Altadena Fires Displaced Thousands, Now The Legal Journey For Justice Begins

Although a new season has officially emerged, in Altadena, as the flowers of spring begin to bloom, residents are still tragically displaced due to the devastating wildfires that ravaged the area earlier this year. It’s merely another marker of the time gone by since their lives were forever changed and upended.

to the residents of Altadena, California, themselves tragically displaced due to the devastating wildfires that ravaged the area earlier this year, it’s merely another marker of the time gone by since their lives were forever changed and upended.

Months later and the historically Black Altadena community is still picking up the pieces of the lives, homes and businesses burned to the ground — with the only remnants being memories of the past.

There have been recent developments suggesting that the rebuilding process is moving in the right direction, evidenced by a March 27 executive order signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that “expedites the process of repairing and replacing electric, gas, water, sewer, and telecommunication infrastructure in communities damaged by the fires,” and LA County has given the green light for an economic recovery plan to help rebuild the city. 

However, residents are still in desperate need and they continue to feel financial strain of displacement, and legal justice could be right around the corner — but there are worries that not every legal rep has good intentions.

While big names in civil rights and advocacy, such as Benjamin Crump and Erin Brockovich, are ready to lend their support and legal expertise to help Altadena residents get their justice in court, there are an alarming number of attorneys who are using the tragedy for their own benefit and making financial promises that they can’t, or have no intention of keeping.

Brockovich already has her boxing gloves on ready to go to legal battle for the Altadena community. “I hear people say, ‘Maybe it’s not best to rebuild.’ That’s not going to happen. I love my state. And I’m going to fight for you,” she remarked during a recent appearance at a town hall meeting held at the Pasadena Masonic Temple.

Crump echoed her passion and commitment with his own rallying cry to the congregation of Pasadena Church East, telling those in attendance “We don’t want three-fifths justice. We want complete justice!” 

He then uttered the sentiment that is most important to those attempting to pick up the pieces of their lives covered in ashes and rubble, “We have to make sure that people don’t forget about Altadena,” Crump said.

However, for every advocate and legal professional ready and willing to go the distance in court to get the residents of Altadena what they deserve — there are also those who are off to the races for self-serving reasons and leaving residents with dashed hopes. 

The new added fear plaguing Altadena residents now lies in their choice of legal representation for filing claims and civil lawsuits, as less than honorable attorneys have started to circle around smelling prey and sadly aiming to take advantage of those who have already suffered so much.

A truly alarming report revealed the unfortunate statistics, as 57% of Black Altadena homeowners, who are over 65, are vulnerable to insufficient insurance coverage and predatory financial scams.

With more than 9,000 structures either severely damaged or completely destroyed in Altadena by the Eaton wildfires, a majority of Black households in the area were left as nothing but a memory of a past community that was thriving.

The people of Altadena have already lost so much and have a long journey ahead to get back to a sense of normalcy — they don’t need the added worry of trying to decipher if eager legal professionals are there for them or to line their own pockets.

SEE ALSO:

Altadena Artist Paints ‘Beauty For Ashes’ After Eaton Fire

Rebuilding Altadena: Conference Provides Critical Resources For Wildfire Survivors