After the Ashes: A Beautiful Altadena Podcast

Episode 13: A Bit Dog Always Squeals – SB 254, SCE’s ‘Final Offer,’ and LA County’s $2M Secret

• Shawna Dawson Beer

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On this episode the bit dog always squeals — and this time it’s coming straight from Sacramento. Governor Newsom’s last-minute legislation, SB 254, quietly lets Southern California Edison further off the hook, shifting more of the recovery burden back onto fire victims. And while some of our elected representatives claim they “didn’t know” this would happen… They knew.

Today SCE dropped its final Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program Protocol. With fifty-plus red-line changes, the offer somehow managed to get worse than the original draft. We always expected pennies on the dollar, but this latest version — released after “community feedback sessions” — is even harder to swallow.

As our Beautiful Altadena attorney Kipp Mueller told The New York Times today:

“In almost every case, it’s pennies on the dollar of what we likely — though there’s not certainty — will be able to recover otherwise.”


If you’re uninsured and need quick relief, this may be a path worth considering. But for everyone else, don’t waste your time. Buckle down with your trusted attorneys. The fight isn’t over.

Meanwhile, LA County quietly paid its CEO $2 million in an unreported settlement — a story first broken by LAist and later confirmed as a buy-off. For fire victims wondering where our public dollars go, there’s one answer.

And this episode's small business shout-outs go to:

  • George’s Liquor — now reopened with limited hours at Lincoln & Altadena. Find them online @georges.liquor.altadena
  • Altadena Cookie Co. — now with a brick-and-mortar home of their own that soft opened today at Lincoln & Altadena, adjacent Unincorporated Coffee and George's and Lucy's. Follow them online @altadenacookieco
  • Ganahl Lumber’s Contractor’s Desk — always gracious and community-minded and a nice alternative to Home Depot @ganahllumberco
SPEAKER_01:

Welcome back to After the Ashes. It's our lucky number 13 episode. Hey, Shauna.

SPEAKER_00:

I know. I'm excited. Halloween week, too. And it's a spooky one. We're talking about some spooky shit. S-C-E.

SPEAKER_01:

All right. Well, I'm just going to turn it over to you because I think you have some opinions about this one. Oh my god. I've already written mine.

SPEAKER_00:

You've already written yours. Um we have a lot to talk about today. So yes, welcome back. Um, this is episode 13. As you know, we like a pithy title, so let's let's handle that. A bit dog always squeals.

SPEAKER_01:

You'll recognize that from my substack for those that read it. The five people out there that actually do.

SPEAKER_00:

It's more than five, but yes. So we're gonna go inside SB 254, uh, which is a little bit another little bit of legislation. We do not disappoint on the policy front. Um, I just got the looks. Steve just looked at me like, oh no, are you really doing this? Um, SCE's final plan that dropped today. This is their compensation plan that's been hotly debated, and LA County's$2 million secret.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it's no secret.

SPEAKER_00:

It's not, it's not a secret anymore.

SPEAKER_01:

Nope.

SPEAKER_00:

So um, I think it's I'd like to always tell people whenever you happen to be listening to this, we're recording this on um October 29th. So today, um we just saw uh SCE drop their amended compensation plan.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and we have briefly looked at it.

SPEAKER_00:

So we're looking at the red-lined memo, but don't look at it, don't expect a detail. But so far nothing, nothing. It's a stinker. It's the same stinker it was, unless, you know, unless you're uninsured, in which case it may not be such a bad deal. A bad deal, to be to be frank, which is you know, kind of what we've said. So do we wanna before we get into kind of breaking down what ended up in there and what didn't, uh let's talk a little bit about this, you know, the other topic that's kind of been a hot topic. And that was the last-minute legislation that Newsom signed when he was on his signing and vetoing Spree um and 254. And the part that people are really upset about and what has made headlines is that, like, oh, surprise, there was a sneaky little bit in there.

SPEAKER_01:

No, there wasn't.

SPEAKER_00:

Allows SCE to, you know, claw back from its from its payers.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh no, there wasn't. Well, okay. Those who are loyal readers of mine will note that I had a post on September 3rd talking about this. I mean, I didn't get into the details because the details weren't necessarily known in the detail that was portrayed through the bill. However, there were very, very public discussions about this particular issue, and there was a lot of pressure here in the district to try to go along to get along. And those that are claiming ignorance to it right now are feigning that, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Thus the bit dog always squeals, as the southerners like to say.

SPEAKER_00:

And that that is true. So, you know, again, I think that what was kind of um making its way through all of the various channels and and groups and and then into the media headlines was that, like, oh, this was so sneaky and it was in here and no one knew about it. And I know that some of our electeds have been quoted saying they didn't know, they didn't know.

SPEAKER_01:

Bullshit.

SPEAKER_00:

Sorry, called we're gonna call bullshit on that because you did know. Um, they did know. So I think you know, the takeaway there is one, no surprises, right? There were no surprises.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, they were gonna re-up Edison, they were gonna take care of him, and they were gonna make sure that things were gonna work out for Edison's favor.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, as always.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, the governor wanted that, and he clearly was going to bat for the utilities who are a major constituent of his.

SPEAKER_00:

Exactly. Do you want to talk about why? Well, I mean they fund him. Yeah, yeah. Just for anyone who doesn't understand that, you know, you need to, it's public information. If you want to have an entertaining afternoon, Google campaign finance and who is funding the your your electeds because you know, someone has to pay to get them in office. I think the most amazing thing about strings.

SPEAKER_01:

I think the most amazing thing about all that was the$190,000 that they donated and the the parallels that, or sorry, the the correlation that the LA Times of all places called out that the governors that the donation was made by Edison time pretty close to the Prop 50 thing, and that you know the two could be tied together, you know, currying favor. And that wasn't the last of it. I mean, you know, the governor has been using Prop 50 as a way to ensure that, you know, favored constituencies are taken care of. We saw$140 million go to Planned Parenthood, which we all know is an important organization, but it's$140 million they found in a budget they couldn't find a find a couple million dollars for Altadina in. And one wonders well, Pan Planned Parenthood's CEO was one of the first to be attacking at Charlie Munger back in August. Again, if you read my Substack, you'll know about this. Um it just the whole thing just leaves me feeling like I need a shower.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it's dirty. Well, it I and it's not politics as usual.

SPEAKER_01:

And you know, I I think that the the problems in Sacramento, those that profess you know, there's an expression that I've heard, you know, talking about a program that I worked against back in DC. They called them, you know, captains of industry when they wanted to be and fell at the turnip truck whenever they, you know, were claiming ignorance, you know, these organizations where they were, you know, these very accomplished CEOs when they wanted to be in their community and get the accolades, and then all of a sudden, oh, I didn't understand what was going on. I'm just this, you know, poor country boy, didn't understand what happened. That doesn't play, and that's not gonna play here. And with the attention that's been on all these issues here and our electeds, we just need them to do the right thing. And it just feels like every time we turn around, they don't, it's not getting done. And there are other performative aspects of this that are it's very, you know, this is sort of why voters are getting very frustrated. And sure, you throw them a bone every now and again to make them feel good, like you know, Trump's bad thus prop 50. But that's not satiating the appetite that we need long term to be able to fulfill our society. I mean, this state is in some serious trouble. And you know, what happened with the SCE bill, it's it's just a pattern. It's just again, as I've been saying in my Substack lately, and I've said it here, if it's one off, that's one thing. But it's like everything's a one-off. So it's a pattern. You know, we can't keep saying, oh, it's just a one-off. And as as voters, we need to say enough. I don't care if you're new. I don't care if you don't understand what's going on. Right.

SPEAKER_00:

It's not an excuse.

SPEAKER_01:

You have staff for that, you have AI for that. Don't claim ignorance to try to get yourself off the hook because that's the squealing of the bit dog.

SPEAKER_00:

No, I couldn't agree with you, more. And I think it's um especially troubling to hear some continue to use the excuse or make excuses for our electeds of like, oh, well, they didn't know, or they're new, they're they're freshmen. Um, you know, it's who gives a shit?

SPEAKER_01:

Our town was devastated.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Uh well, exactly. Welcome to the game. Get in it. By the way, uh for once, Steve is more angry than me. Only because I'm actually still as angry as Steve. But for my mental health, I'm working very hard um on regulation with my therapist. So there we are. Oh, fine.

SPEAKER_01:

Now I gotta go back to being.

