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Mountain Views News Saturday, January 18, 2025
Public Health
Department
Declares
Local Health
Emergency
Pasadena Issues Advisory for
Homes Impacted by Eaton Fire
Pasadena Public Health
Department (PPHD)
Acting Health Officer, Dr.
Parveen Kaur, declared
Wednesday a local public
health emergency due to
the widespread impacts
of Eaton Fire, including
the presence of ash and
particulate matter in the air
throughout the community.
Ash and debris pose a
significant potential current
and future risk to health,
safety, and the environment.
PPHD is declaring a
local health emergency
to ensure residents take
appropriate measures to
protect themselves from
toxic ash and debris, as well
as proactively positioning
the city to access County,
State, and Federal resources
and programs that will be
critical to the rebuilding
process.
PPHD is distributing
free personal protective
equipment (PPE) to
those impacted by the
Eaton Fire at 450 N. Lake
Ave., in conjunction with
Pasadena Water and Power
Department’s bottled
water distribution site, that
started Wednesday and will
be available from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m.
The use of power air
blowers, including leaf
blowers, is prohibited
until further notice to
help protect the health
and wellbeing of residents.
These devices stir up ash
and particulate matter into
the air, further worsening
air quality and increasing
health risks for everyone
and their pets, particularly
for those with respiratory
conditions, older adults,
children, and other
vulnerable populations.
Pasadena Elks Lodge Sets Up Donation
Center after Members Lost Thier Homes
The City of Pasadena advised
residents Friday to be aware of
possible health hazards when
returning to their properties,
especially if they live in or near
areas impacted by the Eaton
Fire.
According to officials, even if
your home or property was not
damaged by Eaton Fire, ash and
debris may have blown indoors.
Ash can irritate your skin,
eyes, nose, and throat; make
it difficult to breathe; and can
exasperate asthma. Everyone
should wear an N95 or P100
mask when cleaning their
home, even if they have not
been directly impacted by Eaton
Fire. For those with respiratory
conditions and other pre-
existing conditions, consider
masking up and speaking to
your healthcare provider for
further advice. Monitor Los
Angeles County’s air quality at
the South Coast Air Quality
Management District website:
aqmd.gov.
Residents whose properties
have been impacted by Eaton
Fire are encouraged by the
City of Pasadena to use their
discretion and consider
receiving professional assistance
to help ensure that their
property is suitable for their
return. If you have any doubts
on the safety of your property,
contact licensed professionals
for support and guidance listed
at the California Contactors
State Licensing Board: cslb.
ca.gov/OnlineServices/
CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.
aspx.
The following guidance is
ONLY for properties that have
suffered smoke damage AND
do not have fire damaged
structures, including yellow
and red tagged structures.
Pasadena Building Inspectors
continue to conduct Structure
Safety Assessments for all
structures within the wind and
fire impacted areas, and colored
placards have been posted to
each assessed property. The
placards correspond to the
structure’s safety status.
DO NOT ENTER your
property if your property has
been damaged directly by fire
and/or has been yellow or red
tagged.
Before re-entry, sniff for gas. If
you detect natural or propane
gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave
the property immediately and
call the fire department after
you reach safety. If you have a
propane tank system, turn off
all valves and contact a propane
supplier to check the system
before use.
Be careful when moving
throughout your home and
property. Damaged objects or
areas of your property, such
as furniture or stairs, may be
unstable. Be very cautious
when moving. Avoid holding,
pushing, or leaning against
damaged building parts. If
power is out, use a flashlight.
Do not use any open flame,
including candles, to inspect
for damage or serve as alternate
lighting. Disconnect and check
all appliances for water damage
before using them.
If you return home and your
house smells like smoke, but
does not appear to be fire
damaged, follow tips provided
at: cityofpasadena.net/city-
manager/news.
With nowhere to go after
being evacuated during last
week’s devastating fire in
Altadena, and Pasadena,
some Elks Members ended
up finding refuge at their
Lodge No. 672 where other
members and the public were
quick to help.
According to Lodge No. 672
Exalted Ruler Matt Stadtler
the Board of Directors, soon
after, held an emergency
meeting, and voted to
establish an objective that
the Pasadena Lodge was an
official Donation Center.
“Voting was Phase 1,” he
said. “Phase 2 was opening
donations to the public.”
Stadtler said they will enter
Phase 3, as other Elks Lodges
across the Country send them
donations that were expected
to start arriving yesterday.
He said baby diapers,
socks, underwear, bras and
towels were among the most
requested items. He said after
they organize and catagorize
all of the donations, Lodge 672
is set to host a Merchandise
Distribution Event Monday.
The Distribution Event
will be held from 10:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. The Pasadena
Elks Lodge located at 400
W. Colorado Boulevard,
with vehicle access on Green
Street.
During this event, Pasadena
Elks members will distribute
new clothing, personal care
items, bedding, diapers,
bottled water, and other
essential goods to first
responders and community
members impacted by the
Eaton Fire.
Identification that indicates
residency in an affected fire
area is required to participate
in the merchandise
distribution event.
In addition, the Pasadena
Elks Lodge will offer
complimentary meals daily
from noon to 8:00 p.m. on
days that do not include a
merchandise distribution
event. The meals will be
offered to first responders
and community members
impacted by the Eaton Fire.
This service will continue
based on food supplies and
community demand, and
meal hours may change.
Identification indicating
residency in an affected
fire area is also required
to participate in the meal
service.
Established in 1901,
Pasadena Elks, Lodge 672,
is a 501(c)(8) charitable
organization with more than
1,200 members.
Homeless
Count
Postponed
The City of Pasadena’s Rent
Stabilization Department
reminds tenants and landlords
that important protections
are still in effect during the
ongoing natural disaster and
proclaimed state of emergency.
