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MONDAY, OCTOBER 06-OCTOBER 12, 2025
County analysis spotlights LA wildfires’ economic toll, recovery trends By Joe Taglieri
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| Image courtesy of Los Angeles County
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nos,” LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “This analysis makes clear the economic toll we are still reckoning with, but it also highlights the strength and resilience driving our recovery. We are not just rebuilding structures; we are rebuilding lives, jobs, and hope for the future.” The DEO and EDC are in the midst of a yearlong economic impact study with quarterly public updates on recovery efforts and economic impacts of the wind-fueled firestorm that devastated Altadena, Pacific Palisades and nearby communities in January. According to the agencies: • The Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures, including over 11,600 residences, 100 schools and nearly 200 commercial buildings. • Combined, the burn areas and “secondary fire areas” impacted more than
6,800 businesses and over 47,000 workers. • Businesses in burn areas generated $1.4 billion annually prior to the fires, with secondary fire areas accounting for $6.8 billion in annual revenue. • “The majority of secondary disruption occurred in the Eaton area, which represented 76% of affected businesses and 75% of job losses in SFAs,” officials reported. “Secondary” impacts include significant disruption in an area due to evacuation orders, smoke conditions and business closures, officials said. The county also reported these “recovery indicators”: • As of July 31, 93% of filed insurance claims had been partially paid, totaling $20.4 billion. • 95% of destroyed or damaged parcels were See LA wildfires Page 24
LA breaks ground on $2.6B Convention Center expansion By Jose Herrera, City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
study by Los Angeles County agencies outlined rebuilding and recovery efforts and reported on the billions of dollars lost and other economic impacts as a result of the January wildfires, officials announced Wednesday. For the next four years losses were projected between $5.2 billion and $10.1 billion impacting 28,000 to 55,000 “job-years,” which refers to the number of people working during a 12-month period, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity and LA County Economic Development Corp.’s Institute for Applied Economics. Workers’ income losses were estimated at $2.2 billion to $4.2 billion, and tax revenue losses for governments could total $900 million to $1.6 billion. “The January wildfires have tested our communities in unimaginable ways — taking homes, livelihoods, and peace of mind from tens of thousands of Angele-
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cleared of debris within seven months. • Nearly 800 rebuilding permits have been issued with an average processing time of 52 business days. • Short-term rent spikes occurred in fire-adjacent ZIP codes, with rents returning to 2024 trend levels within six months. • Housing listings and sales in affected communities did not show evidence of mass resident flight. “As we continue the work of rebuilding after the January wildfires, this economic analysis underscores the profound impact on our communities — from lost homes and businesses to displaced jobs,” county Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “It is critical that all levels of government understand these
lected officials, dignitaries and downtown residents conducted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the recently approved $2.6 billion Convention Center Expansion and Modernization Project, as Los Angeles races to prepare the facility for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During a news conference outside the facility, Mayor Karen Bass and City Council members, among others, placed gold-colored shovels into the ground to mark the start of construction. The project will be built through a phaseddelivery approach, meaning construction will occur leading up to Games, pause for the event, and continue through completion for 2029. “The expansion of the LA Convention Center is crucial to our effort to revitalize the downtown area, create new economic opportunities and send a message to the world that LA is ready to compete and win on the global stage,” Bass said in a statement. “I want to thank the City Council for taking the bold action needed to initiate this project, and I also want to acknowledge our labor leaders for their partnership as well. I look forward to working with all of our partners to deliver this expansion on-time and in a fiscally responsible manner,” her statement continued. Councilman Curren Price, who attended the ceremony, suffered a medical emergency as a result of dehydration, according to his office. Price, who represents the Ninth Council District, was taken to a hospital to be monitored.
The expansion will connect the site’s West Hall with the South Hall, adding 190,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting room space, and 95,000 square feet for a multi-service room. The council authorized $990 million in bonds to fund the project — with the debt service paid through 2058. Bass previously announced that the Los Angeles Police Department will deploy foot patrols and trained bike officers around the downtown area to deter crime during the project, as well as trained mental health teams. Coordinated teams will also remove graffiti, and beautify major streets and public spaces. Last week, Bass signed an executive directive aimed at streamlining and expediting projects by the city’s three proprietary departments — Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power. The Convention Center is expected to benefit from this effort. City officials expect the project to generate significant economic impact by adding nearly 9,000 union jobs and 1,600 apprenticeships, $1.8 billion in additional local business sales, $103 million in tax revenue for city services and 3.6 million visitors annually. The Convention Center is slated to be the venue for fencing, taekwondo, judo, wrestling and table tennis for the 2028 Olympics and wheelchair fencing, taekwondo, judo, boccia and table tennis for the 2028 Paralympics. City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo said the city will finance $3.06 billion
See Convention Center Page 24