WEBVTT - Vitamin D Live - Dena Relief Drive (w/ Brandon Lamar & Roland Wiley) 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:03.199 Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:05.480 You are tuned in to the Vitamin D with Dawn 0:00:05.519 --> 0:00:08.560 Day podcast and I am your host, Dawn Day, here 0:00:08.600 --> 0:00:10.320 to get you excited about your life so that you 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:12.720 can live life on purpose and for a purpose. If 0:00:12.720 --> 0:00:15.720 this is your first time tuning in, and welcome Vitamin D. 0:00:16.000 --> 0:00:17.000 It's upon off. My name. 0:00:17.200 --> 0:00:19.200 My name is Dawn, and you get Vitamin D from 0:00:19.200 --> 0:00:21.400 the sun. So I'm here shed light into your life. 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:24.880 And I do this with inspirational insights and conversations with 0:00:24.960 --> 0:00:27.960 celebrities and everyday people like you and me. Because if 0:00:28.000 --> 0:00:29.920 you want to be better and you want to do better, 0:00:30.440 --> 0:00:32.680 then you're going to have to be able to see better. 0:00:33.080 --> 0:00:35.520 So join me on this journey of living. 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:39.120 Our best lives and understanding and realizing how you are 0:00:39.159 --> 0:00:40.040 your greatest asset. 0:00:40.800 --> 0:00:45.400 Get your Vita mindy right with me and get excited 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:49.000 about your life. 0:00:49.680 --> 0:00:51.600 Oh, welcome to Vitamin D Live. I'm your host. 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:53.640 Down like the break of day, and I am so 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:56.440 excited to have each and every one of you with me. 0:00:57.480 --> 0:01:00.360 Get ready for a riveting conversation. I am in the 0:01:00.400 --> 0:01:03.480 studio right now. I am broadcasting live on Facebook. We're 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:05.960 on LinkedIn and I'm also set up my IG live 0:01:06.959 --> 0:01:10.640 Brandon waiting for me to accept the request. I'm waiting 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:13.039 on you to recept request. So I have a very 0:01:13.080 --> 0:01:20.680 special guest. He is the Pasadena INAC president, and we're 0:01:20.680 --> 0:01:24.000 gonna be talking about what's happening in Pasadena and Altadena area. 0:01:24.440 --> 0:01:27.440 We know that the wildfires have been ravaging all the 0:01:27.480 --> 0:01:30.039 way through, so I said, let's bring the. 0:01:29.959 --> 0:01:33.640 News and information to you. Let's talk to somebody that's. 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:36.399 On the ground making it work, making the impact, so 0:01:36.480 --> 0:01:39.120 we can see what kind of resources people need. Plus, 0:01:40.160 --> 0:01:43.800 I've been teasing this guest. His name is Roland Wiley. 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:47.440 He is a I don't want to say past or 0:01:47.520 --> 0:01:50.840 previous resident, but a resident of the Pasadena Alta Dina 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:52.360 area that has been displaced. 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:52.840 Now. 0:01:52.840 --> 0:01:54.760 He was supposed to join right at five, but be 0:01:54.840 --> 0:01:57.320 due to the fact of traveling trying to get stuff together. 0:01:57.400 --> 0:01:59.120 He said, Dawn, I'm gonna call in. 0:01:59.120 --> 0:02:01.320 Later so we can pull up on the conversation, and 0:02:01.360 --> 0:02:03.880 I want to invite you as well. Make sure that 0:02:03.960 --> 0:02:05.840 you take note of the number in the studio if 0:02:05.880 --> 0:02:08.200 you would like to call for any comments. It's eight one, 0:02:08.240 --> 0:02:11.679 eight four sixty one fifty four to thirty two. That's 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:14.080 eight one, eight four, six one fifty four to thirty two. 0:02:14.480 --> 0:02:17.400 And if you are tuning in on Facebook or LinkedIn, 0:02:17.760 --> 0:02:19.919 I have provided the link for you to join us live. 0:02:19.960 --> 0:02:22.720 Okay, so get ready for this rivenon conversation. 