Kathryn Barger

Los Angeles County is developing a plan to distribute a $1,000 federal deposit to eligible foster children born in January 2025. The Board of Supervisors approved a motion requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to create a 90-day strategy for reaching these children and their caregivers.

Los Angeles County is assessing its earthquake readiness, requiring a report by September 29, with Pasadena's Supervisor Kathryn Barger leading the initiative. The evaluation will focus on buildings, staff, and the county's ability to serve residents post-earthquake.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed staff to conduct a preparedness review for a major earthquake and create a public outreach campaign. Supervisor Kathryn Barger approved the motion, citing studies showing increased strain on the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems.

County supervisors will consider a $20,000 reward proposed by Supervisor Kathryn Barger for information leading to vandals who defaced a mural at the site of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti on July 24. The vandalism was reported by the county sheriff’s department.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger introduced a motion to review earthquake preparedness by engaging Dr. Lucy Jones, along with experts from Caltech and UCLA. The motion aims to assess readiness for the next major earthquake.

County Supervisor Kathryn Barger proposed a $20,000 reward for information leading to vandals who defaced a mural at the site of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti. The mural was vandalized sometime Friday, according to the county sheriff’s department.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced plans for a long-term financial strategy to transition the countywide transportation system to fare-free, alongside expanding peak-hour bus lanes to 100 miles by 2028. The article notes a 22% decrease in violent crime on Metro over two years, a lawsuit with Burbank delaying a bus rapid transit project, and Metro leaders considering pausing open-streets event funding.

Los Angeles County approved a $3 million program to help Altadena homeowners remove lead-contaminated soil from properties affected by the Eaton Fire. The Altadena Soil Remediation Program will be managed by the Los Angeles County Development Authority using existing county contracting mechanisms.

L.A.’s homeless services agency, LAHSA, has not completed any internal audits in years, and a two-year audit into unspent $7 million in federal funds remains incomplete due to management delays. Previous audits revealed repeated failures to utilize federal grants, raising concerns about taxpayer accountability.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Mayor Karen Bass have requested Congress for $15.7 billion to fund long-term recovery from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. The joint letters were sent to congressional leadership and Appropriations Committees seeking a supplemental disaster appropriation.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has pre-deployed additional crews and equipment ahead of a heat wave expected to increase wildfire risk through Thursday. Supervisor Kathryn Barger highlighted the measure's importance for foothill communities in her district, referencing the January 2025 Eaton Fire that killed at least 19 people and destroyed over 9,000 structures.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna and Supervisor Kathryn Barger are joining Salvador Esparza III's family in a news conference to renew a public appeal for information about the 2016 fatal shooting of the 4-year-old on a relative's front porch in Altadena. An $85,000 reward is offered for details leading to an arrest and conviction.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents and small business owners affected by the Eaton Fire to apply for federal disaster loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration extended the timeline for SBA Home and Business Physical Disaster Loans, allowing approved borrowers 24 months to draw down funds.

LA County has taken over management of its homeless spending from the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), transferring oversight to a new county department led by Sarah Mahin. The shift follows audits and criticism of LAHSA's spending practices, with the new Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) department reporting faster response times and improved accountability.

Altadena small businesses have until June 24 to enroll in the free 'Shop Local Marketing Lab+' program, designed to help businesses affected by the Eaton Fire rebuild visibility and customer bases. The initiative is led by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity in partnership with Google and SoCal Grantmakers.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger supports fiscal discipline as urged by the county’s CEO but emphasizes the need for careful consideration of fee increases on small businesses, property owners, and families. The Fifth District, which includes Pasadena and Altadena, relies on county services for health, social, and public safety.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal to streamline homelessness prevention services, including aid for residents displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey Horvath proposed a countywide resource page and coordinated referral system to connect residents with housing assistance before losing their homes.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors increased the reward to $85,000 for information leading to an arrest in the 2016 fatal shooting of 4-year-old Salvador 'Chavita' Esparza III in Altadena. Supervisor Kathryn Barger proposed the motion to add $10,000 to the previous $75,000 reward and reestablish it as active.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion directing departments to create a strategy for addressing hazardous vegetation on fire-impacted properties in Altadena and the unincorporated Santa Monica Mountains. The motion, authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey P. Horvath, requires departments to report back within 30 days with recommendations.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger highlights the need to use remaining $2.5 billion wildfire relief funds to aid Altadena's recovery from the Eaton Fire. Over 75% of the funds remain unspent, with distributed money primarily covering emergency response costs, leaving insufficient resources for infrastructure and community rebuilding. Residents face ongoing displacement due to insurance delays and permitting challenges.

Los Angeles County officials broke ground on Fire Station 46 in Valencia to enhance emergency response in the Santa Clarita Valley. The 13,341-square-foot station, designed for net-zero energy, will house emergency units and personnel, with completion expected in fall 2027.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger thanked President Trump for meeting with her and Mayor Karen Bass to discuss wildfire recovery, while noting other states are seeking FEMA assistance. Barger highlighted the need for federal support amid ongoing wildfire recovery efforts.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass met with President Donald Trump to advocate for wildfire relief funding following months of clashes between California leaders and the Trump administration. The meeting focused on FEMA funding and rebuilding efforts after the 2020 Palisades and Eaton fires, which caused over $3 billion in damages and destroyed 16,200 structures.