There were gates that prevent people from going back to their properties in the Palisades Bowl after the fire.
(Editor’s note: The following letters was sent to Lee Zeldin, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency and President Donald Trump’s choice to examine the Palisades Fire Rebuild. The letter was cc’d to Circling the News. It is printed with permission.)
Administrator Zeldin,
My name is Jon Brown and I serve as President of the Palisades Bowl Community Group in Pacific Palisades, California.
I am writing on behalf of approximately 400 residents who were displaced when the Palisades Fire destroyed the Palisades Bowl Mobile Home Park in January 2025.
Palisades Bowl was home to roughly 170 households and represents the last remaining coastal affordable housing community in Pacific Palisades. Our residents include seniors on fixed incomes, young families, teachers, lifeguards, veterans, and other essential members of the local workforce.
Following the fire, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety declared the site a public nuisance due to conditions at the property. Cleanup and remediation were significantly delayed, raising concerns among residents about the handling of burned structures and debris, particularly given the property’s proximity to coastal stormwater systems that ultimately flow toward Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Despite hundreds of displaced residents and approximately 170 active residential leases tied to the property, the owners have not meaningfully engaged with residents or local leaders about restoring the infrastructure necessary for rebuilding. At the same time, the property has been marketed to potential buyers as a “blank slate for redevelopment.”
This situation has drawn concern and support from numerous local leaders and organizations, including Mayor Karen Bass, Councilwoman Traci Park, State Senator Ben Allen, County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Jessica Rogers of the Los Angeles Long-Term Recovery Group, Rick Caruso, Sue Kohl (President of the Pacific Palisades Community Council), and housing advocate Maryam Zar.
I have attached a brief one-page summary outlining the situation and the environmental concerns tied to the site.
There are viable solutions that could allow the site to be responsibly remediated and rebuilt. Any entity willing to assist would have the opportunity to help bring home hundreds of displaced residents — including seniors, young families, teachers, lifeguards, and veterans — who simply want the opportunity to return to their community.
If you or a member of your team would be willing to meet, even briefly, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide additional context and discuss the environmental and community recovery issues surrounding this property.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Jon Brown, President, Palisades Bowl Committee