Podcasts about altadena

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In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back Grammy Nominated producer, engineer, and mixer Travis Ference as well as multi-instrumentalist, sound designer and audio engineer Kerry Rose to talk all about backing up and archiving audio.  In This Episode, We Discuss: 3-2-1 System Best Practices & Considerations Insurance & Liability Personal Experiences  Travis's Altadena Fire Experience Kerry's Nevada City Fire Scare Scorched Earth Remote/Cloud Storage Challenges with Cloud Offsite NAS Methodology Over Tools Links and Show Notes: Watch Duty App  GMRS Radios Documentary on Paradise Backblaze Sync.com Neofinder Synology NAS OWC Travis online Matt's Rant: The Many Hats We Wear Credits: Guest: Travis Ference and Kerry Rose Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell The Voice: Chuck Smith

durée : 00:06:03 - Le Grand Reportage - par : Aurélie Kieffer - Plus de 150 kilomètres carrés ont été ravagés par les flammes en janvier dernier à Los Angeles, en Californie, à Pacific Palisades et à Altadena. Des milliers d'habitants, dont de très nombreux artistes, ont tout perdu. Un élan de solidarité s'est alors créé. - réalisation : Annie Brault

durée : 00:05:30 - Le Grand Reportage - par : Aurélie Kieffer - En Californie, Altadena a été en quasi totalité détruite par l'incendie du 7 janvier 2025, le Eaton Fire. Or cette ville bohème attirait les artistes en quête de tranquillité et d'inspiration, surtout des musiciens. Cette communauté a perdu gros dans les feux. - réalisation : Annie Brault

