Rebuilding L.A.

Recovery, From The People's Perspective: 'It's About To Get A Lot Worse'

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

About 2 in 3 fire survivors are still displaced and, as coverage for temporary housing disappears, that number could get increase. That's according to the latest report from Department of Angels, a nonprofit that regularly surveys survivors from both the Eaton and Palisades Fires to monitor how the recovery from the L.A. fires is going. As people continue to wait on insurance payouts and building materials get more expensive, the hope that many people had for rebuilding their homes is dwindling. This "hope gap" underscores the need for the nearly $34 billion in Federal funds that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested.

Additionally, on May 8, Newsom asked for a 12-month extension from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster assistance program for the fire victims.

GUESTS: Andrew King, Eaton Fire Survivor and Head of engagement and Education for Department of Angels + Miguel Santana, President & Chief Executive Officer, California Community Foundation, and co-founder of the Department with Snapchat's Evan Spiegel.

Department of Angels' Community Voices: LA Fire Report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6792c245599ed84703227b1e/t/69fb99d59526446388bdd51b/1778096597336/Department+of+Angels+Community+Voices+LA

Nearly half of L.A. fire survivors face crisis as temporary housing funds dry up, survey finds: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-07/nearly-40-of-la-fire-survivors-face-crisis-as-temporary-housing-funds-dry-up-survey-finds

The Political Firefight To Be LA's Mayor

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 6 May 2026 15:00:26 +0000

There's a big election this year, and we are not just talking about the congressional midterm races. There's a lot of consequential local races, too, including one for LA's next mayor. As incumbent mayor Karen Bass Bass campaigns to stay in office, there's a big question about how much LA's fire recovery will dominate the political narrative — and your vote. There's more than a dozen candidates currently on the ballot. Can Bass hold on to her seat? Or could councilmember Nithya Raman or reality star Spencer Pratt take it?

GUEST: Noah Goldberg, City Hall Reporter, Los Angeles Times.

Voter guide to the 2026 California primary election: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-01/2026-california-election-voter-guide-primaryIn

L.A. mayor’s race, everyone is campaigning on change — even the incumbent: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-06/in-la-mayors-race-everyone-is-campaigning-on-change-even-incumbent

In L.A. mayor’s race, controversial poll shows Nithya Raman ahead of Karen Bass: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-30/in-la-mayors-race-controversial-poll-shows-nithya-raman-ahead-of-incumbent-karen-bass

Pratt and Raman lead Bass in latest fundraising for L.A. mayoral race: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-24/pratt-raman-lead-bass-in-latest-fundraising-for-la-mayoral-race

Spencer Pratt’s time in Santa Barbara County likely won’t affect his bid for L.A. mayor, analysts say: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-10/spencer-pratts-time-in-santa-barbara-county-likely-wont-affect-his-bid-for-la-mayor-analysts-sayå

How A Pickle Ball Group Chat Became Fire Survivors' Lifeline (With EFSN's Joy Chen)

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

After the first sign of fire was spotted in the foothills above Altadena, a WhatsApp chat meant to set up pickleball games started going off. As the devastation became clear, that chat soon turned into a community disaster hub. The Eaton Fire Survivors Network — now known as the *Every Fire Survivors Network — is composed of thousands of people across LA's burn zones who are fighting to rebuild their community — and taking on the insurance industry while they’re at it.

GUEST: Joy Chen, Executive Director, Every Fire Survivors Network

LINKS:

The Every Fire Survivor Network (EFSN) website: https://www.efsurvivors.net/.

Read about the insurance legislation EFSN is behind: https://www.efsurvivors.net/fix-insurance

These hidden rules reveal how California insurers undercut wildfire claims, leaving families in damaged homes: https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2025/california-insurance-hidden-rules/#:~:text=Speed%20trumps%20accuracy:%20The%20directions,insurers%20follow%20the%20same%20playbook

California leaders promised fire recovery in record time. Los Angeles isn’t seeing it: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/california-leaders-los-angeles-fire-recovery-delays-00867498

UPDATE ON CA INSURANCE BILLS STILL ALIVE IN THE LEGISLATURE (Copy courtesy of EFSN's newsletter ):

• SB 1301 (Allen): Requires six months advance notice before nonrenewal, documented reasons, and a chance to fix the problem.

•SB 877 (Pérez): Requires insurers to show you their original loss estimate and any revised one. We deserve to see both.

•SB 878 (Pérez): Requires insurers to respond to claims in writing and adds automatic interest penalties when they violate existing laws on deadlines.

Learn more at fixinsurance.org.

A Resilient Palisades. Can We Get There?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

If we’ve come to understand anything while reporting out this podcast, it’s that California burns. It always has. It always will. The question is whether we can build communities better to withstand the risk? There’s been a lot of talk and ideas proposed about building safer, more fire resilient neighborhoods — and not just individual houses, but community infrastructure, too. But there’s yet to be a solid plan for implementing any of these things, or for figuring out how to pay for them. In the Palisades, there’s a lot of people – mostly residents – who are trying to move things along. Today we are talking with one of them.

GUEST: Robert Lempert, Palisades Fire survivor and Director/ Policy Researcher at RAND

The next Community Recovery Lab is coming up on April 25: https://palirecovery.org/2026/03/19/taking-the-next-step/. The Palisades Recovery Coalition: https://palirecovery.org/

His computer simulations help communities survive disasters. Can they design a Palisades that never burns? https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-12-17/can-palisades-residents-design-a-city-that-never-burns

After The Fires: Scorched Earth Litigation

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Kate Cagle, Richard Winton, Neama Rahmani) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

LA lawyers have been busy. Eaton and Palisades fire survivors have filed thousands of lawsuits, and at least one criminal case is pending. How might these cases play out, and how long will it all take? The outcome of these cases could make or break the recovery, and affect whether or not the residents of these affected communities can rebuild.

