August 14, 2025 • 30 mins
Nearly 100 days after the deadly Eaton Canyon fire, former Assemblymember Chris Holden joins host James Farr to discuss the path to recovery, the push for accountability from Southern California Edison, and the legislation meant to protect communities from future disasters. Later, Catherine Peoples of HPP Cares shares critical steps for rebuilding on fire-damaged land, from securing insurance payouts to ensuring safe soil remediation. This episode shines a light on Altadena’s resilience—and the urgent work still ahead.
Key Takeaways:
2:55 - Chris Holden on seeing the destruction firsthand
7:20 - What makes the Altadena community special
13:30 - Breaking down AB 1054 and the wildfire fund
18:20 - Pushing for accountability from the utility company
Connect with Us:
Host & Executive Producer: Colby "Colb" Tyner
📩 Email: ctyner@radio-one.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colbycolbtyner
📱 Instagram: @officialcolbycolb
🌐 BlueSky: @colbycolb.bsky.social
How to HelpUrban One is supporting the Brotherhood Crusade's Wildfire Relief Fund, which assists Altadena and Pasadena residents affected by the Eaton Fire. Donations provide essential resources such as food, medicine, and necessities to families in need.
To contribute, visit: BrotherhoodCrusade.org
If you have updated information or firsthand stories to share, feel free to reach out directly to Colby.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Live from Lamert Park KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. You're listening
to the conversation Live Alta Dina Rising.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm your host, James Farr.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I want to thank you so much for allowing me
into your living rooms, into your dining rooms. You might
be in your kitchen, in the backyard, you're in your garage,
you may be riding in your car for your weekend activities.
Thank you for allowing me into your space this morning.
This is the show of record, and we are chronicling
(00:33):
for the nation the January seventh Alta Diena Eaton Canyon fire,
that deadly blaze that has now claimed a reported eighteen
lives and an untold number of thousands of residents have
been displaced. Before we get started with today's program, let
(00:57):
me invite you to follow us on social media at
KBLA fifteen eighty. You can also follow me at James
far Live. Our podcasts are available wherever you get your podcasts,
or you can go visit us over on the KBLA
fifteen eighty YouTube page. I want to also invite you
(01:19):
to download our app in the app stores KBLA fifteen eighty.
Well before a program for you today and I'm excited
about some of our guests. You know, we're looking at
now coming up on one hundred days since this deadly
(01:40):
flyer has devastated the community. I'm excited to have the
bottom of the hour Catherine Peoples with HPP Cares as
well as Howse.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
She's an expert. We're going to talk about rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
We're going to talk about how do you build on
the site where there's so much toxic contaminants in the soil,
and the things that you need to be.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Considerate of when you're you.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Know, preparing and planning, and maybe some folks want a
du so. Catherine will be in the seat, but in
the top of the hour, former assembly Person of the
forty first District Chris Holden. Chris is now the chief
executive officer of La Cares, a law firm that is
(02:31):
representing folks right here in the Altadena community, and they've
been pretty active with some of the things that they're
bringing to the community and how they're endeavoring to guide people.
Typically we play some sound on the show. I'm not
going to do that today. I'm gonna talk to you
a little bit every morning. You know, when I walking
(02:58):
is just like such an important part of my wellness.
It helps me center myself, it helps me ground myself.
I enjoy taking long, long walks, and why am I
sharing that with you? Well, when I'm out on my
morning walk, me and the dog, we see every day
(03:22):
the power lines that are owned by Southern California Edison.
In fact, the dog park and my neighborhood and in
my community it literally sits under these power lines. And
so when I think about people who have been greatly
affected by this fire, this inferno, you know, the burning
question for me is how are they still processing? I mean,
(03:46):
folks have moved away right now, they're settling where they are.
I was asked yesterday in an interview, well where are people?
And I'm like, they are where they can be, and
they're not where they want to be. And so people
are everywhere. But for me, you know, I didn't lose
my home. I still have my home had a little
(04:10):
bit of wind damage. But for me, every morning I
look up at these power lines. And when we talk
about proximity to trauma, when we talk about like vicarious trauma,
right to me, it looks like a loaded gun that
(04:30):
killed your family. And so while people are listening and
kind of understanding what we're doing in this community and
how people are having to process it. I watched a
sixty minute interview I think it was less past Sunday,
which you know, I might add they didn't profile anybody
African American. But I do remember the woman from Palisades,
(04:52):
you know, saying that she was different in that you know,
people would say to her how lucky she is that
her home survived, and she, you know, I understand what
she was saying that, yes, her home is there, of
what's around it. And so when I think about people
who are still in the community that still have to
(05:15):
see these power lines, right and how that may bring
upon more Trump. I talked with the community member the
other day and she too can see those power lines.
She lost her business, the Little Red Hen Sister Barbara
Shay was sharing with me. It's still emotional and we're
(05:36):
nearly one hundred days out. So I just want to
share that with you kind of you know, that's my facts.
No no, no cap in that. But when we come forward,
we're going to be joined by, as I said earlier,
former assembly person of the forty first district. He's a
(05:57):
former city council member. He actually wrote a lot of
the legislation that should have put in place some resources,
relief and some protections. Chris Olden is going to be
in the seat live in study studio. Make sure you
stick around and stay with us when we come forward.
(06:17):
Only on KBLA Talk fifteen eighty Unapologetically Black, the station you.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Turned to when you've had it up to gear with
cultural and confidence.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
KBLA Talk fifteen and welcome forward. You listen to the
conversation Live Altadena Rising. I'm your host, James Farr. Whoo man.
This is a good one I'm excited to have in studio.
