Altadena Residents Fight Investor Land Grab After Eaton Fire

Community's Fight for Heritage

• 🏘️ Residents in Altadena are actively resisting redevelopment efforts following the devastating Eaton Fire.
• ✊ The community is fighting to preserve its unique character and keep the area in the hands of long-time families, not corporate developers.
• 🗣️ Activists gathered to plead for help from Governor Newsom, emphasizing that the fight is about history and heritage, not just land.

Impact of the Eaton Fire

• 🔥 The Eaton Fire, earlier in the year, destroyed over 9,000 structures and resulted in 18 fatalities.
• 💔 Victims who lost homes, belongings, and in some cases loved ones, now fear losing their legacies.

Allegations of Predatory Practices

• 💰 Victims claim that predatory and greedy corporations are exploiting the tragedy with a land grab, offering pennies on the dollar for damaged properties.
• 📈 Developers are identified as either trying to acquire properties cheaply or offering above-market value, thereby erasing the legacy and generational wealth of families who have lived in Altadena for over 100 years.

Calls for State Intervention

• 🏛️ Community members, victims, and leaders are calling on Governor Newsom and state leaders to dedicate $200 million to local disaster recovery.
• 🤝 The proposed funds would enable non-profit organizations to purchase fire-damaged properties, redevelop them, and sell them at affordable prices while maintaining community ownership.

Corporate Land Acquisition Surge

• 📊 A new report indicates a significant increase in corporate acquisition of land post-Eaton Fire.
• 🛒 Nearly half of the post-fire sales from February to April were to corporate entities, a stark contrast to only 5 corporate sales during the same period last year.