GUESTS: Richard Winton, Investigative Crime Writer for the L.A. Times, and Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president, West Coast Trial Lawyers.

Florida man ‘maliciously’ started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/palisades-fire-arrest Defense lawyer for man charged with igniting deadly

Palisades fire calls case thin and labels it scapegoating: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-16/defense-lawyer-for-man-charged-with-igniting-deadly-palisades-fire-calls-case-thin-and-labels-it-scapegoating

Timeline: Two fateful hours that planted the seeds of destruction in Pacific Palisades:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/la-me-palisades-fire-timeline

Rebuilding LA S1 Episode about the arrest : "An Arrest, A Report, And Little Closure For Palisades Fire Victims": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeIwt-4eWU8&list=PLbQOBfbdbTeNUJ9LARXDUjl8Z yfWpSStV&index=49

Rebuilding LA S2 Episode 2: "Where There's Smoke: Uncovering The Origins Of The Palisades Fire": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vcc5kgOh5Q&list=PLbQOBfbdbTeNUJ9LARXDUjl8ZyfWpSStV&index=1

Where There's Smoke: Uncovering The Origin Of The Palisades Fire

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Last October, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed a stunning accusation — alleging that a young Uber driver from Florida caused the death and destruction in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. It's theory rested on belief that the Palisades Fire was a rekindling of a week old fire, the Lachman Fire, that this man, Jonathan Rinderknecht, had, allegedly, intentionally started with a flick of a lighter on New Year's Day.

LA city firefighters said they believed that first fire had been put out. Federal investigators stressed that it burned so deep underground it could not be detected. But then evidence began to emerge that told a different narrative. The question: did concerns the fire was still smoldering go ignored?

This episode examines what we know about what happened between the Lachman Fire and the Palisades Fire, and the missteps and miscommunication that may have led to one of California's most destructive fires in history.

GUEST: Arlene Tchekmedyian, LA Times Investigative Reporter

Links:

LAFD After-Action Report - Drafts and Final: https://lafd.org/news/palisades-afteraction-review-report-drafts-and-final

3 critical days, many ignored warnings: How the LAFD failed to prevent the Palisades inferno: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-11/lafd-testimony-details-missed-chances-to-fully-put-out-lachman-fire

Who made the call to leave the Lachman fire? In sworn testimony, LAFD officials pass the buck: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-01/who-made-call-to-leave-lachman-fire-in-sworn-testimony-lafd-officials-pass-buck

L.A. firefighter testifies that Lachman fire was not fully put out. ‘I saw ... red hot coals’: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-26/la-firefighter-testifies-that-lachman-fire-was-not-fully-put-out-when-crews-were-ordered-to-leave.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass directed Palisades fire damage control, email shows: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-13/mayor-karen-bass-directed-palisades-fire-damage-control-emails-show

It’s Been Over a Year. Now Where Do We Go?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

It’s been 16 months since the Palisades and Eaton Fires destroyed two historic communities in L.A. and the path forward, for many, is as unclear as ever. A little more than 4500 building permits have been approved in the burn areas - far fewer are in active construction. Most people still do not have enough money to rebuild. There are outstanding lawsuits and settlements that could make a difference but timing is uncertain. There are also questions about infrastructure: water and power and whether or not favorite grocery stores, restaurants or even neighbors will return. There are questions about sustainability and resilience. Will these neighborhoods be safer or will the same risks remain after people move back in? The conversation around real solutions seems to be, for the most part lost among all the questions and the very real anger so many survivors still feel about what happened on January 7th and 8th. Guests: Noah Haggerty, Science and Environment Reporter, Los Angeles Times.

The Palisades fire discourse is stuck in January 2025: https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2026-02-19/why-the-palisades-fire-discourse-is-stuck

Long-awaited reports outline problems with Palisades infrastructure: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-19/long-awaited-reports-outline-problems-with-palisades-infrastructure

Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-03-05/fire-destroyed-mobile-home-park-seeks-development-deal-displacing-residents

Officials considered warning Altadena before Eaton fire, but no alert was sent: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-24/fire-weather-alerts-eaton-fire-wildfires-how-to-improve-early-warnings

Turning the Altadena fire into a civil rights crusade: Was discrimination against Black residents at play?: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-14/was-discrimination-behind-botched-eaton-fire-response-civil-rights-attorney-considers-lawsuit

Investors keep buying up burned lots in Altadena, Pacific Palisades. Could Congress limit such sales? https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-03/ca-senator-wants-to-halt-investors-buying-properties-after-disasters

With Pacific Palisades in spotlight, Altadena fights for attention, post-fire justice: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-22/palisades-in-limelight-west-altadena-fights-for-justice-eaton-fire

Introducing: Rebuilding L.A. Season 2

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Nearly a year and a half after the Eaton and Palisades Fires destroyed much of Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, people are rebuilding their homes but many survivors are still unsure of their path forward. 2026 could be a pivotal year -- a year of personal, and political reckoning. Thousands of people have filed lawsuits over perceived failures by the city, the county, municipal agencies, and Altadena's main power utility, SoCal Edison. Any settlements from these cases could determine whether some people can afford to rebuild. There's also an election this fall in Los Angeles -- for mayor, L.A. City Council seats, and other races. The results of these could also impact the direction of the recovery. And hovering over all of this is the longstanding question: Are we building back better, and who exactly is in charge of answering that? Can residents and officials agree on some solutions, and find a way for people to safely return home? In the second season of Rebuilding L.A. from L.A. Times Studios, host Kate Cagle will dig into all these questions and more. The series returns April 8.

