Barger’s ounce of prevention
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger (R) is acting on the axiom that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure by introducing a motion at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting to address emergency preparedness and response shortcomings experienced by residents of the Mirador Apartments in Altadena during the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
“Many residents of the Mirador Apartments were left to navigate a dangerous situation on their own, despite being among the most medically and physically vulnerable in our communities,” said Barger. “My motion seeks accountability and concrete improvements to ensure safety isn’t compromised in future emergencies.”
A central directive in the motion tasks the Los Angeles County Department of Aging and Disabilities with engaging directly with the senior residents at the Mirador Apartments. This outreach is intended to assess their needs, enhance support systems, and improve emergency response planning tailored to their circumstances.
If adopted, the motion will also require County departments to explore improvements to emergency preparedness protocols and accountability measures for supportive housing providers, including strengthened contractual requirements and better oversight of provider responsibilities during crises.
Lieu’s National Space Day
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Manhattan Beach) and Ken Calvert (R-Riverside County) reintroduced a resolution last week to establish May 2 as National Space Day.
The resolution recognizes the aerospace community’s significant positive impact on the United States’ scientific and economic development. The aerospace sector is also a large economic driver in Southern California.
“The United States must continue to lead the world in space research and exploration,” said Lieu. “I am fortunate to have some of our nation’s foremost aerospace facilities in my district, including Space Systems Command at the Los Angeles Air Force Base. The aerospace community is vital to advancing America’s scientific and technological leadership, as well as our national security. As Co-Chairs of the California Aerospace Caucus, I’m pleased to partner with Congressman Calvert on this resolution to recognize the stellar work of our aerospace community and promote continued development and discovery.”
“As a Co-Chair of the California Aerospace Caucus, I’m proud to work in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Space Day,” said Calvert. “California’s rich history of innovation and technological discovery has left an indelible mark on American space exploration.”
In President Trump’s recently released discretionary Fiscal Year 2026 budget, he increased the country’s commitment to human space exploration in pursuit of exploration of both the Moon and Mars. This includes allocations of more than $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs.
Nazarian tests Beverly Hills warning system
The City of Beverly will conduct a citywide test of its Outdoor Warning System (OWS) on May 14 as part of the City Council’s goal of enhancing public safety during an emergency.
During the test, all 12 sirens will be activated for about three minutes starting at approximately 1 p.m. The sirens have been placed to ensure the broadcast is heard in all of the City’s residential and business districts. No action is required from the community during the test.
“The terrible wildfires just a few months ago reminded us that immediate information is essential in any kind of disaster,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “The OWS system is another valuable notification tool. During an emergency, you will also receive information from the City by phone, text, email, social media, beverlyhills.org, and radio broadcasts.”
In a real emergency, a siren to warn of approaching danger would sound, followed by instructions in multiple languages. For example, information on whether the community should evacuate, shelter in place or take other safety measures.
The City will periodically test the sirens to ensure they are operating effectively and that residents are familiar with the program. To view a map of the siren locations and to learn more about the OWS, visit beverlyhills.org/outdoorwarning.
