www.palisadesnews.com
June 2026 September 2025
Community Submit Comments on Data Shows Groups Rebuilding Progress in PostPalisades Long Term Recovery Plan Fire Palisades
contamination, insurance 1disputes to Pali Builds’ September analysis. and Board unanimously The numbers indicate remediation hurdles. Processing times for new building In a June averaged 3 memorandum to the Pacific approves permits around 63-77 a surge in permitting Palisades Community Council, the task days in summer months, up from 31 draft Long Term Recovery recommendations activity, particularly force days said in the March, suggesting growing Plan, prepared demands by AECOM, virtually administrative as applications from multiple ignores “standing homes” as a category in recent months increase. Pali Builds, founded by locals despite surveyin data acknowledging their to fill gaps official data, continues committees New data from Pali Builds, a existence. The phrase appears only in an tracking until the LA Mayor’s Office community platform tracking recovery appendix and is absent figures. from the plan’s provides comprehensive and task forces, from the January wildfires, shows main body, the group said. Home sales data through August 1 significant rebuilding momentum in reveals “Time160and lots emerging sold since evidence the Januaryare7 urging AECOM Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home demonstrating what million. standing home fires, totaling $477.7 permits approved since the fires and 160 residents have known January 2025: to incorporate The market showssince stark disparities lots sold generating nearly $478 million the issues facing homes that survived by area: Area 8 led with 11 sales at the an feedback and release in sales, highlighting a robust but uneven fire are not minor inconveniences,” task average $10.6 million and medianthe $10.2 market. force wrote. “They are complex, urgent, million, contributing $116.4 million ahousing revised The numbers draft indicate a surge in and in many cases in volume, while unresolved.” Area 2 had 16 sales permitting activity, particularly in recent averaging The Standing Task Force detailed $1.7 Homes million. Area 5 saw the It also urged protections for renters and with fire-resistant species. following the 2025 months. extensive contamination heavy condominium owners, insurance advocacy, most activity with 48 risks salesfrom averaging The Economic and Business Recovery From January to August 2025, Los metals, asbestos, dioxins, volatile organic $2.1 million. Buyer composition from and health monitoring programs. Task Force recommended sharpening Fire Angeles approved 179 new homes in compounds and lithium from January to July includedcompounds 85 individuals The task force noted that even developer the plan’s project list to focus on “musttheCommunity 90272 zip advisory code, with approvals groups have accelerating over time: only two submitted detailed critiques of in theMarch draft but jumping to 76 in August, according Long Term Recovery Plan for Pacific Palisades, urging major revisions to better address contamination in homes that survived the 2025 Palisades Fire, infrastructure vulnerabilities and evacuation challenges. The Standing Homes Advisory Task Force highlighted what it called the plan’s near-total failure to recognize the distinct and urgent needs of residents whose homes remained standing but face toxic
burned vehicles(40%), and batteries. It (53%), electric 64 entities and 11 criticized plan for relying on CAL unknown the (7%), pointing to substantial FIRE’s DINSinvestment classifications, focus institutional in thewhich recovery. on visible external damage and do not account for internal smoke infiltration or pyrolysis effects. The group called for individualized indoor air quality testing, clear remediation and clearance standards, funded structural assessments for hidden damage, and dedicated grant along with cityprograms leaders — andparticularly officials, for seniors and low-income residents rallied against the bill. “SB 79 — is rather than rebates requiring upfront costs. 100 times worse than existing laws,”
Rick Caruso opted for full demolition to the studs at Palisades Village, calling it a “gold standard” that contrasts with lighter approaches often pushed on homeowners. The PPCC Infrastructure Committee stressed water security, urging faster restoration of local reservoirs for firefighting and improvements to hydrants and water pressure. It called for accelerated undergrounding of power and telecom lines, better coordination on street resurfacing to avoid repeated digging, and a comprehensive urban forest master plan
Pacific Palisades Residents Association President Jessica Rogers said, warning of risks in wildfire-prone areas like the Palisades, citing inadequate evacuation routes and infrastructure strain. In August, the Los Angeles City Council voted 8–5 in opposition to SB 79, led by Councilwoman Traci Park and Councilmember John Lee. Park, whose district includes the Palisades, called it a “Sacramento to hijack California’s largest raisinattempt companies, faces local planning,” silencing residents. The three felony counts — including a hate Pacific Palisades Community Council crime enhancement — after authorities say also urgedantisemitic Newsom threats to veto theJewish bill, he directed at his referencing emergency order limiting neighbors in his Pacific Palisades for months. dense housingtointhe fireLos zones. According Angeles County “This bill opens the court floodgates District Attorney’s Office and records for developers, displacement, reported by the Los Angeles Times and and gentrification, no with regard for our ABC7, Lion waswith charged one count of neighborhoods,” Park said ofinsomeone’s a Sept. using threats or force because 13 statement, that Los Angeles beliefs and two noting counts of making criminal has thousands of housing units threats with intent to terrorize. All under three construction. 79,crime she argued, would charges includeSBhate enhancements. undermine planning to place If convicted years on all ofcounts, he could face housing along corridors. up to nine yearstransit and four months in state Days after its passage, Park introduced prison. a The motion departments mostdirecting serious city alleged incident to conduct a comprehensive occurred around 8 p.m. on June 5 90-day during
a Shabbat evening prayer service at the home of Rabbi Zushe Cunin, director of the Chabad Jewish Community Center, who lives next door to Lion. Prosecutors say Lion stood on his balcony and shouted antisemitic vitriol and death threats at the gathering, the DA’s office and ABC7 reported. Cunin told the Los Angeles Times that Lion had been harassing his Jewish neighbors for weeks, including allegedly telling the rabbi’s wife, “I hate you, Jews. You killed my lord and savior. Your assessment of SB 79. The motion husband killed my lord and savior,” and instructs thea congregant’s Departments of rabbi City hosing down car. The Planning, Transportation, and Housing, said neighbors called police almost daily alongdescribed with the the Citybehavior Attorney,astothe analyze and most the bill’s effects. The report will include intense antisemitism he had encountered in
haves,” creating small agile teams for immediate needs such as population tracking and unmet needs surveys, and advancing unfunded priorities through targeted actions. The Evacuation Capabilities Task Force described current routes as “extremely limited” and pushed for better modeling, communication systems, additional water storage, new escape routes, and restrictions during Red Flag warnings. It also called for community drills and improved coordination with public safety agencies.
Lawmakers Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry Over Local Control Loss Some decried the bill, now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, for ignoring traffic, infrastructure, environmental, and public safety concerns
What We Know About Bruce Alfred: The Raisin Company Heir Who Made Threats to Jewish Palisadians By Zach Armstrong Lion had reportedly California lawmakers approved been harassing his Senate Bill 79, a controversial housing mandate some have decried for ignoring Jewish neighbors infrastructure and public safety concerns, in mid-September, prompting fierce for weeks, including opposition from Los Angeles leaders. allegedly theScott The legislation, telling authored by Sen. Wiener (D–San Francisco), allows for rabbi’s wife, “Idevelopment hate more multi-family housing near transit stops, permitting taller and you, Jews.” denser buildings closer to major transit hubs agencies his to Lionand had allowing reportedlytransit been harassing build onneighbors their ownforland. The including bill also Jewish weeks, requires atelling sharethe of rabbi’s affordable allegedly wife,housing “I hate unitsJews. in new projects. you, You killed my lord and savior.” In lateAlfred August, a crowd Palisadians, Bruce Lion, 64, anofheir to one of
maps than of areas within a in quarter-mile and more 30 years living the community. half-mile transit by stops subject to SB Lion wasofarrested Los Angeles police 79, June impacts on rent-stabilized on 13. Video of the arresthousing, showed him shouting profanity, ABC7 reported. historic districts, coastal zones, and Continue high-risk fire and tsunami areas. on page 2