Through Her Doc ‘All The Walls Came Down,’ Filmmaker Ondi Timoner Aims To ‘Save’ Altadena, And Help Her Community — And Herself — Heal

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:00:54 +0000

NOTE: We taped this episode on January 8th, 2026, exactly one year after much of Altadena awoke to the news that their homes and their neighborhoods had burned, and their lives were forever changed.
Filmmaker Ondi Timoner was overseas shooting a documentary when the Eaton Fire destroyed her home of 14 years, and wiped her entire neighborhood away.
She learned about the fate of her house from her neighbor Randy Vance via a text.
As soon as she came back, she picked up her camera and began to tell the story of what happened last January, highlighting the displacement of friends and neighbors, the endless financial challenges, and the daily heartache — and small joys — of trying to move forward.
Ondi joined forces with fellow Altadenean, Heavenly Hughes, and the non profit My Tribe Rise to help their neighbors with immediate, temporary housing needs, fight foreclosures, and, hopefully, help people come back to Altadena and rebuild the homes they lost to the flames.
Her short documentary, All The Walls Came Down, was completed in months and has been distributed in partnership with L.A. Times Studios as part of the L.A. Times Short Docs program. It’s been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination.
Guest: Ondi Timoner, filmmaker, All The Walls Came Down
Link to the film: https://www.latimes.com/shortdocs
Ondi's Production Company, Interloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/
My Tribe Rise/ Adopt A Survivor Program: https://mytriberise.org/home
Ondi’s Change.org petition to freeze foreclosures and force So Cal Edison to release emergency funds to fire survivors to help with costs: https://www.change.org/p/freeze-foreclosures-and-release-emergency-funds-keep-altadena-families-on-their-land
November 2025 update regarding conversations with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as well Judy Chu, the congresswoman representing the 28th District that includes Altadena: https://www.change.org/p/freeze-foreclosures-and-release-emergency-funds-keep-altadena-families-on-their-land/u/34066783 (edited)

They’ve Never Met But These Fire Survivors Connect Over Loss, Demands for 'Accountability', And A Strong Desire To Get Back Home.

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

It’s been a year since two fires tore through Los Angeles County, killing 31 people and destroying 16,000 structures, and the disaster is still unfolding as thousands of people continue pick up the pieces, find new places to live, new jobs, new neighborhoods, and wrestle with whether to return to their old streets, which were burned beyond recognition.

It’s clear that we are still in the very early days of this recovery and there is a long way to go. There’s been some progress but, if you ask them how it’s going, survivors will tell you that not a lot has happened and there are plenty of roadblocks in their path. Many want to rebuild and move back home but still aren’t sure if they can afford it, or what else will be there if they do.

In this episode, taped Monday January 5, host Kate Cagle talks with three people — each from the three areas hit hardest by the fire: Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Malibu — and learns more about the challenges most people are still facing.

Guests:

Dana Brumfield, Altadena Resident, Business Manager, Pasadena Rosebud Academy

Wade Major, Malibu Resident, Film Critic, Public Works Commissioner

Nancy Fracchiolla, Pacific Palisades Resident, Actress, Retired Drama Teacher, Palisades High

Other voices in this episode: Palisades resident Tamara Rawitt and Altadena residents Zaire Calvin and Joe Ressa

Links:

LAFD leaders tried to cover up Palisades fire mistakes. The truth still emerged: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-31/lafd-leaders-tried-to-cover-up-palisades-fire-mistakes-truth-still-emerged

Case Study Houses For the 21st Century, After The Fires

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Thousands of homes need to be built in Malibu, the Pacific Palisades and Altadena over the next decade. With many homeowners still looking for architects and blueprints, there is an opportunity to rethink the modern home.Dustin Bramell is one Palisades Fire who is drawing a parallel to eighty years ago and the Case Study Houses that rose up during the post-World War II building boom.The Case Study movement called for inexpensive and efficient model homes - a kind of blueprint - for a stylish and modern America. Many of those homes are still standing today in Southern California, including the Eames Home, which narrowly escaped the Palisades Fires, and the iconic Stahl House in the Hollywood Hills.The new effort is called “Case Study: Adapt,” and its objective to is to build with the risks of climate change and fire in mind.

Guests: Dustin Bramell, co-founder, Case Study: Adapt
Kathleen Katims, Palisades Resident and co-founder of Saved By A Story

Check out the CSA designs here:See How 16 Families are Rebuilding After the LA Fires: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/see-how-16-families-are-rebuilding-after-the-la-fires
A display of student-constructed CSA home models at the USC school of architecture: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRF82C2Eiu1/ **This exhibit will soon move to the Eames House in 2026.More info on Kathy Katims organization, Saved By A Story: https://www.savedbyastory.com/about

Edison’s CEO Pitches His Plan For Eaton Fire Survivors: ‘I Want To Be Able To …Look A Neighbor In The Eye’

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

The official investigation into the cause of the Eaton Fire is not over, but power company So-Cal Edison has already said that it likely sparked from their equipment.Edison is facing dozens of lawsuits from survivors, and one from the U-S Department of Justice, accusing the company of not only starting the fire, but also of negligence.Edison says it wants to make things right and has come up with a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program for survivors. Eligibility is fairly expansive but many survivors say it does not go far enough, especially those who are also struggling with insurance payouts.CEO of Edison International Pedro Pizarro, who lives in the area affected by the Eaton Fire, says he “want to be able to walk into the grocery store and look his neighbors in the eye” so he stopped by in early November to give host Kate Cagle his pitch for the program.

Guest:

Pedro Pizarro, CEO, Edison International
Dana Brumfield, Altadena Resident

Clarification: Dana Brumfield, our guest profiled at the top of the episode, does not endorse Edison’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program at this time. The inclusion of her story is coincidental and not connected to the program currently being offered by So Cal Edison and Edison International.In addition, per her lawyer, the standard rate charged by attorneys representing wildfire survivors is 25 percent. The following interview implies the legal fees could reach as high as 40 percent.

