After 16 months of advocacy by dedicated community members, and a tremendous outpouring of calls, emails, meetings, and outreach from residents in recent weeks, Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Assemblymember John Harabedian, and Supervisor Kathryn Barger have introduced SB 1090 to the State Legislature.
THE GOOD NEWS
This is the first significant legislative effort specifically aimed at protecting Altadena and future disaster recovery zones from speculative redevelopment during the rebuilding process.
SB 1090 aims to establish a five-year moratorium in Altadena on SB 9 and SB 1123 projects, the laws currently being used to pursue high-density developments on former single-family lots. If enacted, SB 1090 would temporarily pause these projects (effective January 1, 2027 until January 7, 2030) and provide Altadena with the breathing room to recover, rebuild, and allow residents to return home before major redevelopment decisions reshape the community.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS
As it is written, SB 1090 will not take effect until January 1, 2027. Supervisor Barger’s office has said that the County will continue to void SB 9 and SB 1123 applications through the end of 2026, until the new law goes into effect – but there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so. Altadena needs protection immediately, not next year.
As it is written, SB 1090 will expire just 3.5 years from now. Altadena’s recovery will certainly take longer than that: many families won’t know if they can afford to rebuild until the lawsuit against Southern California Edison has been settled. Altadena needs protection for more than five years.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
We have been told that SB 1090 is expected to be voted on in the California State Assembly on July 1 and that the Judiciary Committee may be voting on it before or after that date. This means we have a very short window to make our voices heard. Legislators need to hear directly from Altadena residents, homeowners, renters, fire survivors, displaced families, business owners, and anyone who cares about the future of our community.
HOW DO I HELP?
Save Altadena is partnering with Altadena Recovery Watch on a coordinated community response. Visit Altadena Recovery Watch for up-to-date information on what you can do to help!
Then: there are still people who don’t know this is happening, and we need your help to get the word out. Tell your neighbors, tell your family, tell your friends!
Not from Altadena? Not a problem! We need people in other parts of California to call their legislators and ask them to VOTE YES on SB1090!
Find My Representative | California State Assembly
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Please do not assume that someone else will speak up. Legislative offices track calls and emails. A handful of messages can be ignored. Hundreds cannot. Many of these legislators do not represent Altadena and may know very little about what has happened here since the Eaton Fire. They need to hear directly from the people affected.
In this together,
Your Altadena Neighbors