wildfires included in regional recovery effort

Pasadena is among several cities participating in Los Angeles County’s new billboard campaign aimed at helping small and micro businesses recover from the January wildfires, including the Eaton and Palisades fires.

According to a press release issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, the County has installed 23 billboards across the region to promote its “Shop Local. Dine Local. Recover Local.” initiative. The campaign encourages residents to support businesses that suffered property damage, revenue loss and customer decline due to the fires.

The billboard placements include digital premier panels, digital bulletins, transit shelters and printed postal panels. They will remain in place through November. Clear Channel Outdoor partnered with the County to display the messaging.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and their recovery is essential to our communities’ recovery,” said Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Millennial Democrat Ian Calderon Announces Bid For California Governor

By Jeanne Kuang, CALMATTERS

Former state lawmaker Ian Calderon is joining the crowded 2026 race for California governor, he announced Tuesday.

The Whittier Democrat is framing his candidacy as one from a “new generation of leadership.” He was 27 when he became the first millennial to be elected to the state Assembly in 2012.

But he was no newcomer even then — Calderon comes from a line of politicians from southeast Los Angeles County. His father, Charles Calderon, started the dynasty when he was elected to the Assembly in 1982. Two of his uncles also served in the Legislature — and federal prison for corruption.

Ian Calderon left the Assembly, where he was majority leader, in 2020 to focus on his young family and his stepmother Lisa Calderon now holds his seat. But he’s been biding his time for a return.

In a campaign video that heavily features his wife and children,

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Organizations Provide $10,000 Custom Wheelchair to Altadena Teen After Fires

Xavier Young lost his specialized mobility equipment when the Eaton fires destroyed his home and school in Altadena.

Two Los Angeles-area charitable organizations have provided a $10,000 custom wheelchair to an Altadena middle school student who lost his mobility equipment when fires destroyed his home and school.

Xavier Young, a student at Eliot Arts Magnet as part of the Pasadena Unified School District, received the specialized medical-grade wheelchair Sept. 23 through a partnership between Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities and Exceptional Children’s Foundation.

The Eaton fires that swept through Altadena left Young facing multiple losses: his home, his school in Altadena, and his lifeline — a specialized wheelchair he depended on every day for mobility and independence.

The presentation of Xavier’s new wheelchair, attended by Maxine Moshay of Exceptional Children’s Foundation and Angela Belty of Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities, formed part of LATLC’s larger fire relief campaign, which raised $100,000 to support families, first responders and schools impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Court Rulings Cast Doubt On California Mask Ban For Federal Officers

By Dan Walters, CALMATTERS

Last Saturday Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills aimed at protecting California’s undocumented immigrants from aggressive raids by President Donald Trump’s immigration agents.

Senate Bill 627, which would prohibit federal officers from wearing masks during their operations, drew the heaviest media coverage and a dismissive response from administration officials.

“What are you afraid of?” Newsom asked of federal agents during the signing event in Los Angeles. “You’re going to go out and you’re going to do enforcement — provide an ID. Tell us which agency you represent. Provide us basic information that all local law enforcement is required to provide.”

“We don’t need to abide by this garbage,” Tricia McLaughlin, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, posted on X.

The political saber rattling is merely theatrical symbolism. Newsom got another fix of national media attention to bolster his image as resister-in-chief to the commander-in-chief,

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Ricardo Lara Proposes Insurance Rule That Critics Call ‘Revenge’

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is proposing more new insurance rules that critics are calling “vindictive,” and which they say will only make it easier for insurers to raise rates.

Home insurance costs in California are certain to rise in the near future because of Lara’s recent changes to the state’s insurance rules. Those changes are meant to encourage insurance companies to keep writing new policies and discourage them from canceling policies, especially in areas of high wildfire risk.

Last week, Lara proposed altering the insurance rate-review process in what he said is an effort to make it more efficient. But others say the changes Lara wants to make amount to retaliation against one of his biggest and toughest critics, Consumer Watchdog.