Edison International’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program: https://energized.edison.com/wildfire-recovery-compensation-program

Edison increases compensation for Eaton fire victims, but some say it’s not enough: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-10-30/edison-increases-compensation-for-eaton-fire-victims-but-some-say-its-not-enough

Developer Rick Caruso On His Role In LA’s Rebuild And Whether He’ll Run For Office

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000

Rick Caruso is a real-estate developer, a philanthropist, and in some ways a city insider — he ran for mayor against Karen Bass in 2022, and lost. He is also a Palisades Fire survivor. His family lost three homes that night — and were it not for the private firefighters he hired, Caruso’s businesses in the Palisades Village might have also burned down.
He started the nonprofit Steadfast LA to assist with the rebuilding of neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu, and has not been shy with his criticism of how local governments, particularly L.A. city Mayor Karen Bass, has handled the response to January’s deadly and destructive fires.He talks about all of it with host Kate Cagle.

Guests: Rick Caruso, L.A. businessman, founder, Steadfast LA
David Goldblum, filmmaker and Malibu resident

Related articles:AI is coming soon to speed up sluggish permitting for fire rebuilds, officials say: https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2025-05-14/l-a-wildfire-survivors-complain-that-rebuilding-is-too-slow-can-ai-helpCaruso-backed nonprofit partners with builder to give prefab homes to fire victims: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-20/caruso-backed-nonprofit-partners-with-builder-to-give-prefab-homes-to-fire-victimsDays before Palisades inferno, firefighters were ordered to leave smoldering burn site: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-30/firefighters-ordered-to-leave-smoldering-palisades-burn-siteMore on David Blum’s film @bigrockburning on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigrockburning/?hl=en

THANKSGIVING BONUS: The Foothill Catalog: An Old Idea To Create New Homes For Altadena After The Eaton Fire

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:49:02 +0000

Just before Thanksgiving, Altadena resident Whitney Haggins — who is VERY big on holidays — told us she hopes to break ground on her new home in the new year using a design she chose out of The Foothill Catalog, which has already been pre-approved by Los Angeles County. It’s got a porch and everything — perfect for watching the sun set and chatting with her neighbors, many of whom are also choosing to rebuild. It’s pretty much a win all around and a positive note to wrap up what’s been a pretty horrible year for many in our region.Given her story, we thought we’d re-air our conversation with Alex Athenson, the co-founder of The Foothill Catalog Foundation. We originally ran this interview back in July just after Foothill got its first design — the one Whitney went with — approved by the county.

Guests:
Whitney Haggins, Altadena Resident
Alex Athenson, president and co-founder, The Foothill Catalog Foundation.

Links:The Foothill Catalog Foundation Website: https://www.foothillcatalog.org/
The Lewis: https://www.foothillcatalog.org/the-lewis
The Altadena Christmas Tree Lane tree lighting on Dec 6: https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2025-09-10/eaton-fire-displaced-christmas-tree-lane-volunteers-altadena-holiday-event#:~:text=again%20this%20year.-,California,that%20destroyed%20many%20other%20structures.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger Speaks To Altadena’s Recovery

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: This interview taped a few days before the government announced it would reopen after a shutdown that lasted 44 days. We opted to keep the references to the shutdown in the interview to illustrate its impact on the rebuilding process. Talk to anyone in Altadena and they’ll tell you they loved living there before the fires. It was their paradise, their Shangri-La, their little slice of heaven. It’s been repeatedly described as a diverse place where people from all sorts of different backgrounds found a home. But it remains to be seen how much of that can come back.
Ten months after the January fire, about two-thousand rebuilding applications have been submitted to L.A. County and, of those, a little more than a quarter of them have been approved. At the time of this recording, about 250 homes were in active construction.A big problem in Altadena? Building a brand new house is going to cost a lot more money than what insurance will cover.Guest: Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th DistrictAltadena Recovery Info: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/altadena/
Permit Fee Waiver / Refund Request: https://planning.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Permit-Fee-Waiver-Refund-Form_fillable.pdf
Tune in to Altadena Community Meetings on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLblXY1FEJmYjEQc2Z0u_8cP2RZp_foSF7

Checking In On Pacific Palisades With Councilmember Traci Park

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

There are no shortcuts for rebuilding the Pacific Palisades. Even those who are returning are daunted by the task, wondering who else will come back, and nervous about the hidden dangers of the toxic debris produced by the fire.Homes are starting to go up, and there is a plan for at least some of those third spaces – the elementary schools, the high school, and the community center.But affordability is still a big hurdle that will determine whether people can return, and there are still a lot of questions about how to make the community safer when the next disaster strikes.There is also a lot of anger about why any of this was allowed to happen in the first place — most of it is directed at L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. By contrast, the Palisades’ elected city councilmember Traci Park is seen by many residents as a champion. She joins Kate to talk about what’s next for the area.

Guest: Traci Park, L.A. City Councilmember, 11th District.

Pacific Palisades Vision Plan: https://cd11.lacity.gov/news/pacific-palisades-rebuild-vision

Fire Prevention Looks Different in SoCal

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In the last few years, after massive blazes in Northern California destroyed forests and towns, the state changed the way it managed wildfires. It shifted its policy from a fire suppression strategy to one that oversaw small burns and other efforts to help thin overgrown forests and reduce the amount of fuel that could prolong a fire.

Now, the state’s fire officials realize it has to change course again for Southern California because the approach to forest fire management up north doesn’t really apply to the chaparral and shrubland that cover the southern coasts.

And part of the solution could involve good old-fashioned volunteer work.

Guests: Noah Haggerty, environment and science reporter for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in wildfire coverage.