0:02:22.960 --> 0:02:27.320 I'm talking about twenty seven people have been noted to 0:02:27.400 --> 0:02:31.560 have been killed, fourteen thousand structures have been destroyed. 0:02:31.600 --> 0:02:33.480 That's over sixty square feet. 0:02:33.200 --> 0:02:36.880 Miles and millions upon millions and even generations of lives 0:02:37.240 --> 0:02:41.040 have been impacted. So family, without further ado, please help me. 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:47.120 Welcome Brandon Lamar. Hello there, Brandon, how you doing? Let 0:02:47.160 --> 0:02:48.720 me see can. 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:49.280 You hear me now? 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:50.400 Yes? 0:02:50.919 --> 0:02:54.080 Oh kamen, yes I can hear you. Thank you so much. 0:02:55.280 --> 0:02:59.240 So you have been on the ground, running, running and rolling. 0:02:59.800 --> 0:03:02.880 You have really been putting forth the effort with the 0:03:03.080 --> 0:03:07.120 Dina Relief Drive. And as we are here, I want 0:03:07.160 --> 0:03:10.560 you to share with everyone about what's going on in 0:03:10.760 --> 0:03:14.720 Pasadena Altadena area and what's information you want to share 0:03:14.760 --> 0:03:16.000 with share with the folks. 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:21.399 Yeah, So there's been a lot of stuff that we've 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:22.919 been doing with the Deaner Relief Drive. 0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:26.560 First, can you introduce yourself and how you've been impacted 0:03:26.560 --> 0:03:28.680 about the fall wildfires. 0:03:29.080 --> 0:03:32.239 Yeah, so my name is Brandon Lamar, born and raised 0:03:32.240 --> 0:03:36.240 in the past and Alta area. My grandparents has had 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:41.520 a church in Altina for the past since nineteen seventy seven, honestly, 0:03:42.800 --> 0:03:48.640 and so it's been a long history of being in 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:51.800 the Altadena around Altina and my grandparents lived in Altina, 0:03:52.000 --> 0:03:55.200 my aunts living out my parents used to live in 0:03:55.240 --> 0:03:59.240 out Tina, of course, and so it's a long history 0:03:59.360 --> 0:04:03.320 of Outa. I went to school in elementary's. I went 0:04:03.360 --> 0:04:06.600 to elementary school in Alzire and so it's a long 0:04:06.720 --> 0:04:11.880 history of our connection with the city of altd And 0:04:11.960 --> 0:04:18.080 so I am the passing the branch president of the NAACP. 0:04:18.400 --> 0:04:23.440 They literally just solidified it two days ago, and so 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:28.480 it's amazing work that is happening within our communities and 0:04:29.760 --> 0:04:32.120 what we're trying to do here locally. And then also 0:04:32.160 --> 0:04:35.960 serve as the vice chair of the Rental Housing Board 0:04:36.320 --> 0:04:37.880 for the City of Pasaden as well. 0:04:38.320 --> 0:04:41.359 Oh wow, So you really have your hands and the 0:04:41.440 --> 0:04:43.960 thick of everything about what's going on from a lot 0:04:43.960 --> 0:04:47.200 of angles, from being an actual resident to having families 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:50.279 that have been impacted, as well as doing your community 0:04:50.279 --> 0:04:50.839 work there. 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:53.640 Absolutely, so two weeks ago. 0:04:53.680 --> 0:04:55.320 Today is when it all started. 0:04:56.279 --> 0:04:59.640 Two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, literally about ten days, 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:06.080 it has all shifted for us, and it shifted in 0:05:06.160 --> 0:05:10.520 a way where we were It's a normal day and 0:05:10.560 --> 0:05:13.919 I'm on my way home from dropping off my dad 0:05:13.960 --> 0:05:18.800 and literally we get notifications that we had to evacuate 0:05:18.839 --> 0:05:22.400 because the fire just started eating canyon and that night 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:28.360 it was about eighty miles an hour wind that had hit, 0:05:29.880 --> 0:05:33.359 and so it overnight. It took the fire literally a 0:05:33.400 --> 0:05:37.640 couple hours to go ten thousand acres, and our lives 0:05:37.680 --> 0:05:38.680 have changed since it. 0:05:40.839 --> 0:05:43.080 So you you were awaken in the middle of the 0:05:43.160 --> 0:05:44.279 night when all of this happened. 