He is a actually my former State assembly person of
(06:48):
the forty first district has also been a Pasadena City
council member. Some of my LA folks in the LA
delegation will certainly know his father.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But you know, in addition to just being a.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Great guy, family man, his wife Melanie is a good
person in our community and you see all of his
children around. But I want to welcome Chris Holden into
the seat, who was the CEO of the Los Angeles
Fire Justice is the agency firm.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
It's a collaborative, it's a collaborative.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Ok, let's pull that mike up a little bit closer
to you.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yes, I say it's a collaborative. And thank you first
of all, James, thank you for inviting me to be here.
I know both of us we share deep roots in
the passing out and in a community, and this is
you know, deep pain that we're all trying to work through.
And so I appreciate you're giving me some space to chat.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Absolutely well, we'll unpack a lot of that.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
So, you know, I was scratching my head last night
and this morning because you know, I know you as
an assembly person, I know you as a city council
member and all the other things, a husband, former mayor
of capacity and all all these things, and so I'm like,
how do I address you now?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Because in the community, it's just hey Chris, you know right?
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So you know, formally, you know, it would be honorable
or assembly member or a council like so.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
If it were necessary to put a moniker on that,
I'd say probably honorable or former assembly member.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
But Chris works better.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Chris works better. Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Now, growing up in Pasadena, you were I hear a
pretty outstanding basketball player. In fact, you shared the court
with showtime. Mister Michael Cooper right as well. He was
always just a little bit ahead of me, a little bit.
He was four years ahead of me in high school. Yeah,
he graduated passing to high school, and so I came
in as a freshman as he was moving on to
(08:45):
PCC and then eventually to University of New Mexico. I
ended up at San Diego State in the same conference
as University of New Mexico with the Whack, but he
was moving on to the to the Lakers.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
So I was just a few steps behind Michael the
the whole way. But a legend in the Pasadena area.
And as now we know, a Hall of Famer, but
just a great person who was better you you were, Cooper.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Since I'm sitting here, I would say me.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
But since I didn't have the kind of career he did,
I think everybody knows different.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You know, Pasadena like an Altadena, right, I mean we
tie in Altadena obviously, because that's why while we're here,
that's also the District Assembly district that you represented. But
you know, Pasadena High was right in the fire's direct path,
I mean walking distance, yes, stones throwaway.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
What's coming up for you?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
When you think about, you know, when your first time
you had a chance to go back and visit the area.
You know, as a civilian, now you didn't necessarily have
the High Wave Patrol escorting you. You were just you
were just Chris. What was Chris seeing? What were your
first thoughts when you went into the most impacted areas?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, well, I I appreciate that well clearly the first
time I had a chance to see Lake Avenue and
the business Court and to see off of Mendocino, the
town and country club where so many of the community
would come together for various events, celebrating birthday parties and
(10:16):
anniversaries and things of that nature, and seeing it completely
destroyed landmarks that you kind of become familiar with in
terms of how to navigate streets that just neighborhoods that
just merged into rubble on top of rubble, and so
you're always struggling to get your your directions in terms
(10:36):
of navigating.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Through the area.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
But I, you know, look, I was seeing neighborhoods and
communities where people that I knew, who I even played
basketball with in elementary school as well as middle school
and high school, where their families had been for generations
and were part of the generational passing along of real
(11:00):
real property.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
It just blows you away. It's hard to explain. I
did as cheer of Utility and Energy. You have a chance.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
To tour Paradise with the governor and you could see
the devastation that these wildfires can have on a community.
But when you know the people who live there, you
have your own personal experiences having been the Loma out
to park in the.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Next Fawnsworth and everything. What's what's something that people don't
know about Altadena and like what makes it so special?
I've been talking about the roots, the resilience, the rebuilding
process and the reunion, right, but what's that what's special
about the community that you that people outside of the
(11:45):
area just don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Well, I would say there are a lot of things,
but what comes to mind is last night I was
at an event and it had me give me an
opportunity to sort of describe what I experienced. As you
just asked the question. When I first saw the Lake
Avenue and there was a distribution event that Rotary was
involved in, and as I walked through the parking lot
(12:09):
of the grocery outlet there on North Lake, and I
saw the people from Altadena who were victims of a
fire serving their neighbors who were victims of the fire.
That to me becomes the essence of Altadena, the spirit
of Altadena, the care and they and the brotherhood and
the fact that everybody really knows each other. Just by
(12:32):
and large, everybody knows somebody who knows somebody, and it's
that kind of a community. And they step up and
even through their own pain, they serve.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, they know you.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean because I've been there in the community when
people weren't happy with maybe some of the things you
did in the legislature and let you know, yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
They got it was just a few times. But to
your point, yeah, you know. I mean that's what family does, right,
you know. You know, we of what you're doing, or
we got some questions about what you're doing, and we
have a conversation and sometimes I reshape their thinking and
sometimes they mind.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
But at the end of the day, it's a.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Family, and it is one where there is made up
of so many different communities, whether it's the African American
community and the history that they've represented Outadena, the Latino community. Uh,
there's our MENI and there's an lgbt Q, there's you know,
there's all these different types of communities that have come together.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
It's America.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
It's I mean, while we're you know, this show, we're
centering blackness, right, we are unapologetically black on them on
the station. And so you know, that's that's that's the
lens that we're approaching this from. I want to go
up to Sacramento with you now, like you spend some
time in Sacramento and and and people may think that
(13:53):
the governor can do this, the governor can do that.
What lessons have you learned from the time you spend
to Sacramento, as you mentioned, you toured Paradise with him.
