Mountain View News May 9, 2026 

ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOHN HARABEDIAN 
APPLAUDS GOVERNOR'S REQUEST TO EXTEND 
FEMA AID TO FIRE SURVIVORS 

(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Assemblymember John Harabedian (D - Pasadena) applauded 
Governor Gavin Newsom’s formal request to the federal government to extend disaster aid 
to fire survivors. Assemblymember Harabedian led this effort by submitting a letter to the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in February of this year urgently requesting 
an extension of the Individuals and Households Program to provide critical rental assistance 
to those displaced by the Eaton and Palisades Fires; Assemblymember Harabedian’s letter was 
signed by the three other state legislators representing the communities impacted by these 
fires in January 2025. 

“Our community is still reeling from the effects of the fire while continuing to fight for basic 
assistance from government agencies and insurance companies,” said Assemblymember 
Harabedian (D - Pasadena). “I thank the Governor for advancing the letter I was proud to 
author with my colleagues representing Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors earlier this year 
and look forward to the federal government honoring the request to keep our neighbors 
housed as they rebuild their homes and lives.” 

The FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) that has provided rental assistance 
to those displaced from their homes since January 7th, 2025 is set to expire this coming July2026. Though progress is being made to help survivors rebuild, the lack of federal investment 
in recovery efforts is preventing faster timelines for the restoration of these communities and 
necessitates additional housing support. 

If the federal government fails to act to keep survivors housed, the communities affected by 
the Eaton and Palisades Fires face a crisis of mass homelessness this summer. 


ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ARCADIA, NEXT STEP" -
SUPPORTING YOUTH EXITING FOSTER CARE 

On Sunday, May 3, 2026 the Assistance League of Arcadia (ALA) held its 2nd Day of 
Service event this year: “Next Step,” supporting youth exiting foster care. Working with local 
nonprofit agencies, Five Acres and Sycamores, that support teens exiting foster care, ALA 
provided 100 duffle bags filled with necessary items to face independent life. Some of these 
items include blankets, pillow and case, laundry and cleaning supplies, hygiene items, bath 
towel set, reusable utensils, plate and cup, and a coupon to the Arcadia Assistance LeagueBargain Box Thrift Store. 

This event was made possible by generous donations from ALA members and the community 
at large. Over $31,000 was gifted to ALA to fund this year’s event and to ensure that there 
is enough funding to continue this future service project. We appreciate the community’s 
support and are greatly appreciative to our ALA members who donated to this cause and 
who came out for this valuable service project. 

About Assistance League of Arcadia 

Serving the communities of Arcadia, Alhambra, Duarte, Monrovia, Rosemead, San 
Gabriel, and Temple City, Assistance League of Arcadia transforms lives and strengthens 
our community through community-based programs. The Arcadia chapter of the National 
Assistance League was founded in 1954. Operation School Bell has been clothing children in 
need and providing them with uniforms/school attire, shoes, backpacks, hygiene kits, books, 
and school supplies since 1969. The Bargain Box Thrift Shop, located at 64 E. Live Oak 
Avenue, Arcadia, has been the main source of funding for the chapter’s various philanthropies 
since 1982. Assistance League of Arcadia is a 100% volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit. The 
chapter also includes Assisteens®, an auxiliary for 9-12th grade students. Assistance League 
of Arcadia engages and empowers volunteers to strengthen our communities through 
community programs. When essential needs are met in our community, families flourish. For 
more information, please visit www.alarcadia.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 


PASADENA CHAMBER BOARD 
STRONGLY OPPOSES LA COUNTY 
SALES TAX INCREASE ON JUNE BALLOT 

Chamber Board cites current economic pressures on consumers and 
business, poor oversight and ineffective use of existing funds in urging 
voters to reject Measure ER 

PASADENA, CA-At its most recent meeting, the Board of Directors of the Pasadena 
Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association considered Los Angeles County Measure ER, 
the half-cent sales tax increase placed on the June ballot by a majority of the Los Angeles 
County Board of Supervisors to pay for healthcare services. The overwhelming sentiment of 
the Board was to strongly oppose passage of the measure. 

