Wednesday, August 27, 2025

PUSD Students Return to Upgraded Campuses After Summer Renovation Projects

Bond-funded improvements enhance facilities across 34 schools as district welcomes nearly 14,000 students

Students at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) returned to significantly improved campuses Aug. 18 as the 2025-2026 school year began.

The district welcomed an estimated 13,591 students across 34 campuses that Monday. Many found their schools transformed by summer renovation projects funded by voter-approved bond measures.

“The Power of PUSD was on full display,” said Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, PUSD superintendent, in a message to the community about the school year’s start.

Hamilton Elementary School students discovered a newly transformed playground featuring fresh paint and revitalized surfaces. Pasadena High School received a refreshed entrance and new walkways with landscaping.

At John Muir High School, facilities teams installed new partitions and repaired ceilings and walls in restrooms. The 1926-built school at 1905 Lincoln Ave. also received front-entry security system installations as part of safety improvements.

“We have wanted this capability for a long time,”

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

California GOP Takes Newsom To Court Over Redistricting, Again. Will Trump Sue Next?

By Maya C. Miller and Alexei Koseff, CALMATTERS

Fresh off their failed attempt to kill Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, California Republicans and anti-gerrymandering groups this week launched an all-out resistance to defeat what they regard as an unconstitutional ballot question.

Republican legislators in particular, many of whom lambasted Democrats in fiery floor speeches last week, have stressed that independent redistricting should be a nonpartisan affair. A few even ventured to lightly scold President Donald Trump for urging their counterparts in red states  to redraw maps for political gain. And several filed a new lawsuit against the Newsom administration on Monday, their second in a week.

But despite their best efforts, California Republicans can’t completely separate Trump from the battle over redistricting, a fight that the president initiated earlier this summer by calling for gerrymandering in Texas to benefit the GOP. On Monday, the president offhandedly threatened to sue California to halt Newsom’s plan.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Harabedian Presses for Insurance Reform to Aid Local Wildfire Survivors

The Assemblymember joined survivors and officials in Altadena to demand action from the California Department of Insurance

Assemblymember John Harabedian (D–Pasadena) joined wildfire survivors and local officials Monday to demand urgent reforms from the California Department of Insurance, citing widespread delays and denials of claims stemming from the Eaton Fire and other recent disasters affecting residents in Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding communities.

Speaking at a press conference held in Altadena alongside the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Harabedian called on the California Department of Insurance to enforce existing laws, expedite claims, and increase transparency in insurance practices. He also spotlighted Assembly Bill 238, legislation he authored to allow disaster-impacted homeowners to pause mortgage payments for up to one year.

“Our responsibility is clear: to protect survivors, give them the time and resources to rebuild their home and their lives, and ensure they can do so with security and peace of mind. That’s why I am leading this effort — calling on the California Department of Insurance to act swiftly and decisively,

Monday, August 25, 2025

Schools Superintendent Outlines Roadmap to Close $30 Million Budget Shortfall

Community advisory committee and nine workstreams will feed proposals to School Board for November decisions

The Pasadena Unified School District faces a projected budget shortfall of about $30 million this year, Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco told school families in a Friday night email, calling the situation “a serious and urgent challenge” that requires the community’s full attention.

Blanco attributed the gap to sharply rising costs — including employee health benefits, utilities, and property and liability insurance — combined with declining enrollment that reduces state funding tied to average daily attendance. She described the mismatch as a “structural imbalance” the District must address “strategically and proactively.”

To close the gap, the District has launched a multi-pronged Fiscal Stabilization Process, Blanco said. Workstreams include a Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee, special education efficiencies, grant maximization, central office reductions, contracts and procurement review, transportation analysis, asset management, and staffing and vacancy evaluations. Each area will be reviewed for savings while protecting “resources closest to our students,” Blanco wrote.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Altadena Neighborhood Coalition to Host Legislative Update Tuesday

The meeting will feature updates from representatives of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and Assemblymember John Harabedian

The Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA) will hold a virtual meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m., featuring legislative updates from representatives of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and Assemblymember John Harabedian.

Although ACONA meetings are traditionally held bimonthly at the Altadena Community Center, the Aug. 26 session will be conducted via Zoom. The meeting is open to all Altadena residents, and the link is available at ACONAonline.org.

Representatives from Pérez and Harabedian’s offices will provide a general overview of active legislation, followed by focused discussion on three bills with direct local impact: SB 629, AB 797 and SB 782. SB 629, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, proposes reclassification of high fire zones.

AB 797, introduced by Harabedian, seeks to stabilize property values in disaster-impacted areas through the Community Stabilization Act.