Karen Leigh Hopkins, Pacific Palisades resident, filmmaker

Read Noah’s Stories:

The state’s wildfire policy long overlooked SoCal. Now it’s course correcting:

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2025-10-16/fire-strategy-socal

Man, machine and mutton: Inside the plan to prevent the next SoCal fire disaster:

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-10-14/the-plan-to-prevent-the-next-socal-fire-disaster

To solve the wildfire crisis, we have to let the myth of ‘the wild’ die:

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2025-08-28/boiling-point-the-myth-keeping-wildfires-alive

In high-tech race to detect fires early, O.C. bets on volunteers with binoculars: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-08-15/o-c-bets-on-volunteers-to-detect-fires-early

Who Are We Rebuilding For? And How Long Will It Take?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Out of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in California, 15 of them have occurred in the last decade. There’s the Camp Fire, the Woolsey Fire, the Tubbs Fire, the Carr Fire, the Thomas Fire and, of course, LA’s Eaton and Palisades Fires. The list is long. It’s stunning when you think about it. Fires of this magnitude were rare before the year 2000.Most of these communities have started to build back but …how far along they are depends on a lot of factors…especially how much money people have access to…and even then…the same residents don’t always move back in.As we near the first anniversary of the fire here in LA, we want to look at what can be learned from other communities who’ve been through it, and what the next several years might look like for us.

Guests: Nicole Lambrou, executive director of Tinkercraft, an environmental and design research studio. She’s also an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona, and has spent the last few years studying wildfire recovery efforts in California.

Rebecca Zandovskis, Altadena resident

Check out Nicole’s work:How Do You Rebuild Community After Wildfire? https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/how-do-you-rebuild-community-after-wildfire/Social drivers of vulnerability to wildfire disaster: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204623001160Housing and Economic Recovery as Interdependent Pathways in the Wake of Wildfires: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395635200_Housing_and_Economic_Recovery_as_Interdependent_Pathways_in_the_Wake_of_WildfiresRelated stories from the LA Times:What can Palisades, Altadena learn from other California wildfire rebuilds?22,500 homes lost. Over five years later, only 38% rebuilt: What California fire survivors face: https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2025-09-30/rebuilding-california-after-major-wildfires
Younger, richer and smaller: How California’s era of wildfire has changed communities forever: https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2025-09-30/how-communities-change-after-wildfire

A Glimmer Of Hope — And Some Fatigue — As Paradise Builds Back

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In 2018, a devastating fire ripped through the mountain community of Paradise, California. 85 people died. And almost the entire town burned to the ground.

The Camp Fire remains the most destructive and deadliest fire in the state’s history, destroying more structures than the Eaton and Palisades Fires combined. Nearly seven years later, Paradise is coming back — it’s not the same, and so far, many of the residents have not returned. Less than half of the pre-fire population has returned to Paradise and about half of the people now living there are new to the community.Rebuilding is hard. Survivors are facing tough choices while they still navigate the trauma they experienced. But many will argue that Paradise is safer. Electrical lines went underground, evacuation routes were reconfigured …and about 200-thousand trees were cut down as it became a priority to create a fire-resilient landscape.

Guests:

Greg Bolin, long time resident, former mayor, and current member of the Paradise City Council.
Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Director for Paradise.Read Noah Haggerty’s most recent story about Paradise: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-01-24/ex-paradise-mayor-offers-advice-to-los-angeles-recovery-wildfires

An Arrest, A Report, And Little Closure For Palisades Fire Victims

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A NOTE: We taped this episode on Oct. 13, 2025. It’s a developing story. Please check the Los Angeles Times for updates.At the time of this taping, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht is in federal custody, charged with starting a fire — the Lachman Fire — that investigators say became the Palisades Fire.Investigators with the Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, are calling the Palisades Fire a “holdover” fire, which means it was a continuation of the Lachman Fire that started just after midnight on New Year’s Day 2025. That initial fire burned underground, undetected, for almost a week when heavy winds forced it to the surface on January 7th.Hours After Rinderknecht’s arrest, the Los Angeles Fire Department released an internal report on its response to the Palisades Fire. And while critical of the department’s overall preparedness on January 7th, the report has very little information about how it handled the Lachman Fire — and that has left fire survivors with a lot of questions, and very little closure.

Guest: LA Times Crime Reporter Richard WintonIn this episode we also hear from Pacific Palisades residents Wade Major, Karen Hopkins, Allison Holdorff Polhill, and Hank Wright

Read: Richard’s most recent stories on this case:Florida man ‘maliciously’ started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/palisades-fire-arrest
Palisades fire suspect placed gun in stuffed animal, made recent fire threat, feds allege: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-11/feds-say-palisades-suspect-court
Could LAFD have done more to prevent rekindling of Palisades fire?: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/lafd-timeline

The $1.9 million investigation that leaves us with ‘more questions than answers’

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 8 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Nine months and one investigation later, it is still not clear why neighborhoods in Altadena, California did not get an alert to evacuate until 3:25 a.m on January 8th — if residents got one at all — despite repeated calls to 911, hours earlier, that flames from the Eaton Fire were spotted in the area.The McChrystal Group’s 130-plus page report looks into what happened, but the scope is limited as it only includes information provided by Los Angeles County, and it finds that while there was a whole system of failures that night that led to catastrophe, no one person, or agency, was directly responsible. This missing data and lack of accountability in the report has outraged residents of Altadena. Even the L.A. County Board of Supervisors that commissioned the report has criticized some of its findings.To find out more about what’s in the McChrystal report — and what is not — we turn to Terry Castleman and Grace Toohey, breaking news reporters for the L.A. Times. Both began covering the failures of the alert system soon after the Eaton Fire burned through Altadena.Plus, we will hear from Altadena Resident Linda Bazilian whose husband was left to fight the flames from the Eaton Fire by himself the night of January 7th, only to have his home burn down the next day.

Guests:
Terry Castleman and Grace Toohey, reporters for the the Los Angeles Times
Linda Bazilian, Altadena resident

Check out Grace and Terry's Stories:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-25/l-a-county-release-investigation-into-botched-altadena-evacuations
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-25/the-eaton-fire-how-the-system-failed-altadena
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-27/no-smoking-gun-report-on-altadena-cites-failures-but-did-not-name-names

Want Home Owners Insurance? You Might Need To Cut Down Your Trees.