0:05:45.480 --> 0:05:48.120 I was actually on my way home from work from 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:51.679 dropping off my dad and then work when the fire 0:05:51.800 --> 0:05:56.479 actually started. But the out of residents I actually living 0:05:56.560 --> 0:06:00.920 passing the outing and residents were awaken two and three 0:06:00.960 --> 0:06:03.680 o'clock in the morning to evacuate out of their home 0:06:03.880 --> 0:06:07.560 because the fire had spread it that quickly, and some 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:10.840 people didn't have any time to put on clothes. We 0:06:10.880 --> 0:06:14.279 had a lady who came to our drive and she 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:17.320 literally showed up in her car with a T shirt 0:06:17.440 --> 0:06:22.039 and underwear that she had on from running out of 0:06:22.080 --> 0:06:24.040 her car because this I mean running out of her 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:27.440 house because the Sheriff's department actually had knocked on her 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:31.240 door because the fire literally was on her roof, and 0:06:31.279 --> 0:06:33.320 so they would banging on her door to get out, 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:37.039 and she only had time to get her keys and 0:06:37.200 --> 0:06:40.159 runt her car and drive away. And so when we 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:42.440 started to drive, she was one of our first people 0:06:42.440 --> 0:06:44.200 that showed up to the drive with her t shirt 0:06:44.760 --> 0:06:45.520 and underwear on. 0:06:47.160 --> 0:06:49.599 And I'm sure she's not the only one. There's so 0:06:49.680 --> 0:06:52.479 many other people who just grab whatever they could grab 0:06:52.480 --> 0:06:54.200 at the moment and knew that they had to get 0:06:54.200 --> 0:06:55.000 it out. 0:06:54.960 --> 0:06:55.479 Of the house. 0:06:56.279 --> 0:06:59.680 Absolutely. Absolutely, There's so many stories that has been told 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:06.039 from family members to friends that lost everything right and 0:07:06.080 --> 0:07:09.160 they just had to get up and go. Literally majority 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:11.800 of them had to leave between two and three o'clock 0:07:11.800 --> 0:07:14.920 in the morning because that's how fast the fire had 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:18.280 spread it. So if you look at it in Palisades, 0:07:18.440 --> 0:07:23.480 it took Palisades fire between three to four days to 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:29.920 get to ten thousand acres. It took the Eating Kenyon 0:07:30.000 --> 0:07:32.960 fire less than six or seven hours to get to 0:07:33.040 --> 0:07:37.720 ten thousand acres. And that's how that is fast it spreaded. 0:07:39.080 --> 0:07:41.840 Now you may mention that you have aunts and relatives. 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:45.160 Was your childhood home burned down in Altadena? 0:07:45.400 --> 0:07:47.200 Yeah, it's gone. Where we used to living outside it 0:07:47.280 --> 0:07:52.760 is gone. It's gone. The corner where my grandparents had 0:07:52.800 --> 0:07:57.560 their church is gone. My elementary school, Edison Elementary School 0:07:57.680 --> 0:08:01.160 is gone. My middle school for the middle schools burned 0:08:01.200 --> 0:08:05.880 down at Elliott Middle School. That's gone. A lot of 0:08:05.920 --> 0:08:09.240 my neighbors, homes of the community as a kid where 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:17.600 I grew up, it's gone. Liquor stores, grocery stores, neighborhood stores, 0:08:17.280 --> 0:08:22.240 black businesses are gone. Banks are gone, churches are gone. 0:08:22.240 --> 0:08:23.920 There's so many things that are not there anymore. 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:29.760 I'm so sorry to hear that at this moment, at 0:08:29.800 --> 0:08:33.920 this time. What made you starter? How did you start 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:37.240 the Dina Relief Drive? And I've seen your social media. 