SB 782, sponsored by Pérez,

Monday, August 25, 2025

Vehicle Goes 1,000 Feet off Angeles Crest Highway North of Altadena; One Injured

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A vehicle went about 1,000 feet off the Angeles Crest (2) Highway in the mountains north of the Altadena area Sunday and the iPhone of the person inside notified authorities of the need for help.

The California Highway Patrol received an emergency text from the iPhone at 6:18 p.m. Sunday, notifying dispatchers that there was an emergency at a certain latitude and longitude, the Angeles Crest Highway at Barley Flats Road near the Strawberry Park Trail.

The CHP was unable to talk to the phone’s user because the crash was out of cell service range.

At 6:47 p.m., someone at the scene told the CHP a vehicle was about 1,000 feet down an embankment.

A SigAlert was issued about 7 p.m. shutting down all lanes in both directions.

One person was transported to a hospital by ambulance but the individual’s condition was not available, CHP Officer A. Delos Reyes told City News Service.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Altadena Tenants Union to Hold First In-Person General Meeting Aug. 26

The meeting will include a recap of recent activities, a renters’ rights overview and a collaborative tenant discussion

The Altadena Tenants Union will hold its first in-person general meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Altadena Main Library, located at 600 E. Mariposa St.

The meeting is open exclusively to current or displaced Altadena tenants.

Homeowners, organizational representatives, neighboring community members, law enforcement, landlords and journalists reporting stories are asked not to attend, according to the event announcement.

The meeting will include a recap of Altadena Tenants Union’s activities from January through August, a brief overview of renters’ rights, and a collaborative problem-solving session focused on a tenant-submitted issue. Spanish translation will be available, and attendees are asked to register in advance to confirm their tenant status.

The event will begin with a 30-minute social period, followed by the general meeting and a closing session. Tenants unable to attend in person are encouraged to register and indicate their availability.

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Listen to the Local Entrepreneur Who Launched Three Brands Against Daunting Odds – And Succeeded

When Kaiy Smith-Biesman launched her businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while her Marine husband was on active duty, she did what seemed impossible: She built three community-rooted brands, navigated through the LA wildfires, all while raising two children.

The Chapman University graduate in business management, marketing and entrepreneurship will share her unconventional business playbook at the Pasadena Rotary Club’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The University Club, 175 N. Oakland Ave.

Smith-Biesman, founder and owner of Stems Catering and Neighbors & Friends Café, has become known for mentoring aspiring—and often underserved—food entrepreneurs with what she calls a “no-fluff approach” to building sustainable businesses. Her philosophy centers on food as connection rather than commodity – specializing in turning food into visual art and shared experience.

Known for her candid approach, Smith-Biesman believes gathering isn’t just about what’s on the menu but about connection, storytelling and creating spaces where people feel seen. She helps entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses grounded in clarity and purpose.

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Local Church, Community Hub Celebrates 25 Years with Community Cookout for Fire Survivors

LIFT honors resilience and community support through festive neighborhood gathering

LIFT International will mark its 25th anniversary with a special community cookout on Saturday, August 30, dedicated to supporting survivors of the recent Eaton Canyon Fire.

The free event at Eaton Blanche Park will provide a day of healing, connection, and celebration for local residents.

The nonprofit is a vibrant church and community hub dedicated to serving the Altadena and Pasadena communities.

“For 25 years, LIFT International has been committed to being a light in the community—bringing hope, restoration, and practical support to those in need,” said Anthony and Micheline McFarland, founders of LIFT International.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we’re especially honored to recognize the strength and resilience of the fire survivors we’ve walked alongside these past seven months.”

The event, running from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will offer complimentary food, family-friendly games, face painting, and a pie-eating contest.

Highlights include $100 reward gift cards for game winners,

Saturday, August 23, 2025

State Senator Takes Ceremonial Oath in Pasadena Saturday As Immigration, Housing Crises Escalate

Pérez brings progressive agenda to education committee leadership

When Senator Sasha Renée Pérez takes her ceremonial oath of office Saturday at Pasadena City College for California’s 25th State Senate District, she will do so as one of California’s most progressive voices on immigrant rights and housing reform, carrying legislation that would ban algorithmic rent manipulation at a time when many of her constituents are still reeling from January’s devastating Eaton Fire.

Her outspoken pushback against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions makes her among the most vocal of California’s elected officials.

Saturday’s ceremony, originally scheduled for January but postponed when Pérez pivoted to Eaton Fire disaster relief efforts, represents more than a symbolic gesture for the 32-year-old freshman senator who officially assumed office on December 2.

Chair of the powerful Senate Education Committee and author of 23 bills in her first legislative session, Pérez has positioned herself as a fierce advocate for renters, immigrants, and the unhoused—constituencies she knows intimately.