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The insurance industry in California was fragile even before the January fires in Los Angeles. Since the Camp Fire in Paradise and other devastating blazes in Napa, Sonoma, and Ventura Counties, home insurance rates skyrocketed for many Californians. Companies dropped customers and left the state because of the perceived risks of wildfires and other disasters in so many communities. Now, after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, a lot of residents are wondering if anyone in these areas can get a home insured again.So how did we get here? And where do we go from here? Host Kate Cagle tries to get some answers.

Guests:

Judson Boomhower, an associate professor in the economics department at UC San Diego, specializing in climate risk and adaption.

Tamara Rawitt, Pacific Palisades resident

Navigating Insurance Hell, Pt. 1

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest stories to emerge from these fires is the insurance nightmare fire survivors have endured. Not all stories of insurers are bad but the number of residents who have reported trouble with their insurance company is in the thousands. The bottom line: people report not getting the money they believe they deserve under their policies to help them rebuild and replace what was lost. Even those residents whose homes still stand are struggling and are battling with their insurance providers over smoke damage and the cost of clean up, repairs and testing for lingering toxic substances.In the first part of a two part look at the insurance situation in Southern California, we speak to Laurence Darmiento who covers the industry for the Los Angeles Times. He shares with us the stories he’s heard from survivors of both the Eaton and Palisades Fires.

Guests:Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times reporter covering the insurance industry in California as well as finance and aerospace.
Joe Ressa, Altadena residentCheck out some of Laurence’s recent stories:https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-09-22/insurance-rights-initiative-proposed-by-leading-consumer-group https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-09-08/despite-court-loss-california-fair-plan-sticking-to-disputed-smoke-damage-policy https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-08-25/local-politicians-and-january-fire-survivors-hold-press-conference-over-insurance-claims-payments
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-01-09/la-fires-property-home-insurance-crisis-fair-plan-lara-state-farm-allstate-palisades-eaton-altadena-wildfires

How One Nonprofit Hopes To ‘Keep Altadena Land In Altadena Hands’

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The sale of lots in the Altadena burn zones has slowed down but there is still a lot of uncertainty among some residents about whether they can rebuild. There is concern felt across some of these neighborhoods that their neighbors won’t — or can’t — come back, and that the overall character — the diversity, the eclecticism, the bohemianism — of their beloved Altadena will change.
Enter nonprofit groups like Greenline Housing Foundation. Greenline’s mission is to close the racial wealth gap in the U.S. by helping Black and Latino families buy their first home. In Altadena, where so many Black and Latino families lost properties, Greenline has provided grants to fire survivors for interim housing, and is also working on helping people finance the purchase of a lot. Greenline even bought its own lot with a plan to build on it and sell back to a community member.We’ll also hear from resident and coach Zaire Calvin who lost his home and his sister, Evelyn McClendon in the Eaton fire. She was 59.

Guests:

Jasmin Shupper, founder, Greenline Housing Foundation
Zaire Calvin, Altadena Resident

A Related Listen:

You heard Jasmine Shupper talk about creative solutions to the rebuild. If you’d like to hear more, check out Rebuilding LA’s Episode 5:

From Free Consultations to Pre-Approved Plans Inspired By A Sears Catalog, Local Architects Help Altadena Rebuild

Where has all the Fire Aid gone? We follow the money.

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The much ballyhooed Fire Aid concert in January, featuring artists from Billie Eilish to Joni Mitchell to No Doubt, raised $100 million to help assist people in the immediate aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades Fires. Over the summer, the organizers came under a lot of scrutiny by some residents — and even President Donald Trump — who all questioned how the money was spent.
August Brown covers the music industry for the Los Angeles Times and made a lot of calls, trying to track down where the Fire Aid grants went, and how they were used. He’s got some answers for the skeptics, and shares them with host Kate Cagle.Guest: Los Angeles Times Reporter August BrownAugust’s Stories:
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-07-30/fireaid-retains-law-firm-to-review-grants-after-trumps-misleading-criticism https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-07-23/where-did-the-fireaid-money-gohttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-07-23/where-did-the-fireaid-money-go
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-18/fireaid-grants-50-million-la-wildfire-relief

No Way Out: Does LA Have Evacuation Plans In Place For The Next Disaster?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

On the morning of the Palisades Fire, streets were already gridlocked by the time the first widespread evacuation order was issued. Eventually, people were told to leave their cars behind and run, setting off a harrowing escape for many residents.For decades it was an open secret that the Pacific Palisades didn’t have enough roads out of town for people to evacuate effectively and efficiently during an emergency, and January 7th made that plain. It took over 6 hours to get everyone out.In the hope of preventing this type of situation, a state law was passed after the Camp Fire killed 85 people in Paradise, Calif., requiring cities and counties to do a detailed analysis of evacuation plans. That essentially meant outlining specific routes to take — not to take — during different scenarios, and how long it would to get everyone out of harm’s way. But so far the city has not provided evidence that it has done this, or said when it would provide it.The Los Angeles Times’ Noah Haggerty started looking into this and he joins Rebuilding LA host Kate Cagle to talk about it.

Guest: Noah Haggerty, LA Times reporter covering the environment, health, and science.

Nancy Cassaro-Fracchiolla, Pacific Palisades resident and former drama teacher at Palisades High

Noah’s Stories: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-07-31/la-councilmember-traci-park-pushes-city-to-analyze-evacuation-routes https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-07-25/l-a-fire-evacuation-plans-remain-untested

When Misinformation Muddies The Path

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A recent attempt by the California state legislature to create a Rebuilding Authority to help coordinate the recovery and restoration of neighborhoods burned in the Eaton and Palisades fire was met with backlash. The language in the proposed bill was confusing, but, also, some of the information circulating about it wasn’t true, stoking the fear and anger of some residents. The bill, SB 549, has since been tabled, and it’s unclear what the next step is for this idea of a Rebuilding Authority.

At the same time, concern over another building bill, now law, led local and state officials to quickly weaken its reach in the Pacific Palisades.

