As the one-year anniversary approaches, the journalists are circling—and so are the headlines. In this episode of After the Ashes, we sift through the news storm hitting Altadena: FEMA’s Acting Administrator steps out (and what that really signals for future disasters), SCE skipping out on a Black community town hall while KBLA and local reporters press for answers, Disney’s sudden Charles White Park announcement that wasn't welcomed by all, and the lingering question from another newsroom—why wasn’t Altadena’s gas shut off when the Palisades was? As Shawna says, there’s so much fuckery afoot it’s hard to keep up, but we try.

We dig into development realities coming into sharp focus: the rise of mini-mansions and two-story ADUs, revisiting SB9 and promises about protecting community character, and asking whether we’ve lost the war or just this battle. And a petition concerning the uptick in foreclosures that's circulating.

And this week’s small business spotlight shines on Two Dragons Martial Arts, where Sipoo’s battle to buy the studio’s land (featured in multiple media stories) shows what it looks like when local entrepreneurs take on developers and refuse to be pushed out.

It’s Episode 17 and we're keeping it raw and real, and rooted in community. Let’s get into it.

Note: This episode was originally published the week of November 18 ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and due to a technical issue was re-published on December 2.