In SGV Connect 138, Streetsblog talked to Benito Flores and others in the Reclaimers movement that were helping him resist eviction in the Caltrans owned property he was living in. The Reclaimers are a group of formerly unhoused people who moved into Caltrans-owned properties in 2020 to both put a roof over their heads during a public health crisis and draw attention to the amount of publicly owned housing that was not being lived in during a nationwide housing crisis. After losing several court cases, Flores and other reclaimers were given a choice: move out of their house and work with the homeless authority to get new housing or stay and risk forcible eviction. Flores chose to stay, and sadly passed away after falling from a treehouse he built as a hideaway when the sheriffs or state police came. In this episode, we interview two reclaimers who chose the first option: leaving their reclaimed homes and working with HACLA. The interview takes place in Councilwoman Jurado's El Sereno office with Marta Escudero and Cecilia Lopez, members of the Reclaimers movement. In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, they occupied vacant Caltrans-owned homes in El Sereno, inspired by the Moms for Housing movement. Both describe how displacement and the housing crisis pushed them to act, with support from groups like ACE, Eastside Café, and HACLA. Initially granted two-year leases, Marta and Cecilia later faced eviction efforts and legal battles. Marta negotiated with HACLA to secure Section 8 housing in Boyle Heights, where she now lives with her daughters. She emphasizes the importance of staying in her community for family support and schooling needs. Cecilia, however, remains unhoused, still couch-surfing despite promises of permanent housing, and expresses frustration with HACLA's delays and broken commitments. For Streetsblog's complete five-year coverage for the Reclaimer movement, click here. A transcript of the interview is available below. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays! Marta - Hello. My name is Marta Escudero. Cecilia - Hello. My name is Cecilia Lopez. Damien - ...and I'm Damian Newton. Nice to meet you. We should have done that when we got here instead of waiting for the recording. Anyway, we're in the El Sereno office of Councilwoman Jurado, and we're talking today with two of the Reclaimers. This is mostly for me when I'm listening to it five years from now, going, "Wait, what? It was in the office?"  So let's start the interview how we've started most of the interviews by just sort of recapping the beginning for anyone that's listening for the first time, because and for anyone that's listened before. I always think this is such a dramatic and unique story. It's always worth repeating in the words of the people that lived it. So why don't we just start with what a Reclaimer is and what happened in 2020 Marta - So at least for my side of the story, because there's multiple sides, I found out that ACE and LACLA, LATU, DSA were meeting months before. Well, during that time, I was couch surfing with my daughters, and I was falling into despair because there was no housing. And then I saw Moms for Housing on the TV, and I wanted to do something similar, inspired by these black moms that took housing up north, and so I started reaching out to people and letting people know what I wanted to do. And my friend Colleen, which she's amazing, she's the one that, like, really motivated me to do this.  She gave me the contact for Amy Scherer from ACE, and that's when I found out they had been planning this for a while. And then at the same time, Angela from Eastside Cafe put something on Facebook, and I reached out to her, and then they linked together. At that same time, Ruby Gordillo was doing canvassing of empty houses through ACE, and found these houses in El Sereno as well. So it was just all kind of meshed together. And we began planning, I believe in December I joined and we began planning more thoroughly, like in January, and then covid hit, and it was right in the lockdown.  We were even thinking, "Should we do it? Should we wait?" And then we said, "let's just do it." And it was right. It was just pure luck. It was right on the weekend of the lockdown. And so everything was in chaos, and the governor just let us slide. I think if it wasn't for that, I believe if it wasn't for that, we probably would have been taken out. Cecilia - Definitely... all hog tied. Damien - So with the support of all these groups, the two of you moved in separately to different houses in El Sereno, both in El Sereno, because I know there were other places that ... okay... both in El Sereno. You moved into houses during the first weekend of the lockdown. I don't think I ever put that together in my head that it was, Cecilia - It was March 14, I believe. Damien - Yeah, yeah. So you moved in. I know there was some, some action to try and get you out, but the governor's office actually stepped in and said, you know, let them stay. There's a crisis, and… Cecilia - We had sent letters first, because we were having a rough time in the beginning with CHP. Damien - That'd be the Highway Patrol, because these were Caltrans owned properties. Caltrans owned these properties because they were in the right of way of a freeway expansion that they wanted to do the 710, which was canceled in 2017, or 18, I believe. And then they still own the properties, although they're starting to divest the ones in Pasadena, I know they're being - and South Pasadena - those are being turned into the properties are, I believe, being demolished and turned into affordable housing, but the people that moved into them are not they may have an option to rent into the affordable housing, but there's no homeowner option that had been discussed when Caltrans bought these houses, like way back in the 70s. The 1970s. Okay, so the originally you were given one year leases, if I remember correctly, Marta - two-year leases. Damien - And so you stayed in there, then through 2022, and then there were legal efforts to evict and not evict, and tenants rights were claimed, and all that stuff went to court. Right? Marta - Yes, because we were given a two-year lease and the HACLA was not providing the housing we needed and were asking for, because people have individual needs, I especially requested to be geographically close, because I'm a single mother and I have all my support system here, plus my daughters, go to special schools.  They're unique. There's people from Santa Monica, from South LA. They go to these schools from the valley, because they're so unique that I can't find them anywhere else, and I didn't want to have to go through that commute. It's exhausting, and so I really fought for that to be included in HACLA. They think that anywhere is okay, and I don't agree with that. I feel that people have unique needs, and housing should provide that for us as well. Cecilia - I feel the same way, except I don't have kids, but my roots are here. I was born here, and so that's all I know. I am used to the area. I'm comfortable being here, and I feel safe here. Damien - So the legal actions around that I know went on for a couple years with eviction efforts, efforts to oppose in court, as I understand it, the legal efforts were sort of exhausted sometime in 2024. One of the reasons we're doing this interview is we did the one with Benito and Roberto a couple months ago. Benito, when offered something after the court cases expired, chose to stay in his house and fight eviction. Other people made different decisions when HACLA made offers to them for housing. So I guess I'm get both of you, I'm assuming, took the HACLA offer -- Cecilia -- but I think we're bypassing a place here because the first two years we were living in the house that we began... Damien - The reclaimed house? Cecilia - Right and then during that time, after the two years, we were asked to move because the houses supposedly needed to be inspected. And then were given another lease for another two years into the new home, which was still in the Caltrans homes. Damien - So you moved from one home to a different one. It's still that Caltrans owns properties in 2022ish. Cecilia - But that was only because they needed us to sign the lease, the agreement that none of us were really happy about, but we really didn't have a choice to not sign. Damien - Okay. So the original two years, and then there was another two years in a different house. And so it was when that expired. And the legal options were out. And then HACLA came to you guys with a new offer, which I'm guessing, since we're here, you both took, could you describe sort of what that offer was like? You know, when we talked to Benito, he was not happy with the offer, but it was for, I believe, four years. A four year lease? Marta - We all had different-- Damien - Okay, everyone was offered a different lease Marta - Based on our circumstances. Cecilia - I think they offered him four years to live in a hotel, and he was not happy about that. Mart -  I wouldn't have taken that deal either, but I do think there was room for negotiation, because that's what I did with HACLA. I was offered some housing at first, and I said, No. I kept saying, No, this is what I want, and you need to look for this. And I also sought outside support so I could push what I wanted, and I got something fairly good in the end.  The  eviction process is horrible, and I already knew I wasn't gonna win legally. We didn't get these houses legally in the first place,  we weren't gonna get them through the legal system. I already had that in mind. I was going to get evicted at some point, and so I needed to prepare for that. And it was a very stressful time, and I couldn't be in despair for my daughters. And so I needed to be in a place where I could be able to think and just keep going. I felt I couldn't stay. I wanted to avoid as much as possible, doing eviction defense. I already had a plan to do it, if that was the last resort.  First of all, I didn't want to bring violence to my community. Second of all, I also have a lot of vulnerable people in my life that are immigrants that need more care, and so I want to be well because I can't pour from my empty cup, and also because of my daughters. And so I was really pushing for HACLA to do something that was good for us, in order for me and my daughters to be well. And I had supporters that pushed because first they kept, like giving me less money or trying to locate me in different areas, and I kept with supporters, phone banking, emailing, and I was able to get a pretty decent deal.  It's in Boyle Heights, which is close to me, and I've lived in Boyle Heights. Before it's section eight, we actually have more room inside. And it's, yeah, amazing public housing, which I think needs to be more of, and that's why I took that deal. Damien - So this is an open ended lease, though it doesn't expire in a certain number of years. Cecilia - That's what we were promised, exactly. Marta - I got what HACLA had promised me in the first place, and I couldn't say, No, my daughters are thriving there, and I really like that place, and now I'm able to offer more support. I'm also part of another organization, J Town Action and Solidarity, that works with unhoused communities and anti gentrification work. And I want to, I want to be there for the most vulnerable people, and now I'm able to do that, that I'm better. I know I was spiraling during that time, and 50 knows I was in grad school, I was working. I'm a single mom. I was facing eviction. I was like, in this or I was just like, it was too much. That's a lot. Damien - I've done many of those things, but not all at once, and mercifully, have never had to worry about eviction. But that's, that's that's a full plate, and now you feel like you're on the other side the HACLA came through with it, with the promise that a print gave to you, and as a result, you're able to now start giving back to or continue giving back to your community in a different way. Marta - Yeah and HACLA shouldn't just do this to be because I'm not special. HACLA should do this to everybody, because everyone deserves not to be displaced, to stay in their community and to have equitable housing. Damien - And I think that's a big point about staying in the community. When we've done homelessness coverage. We did a series back before the pandemic. The goal of that series was to go and interview and visit different places that offered different steps in the process for someone who was experiencing homelessness to fully house. So we visited, you know, temporary shelters and interim housing and that place up in Glendale, Ascencia and stuff like that. And what we heard when we talked to the people, was like, Yes, I'm very grateful to have this roof over my head. But you know, the people I know are 20 miles away and 20 miles away in LA County is a real barrier to being able to have any sort of interaction, much less still be part of the community. Marta - They're isolated. They're a lot of them are in carceral states in shelters as well, and so and displaced from their communities is very isolating, and people with mental health issues, Cecilia - They don't feel safe, and they pass. Marta - So we need better alternatives, for sure. Damien - So what's your experience with your current housing situation? Cecilia - I am still unhoused. I was also promised permanent housing. I was offered. We started to go through the paperwork, and then, for some reason, it just stopped. I continued with my eviction and, well, that was not easy, like she says, and that was just an awful long experience. But I'm glad it's over, but I also am not housed since, since then, I've been couch surfing again, like I was in the beginning, and so I'm very displeased, but I'm still working on it. Damien - Is HACLA still involved? Cecilia - Yes, because they're the only ones that I could be reaching out to, but I believe, also not to go back on what Benito was offered. And I think that was why he was so very upset, is because we all were promised and offered permanent housing. So when they offered him four years in the hotel, of course, he was upset. Damien - Benito  challenged us to reach out to HACLA to see if we could get a response as to what happened, and we got a very legalese - we did - We got a very legalese response. I imagine if we reached out on your behalf, it would be the same thing we can't discuss. You know, you know exactly. Cecilia - That's their good excuse. Damien - Yeah, I imagine it might actually be almost the same statement with, like, two or three, you know, things where they changed pronouns and changed his name to your name. But do you, I guess, regret or the decision not to go the same route he did as far as, like, a physical resistance of eviction? Or do you--- Cecilia - I would have never gone that route. I would have never, ever gone that route, ever, and I feel bad that he did. Damien - So what do you see as a potential next step? Is it hoping the HACLA process works out? Cecilia - Exactly, I still have hope. Damien - Yeah, and so we talked to someone. I talked to someone last night on the phone, before this, and she can't be with us today for the interview, and when she was. It gave a very similar story to the one we've heard today. And she was saying that she is in housing now. She took a HACLA deal, but she misses her old place and preferred it. And she actually was saying, like, if my message, if we were to do the interview, my message would be, you know, put me back in my old house, if that were and it's probably not an option, because they probably have plans for that area, but if there was, area. But if there was an option to go back to the house that you had been in-- Cecilia - I knew they  would come to my house to do inspections and tell me, would you please stop doing, you know, like renovations and repairs on the house? And I said, Well, I'm here. I want to enjoy my house, and I want to make sure that it's safe and that it's livable and presentable, if anything. And they would just continue to tell me, you know you're never going to live here forever. And I said, I know that, but while I'm here, I want to enjoy my house. Marta - Another option is that these houses are going for bidding, and El Sereno Community Land Trust would want to purchase these houses. The problem is, like, last year, the land trust got like, probably one of the worst houses and just one. And the people, the agencies, entities that are getting more of the houses are Habitat for Humanity... is one, I don't know Cecilia - That's one of the main ones. Marta - That's one of the main ones that's getting that, and they're basically just flipping the houses because we tried to apply, and it's not at our income level, so it's not for deeply affordable housing. The Land Trust would like to bring the Reclaimers back, especially like Cecilia and other people that have roots in El Sereno. I think it's very important for them to come back to these houses. And so we're trying to get Caltrans to realize this and prioritize Reclaimers to come back to these houses. I know I have a friend that's doing work in Altadena also trying to get Caltrans houses for the people that were displaced during the fires. Like those are people that we need to prioritize. I feel, Cecilia - I feel that if it wasn't for our movement, then these homes would have still been vacant and rotting and going to waste also. Damien - Well, I think that's one of the reasons this story has captured people's imagination in a way that a lot of other stories that deal with issues around the unhoused haven't the direct action and the focus that was done on it, and how that really changed the conversation in this area around those housing and those issues. And I know when we're traveling for work, I'll have people in other parts of the state, if, when I say, you know, Streetsblog, oh, and I do our San Gabriel, they're like, Oh, you did the Reclaimers podcast. And then they'll ask for updates. And sometimes I have them right at my fingertips, and sometimes I have to look them up. Cecilia - We also know that there has never been anyone to stand up to the state, to bring this up, into the light, to let everyone know that this data has all these properties they're just wasting. And this is not just in El Sereno. It's statewide. Marta - That's like our major outrage, that these houses have been sitting vacant for so long and nothing was being done. And then it's not only here, like all the states, a lot of them Caltrans owned by Caltrans, sometimes by county, by city. How are we in a housing crisis? And these houses are sitting vacant, immoral? And that's why, to me, legality doesn't matter. Of like, yes, we took the houses, but we took it because it's immoral to have them just rotting while people are -- Cecilia - It should be against the law. It really should. The houses are being wasted. There's people suffering out there daily, every day, everywhere, statewide. Damien - And you were making the point earlier that, yes, after some letters, the governor's office interceded and told the state, we pretty much have to stop doing it, to stop trying to force you out, and the county and city to figure something out. But do you think that that was probably not just a result of the public pressure, but also a result of the chaos of the pandemic, or do you think this could have been a very different story? Cecilia - Oh definitely without pandemic it, it would have probably never have happened. Damien - Yeah, you can't see it, but everybody's shaking their heads in the room for the people that are listening. So we've discussed a little bit about the current situations, the housing situations you're in, and what the next steps are for the movement to try and force governments to do something with the properties they have that are not being utilized. You know, the homelessness crisis hasn't gone away in the past five years. Cecilia - It's never gonna go away unless there's permanent housing, affordable, permanent housing. Damien - So what do we see as the next step for the movement from here, for me, sure we can get, we can do it locally, on what we're doing, and then maybe expand to talk about, like, what we would like to see the state do in future years. Marta - Right. Oh, for me, locally, with the Reclaimers to get more of the houses through Caltrans, either individually, if that's an option, or through El Sereno community land trust as a whole, I feel like there should be more reclaiming like I think me I wanted also like moms for housing inspire more reclaiming locally and nationally, worldwide. I feel like we need to build a reclaiming movement, because again, it's immoral to have vacant houses while people are suffering in this supposedly fabricated housing crisis, because it's not natural, and so it's a product of capitalism and All these, all these oppressions we're under. So I want more people to reclaim and if people need support, I'm here for it... Cecilia - A lot of people may not see it as being the correct way, but if we were able to get others aware of all these homes that are rotting then, then then if we, if that's the way we have to do it, then, then that's what we're going to do. Marta - One of the oppositions we had in this neighborhood, and I think in general, is like, I work hard for my housing, so why should you get handouts? And I don't agree with that, like I could work hard for my housing, and I still think that people deserve housing because, not because I did it and I suffered and I wasn't able to spend time with my daughters because I was working so hard. Doesn't mean that I want better for other people. I think as humans, we should want better for other people, and if that takes a housing I know like it helps so many people to have a house-- Cecilia - People really don't start to see it unless it's right there in your front lawn. Somebody pulls up a tent and starts living on your sidewalk. Then they start to see it, then it starts to affect them. Damien - I know it's very early in the process for this, but have any of the candidates for governor, in any way, said anything about this that would give you any hope. It seems like this is something that Villaraigosa would have picked up on. Marta - Yeah, they either have ignored us or maybe they don't know, but I feel like we need to be out there more now and start demanding housing, permanent housing, stable housing, housing that really cares about people. Because the most vulnerable people on the streets I work with are unhoused all the time, I know their stories. I know they're highly traumatized, a lot of times, foster care, children that have weaned out of the system, that don't have support.  There's abused women out there, veterans, people that can't pay their medical bills, and so we tend to stigmatize or stereotype, "oh, it's just addicts," but often also substance abuse. I feel like anyone, and I don't care if they're addicts, they need housing, but substance abuse doesn't come from prior. A lot of times it's what they do to survive on the streets. Damien - There was actually the West Side city council member Mike Bonin, who would talk about how there was a period in his life where he was homeless, and talked about how the drug abuse followed the becoming homeless, not the other way, not the other way around. And he would talk very movingly about it, as the council was, you know, ready to do something horrible about criminalizing homelessness. And at the time, the council was even more conservative than it is now, so there were a lot of 12 to one, you know, with two people, not there type votes with Mike, you know, being the one. And I think, though, that that's, that's a very interesting point, in a way, he humanized the issue for a lot of West siders, that whose only experience with homelessness was that person who was pulling up a tent in front of their house or pulling up an RV in front of their house. So their house. I don't know where I was going with that. Cecilia - Also there, there were many, many vouchers that were unused, that were supposed to have been given out. And Huckle said on them, a lot of Section Eight vouchers are on. Used every year, and they expire. And so what no one ever looks into that portion like, why none of those, all those vouchers, should have been used because there are enough people to use them, and no one ever gets that side of the story either. You know, I think they need to dig deeper. And why are there so many homeless people out there? HACLA is not helping by doing such things. Damien - So I feel like we've covered a lot of the issues we wanted to talk about. I know that sometimes, since we do this very conversationally, these podcasts, instead of a list of questions, sometimes there's something people are really dying to say, and I just didn't ask the right questions. So at the end, I am always like, if we miss something, feel free to just chime in and say it, because I want to make sure that we're getting your stories and your beliefs and opinions and values out there as much as possible. So if there's something we missed, please just fill it in. You can say I did a great job. That is totally acceptable. Chris is shaking his head because he's heard me say this so many times. Marta - Yeah. Well, I mean to me, it's just the issue of displacement worldwide, especially right now with Palestine, I feel really strongly about that, like I don't. I think people deserve to be in the places where they feel comfortable in the places where they have support. And like Trump says, "Oh, they could just go to another Arab country." Like that doesn't make sense to me. Same thing with HACLA. "You could just go to the valley and find another school. That's fine." No. Like, no. We have roots. Here we have a community. Here we have schools that meet my daughter's needs. We can't just go anywhere, and this is something that needs to be humanized, because not just any offer should be okay, like there should be a really intentional offer that fits individual needs, because that affects our mental health and our health in general. Damien - I think there is a stigma. Well, we offered them something, or, Oh, they were offered a voucher, and especially around the project room key. We would hear that a lot. Well, they were offered a hotel, Marta - Like the phrase beggars can't be choosers. Damien - Project room key was very well intentioned, but it was also there, but it was also very uneven. Some facilities worked great. Some did not. But I would hear that a lot when we were talking about that program back during the pandemic with people, well, they were offered something and didn't take it as though that somehow moved down their value, almost. Marta - Yeah, I agree. Anything else? Damien - No. Well, thank you both for your time. You know, always said, feel free to reach out if there's something we should know. I would love to hear if the people are ready to move into the El Sereno Community Land Trust home. We know if and when that happens, I should say when that happens, it will, you know, we would love to be able to come out and cover that, you know, highlight that success slowly, for sure. Yeah, well, I mean, you know, to take a house that's fallen into disrepair and get it ready like that is an undertaking. And for a nonprofit that's doing it for the first time, it's a double undertaking. You know, the next one will be easier. I understand that. Marta - it's gonna be difficult. They're looking for funding for this house. They plan to do it ecologically. So they're doing a lot of research on Earth build, that is, that is also fire friendly, because we know what happened in Altadena and those houses there. So these are going to be more fire resilient with clay. And also they're sustainable, and this is the type of housing that we need in Los Angeles. So I'm really excited for this project. I know it's going to be hard to fund it, but we're looking forward to this project.    

