Holden – Not a Friend of Commoners

Former California Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), who was termed out of office in November, recently landed a job as chief executive officer of LA Fire Justice, a Pasadena law firm working on behalf of Eaton Canyon Fire victims.

“When I saw the fire’s devastation,” he stated in a series of advertisements, “I knew that the next chapter in my life had to be dedicated to helping rebuild the communities and neighborhoods where I have lived, worked and prayed most of my life.”

During his years in the Assembly, Chris Holden – who was hailed as “a visionary public servant” by LA Fire Justice – authored the California Wildfire Fund in 2019. The bill gave investor-owned utilities the ability to tap into a $21 billion insurance fund, courtesy of ratepayers and taxpayers.

For an annual contribution of $300,000 for 10 years, Pacific Gas and Electric avoided bankruptcy in the wake of the disastrous Camp Fire that killed 86 people and leveled the town of Paradise. PG&E executives (who escaped prosecution) kept their jobs and stockholders kept their dividends.

For prospective clients, LA Fire Justice offers free consultations, coffee chats, town hall meetings and, in particular, insurance workshops. Unfortunately, most fire victims wrangle with insurance companies to avoid cancellation and the near-bankrupt FAIR plan – unaware that insurance companies and public utilities bankrolled the legislative career of Chris Holden.

For a sampling, scroll through the website Digital Democracy. Campaign contributions from PG&E to Holden for $2,600 (2015), $2,200 (2016) and $8,300 (2021). Contributions from Southern California Edison for $2,700 (2015), $4,400 (2017), $100 (2019) and $4,900 (2022).

The Association of California Health and Life Insurance Companies coughed up $3,000 (2022). Geico forked over $1,300 (2022). Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers handed over $2,000 (2016) and $1,500 (2022). Mercury General Corporation wrote a check for $1,500 (2020) … You get the idea.

In other “progressive” legislation, Chris Holden fathered a bill to raise the wages of fast-food workers only to wipe out 18,000 jobs. On his way out of the statehouse door, he voted for a bill to give $13 billion in health care for illegal immigrants. 

But I digress.

Les Hammer
Pasadena

Bears Are Out and About

It’s not really a surprise that in a canyon nestled in the beautiful mountains of Glendale we have wild animals roaming the hills. The balance of having animals living in the same area should not be a complete surprise. The trees and the streams help to provide a perfect place for animals, and birds, to coexist [with humans].    

Just five weeks ago, we received a surprise greeting by a beautiful black bear that wandered into the backyard of our neighbor’s home by climbing a short wall. As he looked around his surroundings, he headed across the backyard to the opposite side of the property. My wife and I were trimming our plants along the side of our home when we unexpectedly looked down and there was a 300-pound bear looking up at us! We  immediately stopped cutting the branches of the tree and quickly moved back, away from this beautiful beast. He viewed the backyard and felt no danger as he quickly high jumped over the neighbor’s side gate returning to the open street. He then strolled up the street until he saw an opening to climb behind another’s person’s home that allowed him to head into  the mountains.             

On Sunday, Aug. 3 at 11:46 a.m., a neighbor was running down Shirleyjean shouting, “There’s a bear coming.” My wife and I stopped what we were doing and moved from the side yard to our backyard. In seconds, while we walked around our home to the backyard, we found climbing on one of our redwood trees a huge bear looking down at us. He jumped from the tree on to the barbecue. I quickly feared for [the safety of] our pets and my wife. I immediately ran [and] opened the backyard gate to allow this wild bear to go down the driveway. I made loud noises to hopefully move the bear in the right direction. Luckily the bear followed my suggestions and headed back onto Eilinita Avenue. I’m not sure if making lots of noise helped but I hoped the beautiful bear would not hesitate his walking down the driveway onto Eilinita Avenue.

As the bear sensed no danger, he walked across the street, looked around and appeared to look for another exit to the hills. As he walked from house to house, he appeared not to be disturbed by people. He appeared to be calm as he looked for a backyard that would lead him to higher ground. In seconds he was gone. I could hear a horn being used to scare this beautiful creature out of the yard higher up. Finally the horn stopped and the black bear returned to the mountains where he lives.

My best advice would be to recommend to anyone seeing a bear, “Try to stay calm, do not panic and get yourself out of the pathway. Secure your pets, especially if you have a dog.” 

Leonard Coutin
Glendale 91208