0:08:37.440 --> 0:08:39.800 Everybody has been talking about the work that you have 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:42.920 been doing in a coalition to others. In fact, I 0:08:42.960 --> 0:08:45.760 was just speaking with Derek Steele and said, Hey, you 0:08:45.840 --> 0:08:46.880 need to talk to Brandon. 0:08:47.240 --> 0:08:49.240 You need to talk to him about what's going on. 0:08:51.200 --> 0:08:54.800 Yeah, that's my boy. He's been helping since day one. 0:08:55.520 --> 0:08:59.520 But literally how it took place is Wednesday night. I 0:08:59.559 --> 0:09:04.360 actually drove up myself in the neighborhood across Altadena, and 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:07.520 things were still on fire, but some way I was 0:09:07.559 --> 0:09:12.520 able to finesse and get around law enforcement and the 0:09:12.520 --> 0:09:15.560 fire department and so many other people that blocking streets, 0:09:16.640 --> 0:09:19.840 and I saw firsthand homes were still on fire, Schools 0:09:19.840 --> 0:09:27.080 were still on fire, homes were completely destroyed and gone, 0:09:27.360 --> 0:09:30.679 and fire was still coming out of home from the 0:09:30.760 --> 0:09:34.920 gas pipes. And I witnessed that with my own eyes. 0:09:35.080 --> 0:09:38.240 Literally the smoke was so thick to where you couldn't 0:09:38.280 --> 0:09:41.120 even see literally your hand in front of your face, 0:09:41.600 --> 0:09:44.520 which is how thick the smoke was. It was like 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:49.560 a bomb blue in the city of Altadena. And so 0:09:49.880 --> 0:09:53.320 that night I got home because I actually had took 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:56.880 my family to Ontario, my wife and my mother in 0:09:57.000 --> 0:09:59.960 law and my sister and them. They stayed in hotel 0:10:01.000 --> 0:10:05.920 and I actually stayed home with the humidifier here. And 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:09.720 so after helping family and friends evacuate and stuff like that, 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:14.040 and I got home late that night, about midnight, And 0:10:15.000 --> 0:10:17.760 when I woke up the next morning, the first person 0:10:17.800 --> 0:10:21.760 I called was Michelle White, who was the executive director 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:25.120 for Neighborhood Servants, and I told her, I said, hey, 0:10:25.240 --> 0:10:27.200 I don't know purple. 0:10:28.760 --> 0:10:30.400 No okay, okay. 0:10:30.600 --> 0:10:34.080 Yeah that's what that's Michelle from SEIU twenty fifteen. 0:10:34.200 --> 0:10:37.200 Okay, yes, okay, okay, my pologies, please go ahead. 0:10:37.200 --> 0:10:40.560 All good, All good. So Michelle White from Neighborhood Servants, 0:10:40.600 --> 0:10:42.800 and I said, Michelle, we have to do something. It 0:10:42.920 --> 0:10:44.920 to go like it's a green light. We got to 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:48.200 do something for our community. That was at nine o'clock 0:10:48.360 --> 0:10:55.320 in the morning at so we was like, hey, there's needed, 0:10:55.480 --> 0:10:57.920 we need a location nine thirty. I called Josh was 0:10:57.920 --> 0:11:02.679 the executive director from Flintridge and he was like, yes, absolutely, 0:11:02.720 --> 0:11:05.199 like y'all can do that today. So he said he's 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:06.840 going to be there at ten o'clock. I showed up 0:11:06.880 --> 0:11:10.680 at ten o'clock. By eleven o'clock that same morning, we 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:14.480 had one hundred and fifty volunteers to help us. We 0:11:14.600 --> 0:11:18.280 had pallettes and pallettes of items that were being donated 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:22.600 to us. Literally within an hour of us doing a 0:11:22.720 --> 0:11:27.720 simple post online on Instagram, it turned into something that 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:33.000 was literally crazy. So since that Thursday, we have service 0:11:33.120 --> 0:11:37.439 today over three thousand families. Now we have given out 0:11:37.440 --> 0:11:41.080 over forty thousand dollars worth of gift cards. We have 0:11:41.280 --> 0:11:46.439 hosted over one thousand volunteers to support families, and