Send us a textMatt and Lisa always seem to have plenty of money. Neither one of them has jobs. This perplexes and vexes their friends Erin and Tom.Miranda Stewart directs a cast that includes Michael Fletcher as Matt, Caitlin Bell as Lisa, Brittany Vallely as Erin, and Jaime Pla as Tom.Kevin B is the playwright. His recent play, The Jelly Bean, was a selection at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. His other plays include The Little Match Girl Isn't Going to Die, American Strippers, Does It Rain on Mars?, James Franco and Me: An Unauthorized Satire, Kill the Virgin, The Italian Wife, We Ride at Dawn or Whenever, Beautiful Beautiful Cleopatra, and more. He is also an actor, director and producer.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Habitat for Humanity has been helping to put roofs over people's heads for decades and in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in January of 2025, CEO of Habitat for Humanity San Gabriel Valley has promised to build 200 homes for those fire survivors.  Caitlin and John Stamos recently volunteered at a build day and want to get more people involved in the many upcoming build days on the road to recovery for the Altadena area.Bryan Wong has been leading a team of 50+ individuals in the mission of building homes, community and hope in the San Gabriel Valley since April 2021. Prior to his role as SGV Habitat CEO, the Cal Poly Pomona graduate founded his own affordable housing nonprofit, The American Homeownership Foundation, served 10 years on the board of directors for Los Angeles Nation Bank, and on the Monrovia Board of Education for about 17 years – highlighting his greatest passions, education and homeownership.Link:https://sgvhabitat.org/