SPEAKER_00:

No, you don't. You don't. Don't worry, I'm gonna lose it before the episode's out. But uh there is this, you know, this thing, that this, you know, idea that keeps going around of like, again, they're new, they don't know this. But and I'm my response to that always is like, if you don't know how to do the job, don't take the job. If you're not equipped and prepared and qualified to take on a role, don't take it. And, you know, and in the it's not like these freshmen um politicians don't have a clue what's happening. They they have chiefs of staff with how much experience? I mean, I'm trying to use just, you know, decades. Exactly. Just, you know, as a general example. There's no one who finds themselves in this role um for the first time ever without being surrounded by advisors and experts who have been doing this to your point for decades. So to play naive and to play that you were played, um, and you might have been played, but that's on you. That's your choice, you know.

SPEAKER_01:

Um and that's what we elect you to not be played.

SPEAKER_00:

Correct. It's it's not disappointing. It's disappointing. And I think we have to all it's hard. How did I say we were having a conversation earlier, and I said, you know, the call's coming from inside the house, right? Like it's, you know, it's very easy for us here. We we become a bit myopic in our Democrat versus Republican policies and ideals and values, because you know, I think for the most part, not everybody, but many in our state, and certainly in Altadena, we lean left, we lean liberal, we we lean actually progressive. No, right. I know, I know. Steve feels attacked.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, Steve feels personally attacked, but um because left of center is considered Republican in Al Tadena.

SPEAKER_00:

Or like if you're anywhere, if you're moderate, you're it's a dirty word. Moderate's a dirty word. But yeah, I guess my point is that it needs to not be a dirty word in some respect. And when I say that like the call's coming from inside the house, what I mean is, you know, in our state where we are overwhelmingly democratic led, when things aren't working, when we have problems, when we have this level of what feels like bluntly corruption, I don't have another word for it.

SPEAKER_01:

Incompetence, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

But also corruption when you're talking about, you know, private interests, like a private for-profit utility being able to effectively buy politicians, what's effectively has happened repeatedly, um, from Barger all the way up to Newsom. You have to, because they're funding their campaigns, and this is the system that we have set up, and the money has to come from somewhere, and this is where the money comes from.

SPEAKER_01:

But I I I think that's an easy that's an easy boogeyman with the point.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, it is. But my point very simply is that we have to, there has to be some self-crit awareness and self-criticism, right? Like clearly, not everything in our party is working great. Well, I because if it were, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

SPEAKER_01:

I think what I think what's interesting about this, and I was having a conversation with somebody when when this whole episode happened with Edison. As a as a as an elected, you have to choose. And you know, you don't get to choose the timing, but you get to choose your reaction. And this goes back to being a freshman. And, you know, it's hard when you're a freshman to have to decide without context how you're going to take and lead through an extraordinary disaster like we had. Because this is a moment where not only are you being tested by your uh your constituents, you're also being tested by your peers. And you you take that time and you're nobody really knows how you're gonna react. Nobody knows what you're gonna do. I remember the um the the president of the urban league when this happened, he was the former mayor of New Orleans, and he said, This is a moment where you know what your politics what as a political you're made up, because this is the moment where you either step up and go and do and don't care the results or the effects of it because you're given essentially carte blanche, or do you not? And I think that uh it's hard because when without the context of being in office for an extended period of time, you don't understand what your left and rights are. But this was a test of both of our electeds to say, okay, where are you and how are you going to govern? And what are your values and what are you going to do for your constituents? And I think introducing a lot of lip service apparently. I think introducing 782 and then voting for 240 or 254 and then claiming ignorance to it, I mean, that shows a very clear path as to how you are going to govern. That's where your field of policy direction is going to be. Instead of introducing a bill like 797, which it was about ensuring those most vulnerable in our community were were taken care of. And we weren't going to be exploited by Washington, DC for petty politics. Unfortunately, that's the bill that got vetoed. You know, that's what courage looks like in my mind.

SPEAKER_00:

I agree, Steve. I mean, I think to get into my point and to yours, doing things the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. And it is especially here. And that insanity is destroying the state. I mean, we're not going to be able to do eating ourselves alive. You know, and um it is a bigger examination. I I know you've said repeatedly that what's happening in Altadina is a microcosm of what's happening in the not just the state, but in the nation, yeah. Um, politically. And um the fight kind of for the fabric of who we are and the identity of who we are as a nation, as a people.

SPEAKER_01:

Um I think I think we've been calling out for something different. I think we've been calling out for something greater.