“This is Trumpian,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, the nonprofit organization that wrote the state’s Proposition 103 insurance law. Consumer Watchdog is California’s most prolific intervenor; an intervenor is a member of the public who can challenge an insurer’s rate request.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

From Texas Maps to Pasadena Streets Rally Signals Escalation in Redistricting Wars

Pasadena demonstration part of California response to Texas gerrymandering as Election Rigging Response Act heads to vote

Local activists plan to march in Old Pasadena this Saturday, September 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2 East Colorado Blvd., near the Cheesecake Factory, rallying behind Proposition 50—the Election Rigging Response Act—which seeks to temporarily override California’s independent redistricting commission in direct response to Republican gerrymandering in Texas.

Proposition 50 represents California’s first-ever abandonment of its nonpartisan map-drawing system and is framed by supporters as an emergency measure to offset what they call the illegal removal of five Democratic seats in Texas, ahead of the November 4 special election.

“Prop 50 is essentially California’s response to Texas illegal gerrymandering and taking of five Democratic seats. Prop 50 is in response to that,” said Maddie Gavel-Briggs of San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible, the lead organizing group for the event.

The Yes on Prop 50 rally, described by organizers as both a visibility event and educational effort,

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

LA County Library Opens 46th Annual Bookmark Contest for Young Artists

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Library Tuesday announced the return of its Bookmark Contest for the 46th year, giving young readers a chance to show their love for books and libraries.

Starting Tuesday through Oct. 18, county youth can design original bookmarks inspired by reading, books, libraries or their own imagination for consideration. Each library will select a local winner for each grade-level category, which will be broken down into the following: kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grades, and ninth to 12th grade.

Winners are expected to be announced in November. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors will then select 20 grand prize winners, five of which will be representing each supervisor’s district in the spring.

Winning bookmark designs will be recognized, displayed and distributed at every county library location in 2026.

“When we give young people space to express themselves, we unlock a deeper connection to learning and community,”

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Elderly Victims Sue Edison Over Eaton Fire Losses as Utility Faces Scrutiny From Past Wildfire Settlements

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

A group of elderly victims and their families has filed suit against Southern California Edison, alleging the utility’s negligence caused the devastating Eaton Fire and left them homeless, traumatized, and in failing health.

The lawsuit, filed by global litigation firm Quinn Emanuel, represents 25 victims ranging in age from 70 to 90. The complaint accuses Edison of being “grossly negligent” and acting with “reckless disregard for public safety.”

“Exposure to toxic smoke and ash can cause a variety of health conditions, including respiratory problems, asthma exacerbation, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as lung cancer and damage to cognitive functions,” according to the lawsuit. “These significant health risks can have long-term impacts on human health.”

The Eaton Fire destroyed over 9,000 structures, burning 14,000 acres and forcing the evacuation of over 33,000 people in Altadena and in Pasadena. The fire also destroyed historic sites like the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and the Altadena Community Church,

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Board Of Supervisors Tuesday Meeting Honors Heritage, Tackles Key Actions, And Expands Access

The Los Angeles County Board agenda draws attention to participation, accessibility and recognition during its upcoming televised meeting

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 9:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 381B, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles.

The session features ceremonial recognitions for Latino and Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating leaders and organizations like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, SEIU-USWW’s David Huerta, ImmigoLA, Pueblo y Salud and Somos Familia Valle. The Board also honors Beatriz Dieringer’s 44 years of service with the District Attorney’s Office, the Clergy Community Coalition’s 20th anniversary and Edward Lewis’s support for Eaton Fire relief.

Key hearings include the proposed annexation of a Lake Los Angeles parcel to County Lighting Maintenance District CLMD 1687 and CLD LLA-1, with assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-27 and joint resolutions on property taxes. The Board will also consider a 15-year water pipeline franchise for California Domestic Water Company,