I want to get into some of the legislation that
you passed and authored and co authored and whatnot and
what that means. But what is the role of Sacramento
now that you're not up there anymore and you can
speak well, you always spoke freely, but what's the role Well, I.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Mean, I think it's amplified because we are probably in
a time now where we're not going to get as
much support from the federal government as we had in
the past.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I think, yeah, you know, It's just one of those things.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Timing is everything, as we say, But I do think
that the legislature took an important first step several months ago,
right after the fire itself, if you will, where they
augmented the budget to make two and a half billion
dollars available in the recovery space. But that's also looking
at it from the standpoint of a fiscal year. I
(14:53):
will say this that there's a lot of attention that
Sacramento is paying on the impact that this fire has
had on Altadena, and I think for many members they
realized that they could very easily have the same thing
happened in Ventura County or Central Valley, or northern California
or even San Diego. So I think there's an understanding
(15:13):
that with climate change, things are changing in terms.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Of how we have to prepare and how we have
to respond.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I want you, I want you to walk me through
ab was it ten fifty four? Yeah, So, like in
a very elementary way, right, like what was the purpose
of the bill? You know, we look at firefunds and
you know, legislation that is supposed to put these utility
lines on the ground, Like that's what people don't at
least that's what they tell me.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
I thought there were laws to protect us.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Can you walk me through that.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I think what happened is that when you start to
see how these utilities, investor owned utilities like PG and E, Edison,
San Diego Gas and Electric, as they are moving forward
and delivering power throughout the state to eighty percent of
the Californians that receive power from those three utilities, there
(16:05):
is increase risk given the fact that we're seeing the
climate change the drought conditions, so fires are becoming not
just wildfires, but catastrophic wildfires. PG and E going up
moving into twenty seventeen, found themselves being liable for a
number of fires that put them in the position where
they had to move into a bankrupt status. Well, they're
(16:29):
the largest.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Utility bankrupt, but they just passed that costs back on
to their customers. Like, but I guess where we're trying
to go with this, Chris is like it was supposed
to set aside money, right, Well, where's the money going?
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Like?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
How does that work?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Well?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Two things.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
One is to stabilize the markets, because if you don't
create a pathway for that utility to get out of bankruptcy,
which the fund does do did do, but they had
to then settle with those victims of that fire in
order to and then get out of bankruptcy to have
access to the fund. And so through that fund, that
is a where the shareholders of these utilities put ten
(17:07):
and a half billion dollars to create the fund. It's
a twenty one billion dollar fund. The shareholders put in
ten and a half billion, which has never happened before.
And then the ratepayers already had a charge that was
all in place since the deregulation era, and so we
just extended that, not a new charge, but extending existing charge,
(17:28):
and that comes up with the other ten and a
half billion. Currently, there's fourteen approximately fourteen billion dollars in
the fund, and that is available for this utility, Edison,
to be able to drop on and we believe that
their equipment started the fire. But they also have to
before they can even have access to that fund. They
(17:51):
have to put up another one billion before they can
even have access to the fund. And we believe the
fund is solvent and strong and durable, which the folks
about Diena would have at their disposal in terms of
a mass tort lawsuit which causes PG and E.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
To step up and then have the ability to make
these families hold through that fund.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
What what does accountability look like for you know, now
your former constituents and you as a you know your
impact because our community is impacted. What does it look
like should Edison be criminally charged? I mean, what are
you what is LA Fire justice? What are you pushing for?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, I think what we're pushing for is to make
sure that they're accountable for and be responsible for their
equipment starting the fire.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
But what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Though?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Negligent in terms of the fact that we believe because
you had two energized towers next to a dormant tower.
That dormant tower has been dormant since the seventies, so
about fifty one years. It's been sitting there with no
use to it other than the potential to start a fire.
Rather than deactive eight those two towers, they did not.
(19:02):
They there was a surge of power into the deactivated tower,
which then activated. It caused the lions to then energize
the ground and create a spark, and that's where the
fire began. We have videos to show that that's out there.
A lot of people have already seen that. And so
from that standpoint, the question then becomes where they grossly negligent?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Did they? And that's hard to prove, but that basically
saying that they.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
I mean you say grossly Like we see the video, right,
we see the timeline. I've seen some of the modeling
in front of the three D animation and how the
fire spread, the towers heated up to a certain temperature
and poof, there's the maintenance of fire lines that they
were supposed to maintain.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So how do we end up with are.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
They grossly negligent or because you know, I've always said this,
at some point highly paid executives and elected officials one
day may have to do it. I can't say that word,
but they may have to do their job. Right, So,
how do we end up on January seventh where someone
didn't do their job? Eighteen people are dead, thousands of
(20:14):
people are displaced, thousands of homes are destroyed.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
How does that happen?
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Like?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Where's the accountability?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Yeah, the accountability is through the wildfire mitigation plans that
they are supposed to do every year, and that the
CPUC checks off on. That's from undergrounding, hardening, the equipment,
whether technology which everybody knew that they were going to
be strong forced wins that day, So that allows them
to then shut down the power if they need to.
They did not do that, and ultimately it's for a
(20:44):
court to decide in terms of whether they were just
negligent or grossly negligent. There will obviously be an argument
being made that they are grossly negligent now in these lawsuits,
like anything else. If they decide they want to settle,
then folks will figure out what the right number is.
And at the end of the day, it's to make
sure that our community members who were impacted by this
(21:05):
fire and made.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Whole as promised. Catherine People's is in the seat now.
She's been boots on the ground, getting her her heels
and nails dirty. She works with people in terms of
building ad US. Folks may be familiar with her through
(21:28):
HPP and we'll get into more of that as well
as howse but she she knows a little bit about
soil remediation, debris clean up and kind of just what
this process looks like for folks who are putting things together,
and you know, That was Kenny Burke on the Keep
Rising to the Top, and I want to send that
message out to our community in Altadena. Catherine, welcome, how
(21:52):
you doing, Thank you, thank you for having me. Absolutely
yes you, I mean you know you just sitting here
like you know everything. So many questions I want to
ask you real quick. But first first, first, first, let
me I think the most important thing I want people
to understand are those three things that they need to
be looking at when they're rebuilding on a toxic site. Right,
(22:12):
this fire devastated, Right, What are those first three things
that someone should be aware of.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Well, they first and foremost need to understand how they're
going to pay for it. As I would say, you know,
what is your what does your account look like?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Ian?
