Child care providers affected by Eaton Fire in Altadena call for additional relief from state officials
Child care providers who were affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena are calling for extended fire relief and support from state officials.
Several child care providers with Child Care Providers United and other local leaders held a news conference on Friday morning.
"At least 24 family child care providers lost their homes and their livelihoods and at least 30 more sustained damage severe enough that they have not been able to reopen due to the Eaton and Palisades fires," a statement from Child Care Providers United said.
The organization includes 40,000 family child care providers across the state. It is a partnership of SEIU Local 99, SEIU Local 521 and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930.
The news conference took place the day after 30-day emergency relief for child care providers ended. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that gave providers an additional 30 days of pay after the start of the fires. The group said state officials have not indicated if there are plans to extend the relief.
"Thirty days simply isn't enough time for anyone to recover," said Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, who represents the Pasadena and Altadena areas. "We are still navigating this disaster."
Felisa Wright, a child care provider in Altadena that lost her home, and her business shared her story of struggle. Wright said her entire family including her three adult daughters and six grandchildren have been displaced since the Eaton Fire erupted on Jan. 7.
"Our recovery efforts must prioritize assisting child care providers in regaining stability, such as securing affordable housing to reopen our daycares," Wright said.
The group said without the additional relief, the state's child care crisis would only be intensified.
Aside from the lack of pay, they listed several other barriers which are preventing some providers from reopening including denial from FEMA and SBA for additional help and lack of affordable or accessible spaces to rent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Atlantic
3 hours ago
- Atlantic
After the Fires: Los Angeles Neighborhoods Start to Rebuild
Five months ago, the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and several other blazes destroyed more than 18,000 houses and buildings. June 11, 2025, 2:25 PM ET An aerial view of properties cleared of wildfire debris that were burned in the Eaton Fire on May 22, 2025, in Altadena, California. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it has cleared 5,000 properties in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire burn zones, which represents half of the eligible properties, in just three months. Hans Gutknecht / MediaNews Group / The Los Angeles Daily News / Getty A house is under construction on De Pauw Sreet in Pacific Palisades, after much of the neighborhood was destroyed by the Palisades Fire, seen on June 3, 2025. Cal/OSHA workers remove hazardous materials from a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on April 24, 2025. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times / Getty Temescal Canyon is being used to break down and recycle debris and material from the Palisades Fire, seen on April 17, 2025. Vehicles that were destroyed in the Eaton Fire are staged for disposal on May 22, 2025, in Altadena, California. An aerial view of rebuild work under way months after the Palisades Fire, on June 3, 2025, in Los Angeles, California Construction begins in the Palisades Fire devastation zone in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, on April 24, 2025. Flowers bloom at a home that was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as grasses begin to grow along a burned hillside in the distance, seen on April 10, 2025, in Altadena. Following winter rains in the region, new vegetation growth is appearing in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire burn areas. Sarah Reingewirtz / MediaNews Group / Los Angeles Daily News / Getty collects a soil-core sample from the site of a burned house in the Eaton Fire burn area in Altadena on April 24, 2025. At no charge to property owners, has been checking surface and soil-core samples in both the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire areas. A demolition crew uses excavators to tear down a business destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on May 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades. Hans Gutknecht / MediaNews Group / The Los Angeles Daily News / Getty A sign stands outside a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades on June 3, 2025. An aerial view of a mobile-home park that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire, seen on May 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades The moon rises as ocean waves wash up along the remains of properties destroyed in the Palisades Fire, seen on April 11, 2025, in Malibu. Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times / Getty Kids paint on a banner for 'Stronger Together: Community Recovery and Resilience,' an event co-hosted by the Altadena Coalition and Pali Strong for survivors of the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire, at the Santa Monica Pier, on May 6, 2025, in Santa Monica. Pacific Palisades property owner DeAnn Heline stands in front of her home, which is being rebuilt after the Palisades Fire, on April 24, 2025. A controlled fire conducted by members of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles Fire Department is seen on top of the Temescal Ridge Trail while ATF agents investigate the Palisades Fire, on April 29, 2025, in Pacific Palisades. Workers clear a lot next to a new home under construction in a neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades Fire, on May 7, 2025, in Pacific Palisades. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times / Getty Cleared lots of several destroyed buildings, seen before reconstruction work, in Malibu, on May 28, 2025 Actor John Goodman's house, which was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, seen on April 9, 2025, in Pacific Palisades Eric Thayer / Bloomberg / Getty Construction on a building in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, seen on May 29, 2025 Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times / Getty Pali students stand during the opening Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem at the Palisades High graduation ceremony, held at the Hollywood Bowl, after their school's campus was heavily damaged by the fire, on June 4, 2025, in Los Angeles.