even 0:11:46.480 --> 0:11:49.960 this past weekend, we had free haircuts for our young 0:11:50.000 --> 0:11:53.199 people and our families. We had free massages for our 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:57.120 families that was affected. We had free chiropractor services for 0:11:57.320 --> 0:12:01.920 families that were affected, and with sciu Won twenty one 0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:06.040 that provided health screenings for families that was affected by 0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:09.080 this fire as well. And then we saw another need 0:12:09.200 --> 0:12:12.000 that yes, we were doing this at this location, but 0:12:12.080 --> 0:12:15.560 the fire actually started in East Pasadena, and so we 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:19.120 decided to partner with Passing the Church pastor Kurlin Manny, 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:22.560 and we just started doing the same thing at Passing 0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:24.680 the Church on the east side so that the people 0:12:25.320 --> 0:12:27.600 in that community can actually get the same support that 0:12:27.679 --> 0:12:29.280 we were doing in Northwest Pasadena. 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:32.920 Oh my goodness. And what about mental health services? Are 0:12:32.920 --> 0:12:36.839 you guys providing resources or options for that as well? 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:40.840 We are providing resources to mental health services on site. 0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:46.160 We had about I think it was four license clinical 0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:49.360 mental health professionals that was there on site to new 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:53.160 family check ins with family people, and then for those 0:12:53.240 --> 0:12:56.440 that needed more support, we did do some referral outs 0:12:57.880 --> 0:13:01.600 and so yeah, it's been a world wind of support, 0:13:01.880 --> 0:13:04.679 but then also to be honest, don we're still at 0:13:04.720 --> 0:13:07.640 the emergency stages of it right. People haven't even really 0:13:07.679 --> 0:13:12.120 comprehended in the totality of what just took place, because 0:13:12.160 --> 0:13:14.680 that's the type of emergency that we were We were 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:19.040 just in. So people are still getting their necessities that 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:22.240 they need, and they get in the essentials that they 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:24.199 need right now, and I don't think it really has 0:13:24.320 --> 0:13:27.480 hit home the damage that has really been done to 0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:31.480 our community. Literally ninety percent, I would say eighty five 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:35.320 to ninety percent of a city is actually gone at 0:13:35.360 --> 0:13:35.920 this moment. 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:41.400 I have another guest in here who's actually been affected. 0:13:41.520 --> 0:13:44.840 I made mentioned to him earlier. His name is Roland Wiley, 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:48.560 who's a resident in the Pasadena Altadena area who has 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:51.040 been displaced. And I really want this to be a 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:55.440 free going conversation where you know, you guys piggyback or forth, 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:57.559 because what I really want to do is bring awareness 0:13:57.559 --> 0:13:59.560 to this. I don't want this to be something like, 0:13:59.600 --> 0:14:02.360 oh this happened. All the era is fine. People are fine. 0:14:02.360 --> 0:14:05.200 We've donated with the long terms effects and really have 0:14:05.320 --> 0:14:08.679 a grassroot feel. So without further ado, I would like 0:14:08.720 --> 0:14:10.800 to welcome our one and only. 0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:14.560 Roland Wiley to the program. 0:14:14.679 --> 0:14:17.160 Hi Roland, Hi, y'all. 