U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna came to Altadena last week to hear about fire recovery challenges. He got an earful: about balky insurance companies, charred businesses still not cleared away and how President Trump’s tariffs on Canada will drive up the price of lumber for rebuilding.

Homeowner Julian Saucedo pointed the Democratic congressman from the Silicon Valley to one bright spot: the speedy home debris removal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “They followed their orders. They were champions for Altadena,” said Saucedo, a retired aerospace engineer.

Saucedo stepped in close and added in a near-whisper: “You can be the next champion ... if you can deliver on any of the things I mentioned,” like relocation assistance.

Replied Khanna: “We’re gonna fight hard.”

A series of moments

Though he

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