SPEAKER_00:

And I think this is oh, I get I didn't think I'd drop it in this episode, but now I get to.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh no, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

SPEAKER_00:

You're right, people do want different. And let's look at the New York City election and talk about Zoran Mamdani, our democratic socialist candidate, who it looks like is gonna win that one. And um, I for one am really pleased with that. I I've I've literally I've sent these texts to Steve that say, I love Zoran. And um, I don't know that Steve agrees with me. I wish you could see his face right now.

SPEAKER_01:

My silence is deafening.

SPEAKER_00:

The silence is deafening. But you know, if you want to get into that again, read Steve's uh Substack, All to Policy Wonk. He actually wrote um a piece talking about how our party, the Democrat, our being, the Democratic Party is kind of is really facing an existential crisis. Um, that again, we are a microcosm of. And how what people what the Democratic Party thinks people want is not necessarily what they want, and why our polling keeps being off, and why the results keep being off, and why the legislation we expect to happen doesn't, and other things do, and we're somehow surprised by this, even though this just keeps happening. And I think that you know, to your Steve's point in there that people do want, and that he just made in this podcast, that people do want something different. They're they're just yearning for change for something different, and anything that represents that will take it. It's frankly how we ended up with Trump, right? Because people thought, oh, Trump, it represents something different, and maybe it's gonna break it all down and be great without realizing what that meant and what we were opening the door to, and now here we are.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, this is an existential crisis right now inside the Democratic Party. I mean, I've been hearing it from people much higher up than just Al Tedina or even California. And, you know, it's a question of the establishment versus the I call them the you, who those that read it call no, I call them the surgeons. I don't want to call them insurgents because they're surging. The question is who gets to the point first where will the establishment finally run candidates that aren't safe, that have a little bit of edge, that can talk to people in a populist tone and have a sharp tongue and do the things that are necessary, but also bring the substance of policy to the table and solving problems not just from an activist perspective, but from a policy solving problem perspective. Or is it gonna be the surgeons that you know figure out the policy side first because they have the message? And this is the fundamental battle that's going on inside the Democratic Party. I mean, look at AOC, for instance. I know we have somebody who likes to go by three initials in our district, but AOC is is I'd like to be called SDB from here out.

SPEAKER_00:

I just want to make that known. Please reference me as SDB.

SPEAKER_01:

I just uh I hear that, I think ODB, but anyway.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm okay with that. Please carry on.

SPEAKER_01:

And I'm SAS. Um, but yeah, I I you know, I I think about this and I AOC has been a there's been an evolution there. You know, she has moderated, you know, yes, she's still out there doing, you know, the noise with Bernie and all the, you know, the the take on the billionaires, but her positions have moderated to the point that the DSA doesn't want anything to do with her. They just they excommunicated her or whatever they did with her because of, you know, she realizes that to get things done in Washington or to get things done politically, you can't be an activist all the time.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. And then, but then your constituents who got you there because they wanted you for your progressive values and ideals that are very real and meaningful and needed, you know, look at you as like you're a sellout or you flopped or you haven't done it.

SPEAKER_01:

But it but that's not your constituents, that's part of your constituents. You also have to be able to deliver for the people who voted you in and the others that live in your district. That's your job. And that's compromise. And compromise sucks sometimes. But at the same time, you should try to stay as true to your pol as your as your as your values as you can.

SPEAKER_00:

So yeah. Anyway, which is not always which is not always a winning proposition, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Sometimes you have to lose to win. Yeah, it's not always you got to look at the scoreboard at the end of the day. That's what I was told by a very, very, very influential person that I've dealt with in Washington. Is don't look at the day-to-day, look at the scoreboard. And quite frankly, guys, in California, right now, scoreboard doesn't look good for what we're doing. Even with prop 50 getting through, will it win in the end? Or is it just a touchdown and the end of the game is going to be a much we're still gonna lose?

SPEAKER_00:

And and not just still gonna lose, but a much more significant loss because you know, a house that we could have retaken, we may not, when everyone else follows suit and redistricts themselves.

