{"id":457960,"date":"2025-12-19T14:52:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/457960\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:52:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:52:17","slug":"a-greatest-hits-of-l-a-fire-reform-proposals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/457960\/","title":{"rendered":"A ‘greatest hits’ of L.A. fire reform proposals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Times came out this week with a rigorous and compelling look<\/a> at the twin fire calamities in January. It\u2019s worth a read. It landed at about the same time that a pair of environmental organizations released a report, a sort of \u201cgreatest hits,\u201d to try to jump-start the kinds of fixes recommended in more than a dozen other post-fire reviews.<\/p>\n

The analysis by Climate Resolve and Resilient Cities Catalyst \u2014 entitled \u201cThink Big and Act Boldly\u201d<\/a> \u2014 concluded prior fire recovery efforts had been \u201crobust\u201d but \u201cdisorganized\u201d and \u201cwithout a clear north star or obvious leader to direct efforts.\u201d <\/p>\n

It recommends four major initiatives, including a rigorous independent review of failed communications systems and a coordinated drive by charities to help pay for home \u201chardening\u201d that many rebuilding homeowners can\u2019t afford.<\/p>\n

You’re reading the Essential California newsletter <\/p>\n

L.A. Times reporters guide you through the most important news, features and recommendations of the morning.<\/p>\n

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a> and our Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Here a little more detail on two other recommendations the groups say would help cut through the clutter:<\/p>\n

Post-fire authorities \"Empty <\/p>\n

Empty lots in Altadena. <\/p>\n

(Myung J. Chun \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The report imagines not one but three geographically distinct authorities to spur rebuilding in Altadena, Pacific Palisades and in Malibu and unincorporated neighborhoods on the Westside.<\/p>\n

The report called it \u201cpolitically unfeasible\u201d to throw the city of L.A. together with the other government entities and added that three distinct outfits would do a better job of driving planning and reconstruction in the distinct fire zones.<\/p>\n

The authorities \u201cwould be empowered to purchase and sell land, to aggregate properties, negotiate with builders, and through economies of scale, reduce the cost of rebuilding. They also would \u201ccoordinate other rebuilding efforts, assisting with the logistics of truck deliveries and workforce housing\u201d and issue bonds to underwrite infrastructure improvements.<\/p>\n

The county Board of Supervisors is awaiting recommendations from its legal team on how to advance a similar proposal.<\/p>\n

Creating a \u2018resiliency district\u2019<\/p>\n

This entity could help the county raise and spend money for disaster prevention, not just response. <\/p>\n

The report envisions funding improvements via $600 million that could be collected annually from a quarter-cent sales tax and help stave off or minimize damage from future wildfires, floods, heat waves and earthquakes.<\/p>\n

In the San Gabriel Mountains, that might mean capturing more rainwater and clearing debris basins more thoroughly. Throughout the county, it could mean hiring auditors to identify home vulnerabilities, paving the way for bulk purchases of such items as noncombustible siding and fencing and ember-resistant vents. It could include the expansion of brace-and-bolt programs to minimize damage in quakes.<\/p>\n

Climate Resolve executive director Jonathan Parfrey said surveys show that people want to be better prepared for future natural disasters. Still, he acknowledged that creating the special district would be a \u201cbig lift\u201d \u2014 requiring the Legislature to increase the local sales tax limit and then for supporters to mount a successful ballot initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe upside is that there would be funding to help us get ready for not only the next fire, but for heat waves, for seismic events, for floods,\u201d Parfrey said. \u201cIt would benefit most of the L.A. County public. These fires have really landed and made people think \u2018We\u2019ve got to do something.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s top stories \"Remnants <\/p>\n

Remnants of a home that burned in the Palisades fire along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.<\/p>\n

(Kayla Bartkowski\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

After the fires \u2014 what went wrongReiner murder investigationNext stop for the Pineapple Express? Possibly California<\/p>\n