A quick update from Sacramento between committee hearings! Lots of posts 😅

SB 1090 passed the Assembly Housing Committee on a unanimous 10–0 vote. It's fair to say today’s outcome was largely settled before the hearing, but it's still a critical step forward for Altadena and for everyone who has spent weeks calling, writing letters, showing up, and refusing to give up.

For those who weren’t able to listen to today’s hearing live there was moving testimony, powerful public comment, and yes, the opposition (which is always interesting to follow) and it's worth a mention that several members of the committee specifically acknowledged the overwhelming number of phone calls they had received from our community. Many of us are now technically their constituents because we’ve been displaced by the fire. They heard us.

Just another reminder that there is incredible power in this community when we move together. We are far stronger than many people realize, and stronger than many people give us credit for. Whether you made a phone call, sent an email, testified, showed up at a press conference, shared information with your neighbors, you were part of this and you should be proud. Our voices matter. Our relationships matter. Our persistence matters.

Now we head to the Assembly Government Committee to see whether SB 1090 advances with the urgency clause our community has been advocating for. And then, regardless of what happens today, the real work begins as we head into our next fight to get the amended bill language the community has been asking for and needs.

📸 This photo is of Toni and me (yes, Toni!) just after the SB 1090 Housing Committee hearing, when we headed to another building to support Jane and EFRU's legislation which also advanced today.

Standing there, Toni and I agreed on something especially true today. We are all family. Altadena is one big family. A traumatized, sometimes dysfunctional family. We’re not going to agree on everything. In fact, we’re probably going to have some knock down drag out arguments along the way. That’s what families do. But that’s our family business. When it comes to protecting our town, our neighbors, and our future, we stand together. That’s what we’re here doing today because she and I and all of us just want to go home. We want a home to come back to.

I also want to recognize our Altadena Town Council. Nic Arnzen and Darlene Greene have absolutely shown up for us on this issue. They have continued to do what needed to be done in their official roles while never losing sight of who they represent. They have stood strong, stood proud, and stood with this family every step of the way when we needed them most.

One final note. For those who were watching Senator Perez’s press conference livestream before this morning’s Housing Committee hearing, you may have noticed my absence behind the podium and from the photo op with the Senator, Assemblyman, and Supervisor. You may have also heard me ask the final uncomfortable question before the presser concluded (that did not get answered). I wasn’t comfortable celebrating or pretending our work was finished when I know there are still survivors whose concerns have not yet been addressed.

I asked specifically about the 180-day vesting language and whether it remained in the final version of the bill that was presented to committee today. The question wasn't clearly answered in the press conference (which was recorded) but I can tell you, the answer was yes.

That language remains, and it is one of the issues we now need to continue working to amend as this bill moves through the legislative process.I look forward to the day when I can proudly stand for that photo when we’ve truly gotten this right in a way that our entire community can feel good about and stand behind.

Until then, I’ll keep doing what I do. Asking the hard and uncomfortable questions that no one else wants to, building bridges where I can, and fighting for Altadena. ALL of Altadena. More from Sacramento soon.