Los Angeles Times reporter Liam Dillon covers housing and recently wrote about all of this. He joins host Kate Cagle to talk about what happened and how some of these misconceptions could affect the rebuilding process.

What’s In The Soil

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Unlike in previous fire disasters, FEMA did not test the soil in the Eaton and Palisades burn area after debris was cleared, raising questions about whether or not any harmful substances were left behind. Fires that burn that hot through a neighborhood can release a complex mix of chemicals into the air, like arsenic, chromium, mercury and lead, that can seep deep into the ground and into the walls and floors of buildings still standing. A reporting team from the Los Angeles Times decided to take it upon themselves to investigate and do their own testing of the soil around homes that had been cleared and those still in tact. Some of the results were alarming.

Guests: Tony Briscoe, LA Times Environment Reporter, and Noah Haggerty, LA Times Science and Environment Reporter
Megan Lorick, Malibu Resident

A Sample of Tony and Noah’s Stories:

Communities are rebuilding after L.A. fires despite lack of soil testing for toxic substances

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-03-27/rebuilding-without-soil-testing
L.A. Times finds alarming levels of soil toxins in Altadena and Pacific Palisades

https://www.latimes.com/00000196-7dad-d12e-afbe-fffd3f110000-123

Pressure is mounting for soil testing post-fire cleanup. The Newsom administration is downplaying the concerns

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-06-12/elected-officials-call-for-soil-testing-after-la-wildfires
Nearly half of Pasadena Unified schools have contaminated soil, district finds

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-05-16/nearly-half-of-pasadena-unified-schools-have-contaminated-soil-district-finds

The Fire Trucks That Didn’t Come

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Nineteen people died during the Eaton Fire in January. All but one of them lived in neighborhoods west of Lake Avenue in Altadena. The 19th person lived just east of that border. It’s been reported that evacuation warnings were not issued in that neighborhood until early morning when the fire was already approaching people’s doorsteps. Now, a new investigation from the Los Angeles Times finds there was only one LA County Fire truck present at 3:08 AM as the flames swept into west Altadena. Reporter Rebecca Ellis looked into what happened and why. She joins host Kate Cagle to talk about it.Guests: Rebecca Ellis, LA Times Reporter
Victoria Knapp, Altadena resident and Chair of the Altadena Town CouncilRebecca’s story: A Times investigation: As west Altadena burned, L.A. County fire trucks stayed elsewhere: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-07-23/as-west-altadena-burned-county-fire-trucks-stayed-elsewhere

A Sustainable Path: LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath on the Fire Response and Her Vision For What Comes Next

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 21:04:43 +0000

As the neighborhoods hit hardest by the Palisades and Eaton Fires rebuild, modern building codes will largely ensure that houses and other structures will be more resilient. But what else needs to be done across these communities to make sure the next disaster isn’t as devastating? How do we rebuild in a way that makes the neighborhoods whole again and also safer, stronger, and less vulnerable? Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath has some thoughts. Her district runs from Santa Monica to Sylmar and includes the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and nearby unincorporated areas like Sunset Mesa, which all together lost nearly 7,000 structures in the Palisades Fire.In conjunction with the University of California, Los Angeles, and a panel of area experts, Supervisor Horvath has put together the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, which is full of proposals for updating the water infrastructure and alert systems in these fire prone areas, among other things, as well as creating a Rebuilding Authority to serve as a county-wide one-stop shop for guidance and resources on rebuilding.Supervisor Horvath joins host Kate Cagle to talk about the Commission and about the county response on January 7th and what’s being learned to ensure this level of devastation doesn’t occur again.We also hear from Allison Horldorff Polhill, a resident in the Pacific Palisades who lost her home on January 7.

Guests:
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
Allison Horldorff Polhill, Pacific Palisades Resident and Senior Advisor and District Director at Los Angeles Unified School DistrictBlue Ribbon Commission: https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/blue-ribbon-commission/
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-05-07/expert-commission-los-angeles-fires
Mayor Karen Bass Executive Order to Restrict SB 9 in the Pacific Palisades: https://mayor.lacity.gov/news/mayor-bass-issues-emergency-executive-order-prohibit-sb-9-applications-within-palisades-burn
LA Times: After outcry, L.A. restricts duplexes in Pacific Palisades: https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2025-07-30/after-outcry-l-a-restricts-duplexes-in-pacific-palisades
LA Times: Conspiracy theories thwart rebuilding plan after L.A. County wildfires
https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2025-07-17/affordable-housing-palisades-authority-failure
Santa Monica Daily Press: Ben Allen puts wildfire rebuilding bill on hold after mixed reaction in Assembly hearing
https://smdp.com/government-politics-2/ben-allen-puts-wildfire-rebuilding-bill-on-hold-after-mixed-reaction-in-assembly-hearing/

About One-third of Malibu Burned In The Palisades Fire. Where Does It Go From Here?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Of the areas in Southern California most prone to catching fire, Malibu is probably number one. It was hit by two fires last winter – the Franklin Fire, which forced evacuations from Pepperdine University, and January’s Palisades Fire, which burned all the way to the water, affecting about one-third of the town’s 20 square miles. On top of that, many residents are still rebuilding after the Woolsey fire in 2018 so emotions still remain pretty raw nearly seven months after the Palisades fire.

So where does Malibu go from here? Building in Malibu has its challenges with its hilly terrain and proximity to the Pacific. Can it rebuild in a sustainable way that preserves what’s left of Malibu’s bohemian past, keep out developers, and also better prepare the city for the next fire that will undoubtedly come? We hear from two LA locals, including long time LA Times reporter Jim Rainey, who lost their family homes. Plus we’ll talk to Yolanda Bundy, who is helping oversee fire recovery.