Speaker 5 (22:25):
And what's the insurance going to play games with or
not play games with? So you want to be prepared to,
you know, put your your fighting gloves on to ensure
that you are getting what you are duly deserved from
the insurance company. That's number one. If there happens to
me be a mortgage on the property, you want to
make sure that you are set up with all the
appropriate for beearances. There's a bill right now AB two
(22:48):
thirty eight that's on the floor, that's in process to
help families impacted to ensure that they don't have to
make mortgage payments and get forbearances.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Accordingly, without interesting listening, Barns is not a forgiveness. That
just means it puts the payment back on the back
end of the loan right well.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
With the particular bill that's on the floor, they're looking
to ensure that interest does not accrue, it doesn't impact
the credit, and then there isn't any type of back
end payments. It's just a pause for a longer duration
than a normal thirty to ninety days. That's being put
on the floor for folks right now.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Gotcha, Okay, I'm sorry you were. You were on to
your third point and.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
Then on to my third point.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Is just making sure you align yourself with the appropriate
people who are going to do right by you, ensure
that your soil is I wouldn't want to say palatable,
but is in the condition that needs to be so
that you can go ahead and start to rebuild.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
So those are those key components.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Let's talk about that.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I mean, because soil remediation is a thing, right, It's
something that people are talking about they're recommending six inches
to dig.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Is that enough?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
I mean, to be honest with you now, I honestly
think they need to take it a little bit deeper,
at least another six inches. So I think a total
of twelve is what should be done. And then you
should have the appropriate outside testing done. You shouldn't rely
on just someone saying Okay, it's good to go. You
need to have the additional testing done.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
So let me let me go back.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
So some of the homes have about a thousand I
think have actually had debris cleaned up to date.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Right, there's thousands more that have to go.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
But going through that process, so they have to first
explain that to me, like tear down the houses, Like
what does that look like?
Speaker 5 (24:31):
So they have to first remove all the debris from
the property and have that properly pushed off site and
that's moved by you know, the appropriate haulers forty foot
yard containers. And then in turn they are going to
bring in the earth movers and move the level of
(24:52):
dirt and put it in the proper haulers and get
that out. But then you need to bring in outside testing.
UCLA is offering at our organization has partnered with a
couple other environmental testing groups that are also coming out
to do the additional testing to ensure that the land
is ready for rebuild.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
So my understanding is, after talking with some folks that
are in a similar spaces, use that at some point
we should see a completely flat and leveled Altadena before
building begins.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
Totally. Wow, Definitely we should.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I'm really trying to imagine, absent the trees right, what
that look will look like right looking up at the
mountain side. So what's the concern if there isn't the
enough remediation.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
If there's not enough remediation, we are going to have
a lot of people that are going to get sick
and we are not going to see what we need
to see with the rebuild. As I stressed to you earlier,
we need to make sure that Altadena is treated just
like the Palisades. And for those of you who are listening,
(26:02):
because this is a national network, that is the other
area that was impacted by the fires, And having been
at the disaster resource centers from day one when they
were opened, it was a tale of two different cities.
You saw people within the areas of UCLA because that
was where one resource center was located that were not
(26:25):
of communities of color, where in turn they had all
the resources immediately, DMV, birth certificates, you name it, whereas
in Alcidena it was slow trickle to get those resources
to the community.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
So your organization, how do you help people with the
debris removal, the planning, the grading, rebuilding. The ADUs definitely
makes that look like.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
So what you would do is call hpp Cares our organization,
and we would do a feasibility test to look at
your entire project. On the nonprofit side, because I represent
two organizations, h cares is our nonprofit HUD Housing Counseling agency,
and then we have our construction piece. We've married the two,
but they've we've broken out the resources between the two organizations,
(27:09):
but they would reach out to our agency.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
We then get the address, We go to.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
The tax assessor's office to see if there's any architectural plans,
and then we set up having the work being done,
the remediation work, the cleanup. We put in line the
groups to come in and remove the debris, getting it
to the appropriate locations.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
HUD is important, right, and you're certified you have certain certifications. Yes,
why is that important for someone to choose working with
you versus you know, Joe's.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
Hauling well first and foremost, We've been in business for
twenty years with that designation. We have certified housing counselors
who are in turn understand this work, understand what it
takes to get you from A to Z with the rebuild.
Why is that because we managed ADU construction well over
three thousand projects throughout the state of California. So you
want to align yourself with an organization that is not
(28:00):
just gimme, gimme, gimme money, but in turn is being
self funded through federal programs to offset costs to help
consumers who are uninsured are underinsured.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
How can people get in touch with you if they're
looking to learn more about you? Engage you Define? I
know you outside and in the community.
Speaker 6 (28:18):
Right outside all day every day, getting that Dan? How
did I get in touch with Definitely?
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It's area code five six two two eight one eight
eighty six one is our phone number again, five six
two two eight one eight eight six one. If you
go to our website hpp cares dot org and that's
hpp cares dot org, you can find our guidebook that
will take you through the necessary steps insurance, finding permanent housing,
dealing with contractors, and figuring out those pieces.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
So that's how they would get ahold of us.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Should be people be afraid right now, like going through
this problem.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
They need to be cautiously careful.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
We have a lot of people who claim to live
and have grown up in Alzadena. I am a true
Altadinian right right. John B was the ex boyfriend, So
shout out to John B.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
They don't they don't know heydamn.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Okay, So with that.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Said, you gotta get aligned with the right folks. HVP
Cares has had our headquarters in Long Beach. We are
now on Lincoln at the NATHA Center to zero one
nine Nathan. So we're bringing it home, bringing it full
circle to make sure folks are rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
My guest has been Catherine People. She is with Housed
and HPP Cares. You can find her online if you
need some information about soil remediation and just this whole process.
Speaker 7 (29:40):
Thank you for listening to Alta Dina after the fire.