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:22.360 Brandon, thank you for bringing up the very point that's 0:14:22.400 --> 0:14:25.760 been on my mind throughout this entire time. It's that, 0:14:27.760 --> 0:14:30.520 like he said, between eighty ninety percent of a city 0:14:30.680 --> 0:14:35.520 is gone, it's displaced. I mean, we've got people friends 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:39.040 of mine that I mean, I'm a long, long standing 0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:43.760 Altadena resident of forty plus years, and I have friends 0:14:43.760 --> 0:14:47.400 that have been displaced as far as Riverside to Mecula, 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:54.520 Ontario and all points far east. And it's it's difficult 0:14:54.560 --> 0:15:01.760 because being that far away from our home, I mean, 0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:03.600 Altadena is forever my home. 0:15:04.240 --> 0:15:09.240 It's hard because it's adjusting to not being a homeowner anymore. 0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:11.280 Now you're being a renter and trying to figure out 0:15:11.320 --> 0:15:19.240 places that will fit within your budget. And like Brandon said, 0:15:19.280 --> 0:15:23.320 it's like, I'm so grateful for his relief services that 0:15:23.400 --> 0:15:27.040 have been throughout thepacity the Altadena area because those have 0:15:27.520 --> 0:15:29.560 helped me and my family as well. 0:15:33.760 --> 0:15:34.000 Hello. 0:15:34.040 --> 0:15:37.440 Oh yeah, yes, absolutely, And just really quickly with both 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:40.200 of you on right now, from the perspective of someone 0:15:40.200 --> 0:15:42.480 who has been affected and doing the work and versus 0:15:42.480 --> 0:15:44.880 someone that has been to displaced, do you feel that 0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:48.720 the media, the people, there's some misconceptions because done. 0:15:48.640 --> 0:15:50.320 We can't hear you on the live shoam. 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:51.680 Oh okay, can you hear me now? 0:15:52.560 --> 0:15:52.760 Yeah? 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:54.520 Okay, yeah, now you're in. 0:15:54.480 --> 0:15:55.400 There, all right? Perfect. 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.040 My question was I love the fact that we have 0:15:58.120 --> 0:16:00.800 both of you on here somebody that has been. 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:03.480 I mean, we've all been affected, honestly. 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:05.960 But you're on one end where you're providing the support 0:16:05.960 --> 0:16:08.080 and rolling you're on the other end where you're actually 0:16:08.080 --> 0:16:11.080 needing the support. Are there any misconceptions or are there 0:16:11.120 --> 0:16:14.120 any messages that you want people to know about what 0:16:14.240 --> 0:16:17.120 has happened, what is happening, and maybe some fears of 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:18.560 what we need to prepare in the future. 0:16:19.640 --> 0:16:22.760 Gosh, I would say, well, what is happening is just 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:28.479 massive displacement of a city is first and foremost, and 0:16:27.680 --> 0:16:32.560 the age range is so wide. I mean, when I 0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:37.760 was at the Pasadena Convention Center Wednesday morning to see 0:16:37.960 --> 0:16:43.640 people that were convalescent and in their wheelchairs or in 0:16:43.680 --> 0:16:48.640 their night gowns and being escorted to the convention center, 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:52.720 I mean, my heart drops because I think about. 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:55.239 These elderly people that are whether. 0:16:55.000 --> 0:16:59.040 They're ambulatory meaning that they can walk or nonambulatory, meaning 0:16:59.160 --> 0:17:01.400 that they have to be in a wheelchair and someone. 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:02.040 Has to escort them. 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:05.119 That's a challenge because being in the convention center, the 0:17:05.160 --> 0:17:08.200 things that they may need are really not readily available. 