Posted on 01/27/2025 3:47:46 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
The town hall was billed as way for Pacific Palisades residents to learn about clearing debris from their charred lots.
But Sunday’s event in Santa Monica quickly turned into a free-for-all as frustrated residents pressed officials on an array of issues.
Over 2½ hours, locals sought timelines and answers on the government’s plans for helping them recover from the Jan. 7 firestorm, which has burned more than 23,400 acres and destroyed thousands of homes.
Others in the crowd simply lobbed questions at the panel.
“I have a standing house in the middle of a burn zone, how do I protect that house?” one man said.
Displaced Pacific Palisades residents are navigating a new reality, including facing a potentially lengthy time to rebuild. They must deal with a layer of government agencies as they seek to return to their fire-ravaged properties.
At Sunday’s event, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and other elected officials responded to dozens of audience questions. Federal and county representatives described the blaze’s effects on house foundations, soil and trees, and the rebuilding process.
Sherman revealed that the average cost of debris removal for homes from another recent fire was $170,000 — a potential factor for residents who are looking to hire a private contractor to clear their lots.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is offering to clear away the debris at no charge. Residents can opt in or out of the government service.
Mark Pestrella, the director of Los Angeles County Public Works, encouraged neighbors to work together to sign up for the public debris removal process, explaining that it will be faster if there are clusters of homes. At a meeting last week hosted by the Palisades Pacific Community Council, officials said the debris removal process would take up to 18 months.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
“They must deal with a layer of government agencies...”
...that they voted for!
18 months should see all homes rebuilt. Debris clearing should take a few weeks IF California mis-government would get out of the way.
Not everyone voted for it.
Some of the California selections, er, elections had votes 4-5 days after election day was over.
But Palisades was 72% for Kamala. Feel bad for the 28%!
Newsom and Bass have finally divided them.
remember friends...it’s climate change at fault, not waterless fire plugs and burnable debris build-up and ESPECIALLY not the fault of local governments failure to have working fire trucks and enough trained manpower to man them. climate change. what CAN’T it do.
Trump said let them in to clean up.
He needs to send federal marshalls to enforce that.
Arrest any bureaucrat that gets in the way.
Watch as modern day carpet baggers move in and start buying property for pennies on the dollar.
<>which has burned more than 23,400 acres<>
I lived on my grandparent’s farm for a few years.
I know what one square mile looks like.
23,400 acres is over 36 square miles.
Unimaginable devastation.
Did you see that CF of a meeting? The speakers were almost all fools. The Corps Colonel shook and hung his head in shame.
The cleanup won’t even start til next year, plenty of time to bitch and complain...
Trump should insist Bass and Newsome appoint Rick Caruso as Overseer of the entire area clearance (in one swath via Army Corps) and the rebuild.
In March of 2022 a client’s 3 story, 140 ft long dairy barn burnt to the ground. Totally gone.
They were in the lower level milking when it caught fire, so the managed to get all the cows out.
Fourteen days later, the entire barn was rebuilt to the same size and they were moving the cows back in and milking again.
I forgot to mention that my client is Amish and the community of over 250 men came to help clean up the mess and rebuild.
They even pitched in the money to pay for the materials.
The only obstacle was a local code enforcement officer who was told to back off when the commissioners were told by the Amish that they were going to register to vote. They normally do not vote.
They had sufficient numbers to replace all the current government.
Sweet.
It’s obvious that zero planning had been done, or even thought about, prior to these meetings. Government by seat of the pants.
Look how many homes have been rebuilt in Paradise, California and how many years ago was that.
You couldn't get me within a hundred miles of that toxic mess.
I've been on house construction crews.
If you own a lot with a million dollar ocean view would you sell it for pennies on the dollar?
You mean like Oprah on Maui?
Her in the South when a rural house burns the family is usually out there cleaning up while the embers are still smoking.
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