SPEAKER_01:

But you know, instead of running the right candidates. And you know, I listened to a national figure last weekend on Friday night, and uh his whole piece was it's about candidates. We need to have the right candidates.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm gonna wrap us up on this particular part before we move on to the SCE compensation plan, very simply by saying it's interesting to see what happened in Paradise, California. Because um there is um, oh, we're gonna get to that. Sorry, Steve was just giving me a look like I forgot something. I forgot nothing. I think it's we're gonna get there. Don't worry. It is, we're don't worry, we're gonna get there, we're gonna get there. Uh-huh. Um but what I wanted to say is that I think it was kind of interesting to look at paradise and what ended up happening there with so many people who start who started, you know, doing what Serena and I did, going to Sacramento. But beyond that, now that they're years out, a number of those folks in um paradise have actually become legislators themselves. They have run for seats, they have been up there um working with and finding people to sponsor bills on their behalf. Because, you know, at some point, yeah, no one's I I can't say it enough. No one's speaking for us, no one's going to do it for us. And nobody cares, frankly, unless we demand that. And we're going to have to continue to demand it one way or another. And um it's likely gonna be taking on the mantle. Yeah, it's like taking the mantle on themselves because there's there's no one, even if we don't want to do it, uh, there's no one else who's going to. So um, you know, uh as promised, we're also gonna talk about you know, LA County paying off its CEO.

SPEAKER_01:

There you go. That's the one. Because I was figuring, like, just follow the theme of you know, we're gonna come back to the SCE compensation plan, I promise.

SPEAKER_00:

But um, yeah, so I mean, this is another one that's made headlines the last couple weeks. And um, you know, if you if you are a regular listener, you know that um Steve has been traveling for work because one of us does have a day job that actually pays the bills. Not me right now, but it's Steve. Um, and I um actually took a little mental health break and took a nice little couple weeks off and did a little East Coast road trip and some fall color. And oh my gosh, if you have not been to Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia, which is one of our national parks.

SPEAKER_01:

Bahaba.

SPEAKER_00:

Bahaba. It was um, yes, near, you know, which you we travel through Peabody, not Peabody, Peabody to get there. Yeah, I love it. All I love all the um East Coast pronunciations, but um No, that's just mass holes. Mass hole, I know. I was driving Red Sox. I was driving a Tesla. I was driving a Tesla, which is a whole other conversation about the flat tire I got in no spare. That's a conversation for another episode, but and a very amusing one in the pouring rain in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire, but um with Massachusetts plates, and I kept joking that like I am the mass hole. You really are so I can just but it's perfect, I can just drive the way I do here, and it was nothing unusual at all. It was perfect. Which I don't ever I and listen, if you know me, you know I learned to drive on the 110 freeway, and it is my biggest pet peeve is people forcing others to illegally pass them on the right. That is actually illegal. If I will refer to the old Reddit adage, am I the asshole? If you are sitting in the left lane and you are not the fastest vehicle actually passing someone, but just hanging out in the left lane, you are the asshole. All right. Yeah, moving on. I don't know, but there should be a song about it. Um, let's talk about the settlement. So uh LA County, for anyone who doesn't know, we have a CEO, and that has um been up until recently, that has been an appointed position, appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Um, our current um CEO, please, what's what's her name again? Um gosh, I always forget. It's she has a very unique name. Thank you, Fessia Davenport. Um it was recently kind of breaking news um while Steve and I were away that while you're away. Well while I was away and then Steve was away. You're splitting hairs. But um we were still talking about this stuff daily. Okay, but the breaking news was that it was disc discovered and disclosed that a secret$2 million payment was made to her.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, initially it was she was taking time off for six months with no word about that. Then the LA Times broke. But the LA Times.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Yep. And um now a two million dollar payoff while still collecting that salary, which all comes down to um her feeling that she was, you know, wrongfully turned or targeted. She targeted and her professional reputation and future professional abilities damaged by measure G. So Measure G, um, to refresh, because we did, I hope you voted on it. And don't forget to vote, folks. But um, you know, if you did vote on this, you remember Measure G, one of the things that did was make LA County CEO um an elected role. So that means the person who is now who is appointed was going to have to step out so that they could then become uh this could then become this elected position. And so she felt that this was, you know, really terrible for her that this measure G passed and um brought a lawsuit and got a$2 million settlement, as well as the ability to stay in her job. Which is amazing too.

SPEAKER_01:

Davenport's August 12th letter stated that other department heads had received significant payments upon departure. She noted prior chief executive officer, Saji Hamai, Hamai, yeah, Hamai, had received one and a half million. The letter also makes an apparent reference to Mary Wickham and Rodrigo Castro Silva, mentioning the former county attorneys by their last name. So Wickham got about 449,000 in severance pay and Castro Silva received 213 according to records obtained by the Times. So suddenly she's now worth$2 million.

