In this episode, we break down the McChrystal Report, the powerful press conference held by Altadena for Accountability, and our urgent call for an independent investigation with subpoena power from the California Attorney General Rob Bonta. It’s time for real answers, real accountability, and real action.

This is what people power looks like. When we come together, we are the representation we've been waiting for. We have to keep showing up, speaking out, and holding power to account — because no one is going to fight for Altadena for us. 

We also shine a light on our local small business heroes with a shoutout to gift shop and florist Adelaide on Fair Oaks, recently featured on FOX with Susan Hirasuna, along with two of the local makers they proudly carry — artist Austin Scott and Altadena Candle Co. Follow and support them here:

📍 @arrangementsbyadelaide
🎨 @altadenaisforever
🕯️ @altadenacandlecompany

And a huge congratulations to Randy & April at West Altadena Wine / Good Neighbor Bar, who rallied the community and gathered over 5,000 letters (!!) to successfully reopen their patio — a major win and another testament to what’s possible when we organize.

Let’s keep going. Tune in and stay activated.

In this episode we discuss the multi-billion dollar California Wildfire Insurance Fund that the crisis that was the bankruptcy of PG&E created– how it works, who pays to fund it, who benefits from it, and what it means for wildfire recovery. We also ask, how does a privately held for-profit utility like SCE get an insurance fund funded by utility account holders and taxpayers? Should it continue to exist? Should for-profit utilities exist? 

Remembering our neighbor Tim Olausen and his horses. RIP, Tim. 

We wrap this episode with more shout outs to local small businesses on N Allen in Altadena including 75yo legacy business Altadena Beverage, plus Prime Pizza, Armen Market and coffee pop-up turned brick and mortar shop, Bevel Coffee, that need your support. 

The fires are out. The cameras have moved on. But in the aftermath of LA County's devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, a different kind of disaster is unfolding – one that reveals the messy reality of how federal and state agencies are supposed to work together when communities are destroyed.

Today, we're diving deep into the LA County debris removal crisis, where federal dollars, state oversight, and local execution collide in a perfect storm of mismanagement. It's a story that started with a whistleblower's warning and reveals how the federal-state partnership in disaster recovery can leave entire communities behind.

This isn't just about LA County. It's about a system of disaster recovery that's failing the people it's supposed to protect, and the financial reckoning that's coming for all of us.

We kick this episode off with Kimberly's personal fire story and wrap with a local small business shout out to The Pampered Lady Florist, another long time Altadena Black-owned small business, recently re-opened on N Lake. 

In our last episode, we covered a high level view of the legislative landscape and promised to come back with a more in-depth discussion of two key pieces of legislation that represent different approaches to financing Altadena's recovery: Assembly Bill (AB) 797 by John Harabedian and Senate Bill 782 by Sasha Renee Perez. 
 
These aren't just policy differences – they're competing visions of how money should flow to fire-impacted communities. One gives us a new way of harnessing private investment to stabilize property values. The other creates public financing mechanisms for infrastructure rebuilding. Both could transform how California recovers from wildfire, but in very different ways. 

Both bills are currently on Gavin Newsom's desk. Let's break them down. 

We start this episode with Steve's personal fire story and wrap with a local small business shout out to a new brick and mortar flower and gift shop, Adelaide on N Fair Oaks across from Fair Oaks Burger, recently opened by another Altadena resident who is also a total loss fire survivor. 

We talk about SB79, touch on the West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, overview SB782 and AB797 and talk a little about our trip to Sacramento and how and why we can all be our own best advocates and lobbyists. 

Introductions, a little bit about us and our backgrounds, what to expect and how to reach us with your questions and comments