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:12.280 And luckily there has been a turn within the past gosh, 0:17:12.400 --> 0:17:15.160 it feels like it's been so long, but in the 0:17:15.200 --> 0:17:19.040 past week or so that accommodations have been made and 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:22.560 they've been provided and sent to other locations that could 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:26.400 really help them right now, because that's a really big part. 0:17:26.880 --> 0:17:31.680 And places like the Pasenia Convention Center, places like PCC 0:17:32.680 --> 0:17:36.439 along with the Passia City College Community Center which is 0:17:36.480 --> 0:17:38.920 on the east side of Pasaden and towards like Sarah 0:17:38.960 --> 0:17:41.680 Madre Villa has FEMA there. 0:17:41.920 --> 0:17:43.320 They have social Security there. 0:17:43.359 --> 0:17:46.639 If you lost your Social Security card, if you lost 0:17:46.640 --> 0:17:49.760 your passport due to the fire, and I stressed due 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.720 to the fire, because there have been people. Even I 0:17:52.800 --> 0:17:55.040 was there earlier today, people were like, well, I like 0:17:55.080 --> 0:17:57.920 to get a new passport, and everyone is telling them 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:03.280 this is for people that lost their identification do the fires. 0:18:03.800 --> 0:18:06.199 So that is the main thing I want to convey 0:18:06.760 --> 0:18:11.760 these these resources are available for those that have been 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:18.760 affected by the fire. Primarily, what I would say myths 0:18:18.800 --> 0:18:24.320 that are going on. Gosh, I would say misconceptions right now. 0:18:24.359 --> 0:18:29.119 Of course, with tragedy comes people that prey upon those 0:18:29.160 --> 0:18:32.120 that are in need. So they're I mean, my mom 0:18:32.160 --> 0:18:37.400 has gotten calls from different spam numbers saying, oh, well, 0:18:37.440 --> 0:18:39.600 we heard that your roof was damaged. 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:40.920 And I'm like, well, it's not the roof. 0:18:41.359 --> 0:18:47.160 Our higher block is decimated and it's gone, so we 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:51.159 already know that to scam. We actually verified and questioned 0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:54.480 FEMA as we were over at past Meda City College 0:18:54.600 --> 0:18:59.520 today about certain phone numbers that we received, and they 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:03.960 were able to confirm or verify or just let us know, hey, 0:19:04.119 --> 0:19:08.679 that's not a legit number. So being really aware of that, 0:19:09.840 --> 0:19:13.600 I really want to emphasize that people, if they are 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:17.000 able to get to these locations to seek help, get 0:19:17.040 --> 0:19:21.960 it that way because this reminds me of working during 0:19:21.960 --> 0:19:25.880 the pandemic, and the office I work for by day 0:19:26.240 --> 0:19:30.040 deals with unlawful evictions, homelessness prevention and things like that, 0:19:30.840 --> 0:19:34.879 So they're I mean, in that way, people were being 0:19:34.880 --> 0:19:40.200 notified by email. However, Internet access is not readily available 0:19:40.240 --> 0:19:44.280 for people and during the pandemic that was a thing 0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:47.720 because I mean, I'm old school. If I don't have 0:19:47.800 --> 0:19:49.800 internet at home, I'm going to the library. But you 0:19:49.800 --> 0:19:52.919 couldn't get to the library or a coffee shop or 0:19:52.960 --> 0:19:55.960 things like that where you could get free Wi Fi 0:19:56.080 --> 0:20:02.000 or internet. So I encourage people to if you're in 0:20:02.040 --> 0:20:06.560 the Pasadena area, definitely find those resources. The Pasadena Convention 0:20:06.640 --> 0:20:11.600 Center is one Pasadena City Colleges. Both campuses are available. 