The Pacific Palisades Community Council is trying to represent views of displaced residents to state, county and city officials through a NORC survey.
NORC at the University of Chicago, a research organization, was hired by the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) in May at a cost of $172,750. NORC promised they would deliver rigorous evidence for PPCC to present to the City and County government “about the wishes of the community and to help shape the debate and planning to reflect residents’ preferences.”
NORC (formerly known as the National Opinion Research Center), a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization would do a survey of residents: “homeowners and renters, including people whose homes were destroyed, damaged, and/or unharmed; people who have already returned, plan to return, don’t plan to return, or are still undecided.”
The first thing NORC did was hold focus groups to help them devise questions for the survey (a four- to six-week process).
NORC took three to four weeks to develop the questionnaire.
Currently NORC is in the Survey Data Collection, which will take six to eight weeks.
NORC is estimating that after they have the data, the analysis and report writing will take an additional three to four weeks.
According to the NORC website “NORC will use a robust sample locating strategy—combining HOA lists, GIS mapping, and public and commercial databases—to reach all households in the area. The web survey will be distributed via email and text.”
Several people received the survey and had issues with the questions. Others such as this editor, a 30-year resident, did not.
*A resident wrote: “About the survey. It asked if you’d be willing to live elsewhere for a longer period of time if that would be helpful to re construction related issues. I’d be happy to do but could not afford it.”
*One wrote, “I started the survey and quit after seeing that you had to answer everything. I don’t intend to try again. It seems like a waste of my time.”
*Another said: “ I was one of the survey recipients. My sense was that it was a bit off base but not offensive. There were questions that were open-ended. I started putting in information that’s of concern to me. Let’s hope that others did that.”
* One said, that the survey asked, “Would you delay and pause your rebuilding by at least one year so town infrastructure can we worked on?” (Is the PPCC going to pay for my ALE and increased construction costs?) We are already building. What about the people moving back home to standing houses, are they supposed to not move back?)
*Another wrote: “I did get one that was asking odd questions and for personal information that seemed out of place.”
* A resident said, “I also did not receive a survey. I have five family members who also resided in the Palisades for years prior to losing their homes in the firestorm. They too did not receive the survey. Lots of questions about the survey- – Is it worthwhile? Will the results be self-serving to special interests or any particular individuals? And I agree with you – – property owners will build if and when they are ready to do so. Pending and current state and city regulations, elected and appointed city and county officials who are financially compromised, and insurance, are real reasons for delays.”
* Another said: “The survey I received does not accept California as my state address nor any other designation such as Ca, or Calif. so the survey is stopped at that point.”
* A resident wrote: “There are some very alarming questions in there. Do you support a construction workforce housing in town? Do you support 24 hour a day construction? Do you support workforce housing for people who work in the town? And here’s the kicker – would you support a property tax increase to create a community led rebuild council? There’s also a few density questions in there too. All these seem like horrible ideas. I hope you get a chance to read the survey, I don’t know what the agenda is.”
*“I received and spent 15 minutes with the NORC survey. It was a complete waste of time, and I’m shocked that PPCC spent money on it.”
* Yet, another resident wrote, “I am very concerned by this survey. It seems to have have preordained certain things they would like to happen such as:
- Wanting a centralized authority for rebuilding
- Wanting zone zero (which are not current fire based science)
- Wanting increased development in the Palisades
- Wanting to increase taxes for Palisades residents to pay for the community they burned down.
- Wanting us to delay rebuilding of homes so they can focus on rebuilding the community.
“This is simply not a very well executed survey unless you want the above items.”
On September 29, this editor received an email: “We live in the Highlands Pacific Palisades and would be interested in taking the survey. What would be the next step?”
This editor reached out to PPCC President Sue Kohl, who said that people who had not received the survey could fill out the link. Contact Info. The survey would be sent.
The resident filled out the link (as did this editor), but neither of us received the survey.
This editor contacted Kohl today. She received an October 1 email from NORC, which wrote. “The team has a process for verifying contact information associated with addresses for folks who submit the contact info form and will then send the survey to newly verified contacts in batches. The next batch is scheduled to go out today at 5:30 p.m.”
Promptly at 5:30 p.m., I received the survey, the promise of a $5 Amazon card and the note: “The survey may close once we receive enough responses, so please get started as soon as you can to ensure your views are represented. To take the survey, simply click here, or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to begin. If you started the survey but were unable to finish, the link will take you to where you left off and you will NOT need to start over.
https://norcfed.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Hr2FGppyp8BXGS?Q_DL=Yax1VlpzUlOr3lE_1Hr2FGppyp8BXGS_CGC_6hEqfXrypBGqKu7&Q_RD=EMD_Kq3JjhpstppTVYN&Q_CHL=email
(Editor’s note: PPCC was asked if they could find out from NORC how many surveys they sent out and how many responses they received.)
Glad you asked about how many surveys are sent out and the response rate. That is considered market research 101, and for sure the PPCC should get that information. I also did not get a survey. NORC should also be providing a break-down of how many surveys were sent to each resident category (i.e. not burned, completely burned, some damage, plan to move back, plan to relocate, etc.).
Had no idea the Community Council had that kind of money to throw around.
Sounds like a waste of time and money!
As every question needed to be answered, I did not finish the entire survey. I tried to return to it today , 10/2/2025 and my session expired. How do I gain access to the unfinished survey. To be honest, as it was so long ago I don’t even remember starting the survey as I have been inundated w/ dozens of other time sensitive items related to navigating the “Expedited LADB&S permiting rules that were constantly changing , fighting w/ my insurance company and just generally trying to hold everything together.
As every question needed to be answered, I did not finish the entire survey. I tried to return to it today , 10/2/2025 and my session expired. How do I gain access to the unfinished survey. To be honest, as it was so long ago I don’t even remember starting the survey as I have been inundated w/ dozens of other time sensitive items related to navigating the “Expedited LADB&S permiting rules that were constantly changing , fighting w/ my insurance company and just generally trying to hold everything together.
We received the survey … we moved exactly a year before the fire … I replied to the email such, and said it would be better to send survey to actual residents who lived in PP at the time of the fire. I have since received 2-3 more emails requesting I fill out the survey .
Based on that and your reporting above , I think it is a waste of time . And, the amount of money spent on it could have been put to better use in the community directly.
NORC is the most trusted resource by the government to implement decisions in disaster relief. They helped with Super Storm Sandy as well, and why it was decided they were the best organization to use in getting FEMA funding directed to our area.
The Riviera Foundation gave a generous donation to support this effort. Please take the time to fill out and if you did not receive one, email http://www.ppccstudy@norc.org.
Many hours went into preparing this survey to help rebuild our community. You can waive the $5 fee which helps in costs as well. However, it’s important to fill out to help the Palisades rebuild.
Yet, another resident wrote, “I am very concerned by this survey. It seems to have have preordained certain things they would like to happen such as:
Wanting a centralized authority for rebuilding
Wanting zone zero (which are not current fire based science)
Wanting increased development in the Palisades
Wanting to increase taxes for Palisades residents to pay for the community they burned down.
Wanting us to delay rebuilding of homes so they can focus on rebuilding the community.
“This is simply not a very well executed survey unless you want the above items.”
BINGO!!!!
“The survey may close once we receive enough responses, so please get started as soon as you can to ensure your views are represented.
Translation: We’ll close the survey as soon as we get enough data to support our already decided conclusions.