(Editor’s note: The following request was made and CTN is sharing it. FYI, I shared my thoughts about what made Palisades special.)
My name is David Rodriguez and I’m the Partnerships Producer at LAist.
As residents navigate the recovery after the fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, LAist is working on an illustrated project to highlight your memories. It’ll be illustrated by me, David Rodriguez, a producer on LAist’s community engagement team, a longtime artist and a fire survivor myself.
We’ll read through your submissions and pick a selection that will be illustrated using the digital app Procreate. Through our shared experience, I’ll help bring your visions to life. click here.
We’re planning to stop taking responses to our survey on Monday, September 15.
Thank you very much.
Pacific Palisades was a village. Awaking early each morning, I almost felt like I was in summer camp-surrounded by nature and the warmth of neighbors greeting good morning. Always feeling secure and unbelievably lucky, it was even a pleasure to market at village markets where greeting and news met with hugs and warm smiles.
Living on a cul de sac, we had a list of all the neighbor’s contact info. The sound of children playing, the scent of bacon cooking in the morning, the smell of wood burning in fireplaces-probably mostly ours-was delightful. We shared our apprehension on very windy days but never anticipated the devastation that would be upon us all.
The houses that burned were random on our street. No hardening, pruning nor landscaping could have prevented the destruction.
What we all wish for is water availability to fight the fires, fire trucks that can provide
help, timely notices to evacuate, and utilities that can aid in fire fighting, not contribute to fire danger.
We are staying, remediating, and hoping…..