Director and large format still photographer Marcus Ubungen shares with us his experience of the tragic Eaton fire in Altadena, California.   Check out his photos on instagram @yourpalmarcus and his short doc "Halloween Meets Gasoline" on Vimeo

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of the region until Wednesday. Two surf organizations battle over team USA at the 2028 Olympics. A new LAist project will illustrate your memories, hopes, and dreams of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency! Support the show: https://laist.com

Hi, It's Michele! Send me a text with who you want as a guest!This episode is brought to you by:massetticonsulting.com Massetti Consulting, LLC is a California Limited Liability Company and Certified Small Business Enterprise, with a focus on Program, Project and Construction Management. We are true advocates for our clients and offer personalized dedication to your projects.  We are a small firm with big firm experience. Massetti Consulting is well versed in conceptual project development, funding/financing strategies, design professional procurement and oversight, constructability reviews and backcheck and value engineering support.This episode with Interview with Ralph Mechur, AIA of Mechur Architect is part of a series on the Wildfire Rebuild in the Los Angeles and Altadena and Environs Link to the Blog for more Images and Resources:  https://inmawomanarchitect.blogspot.com/2025/08/interview-with-ralph-mechur-aia-of.htmlRalph Mechur, AIA of Ralph Mechur ArchitectsRalph Mechur Architects2800 Airport Ave., #1ASanta Monica, CA 90405(cell) 310-721-1254(tel) 310-398-2940www.rmechurarchitects.com ralph@rmechurarchitects.comCommunityRalph is guided by the belief that a community can, and should, be built with the basic agreement that everyone deserves access to a safe home, a quality education, and a strong community.Ralph's work on City boards and commissions, non- profit organizations and the Santa Mónica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education has been recognized by community and regional leaders, including the California State Assembly and Senate, the Los Angeles City Council, the Church in Ocean Park in Santa Monica, and from the AIA as a Citizen Architect.Ralph's practice, established in 1992, has maintained a focus on housing and socialagency projects, including providing pro-bono services for several projects that align with his focus on providing space for everyone to have shelter and opportunities for success.HousingFew things are more important than ensuring people have the dignity of a safe home to live in.  Ralph's focus on solutions to the housing crisis as a community leader and practitioner have led to policies and examples that can lead to the creation of a more inclusive, equitable, and affordable community.In 2006, Ralph designed the OPCC/Annenberg Access Center, which provides essential services to over 200 homeless individuals daily, including food, health care, counseling, job placement, laundry, and showers.Since 2017, Ralph has served on the Board of Directors of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica, where he helps oversee the development of new affordable housing projects and the maintenance of over 2,000 units across Santa Monica and neighboring areas. His connection to Community Corporation dates back to the 1980s when he designed its first ground-up project—a 43- unit development across five sites in an older neighborhood for low-income individuals and families.EducationIn 2001, Ralph co-founded the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), anadvocacy grLink to MGHarchitect: MIchele Grace Hottel, Architect website for scheduling a consultation for an architecture and design project and guest and podcast sponsorship opportunities:https://www.mgharchitect.com/

A heat advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening across Southern California. The Los Angeles Breakfast Club commemorates 100 years in a new book. Altadena finds symbols of resilience in dogs: one real, one mythical. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

James Farr is a journalist whose work appears in the LA Progressive. He Hosts KBLA 1580's "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising." On this podcast, James and Dominique talk about Altadena recovery and Kenya Barris and Mike Epps' new sitcom detouring out of Altadena following pushback. James struggles with sympathizing with Trump violating people's 4th Amendment rights, saying "Black men's rights have never stopped being violated."https://www.instagram.com/JamesFarrLive/ https://www.instagram.com/diprimaradio/

Michelle Huneven is the author of six novels including Round Rock, Jamesland, Off Course, Blame, Search and — most recently — Bug Hollow. Bug Hollow is a story about the Samuelsons, who lose their 18-year-old son in an accident. The book ripples out from there in a kaleidoscopic way, following the parents, siblings, girlfriend and others into the distant future and around in time to see how their lives play out. It's told in chapters – or stories – from each character's perspective. And it's largely set in Altadena, where Michelle is from. It's really a love letter to that town that was so devastated by the wildfires this past January (though written well before the fires). While in the process of publishing Bug Hollow, Michelle lost two homes in the fire. She joins Marrie to talk about the book, as well as writing through tragedy and how she might process this event in her work. She also talks about the risks of being a perfectionist as a writer, and what helped her through that challenge. (She recommends this essay by Leslie Jamison). She shares how writing prompts led her to write this novel, the importance of having a trusted reader, the best training she received as a writer, and so much more. After the podcast ended, Michelle shared her 76 favorite writing prompts with us. These are prompts she used to write this novel, prompts she shares with her students, and prompts she uses in her own writing practice. We're offering those prompts (one per day) over the next 10 weeks to our subscribers on Patreon. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds of past interviews on our website. You can help out the show and indie bookstores by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. It's stocked with titles by our guest authors, as well as our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. It's perfect for writing. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on August 13, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-BarrettHost: Marrie StoneMusic: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

ICYMI: Hour One of ‘Later, with Mo'Kelly' Presents – Tiffany Hobbs (@TiffHobbsOnHere) filling in ‘Later, for Mo'Kelly' with special guests Grace Kono Wells, HOA President of Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park, and Jon Brown, elected Co-Chair of the Palisades Bowl resident group, who join the program for an in-depth discussion regarding Senate Bill 749, which addresses the closure and change of use for mobile home parks…PLUS - Phillip Weathersby, co-founder of SET Ministries, joins the program to highlight the organization's 15 years of empowering underserved communities and their upcoming Community Baby Shower in Los Angeles AND Tiffany weighs-in on Kenya Barris and Mike Epps' new CBS comedy series inspired by the aftermath of the Altadena fire - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app & YouTube @MrMoKelly

Send us a textA wealthy couple is having dinner. They had invited two other couples to join them but the guests left after some sort of disagreement. What was it all about?Rachel Berney Needleman directs Goreti da Silva as Louise and David Trice as Walter.Rosemary FrisinoToohey is the playwright. A married mother of four, she resides in Baltimore. Her plays have received over 280 productions, domestically and internationally. Her full-length plays include Gladys in Wonderland, Crazy Quilt Blues, A Very Fowl Thanksgiving, Smoke in the Canyon, The Garbageman, Cornered, and more.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Coming up on today's Local: ranking LA's freeways, from bad to worse ... spend a night in the Poltergeist house, if you dare! ... and go back to school with students who lost everything in Altadena.

