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LA Mayor Karen Bass used this lone house to claim she’s cutting red tape for wildfire victims — but owner says he’s had to fight at every turn
NY Post ^ | June 1, 2025 | Jared Downing

Posted on 06/02/2025 2:56:33 PM PDT by Twotone

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass used Walter Lopes’ Pacific Palisades home as a prop to pat herself on the back for helping the neighborhood rebuild after the January wildfires.

But The Post can reveal that Lopes’ house is the only structure standing for blocks and blocks in the charred, desolate neighborhood. And even he isn’t buying Bass’s narrative that rebuilding is going swiftly and smoothly.

Lopes said he was only able to get started so quickly because he was rebuilding his house exactly as it was constructed just a few years ago — and he’s shelled out millions of dollars and pulled out all the stops to get it done.

“I don’t agree that there are a lot of homes popping up,” Lopes said.

“I drove through my neighborhood yesterday, and I saw maybe one lot laying a foundation, and that was pretty much it.”

Other homeowners say they’re still in California bureaucratic hell — waiting for the government to clear debris, test for toxic chemicals left behind, fighting with insurance companies over payouts and trying to navigate the Golden State’s notoriously punitive homebuilding restrictions.

But Bass crowed in a May 26 X post that was accompanied by tear-jerker music, “Homes are under construction throughout the Palisades — ahead of expectations.

“We’ve taken action to cut red tape and expedite the permitting process to get families home.”

She also made a big show of meeting Lopes outside his house to talk about all she had done.

Lopes said he is grateful for the mayor’s visit but added he’s had to struggle with officials at every turn.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: basshole; california; fire; gaslighting; gavinnewsom; karenbass; liar; losangeles; mayor; wildfire

1 posted on 06/02/2025 2:56:33 PM PDT by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Rule #1 when meeting with commie rat politician. Call them out on their BS and set the record straight.

Never thank them for anything.


2 posted on 06/02/2025 3:02:23 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: shotgun
And have your rebuilding permits suddenly develop "problems".

Most people can not afford that.

3 posted on 06/02/2025 3:06:58 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: Twotone
As a Floridian with concrete building codes I have to wonder why fire zones are still building with wood?


4 posted on 06/02/2025 3:07:11 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: Teflonic

(Not So) Little House on the Prairie.


5 posted on 06/02/2025 3:10:48 PM PDT by Orosius
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To: Teflonic

Earthquakes.


6 posted on 06/02/2025 3:27:03 PM PDT by crz
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To: Teflonic

The few houses i was in years ago around there had a lot of smaller rooms and load distributing walls.
If there was a large room, there was cross members.

And those were homes built before manufactured trusses came along.

But, since your in FL. I have to ask. Why the huge overhang eves? A real wind grabber those.


7 posted on 06/02/2025 3:31:42 PM PDT by crz
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To: crz
But, since your in FL. I have to ask. Why the huge overhang eves? A real wind grabber those.

Florida roofs get crazy hot, need all the soffit ventilation you can get!

8 posted on 06/02/2025 3:41:49 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: Teflonic

Well i can understand that. But when the wind blows that bad, the roof goes.

Gets over 110 here in the summer regular. We put a vent fan in.

I always thought it was the rain for the reason they had huge overhangs.


9 posted on 06/02/2025 3:45:44 PM PDT by crz
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To: Twotone

Not according to the links on this FR thread...

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4319709/posts

Note to LA: You likely didn’t vote for this. Stolen elections have consequences. Secure your elections.


10 posted on 06/02/2025 3:46:11 PM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: Twotone

Too bad this story is in the NY Posr instead of the LA Times.


11 posted on 06/02/2025 3:46:21 PM PDT by aimhigh (1 John 3:23 "And THIS is His commandment . . . . ")
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To: crz

Rain comes down sideways in Florida so the overhang offers minimal rain defense. A well constructed cross hipped roof will shrug off hurricanes.


12 posted on 06/02/2025 4:16:08 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
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To: Twotone

answer? Annenberg Foundation plus more:

2 June: Youtube: 12mins: Jimmy Dore Show: Guess Who’s POCKETING The $100 Million Donated To The LA FireAid Concert!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2hvo-bHj0I


13 posted on 06/02/2025 4:37:37 PM PDT by MAGAthon ( )
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To: Twotone

Dumb location to build. People were lucky to make it out.
Check out Adam Carolla’s other videos on the cleanup.
Dirt lots are $2.4 million and up for a 1/4 acre....

This $100K/Month Fireproof Mansion Survived the LA Wildfires 🔥 The Adam Carolla Vlog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Nrqoy2Hsg

14,000sq/ft. home in a canyon. It rents at 100k a month...
To build one the sq/ft cost is $3,000, maybe $2,500.
If the foundation is already done then $1,800sq/ft if you already have materials at wholesale price. Retail more.

Smoke and heat damaged. Furnishings were thrown out because of smoke. Frigs worth 8k to 10k. Electronics damaged from heat and smoke will be replaced. Drains not working due to ash clogging as they become glue.
May take at least 1 year and counting to fix.
Meanwhile the neighbors will be waiting for a permit to build then years and years of construction all around you.


14 posted on 06/02/2025 7:57:22 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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To: Teflonic
Fellow Floridian here in Sarasota County.

How did you make out with Ian? You're right, our house is cinderblocks and rebar. We lost a few shingles but other than that no damage.

15 posted on 06/03/2025 4:08:50 AM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: Twotone

scumbags still in control


16 posted on 06/03/2025 4:16:39 AM PDT by ronnie raygun (t)
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To: Twotone

The most important thing is to preserve water pressure.

With water pressure you could act as your own firefighter by Internet lawn sprinkler remote control.


17 posted on 06/03/2025 6:01:24 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: mewzilla

The Pacific Palisades DIDN’T vote for it; Rick Caruso beat Karen Bass comfortably in the areas that burned, but she killed him in East LA ad South Central.


18 posted on 06/03/2025 8:47:59 AM PDT by LizzieD
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To: Twotone

Get a load of this on the clean up. Debris 8s being buried on the properties, not removed?? If true, holy moly...

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1929698017269240085


19 posted on 06/03/2025 12:08:19 PM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: mewzilla

The Corp of engineers did this OMG, so typical of government workers!!!!


20 posted on 06/03/2025 12:17:51 PM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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