SPEAKER_00:

And I'll just say again, when every other one who's a fire victim wants to know where our taxpayer dollars go, since it wasn't to a fire response or anything else, and it's constantly settlements. I mean, this is it. It's constantly paying off LA County's legal woes.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, you mean like just a billion exactly plus another 885 million? Yes. Oh, but they couldn't find a couple million dollars for our per se nine seven. Correct.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, because there's because it it's too much money. No one has the money. It's by the way, this was again it's a fucking couch change.

SPEAKER_01:

Governor the governor vetoed our bill. And while I know that there's a difference between the state and the county, we all know that there's money. This this is this is a joke.

SPEAKER_00:

There's there's plenty of money for everything they want to have money for. Um, so yeah, again, it's that was kind of the big upset, and people should be upset about that because you know, this is again, this is where our money's going. So before we um wrap up today's episode, let's definitely talk about this compensation plan because um it so uh to give people a little context. Um if you are listening, you know, for the first time or for any reason aren't familiar with this, um, you know, it appears um per, in fact, the article yesterday, yesterday's headline was um SCE CEO um, you know, shares that it's highly it's likely, quote unquote likely that their equipment will be fault at fault, found at fault for the start of the Eden Fire. Yeah, no shit. Um it was a very thanks, Captain Obvious moment. Um so sorry, he was hanging out at the uh the uh the event that I saw in the Outlook. What was it?

SPEAKER_01:

The uh Habitat for Humanity.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, I could not, I mean, I cannot. When I saw the photos of oh my gosh, our electeds, our neighborhood town council, our little volunteer town council who love a photo op hanging out with SCE, which, and I'm gonna stop right there because that's for the next topic of our next, that's gonna be part talking about our town council election is going to be um something we're gonna discuss in the next episode. And if I want to whet your palate for part of that, it's the fact that you know it's one of the things that came to light in our group this week is that someone who's been sitting on the council a very long time works for SCE. Um, and that seat is being contested along with eight others. So we're gonna talk about that the next episode.

SPEAKER_01:

Sorry, I didn't mean to jump in.

SPEAKER_00:

It's okay, it's okay. Um, but it is, you know, it does, it begs a lot of questions, right? And when you see that, and it again goes back to just um there being no accountability and no real meaningful, you have you have to play in all of these rooms, but you can do so in a way too where you're holding folks accountable, and we're not doing that in any way, shape, or form. Let's talk about this SCE plan. The offer came back, so they have their settlement offer that um is effectively to get people to circumvent uh lawsuits, because you know, as we discussed on another episode, all about this, ultimately, you know, this is not a benevolent gift from SCE. They're not trying to make right, they're not trying to make anybody whole, they're not trying to, as some of our community folks leaders have been saying, like break fix what they broke. They're not going to do that. It's never gonna happen. But what this is trying to do is to save their ass because every single person who takes the settlement offer will save SCE a small fortune because they will get pennies on the dollar compared.

SPEAKER_01:

It's not SCE's money. Let's forget that.

SPEAKER_00:

It's our money.

SPEAKER_01:

It's our money. We pay.

SPEAKER_00:

We're paying. This is this is our money. Just to be real clear. We're funding this.

SPEAKER_01:

Sorry, I just I just we've already funded it. I want to stop calling it the SCE settlement because yes, it's SCE settling, but it's our damn money.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep.

SPEAKER_01:

It's not theirs, it's not their shareholders, it's not the corporate money, it's ours.

SPEAKER_00:

It's it's you know, and as usual, it's incredibly upsetting because it is our money. So we're looking at um the um update to the compensation plan that dropped today. Um, they had hosted some you know open feedback sessions that people participated in, you know, sharing their frustrations around the plan and asking their questions and expressing what they felt were critical needs to the plan. Um, a group of neighbors um in one group, you know, have been fighting this and like made this their mantle that they were going to demand SCE make it right. Not surprisingly, SCE is absolutely not going to make it right. And actually, if you go through their offer, uh I can't imagine a bigger flop because if you go through the 50 odd points that they've changed in this red-lined memo that I'm looking at right now, um none of them are good. They've they've made a couple of changes that were requested. Um, but ultimately, this is actually less of an offer than what it started out with. Oh, yeah. Um, so I mean, let's let's go through just some of the key points. I mean, one thing they did was um expand the eligibility areas. One of the the big complaints and frustrations on this one was the fact that um it used the DINS map in a way, the Calfire map uh of damage in a very distinct way that that excluded a lot of people who very clearly had smoke, fire, ash damage, or even burn outside of the quote unquote burn perimeter. Those folks are now included because they have changed um that perimeter.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, and because they got the extra money from 254.