0:20:11.920 --> 0:20:15.640 Randon Lamar's Dina Relief is available. But go to these places, 0:20:15.760 --> 0:20:19.320 go physically in person, and talk to someone because that 0:20:19.440 --> 0:20:22.080 is how you will get the most help. Trying to 0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:28.280 do it online is stressful and I can't speak for 0:20:28.359 --> 0:20:31.520 anyone other than my mom and myself. We just shut 0:20:31.560 --> 0:20:35.720 down because it was just too much online because you're 0:20:35.760 --> 0:20:38.800 not sure. You want to ask questions about the things 0:20:38.800 --> 0:20:42.239 that you're filling out, and the best way to do 0:20:42.280 --> 0:20:46.359 that is to make the time to go to these locations, 0:20:46.400 --> 0:20:46.920 to speak to. 0:20:46.880 --> 0:20:50.800 Someone in person, and to be honest too, We don't 0:20:50.880 --> 0:20:56.560 want people to do this by themselves. Agree the tragedy 0:20:56.600 --> 0:20:59.720 has hit all of us, let me say that. And 0:21:00.400 --> 0:21:03.800 so you have people who don't know how to maneuver 0:21:03.920 --> 0:21:06.639 and don't know how to go through this process that 0:21:06.720 --> 0:21:09.600 are still trying to figure out this process and understand 0:21:09.640 --> 0:21:13.520 what in totality has happened. And so we really don't 0:21:13.560 --> 0:21:16.720 want people to go through this process by themselves, to 0:21:16.760 --> 0:21:19.600 get the support by themselves. I remember when FEMA first 0:21:19.640 --> 0:21:23.280 came out. I've heard of a lot of people who 0:21:23.280 --> 0:21:27.160 had already gotten denied from FEMA when they first applied, 0:21:27.200 --> 0:21:30.639 and they had to go back in and apply and 0:21:30.680 --> 0:21:34.159 get services. And so we really don't want that to 0:21:34.240 --> 0:21:38.040 happen because also this is very emotional for a lot 0:21:38.080 --> 0:21:46.600 of people. It's tragic what has happened. And within the 0:21:46.720 --> 0:21:49.879 matter of moments, you had to leave your home, you 0:21:49.960 --> 0:21:53.000 have to find somewhere else to stay, you have to 0:21:53.080 --> 0:21:57.520 drop everything. Some people left their pets, you left memories, 0:21:57.920 --> 0:22:02.119 you left pictures, you deft identification, like there's just so 0:22:02.200 --> 0:22:04.359 many things that people didn't have the chance to just 0:22:04.400 --> 0:22:07.480 grab a hold on and take with them. And so, 0:22:08.560 --> 0:22:10.200 you know, this is not a process that we want 0:22:10.200 --> 0:22:13.520 people to go through by themselves. There is support out there, 0:22:13.560 --> 0:22:16.119 whether it be through the city, whether it be do 0:22:16.560 --> 0:22:20.240 the dener Relief Drive, whether it be through I know 0:22:20.280 --> 0:22:25.359 my church alone has helped over six hundred families with 0:22:25.520 --> 0:22:29.920 this situation with case Management Services, and so Victory Bible 0:22:30.040 --> 0:22:33.399 Church is here to help as well. But there's so 0:22:33.480 --> 0:22:37.000 many partners within our community that want to be of support. 0:22:38.240 --> 0:22:41.360 But like I said before, don you know, I don't 0:22:41.400 --> 0:22:47.080 think that the real reality of what has taken place 0:22:47.119 --> 0:22:50.560 has really hit our community yet, because you still have 0:22:50.600 --> 0:22:53.560 a lot of family members and people who still have 0:22:53.680 --> 0:22:58.000 not seen out ta Dina. They news, but you still 0:22:58.040 --> 0:22:59.960 have people out there that don't even know if they're 0:23:00.080 --> 0:23:03.040 house is standing or is it going. You know, you 0:23:03.119 --> 0:23:05.840 still have people out there that are still looking for 0:23:06.000 --> 0:23:12.480 missing family members right right, So the totality of this 0:23:12.720 --> 0:23:18.160 destruction has not really hit our community to me, and I'm. 0:23:18.080 --> 0:23:19.159 Glad you highlighted that. 0:23:19.280 --> 0:23:21.280 I know we've heard like many people who have already 0:23:21.280 --> 0:23:23.480 been notated as died, but I don't know if I've 0:23:23.520 --> 0:23:27.400 heard or maybe I've missed how many people were just injured, 0:23:27.680 --> 0:23:31.040 not only physically, not only mentally. And I'm just wondering 0:23:31.080 --> 0:23:33.639 not to put a blame game, but do you feel 0:23:33.680 --> 0:23:36.800 as though the city has shown up in the way 0:23:36.840 --> 0:23:40.160 that it should it could have, and do you feel 0:23:40.200 --> 0:23:42.360