By Adam Turteltaub I live in Los Angeles and was fortunate enough to get through the fires unscathed.  Around me, though, were others who were not so fortunate.  A cousin and several friends lost everything. After the fires came a cleanup of epic proportions.  For Glenn Sweatt, Vice President at ECC, the company charged with remediation at all those burned out lots in Altadena and the Palisades, that's when the work began. The workforce had to be assembled, contractors brought in, and everyone needed to be trained and trained well, since the company is a federal contractor. Making that all happen required flexibility and agility.  The compliance organization, like the company, had to be adaptable to changes in conditions and be responsive to local communities which suddenly, and unhappily, had thousands of trucks running through them. Language had to be considered since Los Angeles is a diverse city.  Spanish translations were expected.  Hindi turned out to be more common than anticipated. Listen in to learn more about the challenges the compliance team overcame, and, maybe, pick up some tips for how to handle compliance requirements at your organization when things are bad, urgent, and everyone is watching.

This week, we're talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year's 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Sylvia discusses her film, The Vote, a powerful and gripping drama that's screening with LADFF on Sunday, August 24th at the Laemmle NoHo 7. The Sunday block of shorts is called Las Ángeles, and it will feature five incredible filmmakers who were affected by the Eaton fires in Altadena this year. LADFF will donate a portion of the ticket sales for this block to the World Central Kitchen. We also interviewed Angel Ruvalcaba about his deeply personal and heart-wrenching film, Driftin' On A Memory. You can see this film with us on Saturday, August 23rd, at the Laemmle NoHo 7.Both Sylvia and Angel also partake in a Gimme Three segment, where they each share three film recommendations.Join us at LADFF 2025, where you can see both of these fantastic films. ❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️Support the showSign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcastYou can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on LetterboxdShout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

Gosh, the LA fires {Altadena and Malibu} have really impacted folks in So Cal, and I guess this edition of the CHS reflects that a bit. Songs by Death Cab for Cutie, Karl Denson, Mama's Gun and David Gilmour and others all reflect the sense of impact and helplessness. My thoughts are with you all. 

Preview: LA Fires. Colleague Jeff Bliss comments on the frustration in LA that the rebuilding of the Pacific Palisades and the Altadena neighborhood is not moving. More later. 1920

How a Pasadena Church is Helping One Senior Through Wildfire Recovery It's been more than seven months since the Eaton Fire tore across Altadena, just east of Los Angeles. Rebuilding homes and neighborhoods could take years – a daunting timeline, especially for seniors. Local advocates worry that many elders within Altadena's historic Black community won't be able to rebuild. Afro LA's Corinne Ruff has this story of how members of a church in Pasadena are coming together to support an elder congregant as she works to rebuild her home, and her life.  Fix a Zipper and Save the Planet at San Francisco's Free Clothing Repair Clinics Usually public libraries are quiet spaces, but on a recent evening in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood, the building was buzzing with the sound of sewing machines. Once a month, libraries around the city transform into pop-up clothing repair clinics. On the face of it, it's a chance to patch that hole in your go-to jacket or finally fix that broken zipper on your skirt, but the goal of the program is to help residents reuse items, and keep them out of the landfill. KQED's Bianca Taylor takes us inside. Repairing a 1957 Vintage Radio Rekindled a Daughter's Bond With Her Dad For reporter Rachael Myrow, radio has long been a fixture in her life – not just through her career in public broadcasting, but also through a connection to her father. Fred Myrow was an LA composer who wrote soundtracks to films like Soylent Green and Phantasm. She tells us how the discovery of her father's beloved old radio has strengthened their bond many years after his death.  The Truth Behind One of the State's Most Ubiquitous Bumper Stickers We've all seen them before: those bright yellow bumper stickers that read “Mystery Spot” in black lettering. But what, actually, happens at the Mystery Spot? In 2021, reporter Amanda Font  followed the story to the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains for our Hidden Gems series.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Geektown Behind The Scenes podcast! This time, we're diving into the award-winning comedy-drama 'Hacks', joined by the show's production designer Rob Tokarz.Rob takes us behind the curtain of creating the visual world of Deborah Vance — from filming in Singapore and building a full-scale late-night TV studio, to modular office spaces, wild Vegas sparkle, and a pool constructed for just two shots. We also discuss the devastating Altadena wildfires, how LA became a character in the show, and Rob's dream of designing for 'The Last of Us'.If you're a fan of Hacks, production design, or just love hearing how TV magic is made, this is an episode not to miss.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro 01:10 – Rob's journey into production design 04:10 – Joining Hacks in season 2 and becoming lead designer 06:00 – Designing and filming in Singapore 09:40 – Building Deborah's late-night TV set 13:20 – Hidden Easter eggs and references in the talk show design 15:30 – The Altadena wildfires and the loss of Deborah's mansion 17:50 – ScoutPhotos.org and helping homeowners with insurance 19:10 – Filming in real LA locations and keeping them authentic 20:40 – Jimmy & Kayla's modular office build 25:00 – Constructing a pool on stage for one key scene 27:30 – Why TV production design is all about creative problem-solving 29:10 – What Rob is watching now 30:00 – Dream project: (a possible Hacks zombie spinoff?) 32:00 – OutroSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/geektown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Camilla Taylor, Los Angeles artist, and curator of “My House Burned Down” (at Track16 Gallery), talks about: Her childhood with complicated religious origins, between her Mormon LDS father and her mother who branched off to start her own organization (some might say ‘cult,' per Camilla), and how art, for her and many artists, can often fit the functions that people are often looking for in religions (including being part of something bigger than themselves); how she's really good at compartmentalizing, seeing difficult experiences from her life as existing in rooms in a house, where she can shut the door to any given room; the epic story of experiencing her house burning down in the Eaton Fire in Altadena-- from her 16-hour drive home from the Sitka Center residency in Oregon, to seeing it when she approached her part of the San Gabriel Valley, to arriving home and having the wind lift her off her feet, to their belated evacuation; and subsequently how she found out her and her partner's house, and her studio, had burned down, and that that process of mourning has been like; how trauma has manifested from losing her home and studio, and the range of reactions she's received, including a lot of suggestions that are tone-deaf; what insurance will cover, and the studio spaces she's been loaned/gifted for now, putting off the need for having to rent a studio for the first time (since studios have always been attached to her living spaces). This podcast relies on listener support; please consider becoming a Patreon supporter of the podcast, for as little as $1/month, here: https://www.patreon.com/theconversationpod In the 2nd/Patreon Bonus half of the conversation, Camilla talks about: How, because of her visibility as an artist, she's been more fortunate than many others who lost homes/studios in the fire by receiving a range of resources that artists less visible have not; the lawsuits against Southern California Edison, who allegedly started the Eaton fire; the group show she curated, ‘My House Burned Down,' at Track 16 Gallery, which included four artists who lost their homes in the Eaton fire, and four artists who lost their homes in prior fires, and how the show addressed a commonality in losing one's home as an artist, with an extra emphasis on materiality; how while she doesn't know what the right reaction is, when people learn that her house (and studio) burned down in a fire, she knows that the reaction that she's going to rise above it, like the phoenix from the ashes, is absolutely not the reaction to have, because it's hurtful especially in its negating of what happened to her; and we have an extensive exchange about what I have long referred to as “the P-word,” as in ‘practice, as in ‘my art practice, a word Camilla also hates, and she talks about why language has become so important in art/the art world, including her take that artists overcompensate in art because, essentially, we/art is so unimportant to everyone else; and Camilla shares her favorite and least favorite art-speak words; and how in her teaching she's honest with students about how their work affects her, as opposed to making art historical comparisons.