SPEAKER_00:

Correct. Got money. So, you know, we look at that. Um, for the most part, everything is the same. Kind of interestingly, um, they also added some things for commercial businesses. Like there's some tenant improvement TI is now improved included, but um, you know, personal property loss was reduced. That the contents property coverage was actually reduced. Um, there are a couple of other areas that were reduced. This thing literally makes it worse in quite a few areas, which blew my mind. It was like, oh, you didn't like it the first time? Well, here's less. Uh so enjoy. Uh, take what you get and like it. Um, or don't, right? Or you just keep pursuing the legal. You know, I'd say that this to me, um, I've had a lot of people writing me this morning asking my opinion and what do I think and what would I do. And um, my opinion has not changed on this, in that, you know, I maintain for the majority, especially if you had insurance, because um, don't forget, every thing in this offer is minus what your insurance is, and not just what you've already been paid by insurance, but what's available in your policy. So all those dollars that you've been for the last nine, 10 months fighting to get out of your policy, and you're still fighting to get out of your policy, and your insurer is doing everything they can not to pay you, that amount will be offset on any kind of settlement that you take from SCE. And then you still have to fight your insurance to try and get that money. So, I mean, that is a really critical piece to understand. But um, again, just to go back, I maintain that, you know, for people who are insured for that reason and many others, um, this is a loser deal. If you really do the math and you have insurance, it's literally pennies. Like I did it for myself, even with the significant loss that I have of business, economic loss, serious, significant personal injury, uh, total loss of my, obviously my home and an additional structure. All of the things, um, when you counterbalance that with insurance and subrogation, um, I would get and then attorney's fees, I would literally get nothing. It was nothing. I was like, um, this it would be a net zero uh less than zero payment. But this the fact remains that for some folks, this may be worth considering. If you're uninsured, especially if you're an uninsured renter, this may not be a bad deal. It actually may be a decent deal.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, and it's designed to address certain segments of you know, Altadina is not one single homogenous town, as we all know.

SPEAKER_00:

Correct. So and everyone's needs are really different, which we know um from everything that we've we've experienced so far. So, you know, I'd say again, um, as I said previously, um, do not consult, you know, your uh the internet, a neighborhood group, a coalition, chat GPT, or anything else on this. That's the only person who can truly provide you the counsel that you need is an attorney. Um, and so hopefully all of you have a trust. If you are in this, um, be it a renter, a total loss, a standing home with smoke damage, whatever your your situation may be. Um, I genuinely hope that you have a reputable attorney. And when I say reputable, meaning they're not advertising because the good ones don't. Um, and that they can counsel you on what is right for you. Because again, for for some people this will make sense, but for the majority, it's not going to. Um, and don't be fooled and don't be taken by this. Don't don't let them off the hook. If you have the choice, and I again I recognize that not everyone does have that privilege and choice, but if you do, fuck them.

SPEAKER_01:

On that happy note.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep.

SPEAKER_01:

All right.

SPEAKER_00:

Indeed.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, let's love doing this with Shauna because she never tells you what she or she always tells you what she thinks.

SPEAKER_00:

You always know where you stand with me, and I'm like that. I'm that person who, even in junior high school, I would never talk behind your back when I could say talk directly to your face.

SPEAKER_01:

A very good friend of mine always says, real friend stab you in the front.

SPEAKER_00:

I agree with that sentiment 100%. If I had a subway take, that that would be part of my subway take. I love it, by the way. I'm a substance to a subway takes. I don't know if anyone else watches subway takes.

SPEAKER_01:

All right. So shall we shall we do the uh the the shout-outs because let's do our shout-outs.

