Fire-Stricken California School District Plans to Cut 151 Staff
The Pasadena Unified School District in Southern California announced plans to eliminate 151 full-time employees, including 115 teachers, as it struggles to close a budget shortfall and deal with the fallout from the Eaton Fire.
The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will vote on whether to approve the cuts at a meeting on Thursday. District officials estimate that about 50% of staff and 10,000 of the district's 14,000 students were affected by the Eaton Canyon Fire, raising concerns that some teachers and staff who lost their homes could also be at risk of losing their jobs.
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CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Pasadena homeowner celebrates first rebuild in the city following Eaton Fire damages
One homeowner in Pasadena is celebrating a milestone in the Eaton Fire rebuilding process, as her home is the first in the city to begin construction. Jun Li Lujan's home is one of more than a hundred that were damaged or destroyed in Pasadena by the wildfire, and she's hoping her rebuild is done by Christmas. "I never think that my house would burn down," Lujan said. The plot of land in Upper Hastings Ranch has been her home for more than two decades. Dirt is already being delivered to fill in several feet of topsoil that was removed to eliminate any toxins that may have been on the property. Now, her new 3,000-plus square foot home is designed and approved for construction. Her old home, built in 2020, was designed to be fire-resistant. "My older house, the siding, facia, partial exterior wall was aluminum," Lujan said. Jun Li Lujan's Pasadena home. KCAL News The shingles on the roof burned, setting the interior on fire, destroying the home from the inside out. "And any people who call me to talk about the fire, I say you know, sorry I don't want to talk about it, that's history," Lujan said. "I want to think about today, how to start a new life and rebuild my house." Starting over has been her mission since the January firestorm, dealing with the city, working with the Army Corps of Engineers, then finishing up cleanup work with her own contractors to speed things up. "I just feel happy. Every day I come here like four or three times," she said. Lujan is a professional home designer, so she and her team came up with plans for a slightly bigger house, with a metal roof this time. From the time plans were submitted to receiving final approval, she said the whole process took just 23 days. Israel Del Toro, Pasadena deputy director of planning and community development, said they have received 26 applications for rebuild, so that's about 20 percent. He hopes Lujan's quick work serves as inspiration to help others make progress on rebuilding. "I always think the fire can destroy your house, but it can't destroy our regular life, family and friendship," Lujan said.
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Why Wildfires Can Be Especially Devastating for Older Adults
After a wildfire, the focus often turns to rebuilding homes. But for many older adults, the deeper challenge is rebuilding a sense of safety, identity, and connection, especially when they've lost the home and neighborhood that grounded their lives. 'A lot of their interpersonal connections are disappearing, because people die as they get older,' Dr. Jonathan Sherin, a psychiatrist and former director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, said. 'So you know, your social network shrinks, whether you like it or not.' That shrinking circle becomes even more dangerous when paired with the trauma and displacement that occur after losing your home in a wildfire. Dr. Sherin calls it 'the other LOL, which is the lethality of loneliness.' A 2023 study published in Science of the Total Environment found that older adults (ages 65 and up) who were exposed to multiple large wildfires in California experienced significantly more frequent days of mental health problems, even years later. Researchers noted that the psychological burden was strongest among seniors with limited income or mobility. When an elderly adult's property burns down in a wildfire, they don't just lose shelter. They also lose a place of lifelong memories, routines, and identity — a home they hoped would last long after them and bring comfort to their families in the future. In Altadena, a diverse neighborhood known for its historic Black population and strong pride in generational homeownership, the devastation of the Eaton Fire has been especially painful. 'Altadena was one of those spots where there was generational wealth creation,' said architect Matthew Trotter, president of SoCal NOMA and leader of the Altadena Rebuild Coalition. 'And what comes with generational wealth creation is also a certain level of knowledge creation.' Trotter said that a large part of the 200 families his coalition is supporting to help rebuild Altadena are older residents whose homes were purchased by themselves or their families in the 40s, 50s, and 60s as a place of refuge for African-Americans from redlining and discriminatory housing practices in Los Angeles during the Jim Crow era. A recent analysis by the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies found that 57% of Black homeowners affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena were over the age of 65. Trotter said that many of them lacked adequate insurance, and their losses have disrupted generational wealth that families had hoped to pass on. This underscores how the destruction of homes for older wildfire survivors can damage family legacy, history and connection, bringing on another layer of distress. National research has shown that older adults are more likely to develop PTSD and adjustment disorders following disasters than younger populations, due in part to fragile support systems, compounding life losses, and barriers to accessing care. 'Old people get isolated and they get lonely,' Dr. Sherin said. 