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Texas senate committee approves GOP redistricting plan while Dems hold out in other states to block quorum; ICE uses rental truck to surprise and round up day laborers in LA despite court order on ICE stops; California teaming up with big tech companies to bring Artificial Intelligence courses to classrooms; State Supreme Court orders Public Utilities Commission to reconsider cuts to rooftop solar owners; Altadena residents protest State Farm rate hikes, reluctance to pay for fire damage after massive wildfire; Federal judge blocks construction at Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail, as ICE builds new detention centers at military bases in Texas, Indiana, New Jersey; Air Force denying early retirement options for transgender servicemembers, using medical screenings to find transgender members who do not come forward The post Texas senate committee approves GOP redistricting plan; ICE uses rental truck to surprise and round up day laborers in LA – August 7, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

(August 06, 2025)About half of U.S. adults say grocery costs cause major stress, poll shows. An old L.A. home is finding new life on an Altadena lot burned by the Eaton fire. Dr. Jim Keany, Chief Medical Officer at Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, joins The Bill Handel Show for 'Medical News'! Dr. Keany talks with Bill about doctors urging caution on Benadryl and how tariffs could affect popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic & Wegovy. 

On this episode Slauson Girl Speaks with Altadena native Zaire Calvin, about a report that came out noting that nearly 50% of burned properties in Altadena have been purchased by outside investors. Zaire and his mother both lost their properties and his sister was one of the people who tragically lost her life in the fire. He speaks on what's next for Altadena residents in the rebuilding efforts, and discusses his advocacy for the community and his cross collaboration with county and city officials. Our conversation also touches on Attorney Benjamin Crump's help with the lawsuit against Edison, who recently accepted fault for the Eaton fire.

Send us a textA man gets the surprise of his life when he calls the Suicide Hotline.Rachel Berney Needleman directs a cast that includes Noelle Evangelisti as Anita and Matt Foyer as Charlie.Richard Fouts is the playwright. His previous plays include Running Mate, The Birthday Lottery, My Afternoon with Lenny, Summer Me, Winter Me, Family Secrets, and Dead Serious.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Today Maria Bamford joins us at the table! Maria shares about her experience living in Altadena during the LA fires, how her neighbors saved her house, and why she still has conflicting feelings about them. She also talks touring and life with pugs. Stay tuned to hear how many pigeons she thinks she can carry. Enjoy!  Check out Maria Bamford on tour! MariaBamford.com  For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wild grain.com/PAPA or you can use code PAPA at checkout. Text PAPA to 64000 to get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Get 50% off 1 month of cold brew with Trade at drinktrade.com/PAPA ------------- 0:00:00 Intro 0:00:29 Patreon shoutout  0:00:59 Wild Grain Ad 0:01:49 No corporations, only neighborhood book stores 0:04:51 Seinfeld lunch 0:06:39 Bread 0:08:28 Business of comedy  0:13:53 Altadena fires, house saving story  0:22:00 Hope of human beings, building new home 0:26:22 ICE raids 0:30:15 Breaking new hour 0:33:05 Peanut butter and pot roast, dreaming, carrying pigeons 0:37:56 IQ Bar Ad 0:40:16 Wild Grain Ad 0:42:26 Trade Coffee Ad  0:44:46 Pug life 0:54:26 Getting mental health help 0:55:10 Touring near home  0:58:10 Magic of LA 0:59:22 Uncomfortable moment 1:02:15 City vs country 1:03:10 Dog parks, noise bands, clowning  1:05:10 Tour dates ------------- Tom Papa is a celebrated stand-up comedian with over 20 years in the industry. Watch Tom's new special "Home Free" out NOW on Netflix! Patreon.com/BreakingBreadwithTomPapa Radio, Podcasts and more: https://linktr.ee/tompapa/ Website - http://tompapa.com/ Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/tompapa Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tompapa Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/comediantompapa Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/tompapa #tompapa #breakingbread #comedy #standup #standupcomedy #bread #mariabamford Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says he may send troops to the 2028 Olympics. We follow a house as it's moved from Los Feliz all the way to Altadena. And for the Doctor Who fans: We've got the latest on Burbank's very own TARDIS. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

Guest Calvin Zaire is bringing back Altadena via phone. Wednesday Addams takes over Wendy's and Subway transforms a Southern California restaurant into a ‘Happy Gilmore' dream world. A study shows that California's $20 minimum wage hike has cost the state 18,000 jobs.

We are still trying to bring Altadena back after the devastation that took place in such a historic and beautiful town. Zaire Calvin is the owner of Xtreme Athletics, a community leader, and an advocate for justice and rebuilding in Altadena. Take a listen to how you can help.

It's been nearly seven months since the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, killing 30 people and hollowing out a once vibrant community. For many survivors, the fire has impacted their mental health, as many try to navigate rebuilding their homes and their lives. Reporter Steven Cuevas lives in Altadena, and he's been talking to therapists who are finding ways to support their community at the same time they're grappling with their own losses.  Later, we dive into the troubling history of a California wine dynasty. Wine aficionados may now look down on white zinfandel, but in the 1980s and ‘90s, it was the most popular wine in the US. The rise in demand for this sweet, pink wine is the backdrop of a wild story covered in a new podcast called Blood Vines. It's about the largest grape fraud in US history, the powerful family at the center of it, and how betrayal and murder triggered the fall of a California dynasty. The California Report Magazine's Sasha Khokha talks to investigative journalist Chris Walker – who wrote and produced the podcast – about the scandal, and how it changed the course of winemaking across the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal funding cuts are affecting housing assistance programs across L.A. Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued Trump to protect gender-affirming care in California. Restaurant crawls are popping up in Altadena to support local businesses. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

Jennifer is a single mom of two children who all fled for their lives on January 7th. Along with her parents, sister and their families, who all lived together in Altadena, they lost home. Jennifer talks with Rabbi Joshua about her life pre-fire and what has happened since that harrowing night. Jennifer and her kids, after 7 months of moving around from motels to airbnbs, are now settled in a new apartment in Pasadena, the first people in Friends In Deed's new time limited subsidy program (TLS), which offers families up to 12 months rent to help them get back on their feet, along with case management and ongoing support. We are grateful to Jennifer for sharing her story with us. Closing music: Eric Claptonhttps://friendsindeedpas.org

The Context of White Supremacy welcomes Nikki High (http://OctaviasBookshelf.com). Classified as a black female, Ms. High opened an independent bookstore in her native Pasadena, California in 2023. She envisioned the literary hub as an homage to science fiction icon and Victim of White Supremacy Octavia Butler. Octavia's Bookshelf transmogrified it's mission after this year's apocalyptic wildfires in Altadena and Pasadena. Although Octavia's Bookshelf was spared, many of the black residents in the area were not. In fact, Ms. High and her husband were forced to evacuate and watched in horror as theirs was one of twelve houses that survived. Undaunted, Ms. High repurposed her store to become a donation center for wildfire victims. We'll talk about her spectacular effort and the impact of the wildfires on black homeowners some six months later. We're even treated to some of the ways Ms. High experienced Racism (and support) as a black entrepreneur. #ClimateChange #Kindred #INVEST in The COWS - http://paypal.me/TheCOWS Cash App: http://cash.app/$TheCOWS

The Trump administration is trying to overturn the EPA's endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gas emissions can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Lisa Heinzerling, former senior climate policy counsel to the EPA administrator, joins us to discuss what this could mean for the U.S. government's efforts to fight climate change. Then, some of the homes still standing after fires tore through Southern California earlier this year are too toxic to live in. We speak with two Altadena homeowners about their experiences. And, the semicolon has been described as a "graceful pause" in writing. But this graceful punctuation mark is being forgotten. The Washington Post's Mark Lasswell talks about what the semicolon is for and what it means that it's fading away.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Encino community is on high alert after another home break-in. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down California's ammunition background check law, ruling it unconstitutional. Altadena: Still Finding Victims.