If you found this episode meaningful, please share it to
help spread awareness. To support those affected by the Eating fire,
consider donating to the Brotherhood Crusades Wildfire Relief Fund at
Brotherhood Crusade dot org. Your contributions provide essential resources like food, medicine,
(30:03):
and housing assistance to families and need. If you have
updated information or a first hand story to share, we'd
love to hear from you. Contact details are in the
show notes. Alt Dina After the Fire is an Urban
one podcast. Executive producer and host Kobe Kobteyner, Assistant producer
(30:23):
Jahi Whitehead, Director of Podcasting, Dre Smith. Special thanks to
the Urban Onecares team and our founder Kathy Hughes. Thank
you for tuning in. See you next time.
Live from Lamert Park KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. You're listening
to the conversation Live Alta Dina Rising.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm your host, James Farr.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I want to thank you so much for allowing me
into your living rooms, into your dining rooms. You might
be in your kitchen, in the backyard, you're in your garage,
you may be riding in your car for your weekend activities.
Thank you for allowing me into your space this morning.
This is the show of record, and we are chronicling
(00:33):
for the nation the January seventh Alta Diena Eaton Canyon fire,
that deadly blaze that has now claimed a reported eighteen
lives and an untold number of thousands of residents have
been displaced. Before we get started with today's program, let
(00:57):
me invite you to follow us on social media at
KBLA fifteen eighty. You can also follow me at James
far Live. Our podcasts are available wherever you get your podcasts,
or you can go visit us over on the KBLA
fifteen eighty YouTube page. I want to also invite you
(01:19):
to download our app in the app stores KBLA fifteen eighty.
Well before a program for you today and I'm excited
about some of our guests. You know, we're looking at
now coming up on one hundred days since this deadly
(01:40):
flyer has devastated the community. I'm excited to have the
bottom of the hour Catherine Peoples with HPP Cares as
well as Howse.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
She's an expert. We're going to talk about rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
We're going to talk about how do you build on
the site where there's so much toxic contaminants in the soil,
and the things that you need to be.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Considerate of when you're you.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Know, preparing and planning, and maybe some folks want a
du so. Catherine will be in the seat, but in
the top of the hour, former assembly Person of the
forty first District Chris Holden. Chris is now the chief
executive officer of La Cares, a law firm that is
(02:31):
representing folks right here in the Altadena community, and they've
been pretty active with some of the things that they're
bringing to the community and how they're endeavoring to guide people.
Typically we play some sound on the show. I'm not
going to do that today. I'm gonna talk to you
a little bit every morning. You know, when I walking
(02:58):
is just like such an important part of my wellness.
It helps me center myself, it helps me ground myself.
I enjoy taking long, long walks, and why am I
sharing that with you? Well, when I'm out on my
morning walk, me and the dog, we see every day
(03:22):
the power lines that are owned by Southern California Edison.
In fact, the dog park and my neighborhood and in
my community it literally sits under these power lines. And
so when I think about people who have been greatly
affected by this fire, this inferno, you know, the burning
question for me is how are they still processing? I mean,
(03:46):
folks have moved away right now, they're settling where they are.
I was asked yesterday in an interview, well where are people?
And I'm like, they are where they can be, and
they're not where they want to be. And so people
are everywhere. But for me, you know, I didn't lose
my home. I still have my home had a little
(04:10):
bit of wind damage. But for me, every morning I
look up at these power lines. And when we talk
about proximity to trauma, when we talk about like vicarious trauma,
right to me, it looks like a loaded gun that
(04:30):
killed your family. And so while people are listening and
kind of understanding what we're doing in this community and
how people are having to process it. I watched a
sixty minute interview I think it was less past Sunday,
which you know, I might add they didn't profile anybody
African American. But I do remember the woman from Palisades,
(04:52):
you know, saying that she was different in that you know,
people would say to her how lucky she is that
her home survived, and she, you know, I understand what
she was saying that, yes, her home is there, of
what's around it. And so when I think about people
who are still in the community that still have to
(05:15):
see these power lines, right and how that may bring
upon more Trump. I talked with the community member the
other day and she too can see those power lines.
She lost her business, the Little Red Hen Sister Barbara
Shay was sharing with me. It's still emotional and we're
(05:36):
nearly one hundred days out. So I just want to
share that with you kind of you know, that's my facts.
No no, no cap in that. But when we come forward,
we're going to be joined by, as I said earlier,
former assembly person of the forty first district. He's a
(05:57):
former city council member. He actually wrote a lot of
the legislation that should have put in place some resources,
relief and some protections. Chris Olden is going to be
in the seat live in study studio. Make sure you
stick around and stay with us when we come forward.
(06:17):
Only on KBLA Talk fifteen eighty Unapologetically Black, the station you.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Turned to when you've had it up to gear with
cultural and confidence.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
KBLA Talk fifteen and welcome forward. You listen to the
conversation Live Altadena Rising. I'm your host, James Farr. Whoo man.
This is a good one I'm excited to have in studio.
He is a actually my former State assembly person of
(06:48):
the forty first district has also been a Pasadena City
council member. Some of my LA folks in the LA
delegation will certainly know his father.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But you know, in addition to just being a.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Great guy, family man, his wife Melanie is a good
person in our community and you see all of his
children around. But I want to welcome Chris Holden into
the seat, who was the CEO of the Los Angeles
Fire Justice is the agency firm.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
It's a collaborative, it's a collaborative.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Ok, let's pull that mike up a little bit closer
to you.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yes, I say it's a collaborative. And thank you first
of all, James, thank you for inviting me to be here.
I know both of us we share deep roots in
the passing out and in a community, and this is
you know, deep pain that we're all trying to work through.
And so I appreciate you're giving me some space to chat.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Absolutely well, we'll unpack a lot of that.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
So, you know, I was scratching my head last night
and this morning because you know, I know you as
an assembly person, I know you as a city council
member and all the other things, a husband, former mayor
of capacity and all all these things, and so I'm like,
how do I address you now?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Because in the community, it's just hey Chris, you know right?
