Altadena Tenants Union to Hold First General Meeting Amid Post-Fire Recovery

The newly formed Altadena Tenants Union will hold its first general meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. online, bringing together local renters affected by the Eaton Fire to share experiences and discuss recovery efforts.

The virtual gathering comes as many Altadena residents continue to face housing challenges after the fire destroyed homes and left others covered in toxic ash, according to organization documents.

“No matter where you are right now, you are part of the Altadena community, and your experience is important,” states the meeting announcement. “For our first general meeting, we wanted to give folks a chance to share about what their experiences have been, and to build our bonds of community. We are neighbors helping neighbors, and it’s much more challenging when we can’t see each other on the stairs or at the grocery store, so this is an imperfect but hopefully useful effort to stay connected.”

The meeting registration link is here.

The Altadena Tenants Union was formed in response to challenges including unclear communication about cleanup responsibilities, rent increases, evictions, and housing solutions following the Eaton Fire. Local tenant Katie Clark was a lead organizer who began rallying fellow tenants after her own apartment was destroyed in the fire.

Altadena’s status as an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County has historically impeded political organizing among renters, but the Eaton Fire’s devastation has acted as a catalyst for collective action.

The meeting agenda includes introductions, an explanation of tenants’ unions, a discussion of current needs, sharing of post-fire renter experiences, and planning future steps.

Registration is required to attend the Zoom meeting, with registration available at the link provided in the announcement.

The organization has outlined several key demands, including post-fire habitability standards requiring landlords to cover ash removal and ensure safe living conditions, an eviction moratorium, a rent freeze during recovery efforts, and permanent housing solutions for displaced residents. These demands were sent in a letter to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, but the union has not received a response or commitment from her office.

For more information, residents can contact info@altadenatenantsunion.org or sign up for the Altadena Tenants Union newsletter at altadenatenantsunion.org.