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Watch: 'Cinnamon' the bear spotted in backyard pool for first time since LA fires
Watch: 'Cinnamon' the bear spotted in backyard pool for first time since LA fires Show Caption Hide Caption Cinnamon the bear makes poolside return A neighborhood bear was seen for the first time since the Eaton Fire in January, taking a dip in a homeowners' pool. A local bear beloved in a Los Angeles County neighborhood made a splashy return to the public eye after not being spotted for nearly half a year. Residents in the city of Pasadena had begun to miss "Cinnamon" the bear, who was no where to seen since the Eaton Fire devastated the city in January. However on Wednesday, June 4, resident Ramona Mucciolo found the cherished mammal taking a dip at her home pool. Surveillance footage shared online shows Cinnamon chilling around the pool, cooling down ahead of the summertime. "I was in the kitchen looking out and she walked around to the shallow end and got in," Mucciolo told Storyful. Mucciolo said she lived across the street from the San Gabriel Mountains, which the destructive wildfire wrecked the area, particularly California's Altadena community. The Eaton Fire, along with the Palisades Fire burned over 37,000 acres for nearly a month killing at least 29 people. "Several bears frequented our neighborhood," she said. "Since the fire, none had returned until June 4, when Cinnamon showed up and relaxed in our pool. We rejoice at least one bear has survived the fires." 525-pound bear remerged from fires in February Cinnamon is not the only bear to rise from the ashes. In February, a 525-pound black bear was found hiding under the home of Altadena resident Samy Arbid, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The adult male, well-known to neighborhood residents as Barry, was discovered crouched in a crawl space beneath the home when a utility provider came to restore power. Bear finds refuge under an Altadena home during Eaton Fire A 525-pound bear was found under an Altadena home after the deadly Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, he was lured out to safety with treats. "I think during the fire he pretty much stayed there. I think he was scared," Arbid told local media outlets, according to Storyful, adding he "couldn't believe it." After a nearly 24 hour process, Barry exited the crawlspace and triggered the trap door within minutes from CDFW officials placing a trap. He was then transported to the Angeles National Forest, received a welfare check and a GPS collar before safely returning to the wild. Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Sierra Madre search and rescue team faces financial difficulties following Eaton Fire
A local search and rescue team that helped evacuate people during the Eaton Fire now needs rescuing of its own. The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team is dealing with unexpected costs from the fire. Rob Klusman, a healthcare consultant, is the team's operations leader. He has been with the organization for 29 years. "Most of our responses we have are all away from vehicles and up trails, so we have to walk to everything or fly," Klusman said. Lauren Capoccia, a San Bernardino nurse, also volunteers as one of 42 team members. The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team has 42 members who help respond to fires at no cost in the steep terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains. KCAL News They have all put in hundreds of hours a year responding to calls for help at no cost in the steep, unforgiving terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains. When the Eaton Fire started the night of Jan. 7, they were called to help with evacuations. "We were up in the canyon evacuating houses, making sure people out aware of going on," Capoccia said. Helping residents evacuate came at a cost to the hardworking nonprofit that has a budget of about $80,000. They need pickets for anchors, replacement rescue ropes, replacement fire shelters and they need a new rescue truck. "This truck is 25 years old at this point," Klusman said. The rescue team has set up an online fundraising campaign and Klusman, like every team member, saves money where they can. "I used dental floss to sew up and close the holes," he said about his gloves. Members spend thousands of their own money to buy their gear. In their free time, they train in the mountains charred by the fire. With dead and burned trees after fire, they now have to haul up a 45-pound bag of metal pickets to conduct the rescue missions. "For the next 5-8 years, once they re-open this, we are prepared to use picks and tools," Klusman explained. "Can't rely on trees or natural anchors that used to be here." Even with the financial difficulties, the team remains determined to keep protecting the people in their foothill city, at whatever cost.
