Somebody described the year in review as “dull, but important.”
Yeowch.
Yes, a lot happened in 2025, but by my money the year is defined by just two things.
So, sit down and if you don’t like spicy food, this pot isn’t for you.
Just one week into 2025 hell came to earth when the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena and parts of Pasadena.
Everybody I know in Altadena lost their home or someone in their family lost a home.
Thousands were displaced, and even today some are still struggling to find their way back home.
It didn’t take long before the chicken thieves and attention seeking weasels found their way into town.
Hell, many of them made their way up the hill before the families that were burned out were allowed back on their lots.
Politicians, preachers and pontificators lined up like ducks in a row to let us know of their lifelong love for Altadena.
Some were sincere.
The others, well, they played the game as long as there was an audience or camera around.
After the cameras were gone, they disappeared quicker than Claude Rains.
Look him up.
I’ll save you the trouble. He played the Invisible Man in the Universal classic.
By the way, the woman who played opposite Rains in the 1933 film, 64 years later, played the elderly Rose in Titanic.
Of course a lot of them have returned for the one-year anniversary.
Despite that mess, residents put their heads down and started the long journey home.
From my place, I can now see homes going up in all generations.
I don’t know why tragedy happens.
Men have asked that question for time immemorial and as far as I know there has never been a satisfactory answer.
I do know this though.
In the wake of tragedy, there is always an opportunity to stand and yes grow.
That said, this is the last time I will write about the fire experience itself in this space.
There may be future columns about community growth, negligence by county or nonprofit agencies.
It is time to go forward.
More on that in the next column.
Unfortunately, the other story also involves home.
This time, being snatched up by the federal government.
At least 14 people living in Pasadena were detained by ICE agents.
Nearly 65,000 people in the US were being detained as of Dec. 14. Sadly record-keeping by the agency is so poor, purposefully or otherwise, there are no reliable numbers reflecting total arrests and more importantly the number of US citizens arrested or deported by immigration officials during these sweeps.
If tragedy affords us the chance to grow, it begs for compassion.
Parents separated from children, and in many cases families pushed deeper into poverty.
Some in the GOP scream that’s the law.
Some Black people say it doesn’t concern us.
The rich feel one way and the poor feel another.
And like the Temptations said in “Ball of Confusion,” the greatest political song ever recorded, “And the band played on.”
The nation is only as strong as those who struggle the most.
The same with the City.
City leaders stepped up as much as they could on the issue.
Respect.
Just as they did on food insecurity, and other issues, over and over.
A lot of people are tired. You can see it on their faces.
And now here comes 2026. The new year will bring more challenges, more chances at growth and sadly more chasms of division.
Make a decision to stand in growth, compassion and yes tolerance in the face of adversity.
You don’t have to pull papers.
All you have to do is make a decision and stand on conviction.
Stand.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