Guests:
LA Times reporter Jim Rainey
Yolanda Bundy, Director, Malibu’s Community Development Department
Wade Major, film critic for LAist’s Air Talk and resident of Malibu

Tapped Out: What We've Learned About Why A Key Reservoir Was Empty When The Fires Came

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

On January 6th, the National Weather Service issued a dire warning of a life threatening storm — Santa Anas so extreme it would be sure to topple trees, knock down power lines, and spread any fire that started.
But LA planned for this, right?Most climate scientists agree that a fire driven by hurricane force winds is impossible to fight, but some of LA’s emergency systems did break down in those first chaotic nights after the Palisades and Eaton fires started — and the finger pointing began almost immediately.A big source of residents' ire: an empty reservoir sitting above the Highlands in the Pacific Palisades. It’s hard to say whether it would have made a difference against the firefight had it been full of water. But the fact that it was empty raises the question of how prepared the city was for a disaster of this scale, and what’s being done to make sure we are ready for the next one.

Guests:
LA Times reporter Matt Hamilton
Pacific Palisades resident Peggy Holter

From free consultations to pre-approved plans inspired by a Sears catalog, local architects help Altadena rebuild

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Altadena has a “special sauce,” explains resident and architect Steve Lewis. This unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, is recognized for its small town feel, diversity and bohemian vibe.

It’s long been a haven for Black Angelenos who were unable to buy property elsewhere in LA due to redlining practices in. Artists like Charles White moved there. So did novelist Octavia Butler.

Not far from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Altadena’s has been home to scientists and artists alike — nurses and teachers, too.

It felt so perfect that some residents nicknamed it “Shangri-La.”

That mix was also reflected in the architecture, and it’s for all these reasons that so many are moved to preserve it and bring back what is lost in the Eaton Fire.

Guests:

Steven Lewis, architect, consultant, Thinking Leadership, AIA, NOMA
Jessica Orlando, architect, Perkins & Will, AIA
Alex Athenson, president and cofounder, The Foothill Catalog Foundation

Altadena resident Keni Arts

How Developers, Insurers, and ICE Raids are Impacting the Altadena Rebuild

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

It’s clear that some residents in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades will not be able to afford the rebuilding process — the costs or the time it will take. And beyond those practical concerns, there’s a bigger question for those who decide to stay: what will all the displacement mean for the greater community?

It’s a question reverberating pretty loudly throughout both the Palisades and Altadena, but this next episode looks specifically at the latter. Before the fires, home ownership in the area was pretty high at around 71 percent, but a lot of these homes were passed down through generations, and may not have been covered by insurance.

That makes Altadena particularly vulnerable.

California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez oversees District 25, which includes Altadena, and joins us to talk about this, and how she fears the immigration raids in LA will impact the rebuilding process.

Guests:

California State Senator Sasha Renée Perez
Altadena resident Yasmin Sotomayor

High Temps, Dry Brush, and Winds. How We Can Live Smarter In the Face of Climate-Fueled Fires.

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

When the Eaton and Palisades fires started in January, the winter in Southern California had been extremely dry. Following two very wet years and the hot summer in 2024, that meant the hillsides were covered with dry, desiccated grasses and chaparral. It was a lot of fuel for any fire. Layer in hurricane-force winds and disaster was pretty much inevitable.But that’s only part of the story. As we discussed in a previous episode, California already has a climate prone to catching fire. It has always burned and it always will. The hotter, drier days that are forecast to keep coming just exacerbate it.In this episode, we explore how a warming planet could increase conditions for urban conflagrations like the Palisades and Eaton fires to erupt — and what we can do to to live better, and safer, with a climate in which we know the winds will blow and another fire will start.First up, Altadena resident Kristin Sweredoski shares her story of why she decided pretty quickly to rebuild her home. Then, Rebuilding L.A. host Kate Cagle talks to L.A. Times Environment reporters Hayley Smith and Ian James about how climate change affected January’s fire, followed by UCLA climate scientist Alex Hall about the steps that could be taken by officials and individuals to reduce risks in these areas.Guests:Kristin Sweredoski, Altadena Resident
Hayley Smith, Environment Reporter, L.A. Times
Ian James, Staff Writer, focusing on water and climate change, L.A. Times
Alex Hall, Director, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Professor, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Sustainable LA Grand Challenge

Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative

The Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative homepage. The CWRI is an initiative of the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge.

LA is 'Built to Burn': What Can We Do About It?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Darius Derakshan) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The first big city fire in modern history here was the Bel-Air Fire in 1961. It destroyed 484 homes and triggered regulations and new safety standards. The one thing that didn’t change though: real-estate development deeper and higher into the hills, creating an even greater risk. This isn’t just an issue in LA either. It happens all over California and other communities that have faced climate related devastation in states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.

In this episode, we discuss the history here, what lessons were learned — and not — and how that can inform what we do this time around as we attempt to rebuild Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.

We will first hear from long-time Pacific Palisades resident Sue Kohl who raised her family here and currently serves as the president of the Palisades Town Council. Then we will turn to Jenny Jarvie, National Correspondent for the LA Times, and Char Miller, the W.M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College.

Where Do We Go From Here?

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Kate Cagle) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Pacific Palisades and Altadena will rebuild. In fact, with debris clearance on track to wrap up by the end of the year, some residents have already begun the process. But for many, the path is less clear. There are a lot of questions about how we will bring back 16,000 homes, schools, businesses, and community centers, and rebuild two beloved and vibrant communities. Can people afford to rebuild? Do residents have the energy or the time? Is the soil safe? Can we build back better, and more fire resilient?

LA Times reporter Liam Dillon joins us to talk about where we are in the moment as residents assess the path forward. How are people grappling with the decision to rebuild and, ultimately, what factors are playing into those plans? Also, Altadena resident and lawyer Kelsey Szamet shares her very personal story about her efforts to get back home to the town where she was born and raised, and now lives with her own family.

Introducing: Rebuilding L.A.

darius.derakshan@latimes.com (Kate Cagle) — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from real Angelenos working to restore their lives and rise from the ashes. “Rebuilding Los Angeles” is more than an essential resource for California — it’s a cautionary tale for everyone affected by climate change.