From the Statehouse to the Small Screen: The Painful Property Insurance Struggles of Altadena Fire Victims

September 2, 2025

Kenya Barris, creator of "Black-ish," is developing a new comedy series for CBS inspired by victims of the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena, which killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of properties across nearly 14,000 acres. The show follows two brothers trying to sell their late grandmother's house to developers, only to discover her caretaker owns part of the property, forcing them to live together while addressing questions of family and community. The series has sparked controversy over its comedic approach to honoring fire victims, with Barris defending his intent to bring awareness to an issue many have forgotten.

Who is affected

Victims of the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena
Black fire victims who may be forced to leave the area permanently
Homeowners facing insurance delays, denials, and underpayments
Families waiting for insurance claims to be processed
Disaster-impacted homeowners with mortgage obligations

What action is being taken

California legislators led by Assemblymember John Harabedian are calling on Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to prevent insurance misconduct and halt rate increases
Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger is demanding swift investigations into companies like State Farm
State Farm is processing claims and has paid over $4.5 billion of an estimated $7 billion in claim payments
Kenya Barris is creating a television series to bring attention to the situation in Altadena

Why it matters

The Eaton fire claimed 19 lives, burned nearly 14,000 acres, and destroyed thousands of properties
Insurance delays are forcing families to wait in limbo during recovery
State Farm, California's largest home insurance provider, is seeking an 11% homeowner's rate increase on top of an already-approved 17% emergency rate increase
These rate hikes could force Black fire victims to permanently leave the area
Private developers may gentrify the area once it is rebuilt
AB 238 could provide critical financial relief by allowing disaster-affected homeowners to pause mortgage payments for up to a year

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint