Pointing the Blame
It is all Sacramento's fault...
The Town Council last night got to hear from our electeds. It is all the same.
Who failed? Who has messed up? Why?
It took 18 months to realize that “SB 9” projects were “exceeding” what was intended? Come on. Regional planning did not raise flags when original plans were submitted? Nope, not until the results were well known. Oops. It’s ok, the Governor did not exempt us like the Palisades.
Then of course, the cause du jour, SB 1123 and the lot divisions.
Per our State Senator (SRP), “it is an issue of fairness” in the fact Altadena is not protected like say, the Palisades. Another example of the inequity, but why? Is it because of the Palisades or is it something more imbedded here in Altadena, like our County Government (I think it is more the latter than the former).
We were then told, “the Governor did not include Altadena on the original Executive Order.” True.
Was it asked of him, by say our Supervisor?
Cleverly left off the question list.
“He also refused,” (and she made sure it is emphasized) “to include us in the updated EO,” per our State Senator.
“In consultation,” per Assemblymember Harabedian’s staff, “with the Governor,” we were told, “the best course was through SB 1090.”
Why would the Governor not with the stroke of pen fix the problem? Good question.
Senator Perez, moreover, advised us regarding the “urgency clause,” it was not a thing.
She was able to get the Urgency Clause for SB 782 (our infamous Climate Resilience District which relies on increased tax revenue).
SB 1090, which is more pressing, well, that is left to chance. Not a revenue driver so no need for “urgency?”
We were advised, moreover, it will be “difficult” to get the bill passed in Sacramento.
Why? Who is against us?
“Rest assured Altadena, we are ok for now,” is the message from the Supervisor.
As long as the contiguous lots are still “vacant,” SB 1123 projects are “voided.”
Does that meant they are going to have to start all over? Does it mean they sit in “suspense” until the lot is built?
Cleverly, the “voiding” of SB 1123 projects does buy a short window.
The Abundance guys were not wrong.
California is a complete mess.
Keep passing Bills and making it more complicated to solve a single issue. We are the very essence of the law of unintended consequences.
Let’s strip it all away and get to the heart.
The Governor should have included Altadena into the Executive Order. It should have been requested at the start by our electeds, particularly the Supervisor. Nobody asked, nor were we offered an answer, “did we ask the Governor at the outset?”
I have been involved in this Game long enough to know they are covering up for an answer, assuming “he would have refused,” because of the “justification they used for the Palisades.” How do you spell ASSUME?
Nobody asked whether the Governor was asked, officially, and publicly. I would hazard to guess he would not have denied that request in those early days, but that is just me.
The “refusal” of the Governor to include Altadena in the updated EO. Why? Was it the EO could not be extended to include us in the “refresh?” Or is it that he held off extending it to Altadena because the original basis was already set? Is the “refusal” because he was not really asked?
The tactic is to point the finger at him, not at the electeds who left us exposed. He is lame duck and out of our touch. Typical. It has been the playbook since the start of these fires, point the finger at others to not have to take responsibility for the tough decision.
What about the bigger problem of what our land use will be post-fire? SB 1123 is a canary in the coal mine. Lot splitting will come. Look at Regional Planning and the future of these lots. Sure, it might not be 10 units, but it can be 5. What is the County going to do if SB 1090 gets through?
What is the political problem with SB 1090 other than the electeds do not want to use up a favor? It is going to be opposed, but by who? Are the YIMBY and pro-housing groups already lining up behind the SB 1123 implementation- Altadena be damned? Go back to who killed AB 797- out of towners, and those with their own agendas. They were spreading misinformation for their own good. Is the Senator, who is aligned with many of those same people who worked against our ability to have a community ownership model to stave off such situation and give fair value to homeowners, giving us a warning?
Is she is saying “if you want it, you are going to have to do more than get a bill introduced? You are going to have to come up here and fight for it?”
Beware the “velvet glove” hiding “the mallet” yesterday. Her interests are not yours, no matter what you think. Trust me, she has her own deals she needs to be working in the future, including perhaps, a run for the Supervisor Seat in 2028. If the bill fails, she can point to the fact, “you were warned.”
Pay attention to the words, “they have meaning.”
Push the County to put together a plan for what SB 1123 would look like and what the rules and regulations are for it along with SB 9 (ADUs). Many of these issues will fall to the next Governor (hello Xavier Becerra), and it might be something we need to be aware of and start to build relationships with.
The whole SB 1123 mess is a major problem for land use in these situations. The County has its own rebuild plan (or should). I hear it from many people associated with the rebuild- “Altadena is screwed. The County has failed them.”
We need to know it and educate homeowners. We need to hold the County accountable. I did a bill with a little tongue in cheek the other day, but it is actually a real policy issue.
The County is responsible for these messes and they cannot escape accountability- something we have been pushing from the start here.We need rhetorical devices to show how we can be protected if things continue down the road they are. It is why I wrote that bill- make the County be responsible for the benefits it accrues and a homeowner loses out on the value of the land because of the zoning/land use decisions they are making to the County’s tax collection benefit and not the homeowner.
Lastly, it is obvious SB 1123 is just the beginning of what is coming. We are twisting the wind, left to fight for ourselves. What is the root cause? Why the cover up? Just like everything with this fire, the County has left us exposed, left for the wolves. It has deftly played the various interests against one another to get through SB 782 without a protest, it has pushed the issues like land use and SB 9 to others. It goes back to the Golf Course and the use of it as a transfer station- pushing the blame to the Army Corps. At each step, the County could have exerted its Power to stop the more egregious, and the chose not to. Why? It leaves one to wonder if it is incompetence (the record is long and replete with examples to back up that thesis) or cynical (which might be another element of it). Sometimes it is a combination.
Breathe a sigh this morning that the most immediate concern is not a concern for now.
However, start to realize this is the beginning Altadena. It is something we have warned against since the start of this Substack in March of 2025. It is something we pointed out in February with the need for a Plan. It is something our electeds pointed out after the fires where we need a Marshall Plan in January 2025.
Today, we sit exposed, without any of the fundamentals needed to move us forward. Everyone in Power still points to “the other” instead of giving us true answers. It is the Governor’s fault we are here right? Nope. Someone wanted flexibility to rebuild however they wanted. The interests aligned. YIMBY and density got their political win. Donors got to buy land and redevelop it at a discount. On and on. It is clear to anyone who wants to see it. The light was shone briefly. The playbook is being used. They will wait till the next time. We need to stop the Game and the way to do it is to build in accountability.
If we are going to see density, where, how, and what rules? Let the homeowners have the fairness of at least knowing what they are coming back to. The examples of overbuilding are already happening. Regional Planning knew when it got the plans submitted and did nothing about it (SB-9). The answer is “sue your neighbors.” They are not even checking anything. It is a much bigger problem.
Lastly, I will leave you with this thought.
What else are you not being told? What other “early warnings” have been issued here like say “property tax at cash value not square footage” are you not being told?
Be mindful of what is going on. There are many more “surprises” to come out, “surprises” those in Power are aware of, and not telling you because it benefits them.
Welcome to the party.