SPEAKER_00:

We've hit our time. I want to do some shout-outs for our local businesses, um, of which there are no shortages today. Um, I want to mention that George George's Liquor, which you may or may not know, but George's Liquor is located at Altina Drive and Lincoln.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

And you probably know it from the super awesome vintage original sign that is still standing. Indeed. I'm so glad that sign is standing, or from the fact that it's where you would often see our neighborhood caballeros hanging out on their horses, buying lotto or beer or whatever you do when you ride your horse up to the liquor shop. Um, it made it's whatever it was, it made me very happy. But um, this is another legacy business that has been in town for decades and um really nice to see that reopen. And they're one who don't have social media, don't really do the internet, rely on word of mouth. So if we can, folks, go support them. Um, I used to pop in there just to like buy something random, like a soda or lottery scratchers, even though I'm not even a lottery person, because I just wanted to support them and I loved going to that shop and they're really nice. So I do drink, I don't drink. You're so you're so um, but they're they're great. So if you can go and support them. Um, I also wanted to mention um Al Tina Cookie Co. Uh beloved little I know me too. Huge fan. I I love Jessica. So um, and if you don't follow them on Instagram, Al Tina Cookie Co., please do follow them on Instagram and go through the history. Aside from the fact that the histories, that the cookies are great, and yes, they do some gluten-free options uh by request. Um, they also have and vegan, they also have just some of their stuff is hilarious and so good. I mean, I've posted, reposted some of their content because I've loved their stuff over the years. But the whole reason of having this conversation is that they have a brick and mortar coming to Lincoln not far from Georgia's liquor. Yeah, or over by um Lucy's unincorporated coffee. Um, in that same unincorporated coffee um development with Lucy's, they are getting ready to open soon. You can follow them on Instagram, see their progress. They've been posting a lot of awesome shots. Yes, they did, which was nice to see too because the Al Cena Dining Club rolled up and was there doing their thing and supporting, um, which is awesome. I it's it's I love seeing all of it happening from so many angles because can't say it enough. Takes the whole village, we're all in it together. Hate that expression, but it couldn't be truer for us. So um, with that, I'm gonna give you one more little uh small bit shout-out, and it's a kind of a random one, but I want to say a little note for Ganal Lumber. Um, who, if you care about your politics, you and you like to vote with your dollar, you may not want to go to Home Depot for everything, but we kind of need a lot of shit right now at Home Depot, a lot of us. What? They're CEOs. Come on, Steve. It's Home Depot. Steve, I I call it Home Desk Spot. That's a whole other conversation.

SPEAKER_01:

Look, um, but I want to. Home Depot stock bought me my first house.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, okay. Well, then, you know, biased much? No. Um, uh, I want to just give a shout-out to Gnall because they're another local um chain, family-owned operated chain. But um, when we had the rain a few weeks back and a lot of us were dealing with like, holy shit, we're gonna have erosion, we're gonna have a problem. And I had to go get sandbags, you know, in the it in the dark. And that's remember the story. Yeah, I know of the story. But my Visqueen, um, which I use to cover my problem areas, came from um the contractor's desk at Gnall Lumber. And they actually gave me a discount. They were like, Oh, you're your fire survivor, and um gave me a little discount and um it wasn't quite wholesale, but wasn't much off of that. And I I didn't ask for it and I couldn't have appreciated it more. Um, and it just made me appreciate Gnall Lumber a little more. So shout out to Gnall Lumber, multiple locations. Our closest is on East Colorado.

SPEAKER_01:

Yep, the old Hummer dealership.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep. So with that, let's wrap it up. This one, um, we did it pretty good, tight 40 minutes. Um, you know where to find us.

SPEAKER_01:

Um what four deposits in the swear jar? Maybe five.

SPEAKER_00:

A couple were from you today.

SPEAKER_01:

I know. I'm sorry, folks.

SPEAKER_00:

You can find us, uh, you can find me, Shana Dawson Beer, beautiful Altadina, online at beautiful altadina, Instagram, Substack. Our groups are online as well.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, and you can find Steve at the Alta Policy Walk on Substack.

SPEAKER_00:

But only on Substack because he otherwise doesn't do social media because he's a cool kid.

SPEAKER_01:

No, I just no, you don't want to be enough time.

SPEAKER_00:

And as always, if you want to send a comment, a question, a criticism, a take, whatever it may be, uh, you can send that our way via email uh or through any of the social media channels. But email also works, and that's beautiful today at gmail.com. Until next time.

SPEAKER_01:

We'll see you later. Have a good one.