Measure ER was placed on the ballot by four of the supervisors citing reduction of Federal 
funding for healthcare programs and related projects to Los Angeles County. 

In opposing Measure ER, the Pasadena Chamber Board noted that gasoline prices and 
other consumer items were already costing significantly more than just a few months ago. 
Adding another 1/5 cent per $1.00 to the cost of consumer goods is simply too much for local 
residents to bear. 

“Measure ER would result in increased costs of most consumer goods, essential as well as 
discretionary purchases,” said Pasadena Chamber President and CEO Paul Little. “That will 
further erode the spending power of consumers in Los Angeles County and make everythingfrom cars to prepared food to paper clips more expensive. That will mean fewer sales, more 
pressure on stores and restaurants and another added cost for LA County consumers at a 
time when everyone is facing steeply higher costs for most purchases.” 

In opposing Measure ER, the Pasadena Chamber Board also noted the lack of oversight byLA County in everything from the homeless services to child welfare programs, which have 
led to more than $5 billion in legal settlements recently. Noting that the passage of Measure 
H and Measure A already increased sales tax by ¾ of a percent and brought $1 billion in 
added funding to alleviate homelessness in LA County yet more than 70,000 people remain 
homeless in Los Angeles County. 

“We are all struggling to understand how LA County could fail so miserably at protecting 
children in their care, on such an enormous scale, and throw so much money are project 
after project - initiative after initiative - with little tangible result,” added Mr. Little. “Rather 
than live within their means, the majority of the supervisors want to pile more and more 
cost on their constituents, making it still more difficult for people to make ends meet in this 
challenging economic environment.” 

Los Angeles County operates on a nearly $49 billion annual budget. The Pasadena Chamber 
Board strongly urges the supervisors to prioritize spending and look at cutting back programs 
that may not be as important as public health and healthcare delivery or even institute 
efficiencies and eliminate waste within the county’s healthcare system. 

“The supervisors need to understand that their job includes fiscal responsibility and oversight 
of county programs and projects,” noted Mr. Little. “Measure ER deserves to fail and fail by 
a wide margin.” 

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association supports the prosperity of its 
members with networking, informational programming, webinars and referrals, problem 
solving and connections as well as advocacy. The chamber also champions a strong, vibrant 
and growing local economy. The Chamber serves 1150 members in the greater Pasadena 
area. 

Paul Little 
President and Chief Executive Officer 
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association 


SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER HIGHLIGHTS 
$3 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL DISASTER REPAIR 
GRANTS FOR EATON FIRE SURVIVORS 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger today is highlighting the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s announcement of $3 million in Disaster 
Assistance Grants through USDA’s Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Program to 
support homeowners impacted by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County. 

Homeowners affected by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles may be eligible for grants of up 
to $32,420 per household for essential home repairs, including disaster-related damage, 
restoring habitability, and supporting necessary site preparation and cleanup activities.
USDA’s investment in Altadena--an area that does not typically qualify under standard 
USDA Rural Development eligibility criteria--demonstrates the Trump Administration’s 
commitment to delivering federal relief and applying eligibility waivers to support 
communities impacted by California wildfires. 

“USDA Rural Development is committed to supporting families affected by the Eaton Fire. 
That’s why we moved quickly to waive standard eligibility requirements and advance this 
funding, ensuring communities receive the relief they urgently need.” said USDA Rural 
Development California State Director Bryan Anguiano. “These federal resources will help92 homeowners make progress towards restoring safe, livable conditions following the 
devastation of the Eaton Fire.” 

“This $3 million investment is another critical resource that will help Eaton Fire survivors 
continue moving forward as they rebuild their homes and their lives,” said Los Angeles 
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “I wholeheartedly appreciate USDA Rural Development 
for recognizing the unique needs of Altadena and stepping in with flexible support. Receiving 
this federal assistance on the heels of my visit with President Trump underscores how strong 
collaboration between federal, state, and local partners can deliver the resources residents 
need to restore their communities and move forward with confidence.” 

For more information on these programs, contact Rural Development California State 
Director Bryan Anguiano at Bryan.Anguiano@USDA.gov. To learn more about how to applyfor these funds, and whom to contact, refer to this online fact sheet. 

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