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So you know, formally, you know, it would be honorable
or assembly member or a council like so.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
If it were necessary to put a moniker on that,
I'd say probably honorable or former assembly member.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
But Chris works better.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Chris works better. Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Now, growing up in Pasadena, you were I hear a
pretty outstanding basketball player. In fact, you shared the court
with showtime. Mister Michael Cooper right as well. He was
always just a little bit ahead of me, a little bit.
He was four years ahead of me in high school. Yeah,
he graduated passing to high school, and so I came
in as a freshman as he was moving on to
(08:45):
PCC and then eventually to University of New Mexico. I
ended up at San Diego State in the same conference
as University of New Mexico with the Whack, but he
was moving on to the to the Lakers.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
So I was just a few steps behind Michael the
the whole way. But a legend in the Pasadena area.
And as now we know, a Hall of Famer, but
just a great person who was better you you were, Cooper.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Since I'm sitting here, I would say me.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
But since I didn't have the kind of career he did,
I think everybody knows different.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You know, Pasadena like an Altadena, right, I mean we
tie in Altadena obviously, because that's why while we're here,
that's also the District Assembly district that you represented. But
you know, Pasadena High was right in the fire's direct path,
I mean walking distance, yes, stones throwaway.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
What's coming up for you?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
When you think about, you know, when your first time
you had a chance to go back and visit the area.
You know, as a civilian, now you didn't necessarily have
the High Wave Patrol escorting you. You were just you
were just Chris. What was Chris seeing? What were your
first thoughts when you went into the most impacted areas?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, well, I I appreciate that well clearly the first
time I had a chance to see Lake Avenue and
the business Court and to see off of Mendocino, the
town and country club where so many of the community
would come together for various events, celebrating birthday parties and
(10:16):
anniversaries and things of that nature, and seeing it completely
destroyed landmarks that you kind of become familiar with in
terms of how to navigate streets that just neighborhoods that
just merged into rubble on top of rubble, and so
you're always struggling to get your your directions in terms
(10:36):
of navigating.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Through the area.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
But I, you know, look, I was seeing neighborhoods and
communities where people that I knew, who I even played
basketball with in elementary school as well as middle school
and high school, where their families had been for generations
and were part of the generational passing along of real
(11:00):
real property.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
It just blows you away. It's hard to explain. I
did as cheer of Utility and Energy. You have a chance.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
To tour Paradise with the governor and you could see
the devastation that these wildfires can have on a community.
But when you know the people who live there, you
have your own personal experiences having been the Loma out
to park in the.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Next Fawnsworth and everything. What's what's something that people don't
know about Altadena and like what makes it so special?
I've been talking about the roots, the resilience, the rebuilding
process and the reunion, right, but what's that what's special
about the community that you that people outside of the
(11:45):
area just don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Well, I would say there are a lot of things,
but what comes to mind is last night I was
at an event and it had me give me an
opportunity to sort of describe what I experienced. As you
just asked the question. When I first saw the Lake
Avenue and there was a distribution event that Rotary was
involved in, and as I walked through the parking lot
(12:09):
of the grocery outlet there on North Lake, and I
saw the people from Altadena who were victims of a
fire serving their neighbors who were victims of the fire.
That to me becomes the essence of Altadena, the spirit
of Altadena, the care and they and the brotherhood and
the fact that everybody really knows each other. Just by
(12:32):
and large, everybody knows somebody who knows somebody, and it's
that kind of a community. And they step up and
even through their own pain, they serve.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, they know you.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I mean because I've been there in the community when
people weren't happy with maybe some of the things you
did in the legislature and let you know, yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
They got it was just a few times. But to
your point, yeah, you know. I mean that's what family does, right,
you know. You know, we of what you're doing, or
we got some questions about what you're doing, and we
have a conversation and sometimes I reshape their thinking and
sometimes they mind.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
But at the end of the day, it's a.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Family, and it is one where there is made up
of so many different communities, whether it's the African American
community and the history that they've represented Outadena, the Latino community. Uh,
there's our MENI and there's an lgbt Q, there's you know,
there's all these different types of communities that have come together.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
It's America.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
It's I mean, while we're you know, this show, we're
centering blackness, right, we are unapologetically black on them on
the station. And so you know, that's that's that's the
lens that we're approaching this from. I want to go
up to Sacramento with you now, like you spend some
time in Sacramento and and and people may think that
(13:53):
the governor can do this, the governor can do that.
What lessons have you learned from the time you spend
to Sacramento, as you mentioned, you toured Paradise with him.
I want to get into some of the legislation that
you passed and authored and co authored and whatnot and
what that means. But what is the role of Sacramento
now that you're not up there anymore and you can
speak well, you always spoke freely, but what's the role Well, I.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Mean, I think it's amplified because we are probably in
a time now where we're not going to get as
much support from the federal government as we had in
the past.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I think, yeah, you know, It's just one of those things.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Timing is everything, as we say, But I do think
that the legislature took an important first step several months ago,
right after the fire itself, if you will, where they
augmented the budget to make two and a half billion
dollars available in the recovery space. But that's also looking
at it from the standpoint of a fiscal year. I
(14:53):
will say this that there's a lot of attention that
Sacramento is paying on the impact that this fire has
had on Altadena, and I think for many members they
realized that they could very easily have the same thing
happened in Ventura County or Central Valley, or northern California
or even San Diego. So I think there's an understanding
(15:13):
that with climate change, things are changing in terms.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Of how we have to prepare and how we have
to respond.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I want you, I want you to walk me through
ab was it ten fifty four? Yeah, So, like in
a very elementary way, right, like what was the purpose
of the bill? You know, we look at firefunds and
you know, legislation that is supposed to put these utility
lines on the ground, Like that's what people don't at
least that's what they tell me.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
I thought there were laws to protect us.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Can you walk me through that.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I think what happened is that when you start to
see how these utilities, investor owned utilities like PG and E, Edison,
San Diego Gas and Electric, as they are moving forward
and delivering power throughout the state to eighty percent of
the Californians that receive power from those three utilities, there
(16:05):
is increase risk given the fact that we're seeing the
climate change the drought conditions, so fires are becoming not
just wildfires, but catastrophic wildfires. PG and E going up
moving into twenty seventeen, found themselves being liable for a
number of fires that put them in the position where
they had to move into a bankrupt status. Well, they're
(16:29):
the largest.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Utility bankrupt, but they just passed that costs back on
to their customers. Like, but I guess where we're trying
to go with this, Chris is like it was supposed
to set aside money, right, Well, where's the money going?
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Like?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
How does that work?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Well?
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Two things.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
One is to stabilize the markets, because if you don't
create a pathway for that utility to get out of bankruptcy,
which the fund does do did do, but they had
to then settle with those victims of that fire in
order to and then get out of bankruptcy to have
access to the fund. And so through that fund, that
is a where the shareholders of these utilities put ten
(17:07):
and a half billion dollars to create the fund. It's
a twenty one billion dollar fund. The shareholders put in
ten and a half billion, which has never happened before.
And then the ratepayers already had a charge that was
all in place since the deregulation era, and so we
just extended that, not a new charge, but extending existing charge,
(17:28):
and that comes up with the other ten and a
half billion. Currently, there's fourteen approximately fourteen billion dollars in
the fund, and that is available for this utility, Edison,
to be able to drop on and we believe that
their equipment started the fire. But they also have to
before they can even have access to that fund. They
(17:51):
have to put up another one billion before they can
even have access to the fund. And we believe the
fund is solvent and strong and durable, which the folks
about Diena would have at their disposal in terms of
a mass tort lawsuit which causes PG and E.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
To step up and then have the ability to make
these families hold through that fund.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
What what does accountability look like for you know, now
your former constituents and you as a you know your
impact because our community is impacted. What does it look
like should Edison be criminally charged? I mean, what are
you what is LA Fire justice? What are you pushing for?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, I think what we're pushing for is to make
sure that they're accountable for and be responsible for their
equipment starting the fire.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
But what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Though?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I'm talking about.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Negligent in terms of the fact that we believe because
you had two energized towers next to a dormant tower.
That dormant tower has been dormant since the seventies, so
about fifty one years. It's been sitting there with no
use to it other than the potential to start a fire.
Rather than deactive eight those two towers, they did not.
(19:02):
They there was a surge of power into the deactivated tower,
which then activated. It caused the lions to then energize
the ground and create a spark, and that's where the
fire began. We have videos to show that that's out there.
A lot of people have already seen that. And so
from that standpoint, the question then becomes where they grossly negligent?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Did they? And that's hard to prove, but that basically
saying that they.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
I mean you say grossly Like we see the video, right,
we see the timeline. I've seen some of the modeling
in front of the three D animation and how the
fire spread, the towers heated up to a certain temperature
and poof, there's the maintenance of fire lines that they
were supposed to maintain.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So how do we end up with are.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
They grossly negligent or because you know, I've always said this,
at some point highly paid executives and elected officials one
day may have to do it. I can't say that word,
but they may have to do their job. Right, So,
how do we end up on January seventh where someone
didn't do their job? Eighteen people are dead, thousands of
(20:14):
people are displaced, thousands of homes are destroyed.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
How does that happen?
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Like?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Where's the accountability?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Yeah, the accountability is through the wildfire mitigation plans that
they are supposed to do every year, and that the
CPUC checks off on. That's from undergrounding, hardening, the equipment,
whether technology which everybody knew that they were going to
be strong forced wins that day, So that allows them
to then shut down the power if they need to.
They did not do that, and ultimately it's for a
(20:44):
court to decide in terms of whether they were just
negligent or grossly negligent. There will obviously be an argument
being made that they are grossly negligent now in these lawsuits,
like anything else. If they decide they want to settle,
then folks will figure out what the right number is.
And at the end of the day, it's to make
sure that our community members who were impacted by this
(21:05):
fire and made.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Whole as promised. Catherine People's is in the seat now.
She's been boots on the ground, getting her her heels
and nails dirty. She works with people in terms of
building ad US. Folks may be familiar with her through
(21:28):
HPP and we'll get into more of that as well
as howse but she she knows a little bit about
soil remediation, debris clean up and kind of just what
this process looks like for folks who are putting things together,
and you know, That was Kenny Burke on the Keep
Rising to the Top, and I want to send that
message out to our community in Altadena. Catherine, welcome, how
(21:52):
you doing, Thank you, thank you for having me. Absolutely
yes you, I mean you know you just sitting here
like you know everything. So many questions I want to
ask you real quick. But first first, first, first, let
me I think the most important thing I want people
to understand are those three things that they need to
be looking at when they're rebuilding on a toxic site. Right,
(22:12):
this fire devastated, Right, What are those first three things
that someone should be aware of.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Well, they first and foremost need to understand how they're
going to pay for it. As I would say, you know,
what is your what does your account look like?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Ian?
Speaker 5 (22:25):
And what's the insurance going to play games with or
not play games with? So you want to be prepared to,
you know, put your your fighting gloves on to ensure
that you are getting what you are duly deserved from
the insurance company. That's number one. If there happens to
me be a mortgage on the property, you want to
make sure that you are set up with all the
appropriate for beearances. There's a bill right now AB two
(22:48):
thirty eight that's on the floor, that's in process to
help families impacted to ensure that they don't have to
make mortgage payments and get forbearances.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Accordingly, without interesting listening, Barns is not a forgiveness. That
just means it puts the payment back on the back
end of the loan right well.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
With the particular bill that's on the floor, they're looking
to ensure that interest does not accrue, it doesn't impact
the credit, and then there isn't any type of back
end payments. It's just a pause for a longer duration
than a normal thirty to ninety days. That's being put
on the floor for folks right now.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Gotcha, Okay, I'm sorry you were. You were on to
your third point and.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
Then on to my third point.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Is just making sure you align yourself with the appropriate
people who are going to do right by you, ensure
that your soil is I wouldn't want to say palatable,
but is in the condition that needs to be so
that you can go ahead and start to rebuild.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
So those are those key components.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Let's talk about that.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I mean, because soil remediation is a thing, right, It's
something that people are talking about they're recommending six inches
to dig.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Is that enough?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
I mean, to be honest with you now, I honestly
think they need to take it a little bit deeper,
at least another six inches. So I think a total
of twelve is what should be done. And then you
should have the appropriate outside testing done. You shouldn't rely
on just someone saying Okay, it's good to go. You
need to have the additional testing done.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
So let me let me go back.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
So some of the homes have about a thousand I
think have actually had debris cleaned up to date.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Right, there's thousands more that have to go.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
But going through that process, so they have to first
explain that to me, like tear down the houses, Like
what does that look like?
Speaker 5 (24:31):
So they have to first remove all the debris from
the property and have that properly pushed off site and
that's moved by you know, the appropriate haulers forty foot
yard containers. And then in turn they are going to
bring in the earth movers and move the level of
(24:52):
dirt and put it in the proper haulers and get
that out. But then you need to bring in outside testing.
UCLA is offering at our organization has partnered with a
couple other environmental testing groups that are also coming out
to do the additional testing to ensure that the land
is ready for rebuild.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
So my understanding is, after talking with some folks that
are in a similar spaces, use that at some point
we should see a completely flat and leveled Altadena before
building begins.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
Totally. Wow, Definitely we should.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I'm really trying to imagine, absent the trees right, what
that look will look like right looking up at the
mountain side. So what's the concern if there isn't the
enough remediation.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
If there's not enough remediation, we are going to have
a lot of people that are going to get sick
and we are not going to see what we need
to see with the rebuild. As I stressed to you earlier,
we need to make sure that Altadena is treated just
like the Palisades. And for those of you who are listening,
(26:02):
because this is a national network, that is the other
area that was impacted by the fires, And having been
at the disaster resource centers from day one when they
were opened, it was a tale of two different cities.
You saw people within the areas of UCLA because that
was where one resource center was located that were not
(26:25):
of communities of color, where in turn they had all
the resources immediately, DMV, birth certificates, you name it, whereas
in Alcidena it was slow trickle to get those resources
to the community.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
So your organization, how do you help people with the
debris removal, the planning, the grading, rebuilding. The ADUs definitely
makes that look like.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
So what you would do is call hpp Cares our organization,
and we would do a feasibility test to look at
your entire project. On the nonprofit side, because I represent
two organizations, h cares is our nonprofit HUD Housing Counseling agency,
and then we have our construction piece. We've married the two,
but they've we've broken out the resources between the two organizations,
(27:09):
but they would reach out to our agency.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
We then get the address, We go to.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
The tax assessor's office to see if there's any architectural plans,
and then we set up having the work being done,
the remediation work, the cleanup. We put in line the
groups to come in and remove the debris, getting it
to the appropriate locations.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
HUD is important, right, and you're certified you have certain certifications. Yes,
why is that important for someone to choose working with
you versus you know, Joe's.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
Hauling well first and foremost, We've been in business for
twenty years with that designation. We have certified housing counselors
who are in turn understand this work, understand what it
takes to get you from A to Z with the rebuild.
Why is that because we managed ADU construction well over
three thousand projects throughout the state of California. So you
want to align yourself with an organization that is not
(28:00):
just gimme, gimme, gimme money, but in turn is being
self funded through federal programs to offset costs to help
consumers who are uninsured are underinsured.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
How can people get in touch with you if they're
looking to learn more about you? Engage you Define? I
know you outside and in the community.
Speaker 6 (28:18):
Right outside all day every day, getting that Dan? How
did I get in touch with Definitely?
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It's area code five six two two eight one eight
eighty six one is our phone number again, five six
two two eight one eight eight six one. If you
go to our website hpp cares dot org and that's
hpp cares dot org, you can find our guidebook that
will take you through the necessary steps insurance, finding permanent housing,
dealing with contractors, and figuring out those pieces.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
So that's how they would get ahold of us.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Should be people be afraid right now, like going through
this problem.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
They need to be cautiously careful.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
We have a lot of people who claim to live
and have grown up in Alzadena. I am a true
Altadinian right right. John B was the ex boyfriend, So
shout out to John B.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
They don't they don't know heydamn.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Okay, So with that.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Said, you gotta get aligned with the right folks. HVP
Cares has had our headquarters in Long Beach. We are
now on Lincoln at the NATHA Center to zero one
nine Nathan. So we're bringing it home, bringing it full
circle to make sure folks are rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
My guest has been Catherine People. She is with Housed
and HPP Cares. You can find her online if you
need some information about soil remediation and just this whole process.
Speaker 7 (29:40):
Thank you for listening to Alta Dina after the fire.
If you found this episode meaningful, please share it to
help spread awareness. To support those affected by the Eating fire,
consider donating to the Brotherhood Crusades Wildfire Relief Fund at
Brotherhood Crusade dot org. Your contributions provide essential resources like food, medicine,
(30:03):
and housing assistance to families and need. If you have
updated information or a first hand story to share, we'd
love to hear from you. Contact details are in the
show notes. Alt Dina After the Fire is an Urban
one podcast. Executive producer and host Kobe Kobteyner, Assistant producer
(30:23):
Jahi Whitehead, Director of Podcasting, Dre Smith. Special thanks to
the Urban Onecares team and our founder Kathy Hughes. Thank
you for tuning in. See you next time.
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