And its time for the crime blotter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southern California Edison says it will pay Eaton Fire victims straight from its pockets. An LA County Supervisor is disputing claims that firefighters neglected one of the worst hit neighborhoods in the Eaton Fire. Nurses condemn Kaiser's decision to end gender-affirming surgeries for minors. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency! Support the show: https://laist.com

A suspect in the killing of an 'American Idol' executive called 911 from the victims' home, but police did not discover the bodies for four days. Erik Menendez is seeking release from prison due to a serious medical condition, according to his attorney. Additionally, these homes in Los Angeles were scheduled for demolition but are now being revitalized in fire-ravaged Altadena.

Should fire survivors join lawsuits? We have a guide to help. Why some are pushing for a historic district in Altadena. A local professor unearthed a ballad her great great grandfather wrote 100 years ago that resonates deeply today. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency! Support the show: https://laist.com

In the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Canyon Fire in Altadena, California, three Pasadena community leaders—Mayra Macedo-Nolan, Pastor Kerwin Manning, and Megan Katerjian—join host Mark Labberton for a sobering and hopeful conversation on what it takes to rebuild homes, neighborhoods, and lives. Together they discuss their personal losses, the long-term trauma facing their neighbors, the racial and economic disparities exposed by disaster, and how the Church is rising to meet these challenges with grit, grace, and faith. Their stories illuminate how a community holds fast when the media leaves, when vultures circle, and when the work is just beginning. This is a conversation about sacred presence, practical resilience, and the enduring witness of faithful service—even in the ashes. Mayra Macedo-Nolan is Executive Director of the Clergy Community Coalition of Greater Pasadena Kerwin Manning is Senior Pastor of Pasadena Church Megan Katerjian is CEO of Door of Hope Ministries Helpful Links and Resources Door of Hope Pasadena – Family homelessness intervention and fire assistance program Pasadena Church – Kerwin Manning's congregation and relief center Clergy Community Coalition of Greater Pasadena – Mayra Macedo-Nolan's organization supporting pastors and churches Isaiah 61:3 – “Beauty for ashes” verse referenced by Kerwin Andre Crouch – “Soon and Very Soon” – Gospel anthem of hope quoted by Pastor Kerwin Show Notes CCC (Clergy Community Coalition) rapidly pivoted to virtual meetings the morning after hurricane-force winds and fire struck Altadena. “We moved it to virtual… and then we had no idea what was gonna happen that evening and overnight.” —Mayra Macedo-Nolan After the fire started, 56 participants gathered online, including city leaders and faith-based partners, forming a core response network. “Everybody wanted to be together… especially in a crisis like this.” —Mayra Pastor Kerwin and his wife Madeline evacuated with almost no notice after hearing the sheriff outside their door. “We, Madeline and I, like so many others, were fleeing for our lives.” —Kerwin Manning For weeks, they didn't know whether their home was still standing; the priority became their church and community. “We didn't know if our home was standing… we were more concerned about our church, our community.” —Kerwin Pasadena Church began relief work immediately—even before confirming their own housing stability. “This is the first interview or anything I've done online back in my home.” —Kerwin Door of Hope's CEO evacuated with her children and lost her home; she quickly organized shelter responses for others. “I found out that my house had been entirely destroyed.” —Megan Katerjian Within 10 days, Door of Hope launched a formal housing assistance program for fire-affected families. “Door of Hope had launched what we call the Eaton Fire Housing Assistance Program.” —Megan The CCC became a spiritual and logistical backbone for Altadena's recovery, activating two decades of community-building. “This was a time that it was really important for the local clergy to be in conversation with one another.” —Mayra Pasadena Church became a distribution hub, serving as far east as any organization in the city. “We wore our church members out.” —Kerwin Over two months, the church distributed daily essentials from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., shifting to a long-term weekly rhythm. “We thought we would do it for a couple of weeks… we were doing it every day… for about two months straight.” —Kerwin “We might run out of water, we might run out of toothpaste, but we refuse to run out of smiles and kindness.” —Kerwin Altadena's west side—long a haven for Black and Brown families—suffered the worst structural damage and displacement. “Altadena had been a haven really for Black and Brown families who couldn't purchase homes anywhere.” —Mayra Many impacted residents were informal renters or multigenerational households without clear legal housing claims. “These are the stories of people… for whom there is no path back to Altadena anytime soon.” —Megan 11 churches were lost or damaged, including small and under-resourced congregations still unsure about rebuilding. “We lost 10 houses of worship, and one was partially burned… essentially 11.” —Mayra Local churches served both members and neighbors regardless of formal affiliation, often the first to show up with aid. “We don't do any of this work alone.” —Megan CCC supports 100+ churches across Pasadena with infrastructure, grants, emotional care, and community strategy. “We want them to be okay… and then as they serve their church members and the neighbors surrounding their church.” —Mayra Door of Hope offered security deposits, rent, emergency shelter, tool replacement, and even vehicles to affected families. “Beauty for ashes” “We just have to do more of it.” —Megan Volunteers gave out handwritten cards from kids across the country; some were shared at distribution events. “I've got a box full of cards from kids… just like it's going to be okay. We're praying for it.” —Kerwin A guiding pastoral metaphor: vultures circling a wounded deer, and the need to protect the vulnerable from predation. “The vultures were circling… and I covered the deer… and the vultures left.” —Kerwin “The needs have not slowed. …  finances always follow just heart and compassion and awareness.” —Megan “You learn so much in the middle of crisis. One of the things that crisis does is it confirms character and you realize like what people are made of when you're going through something.” “Until. Until the need is gone, until we don't have to do it anymore.” —Kerwin The immigrant community faces a second “fire”—ICE raids and deportation threats layered atop housing loss. “The intersection of those… the two fires, the fire that we didn't know we were gonna have, and the fire that we knew was coming.” —Mayra CCC pastors protested ICE actions together, maintaining peace through community presence and music. “The pastors were there… and then it's just… it's a sacred party.” —Mayra Latino cultural traditions of protest, grief, and celebration shaped a healing, communal public presence. “We cry and we're gonna probably celebrate and eat food and dance together.” —Mayra Local leaders are pushing back against a 10-year recovery timeline with a goal of rebuilding within 3–5 years. “We reject that. She said, three to five years, that's what we're gonna push for.” —Mayra Community grief deepened when the first burned lot was sold; hope emerged again when the first rebuilding began. “There they go… it's gonna start selling.” / “We think there was… this collective celebration.” —Mayra “Soon and very soon we're gonna see the King.” —Kerwin Kerwin invoked Isaiah 61:3: “Beauty will rise” as a spiritual theme for their church's recovery ministry. “We believe that we're able to continue to do what we're doing knowing that, trusting that beauty's gonna rise.” —Kerwin The phrase “Altadena is not for sale” became a rallying cry—although some elders opted to relocate for peace. “It's up to you. Our prayer is that more people will want to stay than leave.” —Kerwin Ongoing challenges include zoning delays, state and county coordination issues, and political friction at the national level. “The church has always been a vital provider of resources, critical social services and resources in communities on an ongoing basis in normal time.” —Mayra ”The greatest sense that you get from being there is people are together. There's a sense of unity and community protection that is very palpable.” A sacred party Resilience and God's presence and strength “It feels like our president doesn't like us… our governor… whatever they've got going on impacts us.” —Kerwin “The church… is always a vital provider… of resources, critical social services… in normal time.” —Mayra About the Guests Mayra Macedo-Nolan is Executive Director of the Clergy Community Coalition of Greater Pasadena, where she leads efforts to strengthen faith-based response to systemic inequities in housing, education, and social services. Formerly on pastoral staff at Lake Avenue Church, she's spent two decades in community leadership in Pasadena and Altadena. Pastor Kerwin Manning is Senior Pastor of Pasadena Church and a founding leader in the Clergy Community Coalition. A longtime advocate for youth and justice, he's served the Pasadena community with a heart for unity, compassion, and spiritual renewal. Megan Katerjian is CEO of Door of Hope, a Pasadena-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk families. With over 20 years in nonprofit leadership, Megan is also an ordained pastor with deep roots in faith-based social services and community development. Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.