'Particularly in Western culture, which is not necessarily focused on family as much as other cultures.' He explained that trauma for older wildfire survivors can surface in many ways, including hypervigilance, irritability, depression, or complete withdrawal to the point that they stop doing actions that help prolong their lives. 'They don't eat well, they stop taking their medications, they drive when they shouldn't be driving,' Dr. Sherin said. 'They become suicidal and self-injurious, or they just defer their care.' Sometimes, these changes are mistaken for signs of normal aging, but they may actually signal more profound distress, particularly following a traumatic event like a natural disaster. Whether you're a family member, neighbor, or friend, being proactive in talking about the trauma and being present for elderly wildfire survivors can make a real difference. Sherin noted that wildfire survivors often 'take a big financial hit' and may find themselves relying on others in ways that feel uncomfortable, which can keep them from asking for help. 'When you're losing your agency, and you're losing your identity as a part of a trauma … that's a real problem and it needs to be addressed,' Dr. Sherin said. 'And the way to address it is not just medicating people.' He said it's essential to help older adults feel connected and appreciated, whether by inviting them to family events or encouraging regular routines, such as attending church. Dr. Sherin also said that some sadness and grief are expected. 'A lot of it is normal, and is a normal part of the process of kind of going through a loss, mourning it and moving it forward,' Dr. Sherin said. However, if anyone affected by the fires finds it challenging to do the things they usually do, it may be a sign that they are not coping well with their loss and may need extra support. Here are specific signs Dr. Sherin said to look for: However, there is some positive research on mental health consequences for our elders after a wildfire. Some studies have found that older disaster survivors may carry greater long-term resilience. According to a 2023 article in the Journal of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, older adults often suffer greater psychological harm in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but those who do rebuild or receive meaningful support within a year may become less vulnerable to long-term psychological decline than younger adults. Researchers referred to this as the 'inoculation' effect of aging, citing life experience and emotional regulation as key factors in post-disaster recovery. Therefore, the key to making sure elderly wildfire survivors do not develop depression and can cope well with the loss is to engage with them and make them feel a part of the community. Dr. Sherin said that when families, neighbors, and communities offer connection and care, that support can be the most powerful form of healing. It just takes everyone to be comfortable addressing mental health challenges and feel the duty to act if they see someone struggling. 'Raise the red flag in a loving way, just like you would when someone you know is injured physically,' Dr. Sherin said. 'When someone's burned and they're in pain. Do you just ignore it? No. So it's the same thing, and we can't ignore that.' If you or someone you know is actively planning to harm themselves, call 988 or 911 immediately. Visit the LA County Department of Mental Health – Older Adult Services page for free access to therapy, case management, and in-home support for L.A. County residents aged 60 and older experiencing depression, trauma, grief, or isolation. You can also call their ACCESS line 24/7 at 800-854-7771 or text 'LA' to 741741.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
How A College Guidance Program Became a Post-Wildfire Lifeline
With nearly 1,400 of its students affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena's College Access Plan, like many California Community Foundation grantees, became a relief and recovery organization overnight. ALTADENA, Calif., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Like so many others, Alejandra Surias saw her world turn upside down on Jan. 7. As fast-moving flames tore through Eaton Canyon in one of the state's most destructive wildfires ever, the Pasadena High School senior fled her home with her family in the dead of night. Thick smoke clogged the air, hampering her vision and breathing. Howling winds tore down tree branches and rocked her family's car as they sped away. When she returned to survey the damage, Alejandra began to cry. The Altadena apartment building she had lived in her entire life was unlivable, with the windows blown out and ash everywhere. She had to toss out some of her clothes, potentially now tainted with toxic smoke. Schools had shut down, disrupting her daily routine. Her mother and father were shell-shocked as they searched for a place to live with their two children and two dogs, moving from a relative's house to a hotel to a motel. Two weeks later, Alejandra's phone rang. It was Karla Ramos, a program coordinator with College Access Plan (CAP), a Pasadena-based nonprofit that provides no-cost services to help underserved students beginning in fifth grade prepare for college. Alejandra, who has worked with Ramos for two years, was filled with relief to hear the familiar voice. What do you need? How can I help? Ramos asked her. In those devastating days after the fire, Ramos and CAP staff would go well beyond their role as college planning specialists helping students explore careers, review transcripts, research campuses and assist with applications and financial aid. They provided a vital lifeline of financial, emotional and mental support to Alejandra and hundreds of other students whose lives were upended by the Eaton Fire. The program connected Alejandra's family with several resources, including grocery gift cards from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation and other donors and a suitcase filled with a tablet, air purifier, face masks and candy – along with $10,000 – from Letters Charity, a Chicago nonprofit. The funding, which