Thursday, March 12, 2026

Coalition Launches Bilingual Campaign to Shield Altadena’s Latino Fire Survivors From Fraud

Four organizations and political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz gather in Pasadena to help families navigate legal, insurance and rebuilding challenges 14 months after the Eaton Fire

A coalition of Latino-serving organizations launches a bilingual “Know Your Rights” campaign Thursday aimed at helping families affected by the Eaton Fire navigate legal claims, insurance disputes and rebuilding fraud — issues that have mounted in the 14 months since the blaze destroyed more than 9,000 structures in Altadena and surrounding communities.

The campaign, called “Know Your Rights/Conoce Tus Derechos,” is organized by the Viva Altadena Collaborative and scheduled for 2 p.m. at Monarca Sol, a Chicana Indigenous-owned cultural boutique at Paseo Colorado, 300 E. Colorado Blvd., No. 139, according to an announcement from the organizers.

Representatives from the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, LA Fire Justice, Alliance for a Better Community and political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz are expected to participate.

The effort comes as research from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute has documented widening disparities in Altadena’s recovery. A study published in October 2025 found that nearly seven in 10 severely fire-damaged homes showed no progress toward rebuilding. Latino homeowners filed permits at the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group — 30% — and were more likely to seek temporary housing permits, suggesting they intended to stay and rebuild. But financial barriers, underinsurance and bureaucratic delays have stalled progress across the board.

Fraud has compounded those obstacles. In December 2025, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged five people with felonies for operating as unlicensed contractors in the Eaton Fire burn zone in Altadena. Federal prosecutors have also brought charges against individuals who submitted fraudulent FEMA claims related to the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The campaign’s participating organizations bring different expertise. NDLON, a Pasadena-based network of more than 70 labor organizations founded in 2001, focuses on the rights of day laborers and low-wage immigrant workers. Alliance for a Better Community, a Los Angeles nonprofit founded in 2000, advocates for Latino equity in education, health and economic development. The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce works on economic development for Latino-owned businesses in the region.

LA Fire Justice, a wildfire litigation firm with offices in Pasadena, represents Eaton Fire victims in lawsuits against Southern California Edison. The firm is led by California attorney Doug Boxer and litigator Mikal Watts, with former state Assemblymember Chris Holden serving as CEO. Its presence at the event reflects the legal dimensions of fire recovery — but it is a plaintiff’s law firm, not a nonprofit service provider.

Alcaraz, a nationally syndicated cartoonist and creator of the comic strip “La Cucaracha,” is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the 2022 Herblock Prize. He has used his work to address immigration, Latino civil rights and cultural representation, and served as a cultural consultant on Pixar’s “Coco” and Nickelodeon’s “The Casagrandes.” His role at the event was not specified in the announcement.

A February 2026 UCLA study found that more than 74% of fire-impacted rental units in Altadena remained on properties with no rebuilding permits filed. The Eaton Fire, which began on January 7, 2025, killed 19 people and became the second most destructive wildfire in California history. Before the fire, 61% of Latino households in Altadena owned their homes — nearly double the national rate for Latino families, according to the Urban Land Institute.