We open this episode with another media round-up, because the news cycle has been busy! There are big stories everywhere, and nearly all of them raise the same unsettling question: who's actually in charge here. Stories and topics discussed include:

• The Guardian coverage on Climate Gentrification and the frustration that much of what we’re now facing could have been mitigated had AB 797 not been vetoed last year.
• Southern California Edison is suing… everyone. A headline that hit nearly every outlet, prompting the same question from survivors: what does this mean for us? We break down SCE's filing deadline, how responsibility gets shared (or deflected) in mass litigation, and the question everyone is asking — will this slow down settlements?
• Rick Caruso is out as a gubernatorial contender, something Steve covered in his Hot Potato Substack. This opens a bigger conversation. If California is “so great,” why is no one eager to govern it? Who are the real contenders likely to emerge? And what kind of leadership moment is this, really?

We turn local. The Las Flores Water Company Shareholders Meeting, rescheduled to Thursday, January 22. Still no meaningful communication and so many unanswered questions. We discuss the growing concern: are they even competent to manage this moment? Should shareholders organize to force a vote? Check out Shawna’s Beautiful Altadena Substack post that lays out exactly what has unfolded so far. Shawna is also quoted in this ABC7 story on the meeting.

Fellow fire survivor Sylvie Andrews’ investigation into the fire response and failed evacuation alerts. Her work uncovers troubling inconsistencies between official statements from leaders, official reports, and what residents actually experienced on the ground.

Shawna shares her ongoing investigation into contaminated soil being moved around Altadena and buried beneath rebuilds, often with little or no oversight. An issue that refuses to go away and may define long-term health outcomes if left unchecked.

And some unexpected changes to the Town Council’s Land Use Committee.

Small Business Shout-Out: Washington & Hill

This week we’re uplifting several Altadena-adjacent and Altadena-owned businesses anchoring the Washington & Hill corridor including Lavender & Honey, Octavia’s Bookshelf and Woon Kitchen. These businesses continue to show up for the community and deserve our support. Follow them all on Instagram:

• Lavender & Honey @lh_espresso
• Octavia’s Bookshelf @octavias_bookshelf
• Woon Kitchen @woonkitchen

Note: This episode was recorded Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The podcast takes the week of January 25 off and returns the week of February 1

This episode opens with a media round-up, because there is no shortage of big stories shaping the narrative around Altadena’s recovery. We unpack recent reporting and what it gets right, what it gets wrong, and what’s being oversimplified.

Stories discussed include:

• LA Times: Leaked Memo Reveals California Debated Cutting Wildfire Soil Testing Before Disaster Chiefs Exit. A look at how environmental testing decisions were being debated behind the scenes and what that means for communities now dealing with toxic fallout and incomplete remediation.
• LA Times: Wildfire Victims Decry State Law Protecting Utilities from Cost of Disasters They Cause. We tackle the growing focus on demanding So Cal Edison “pay up” and why chasing a $200,000 payout that will never materialize misses the larger, more urgent reality. The $22B Wildfire Fund while unsavory and emblematic of the deep problems with private, for-profit utilities is currently the only mechanism that will ensure fire survivors are made even remotely whole through legal settlements. The real problem isn’t the fund. It’s private utilities and state and county authorities failing to enforce maintenance standards, safety laws, and accountability before disaster strikes.
• Black Enterprise: Altadena’s Historic Little Red Hen Café Facing Landlord Woes After Devastating Fire. The uncertain future of one of Altadena’s most iconic institutions. Despite donations from Paris Hilton, the 15 Percent Pledge, and a GoFundMe, owner Annisa Shays shares that funding remains the biggest obstacle. We discuss the whiplash of being offered the chance to buy the land, quoted at $500,000 by landowner Perry Bennett, only for the offer to be abruptly withdrawn.
• CalMatters: How Altadena Businesses Are Trying to Recover from the Eaton Fire. Small businesses still don’t know when, how, or even if they can return. Another reality that threatens to hollow out the community long before homes are rebuilt.

We also dive into Steve’s Friday Stack on homelessness, drawing uncomfortable parallels between that crisis and this one. Over $24 billion spent, fragmented oversight, mismanaged funds, and shockingly little to show for it. Without accountability, transparency, and coordination, even massive spending fails, whether the crisis is homelessness or wildfire recovery.

Small Business Shout-Out: Daz-E Thrift

This week we’re shouting out Daz-E Thrift, which is reopening this weekend — Saturday, January 24. Find them at 2525 N. Lake Avenue and follow their updates and reopening details on their website dazeshop.org

Note: This episode was recorded Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The podcast takes the week of January 25 off and returns the week of February 1

We open this episode with some unexpected news. After the Ashes was named a Spotify 2025 Most Binged Show, a 2025 Marathon Show (listeners stuck with us 75% longer than the average podcast), and a 2025 Instant Hit, with a debut season more popular than 80% of other new podcasts.

Whoever you are listening out there — thank you. Truly. We're doing this for you.

From there, we dig into what may be a pivotal moment in the fight for accountability and recovery in Altadena. And yes, this is also the episode where Steve gets his groove back.

This episode explores:

• Assemblyman John Harabedian’s audit of the Eaton Fire response — what it is, what it isnt', and why the other "official" investigations have fallen short
• Whether an audit with subpoena power could finally deliver what fire survivors and advocates have been calling for
• The importance of hearings and what it would mean if this committee exercises its authority to compel testimony
• Early discussion of financial tools and recovery mechanisms that may be coming online
• LA County’s emergency rent relief program for landlords and how (or if) it helps stabilize displaced communities
• The possibility of a revolving loan fund and other capital-based recovery strategies
• A brand-new legislative session. Will it bring new solutions?
• We revisit our conversations around tax reform, including Prop 13, and how structural tax policy could shape recovery, rebuilding, and local government capacity
• Finally, we explore the bigger-picture questions ahead — Opportunity Zones, recovery incentives, and whether policy will finally meet the scale of the problem

It's worth noting that the day after we recorded this episode, the Trump administration announced it was looking into ways to address this issue, underscoring how suddenly these long-stalled conversations may be re-entering the national policy arena.

The throughline. You don’t always get what you want but sustained pressure and persistence can move the needle.

Small Business Shout-Out: Bevel Coffee

This episode’s small business shout-out goes to Bevel Coffee, which is making steady progress on its first brick-and-mortar location on Allen, just up from Altadena Beverage. Until then, you can find Bevel on the patio at Prime Pizza
and at pop-ups and events all over town. They’ve become a familiar and welcome presence in Altadena’s recovery and we’re cheering them on every step of the way. Follow their journey on Instagram @bevecoffee