Alejandra said moved her mother to tears, helped the family secure a new apartment in Arcadia. Ramos also helped Alejandra prepare for an experience of a lifetime: the Grammy Awards. Fifteen program students were invited to attend; Macy's in Pasadena brought them into the department store to choose outfits, shoes and accessories – all on the house. Alejandra, wearing a silky pink dress, got to see her idol, Billie Eilish. "I was so grateful because I was so depressed about everything that happened and this was just something fun to distract me," Alejandra said, "It was such a great time." The California Community Foundation has supported College Access Plan with grants totaling $425,000 since 2022. Like CAP, many other CCF grantees have also had to make wildfire recovery a top priority since January. Ca'Leah King, a parent, said the program has been a godsend to her and her son, Evan Wade. Evan began the program in sixth grade at Wilson Middle School, stayed with it through graduation from Pasadena High School and is still connected as a member of I Heart College, which supports CAP alumni through their college journey. Evan now attends UC Berkeley. King said the wildfires forced them to flee their Altadena apartment and scramble from "hotel to hotel, Airbnb to Airbnb." But relief that the building escaped destruction turned to dismay when she learned she had to toss out everything – her clothes, furniture, electronics – and wait months before she could return. A CAP staff member, Wendy Duran, has checked in regularly with King and her son, connecting them with grocery gift cards, a $1,000 donation and apartment listings. She also offers a sympathetic ear when King calls Duran to say she's had a terrible day. "They've been there for us – they're like family," King said. "They've definitely supported us emotionally." Mo Hyman, the program's executive director, said 82% of the 1,700 students the program serves were impacted by the fires. She estimated that at least 100 students lost their homes while the others were displaced either short-term or, like Alejandra's family, on a more long-term basis until their previous housing is restored. As Pasadena Unified School District sites remained shuttered for weeks, Hyman and her staff switched into overdrive to help school administrators contact students, assess their needs and distribute donations. After connecting with students, they learned that the wildfires had created new challenges with some of their college plans. Families who had lost homes, cars, jobs and other sources of security needed to file appeals for more financial aid. Katarine and Matthew Hart, twin siblings who attend John Muir High School, both plan to attend the University of Hawaii this fall – but after the wildfires destroyed their family's home, the annual $38,000 cost of attendance per student is a bigger stretch to afford. With Ramos' help, they are filing financial aid appeals. Other students are revising their college choices. Some had planned to attend Pasadena City College, for instance, but have been displaced outside the area so need to rethink whether a longer commute is feasible, Hyman said. Hyman's biggest concern is the toll the fires have taken on the students' mental and emotional health. Those effects might not yet be readily apparent as students may still be in a grieving stage without having fully grasped the enormity of what they lost, she said. But a 2014 National Institutes of Health study and other research have found that trauma can create a loss of confidence in a positive future and an inability to think ahead, Hyman said. She worries that some students may experience a delayed reaction to the trauma they suffered and decide over the summer, for instance, to forego college in the fall. "I'm concerned there will be a trauma cliff," Hyman said. "We're going to see massive trauma impacts in the next several years and those will impact educational choices. This will be a 10-year arc." College Access Plan board members are shifting strategies to address this challenge. Rather than focus on expansion to other regions, the nonprofit is doubling down on serving their Pasadena and Altadena families as questions loom on how many will stay in the area once the school year ends and what support they will continue to need. Hyman said CAP will invest more in peer counseling grounded in trauma care as they explore other ways they can support the community's disaster recovery efforts. In the meantime, they will continue their foremost mission – to help underserved students prepare for college. The effort began in 2006 by Hyman and Kathleen Parent as a way to address the gap in college knowledge and enrollment among Pasadena public school students who are low-income and the first in their families to attend college. The program initially began at John Muir High School, and now serves students at four elementary schools and all middle and high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. It also serves students at all four high schools in the Hacienda La Puente School District. Staff members have developed a thick folder of curriculum that includes information about colleges, financial aid, essays, resumes, "brag sheets," careers, majors and transcript reviews. About 98% of seniors who attend at least three sessions – either visiting the program centers on campus or taking a course on college fundamentals or essay writing – advance to postsecondary education. Four-fifths of them graduate or remain enrolled in college over six years, Hyman said. Alejandra will join the alumni program as a student at Cypress College studying to become an ultrasound technician. She credits Ramos and other CAP staff for helping her turn around a slow start in high school and gain confidence, leadership skills and entry into a path toward a well-paying career in the health services. "I love this program so much," she said. "They've been really super duper helpful and have given me so much support." Media Contact: Gilien Silsby, gsilsby@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE California Community Foundation