This week on This Old House Radio Hour—what does it mean to rebuild not just homes, but entire communities?Sunset Magazine editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey joins us to discuss the magazine’s special issue devoted to the rebuilding of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires. Sunset, a voice in California architecture for over 125 years, has assembled an extraordinary coalition of architects, planners, artists, and historians. Together, they offer not just a plan, but a call to action—for fire-resilient homes, culturally grounded design, and a West that can weather what’s coming.Then we travel from the hills of Los Angeles to the streets of Tulsa, where Danny Boy O’Connor—from House of Pain—takes us inside his remarkable second act. After bottoming out, he bought a run-down house for $15,000... and it just happened to be the house from The Outsiders. What followed was a full restoration, a pilgrimage, and a new life. We take a tour of the Outsiders Museum and meet the community that made it possible.Later, Cheap Old Houses is back—Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein spotlight a dreamy 1870s Victorian in Fredonia, Kentucky and an off-the-grid cabin on federal forest land in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, both for under $100,000.Plus, another round of House Rules, our listener-powered game that tests your home renovation know-how. And in The Simple Fix, we show you how to find a stud in your baseboard—without breaking the wall.And as always, we’re taking your calls. Got a house problem, project hurdle, or just need a little advice? Call us at (877) 864-7460.All that and more, coming up on This Old House Radio Hour.

Investigation is ongoing regarding the cause of the East LA explosion that resulted in the deaths of three LASD detectives. Meanwhile, LA police are searching for a man suspected of shooting a driver in a crash in East Hollywood that injured over 30 people. Additionally, a California cloud-seeding company has become the focus of a conspiracy theory related to flooding in Texas. In other news, an Altadena couple believes that coyotes and bears can coexist as friends.

Senator Alex Padilla says the vast majority of people getting caught up in Trump’s immigration raids and detentions are those without serious criminal convictions. He also weighs in on the Jeffrey Epstein files and Trump’s push to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS.  Trump’s budget gives ICE $75 billion for recruitment and the construction of new jails. Historically, police expansions are rife with corruption, according to journalist and historian Garrett Graff.  Michelle Huneven is rebuilding her Altadena home after the Eaton Fire. Her latest book follows a family across multiple decades and locations as they struggle with grief, dislocation, and addiction. When used judiciously, lavender can add an air of mystery to a dish, amplifying flavor without calling attention to itself.

Today marks six months since the Eaton Fire ravaged the town of Altadena, about a half hour northeast of downtown LA. More than 9,000 structures burned — most of them homes. We'll check in with Lucie Russo of Southern California Radio/LAist about the loss of her home and where rebuild efforts stand. But first: Tariffs and other inflationary pressures are on the minds of shoppers during Amazon Prime Day.

Today marks six months since the Eaton Fire ravaged the town of Altadena, about a half hour northeast of downtown LA. More than 9,000 structures burned — most of them homes. We'll check in with Lucie Russo of Southern California Radio/LAist about the loss of her home and where rebuild efforts stand. But first: Tariffs and other inflationary pressures are on the minds of shoppers during Amazon Prime Day.

Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the White House nails down details, some businesses are suffering while they wait. In this episode, retailers explain why ongoing trade negotiations have put a damper on profits. Plus: Consumers could pull back spending if tariff-related worries persist, employment data shows it's getting harder to find a job, and we check in with Altadena small business owners recovering from the L.A. fires.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the White House nails down details, some businesses are suffering while they wait. In this episode, retailers explain why ongoing trade negotiations have put a damper on profits. Plus: Consumers could pull back spending if tariff-related worries persist, employment data shows it's getting harder to find a job, and we check in with Altadena small business owners recovering from the L.A. fires.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Episode 2663: Vinnie Tortorich speaks to Mike Feldstein of Jaspr air scrubbers about health, how much air quality matters, and what you can do about it. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/06/air-quality-matters-mike-feldstein-episode-2663 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE -  Air Quality Matters  Mike is the founder of Jaspr, which makes air scrubbers. (3:00) He has been in the remediation business for over ten years, including fire and mold. Vinnie has a question regarding radon gas: Is it a real thing? (6:00) Radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. (9:00) Vinnie asked about outdoor air quality and fire remediation issues. (12:30) The recent fires in Southern California, in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, are challenging. The amount of toxins in the air and soil is dangerous and may not be fully removed, at least not easily. The fight with insurance companies to get proper remediation and rebuilding is a long, frustrating process. Mike shares some of the other services Jaspr will do for their customers. (23:00) He also makes suggestions on how to deal with insurance company adjusters. They discuss how insurance tried to avoid paying, so you need to make a big stink appropriately. Vinnie asks Mike to elaborate and distinguish between air purifiers and scrubbers. (37:00) Warranties and the construction of the product make a difference. Sleep studies have been done where better air quality made a difference in sleep and allergies. (50:00) Mike gives suggestions for DIY options as well. (55:00) Filters and how often you need to change or clean them. (1:02:00) Mike gives other suggestions about things like bathroom and kitchen fans and vents. (1:07:00) He also suggests removing your shoes in the house. More News If you are interested in the NSNG® VIP group, it's closed for registration, but you can get on the wait list - Don't forget to check out Serena Scott Thomas on Days of Our Lives on the Peacock channel.  “Dirty Keto” is available on Amazon! You can purchase or rent it . Make sure you watch, rate, and review it!   Eat Happy Italian, Anna's next cookbook, is available!  You can go to  You can order it from .  Anna's recipes are in her cookbooks, website, and Substack–they will spice up your day!  Don't forget you can invest in Anna's Eat Happy Kitchen through StartEngine.  Details are at Eat Happy Kitchen.  There's a new NSNG® Foods promo code you can use! The promo code ONLY works on the NSNG® Foods website, NOT on Amazon. https://nsngfoods.com/   PURCHASE  DIRTY KETO (2024) The documentary launched in August 2024! Order it TODAY! This is Vinnie's fourth documentary in just over five years. Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere:  Then, please share my fact-based, health-focused documentary series with your friends and family. Additionally, the more views, the better it ranks, so please watch it again with a new friend! REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! PURCHASE BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE (2022) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere:  REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! FAT: A DOCUMENTARY 2 (2021) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere:  FAT: A DOCUMENTARY (2019) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: