Senator Pérez with Coach Zaire Calvin and community leaders, April 15, 2025 (Photo – Maddie Ribble)
More than 500 residents and community leaders from Altadena, along with allies from across the region, have sent a united call to California state leaders, urging the allocation of $200 million to preserve the area’s affordability and diversity following the devastation of the Eaton Fire. The request aims to shield Altadena from outside real estate speculators and protect its long-standing identity as an affordable and inclusive community.
By News Desk
The funding request, led by Senator Sasha Rénee Pérez (D-Pasadena), seeks to support nonprofit organizations committed to preserving Altadena’s economic and racial diversity. Specifically, the funds would help mission-driven nonprofits acquire fire-damaged properties, which could then be redeveloped into affordable housing or maintained as community-owned land, keeping the neighborhood accessible for future generations.
“As a fourth-generation African-American Altadenan, I’ve seen Black families and working folks fight to build a life here when others shut us out,” said Coach Zaire Calvin, a prominent community leader and founder of Xtreme Athletics. “Now, predatory developers are threatening that legacy — putting profit over people. This isn’t just a land fight; it’s a fight for the soul of Altadena.”
The need for this funding has grown urgent
Since the Eaton Fire, the majority of Altadena properties sold have been acquired by corporate investors, rather than local families. A recent report by Strategic Actions for a Just Economy revealed that nearly half of the 94 properties sold between February 11 and April 30 were purchased by outside corporate entities — a sharp increase from the previous year, where only five out of 95 sales were made to corporate buyers. This trend has raised alarms over the potential for widespread displacement, especially in western Altadena, historically home to one of the largest Black homeowner communities in Los Angeles County.
Senator Pérez, a champion of the funding request, expressed her concern over the rising number of low-ball offers from corporate buyers looking to profit off the fire’s aftermath. “The people of Altadena suffered the worst of the Eaton Fire’s devastation. Now, they are being victimized a second time by outside real estate speculators who see a path to get rich on others’ pain,” Pérez said. “We must protect Altadena fire victims from harassing and predatory corporate buyers. Altadena must be allowed to recover and rebuild while maintaining its local identity.”
No to a wasteland of unoccupied millionaires’ properties
Among those most at risk of displacement are Black seniors, many of whom built generational wealth in the area after being redlined out of other parts of the region. Data from 2018 to 2023 shows that 43% of Black mortgage holders in Altadena are over the age of 65, a stark contrast to just 16% of white mortgage holders, 12% of Asian, and 11% of Latino mortgage holders in the area.
Sylvie Andrews, a member of Altagether, a grassroots organization that has been helping neighbors stay connected after the Eaton Fire, highlighted the threat posed by outside speculators. “We do not want to become a wasteland of unoccupied millionaires’ properties built to maximize profit and minimize human connection,” Andrews said. “Community land trusts are one of our best tools for fighting against developers and preserving our community.”
Marc Philpart, Executive Director of the California Black Freedom Fund, stressed that the situation requires immediate action to prevent the displacement of long-time residents. “Altadena has long been a place where Black families could build community, longevity, and generational wealth,” Philpart said. “We cannot allow this disaster to become a doorway for displacement. This is a moment for California to invest in real solutions that keep land in the hands of the people who live there.”
$200 million funding request
The $200 million funding request could come from a variety of state resources, including a $4 billion pool previously allocated by the state legislature for wildfire response, as well as the state’s Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties and other available state funds.
Miguel Santana, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation, echoed the need for a community-driven recovery. “A just recovery will not only restore property, but will honor the fabric of communities and the dignity of residents,” Santana said. “Directing state dollars to ensure that nonprofits in fire-ravaged communities can protect their most vulnerable, keep wealth circulating locally, and support redevelopment that honors the community’s history and future is a sound, responsible, and urgently needed policy.”
As Altadena continues to rebuild, community leaders are calling on state officials to prioritize local residents and organizations in the recovery process, ensuring that the community remains affordable, diverse, and true to its roots.
Leave a Reply