After the Ashes: A Beautiful Altadena Podcast

Welcome back to After the Ashes, a Beautiful Altadena podcast where we dig into what’s really happening in our foothill community — from rebuilding after disaster to rebuilding trust. In Episode 15, we unpack a full slate of local headlines and hard questions: Election season brought us decisions on Prop 50 and new faces for the Altadena Town Council — but what do these results actually mean? EFRU...

As we move closer to the one-year mark in January, After the Ashes takes stock of where Altadena’s recovery really stands — and what the next twelve months might bring. We look at the rebuild by the numbers: 520 unique parcel permits issued and 334 active new builds now under inspection. Progress, yes — but uneven, and often inaccessible to those still navigating insurance, red tape, financial cha...

In this episode we’re talking about the silence that speaks volumes — the sound of neglect . As we head into the Altadena Town Council elections (November 1st, 4th, and 8th), we break down what the ATC actually is, who’s running, and why this year’s vote may actually matter. If you’ve ever wondered whether local elections really affect recovery and accountability, this episode’s for you. We also c...

On this episode the bit dog always squeals — and this time it’s coming straight from Sacramento. Governor Newsom’s last-minute legislation, SB 254 , quietly lets Southern California Edison further off the hook, shifting more of the recovery burden back onto fire victims. And while some of our elected representatives claim they “didn’t know” this would happen… They knew. Today  SCE dropped its fina...

After the firestorm of Episode 11, we’re slowing it down, but not letting up. In this shorter episode we zoom out and take a look at Prop 50, what’s really at stake, and why redistricting — that seemingly dry, procedural word — is a power move. We’ll give you a quick, no-fluff primer on congressional districting in California, walk through a little history, and unpack why things aren’t always what...

In this special double episode of After the Ashes (think: '80s after-school special meets legislative meltdown), we dive into a weekend full of political gut punches. Despite community protest, SB782 passed and the County machine wins, so now what? AB797, the much-hoped-for counterpoint, got unexpectedly vetoed. And Newsom killed SB629, the Zone 0 bill, too. Spoiler alert, Altadena was 0 for...

In this episode, we explore the deep and often unseen role that philanthropy plays in shaping disaster recovery, including Altadena's. Building on our co-host Stephen Sachs’ AltaPolicyWonk Substack series — Philanthropy I, II, and III — we unpack the current nonprofit climate and how we got here. We cover: The influence of institutions like Annenberg and where some of that FireAid money went...

In this episode, we dig into the tough realities of insurance in a post-fire California. With the state’s CFP (California FAIR Plan) already insolvent before the fires , private insurers pulling out, and premiums skyrocketing, we’re all likely headed toward layered coverage — think homeowner's + earthquake + flood-style plans — even for basic fire protection. It's a shifting landscape, a...

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&ap...

We're back in bed with these bills. Did we ever really leave? In this episode, we’re breaking down the latest on AB782 , which has already passed behind closed doors and is now sitting on Governor Newsom’s desk just waiting for a signature. No ballot. No community input. No chance to vote or veto. This is how gentrification and densification gets ushered in — quietly and without consent. We c...

In this episode, we dig into AB238 , the so-called mortgage relief bill — but is it truly relief, or just another setup for long-term displacement? We also explore how this bill connects directly to property taxes and AB782 , and the larger web of legislation reshaping Altadena, often without any community input.  We ask:  👉 Will property taxes be based on cash value or square footage ? 👉 Why ar...

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 v...

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, stat...

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 contin...

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

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.