These protections, created by
the Pasadena Fair and Equitable
Housing Charter Amendment,
aim to provide stability for
renters and property owners
during challenging times.
These protections apply to
certain rental units in Pasadena.
To find out if your unit is
included or to get help, visit
our website, call a Housing
Counselor at (626) 744-7999,
or email rentstabilization@
cityofpasadena.net.
Key Provisions:
Rent Increase Protections:
• Annual Limits: Rent can only
be increased once every 12
months, and landlords must give
a 30-day written notice. From
October 1, 2024, to September
30, 2025, the maximum rent
increase allowed is 3.0%.
• Contesting Rent Increases:
Tenants can petition against rent
increases that exceed the limit
unless the increase has been
approved through a petition.
Rent increases are not allowed if
landlords fail to follow city rules,
keep units habitable, or make
required repairs.
Eviction Protections:
• Just Cause Requirement:
Landlords must provide tenants
with a written notice that clearly
states a valid, legal reason (“Just
Cause”) for eviction. This applies
even if a rental unit has been
damaged by the wildfires, severe
winds, or related conditions.
Landlords should consult with
their attorneys to determine
their obligations. Examples of
“Just Cause” reasons:
Failure to pay rent
The landlord or a family member
moving into the unit
Withdrawal of the rental unit
from the market
Major repairs requiring tenants
to vacate
Following a Governmental
Order to vacate
• Relocation Assistance: If
tenants are evicted for reasons
beyond their control (e.g., owner
move-in, necessary repairs, and
governmental order), they are
entitled to relocation assistance.
For more information about
relocation assistance, please refer
to Chapter 4, Article III of the
Pasadena Rental Housing Board
Regulations.
• Additional Homeowner
Protections: Homeowners living
in their primary residence can
create temporary tenancies (up
to 12 months) that are exempt
from the Pasadena Fair And
Equitable Housing Charter
Amendment as long as the length
of the tenancy is stated in writing
at the inception of the tenancy,
along with a statement that the
tenancy may be terminated, and
relocation assistance shall not be
provided.
• Anti-Harassment Protections:
Landlords cannot harass or
retaliate against tenants for
exercising their legal rights,
including participation in
tenant advocacy activities.
Such retaliation is a defense to
eviction.
• Price Gouging. As further
detailed in the City’s January 13,
2025 press release, the anti-rent
gouging provisions of California
Penal Code Section 396 are
in effect during the current
proclaimed state and local State
of Emergency. State law prohibits
landlords from charging new
tenants more than the maximum
lawful rent that was charged to
previous tenant.
Rent Protections
Stay in Place
During State of
Emergency
Acting Director of Housing,
James Wong, and the
Pasadena Partnership to End
Homelessness announced
Thursday that the 2025 Point-
in-Time Homeless Count,
originally scheduled for this
month, has been postponed at
least until the end of February.
The decision to postpone the
Homeless Count is a direct
response to the devastating
fires that have communities
over the past week.
The Homeless Count is a
critical event that enables
us to collect essential data,
better understand the scope
of homelessness in our
community, and secure
the resources needed to
address this urgent issue.
“Our community has faced
extraordinary challenges this
week, and our immediate
focus must be on recovery and
supporting those affected by
the fires,” said Dan Davidson,
Homeless Count Consultant
and Coordinator. “We thank
our dedicated volunteers and
partners for their patience
and understanding as we
adjust our timeline.”
The City of Pasadena and the
Pasadena Partnership to End
Homelessness call on our
community and volunteers to
remain on standby and join us
for this important event at the
end of February. "We deeply
appreciate your continued
support and dedication to
making a difference in the
lives of those experiencing
homelessness."
Further updates, including
the confirmed date of the
rescheduled Homeless
Count, will be available.
For more information visit:
pasadenapartnership.org or
contact Dan Davidson and
Erika Fay Gottfredson at
homelesscountpasadena@
gmail.com.
Altadena Town Council
Statement on the Eaton Fire
Red Cross
Offers
Financial
Assistance
“The Altadena Town Council
is deeply saddened and
heartbroken by the catastrophic
damage caused by the Eaton
Fire. Our town has been forever
changed by the destruction,
and many of us, including
councilmembers, have lost
our homes and businesses.
We grieve alongside each and
every one of you who has been
affected by this disaster. Our
schools, churches, restaurants,
parks, water resevoirs, and
many cherished historic
buildings have been lost, some
of which can never be replaced.
We want you to know that
you are not alone. We stand
in solidarity with you during
this incredibly difficult time.
The spirit of Altadena lies in its
residents, and we are committed
to working tirelessly to bring
you the most up-to-date
information possible. While we
are still in the early stages of
recovery, we will soon begin to
heal and rebuild together.”
"Please take care and stay safe.
Altadena will rise again from
this devastation, and together,
we will rebuild."
For more information visit:
altadenatowncouncil.org.
The American Red Cross said
it is committed to providing
individuals affected by the
devastating wildfires with safe
shelter, access to food, basic
health services, and emotional
support. In addition to
assisting those currently in our
shelters, they will also begin
providing financial assistance
to residents who lived within
the fire perimeters of Eaton,
Palisades, Hurst, and Kenneth,
as defined by Cal OES.
These current active
perimeters can be found (in
orange) on Tab 4 the Red
Cross 2025 California Wildfire
Disaster Partner Brief.
Curently they have actively
begin outreach to specific
individuals whose primary
residences were located within
these defined areas. These
individuals are eligible for this
initial Red Cross Financial
Assistance program. For those
they have contact information
for, they will send an invitation
to enroll via email, text
message, or phone call directly
from the American Red Cross.
Fro more information about
the Red Cross visit: redcross.
org.
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
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