Category Archives: FireAid
FireAid Money for Pali Strong Wasn’t Vein’s Idea
Larry Vein’s Pali Strong received $500,000 in the second round of FireAid Grants made in June 2025. The grant noted that PaliStrong provided “critical relief and recovery information to Palisades residents via Zoom educational sessions and group text messages as...
Posted in FireAid
7 Comments
VIEWPOINT: Governor’s Done Nothing for Palisades Residents
On April 30 social media X, Governor Gavin Newsom wrote: “Let’s be clear: LA fire survivors who lost their homes shouldn’t have to pay property taxes based on a value of a property that no longer exists. Today my office...
Posted in FireAid, Governor Newsom
5 Comments
Larry Vein Sudden Passing on April 27
Last night Palisadian Larry Vein ended his life. He was 60. The family is devastated. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said, “I’m absolutely heartbroken and still in shock. Larry was such a bright light and always had a smile and the...
Posted in FireAid, Palisades Fire
6 Comments
Library Opened. Portable Buildings Cost $380,000, Supplies $106,000
About 30 people gathered on February 27 for the opening of the two portable buildings that had been placed on the Palisades Library parking lot at 861 Alma Real. The public library was one of 7,000 residences/commercial structures and public...
Posted in City, City Councilmember Park, FireAid
4 Comments
LETTERS ABOUT FIREAID: Find Out More, Stop Being Mean
STATUS OF PALISTRONG: In response to daily running a new nonprofit that was given money from FireAid, some of which are not even located in either Altadena or Pacific Palisades, I’ve received two responses: Thank you for your ongoing...
Posted in FireAid
20 Comments
FireAid Funds Misspent According to House Judiciary Committee
An interim staff report January 6, 2026, from the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee noted that some FireAid funds had not been used for the intended purpose click here. The committee wrote “based on internal documents reviewed by the...
Posted in FireAid
2 Comments
Consumer Watchdog: Insurance Commissioner Lara Pushed More on Fair Plan
BY JAMIE COURT (This article “New York Times Investigation Finds Lara’s Plan Incentivized Insurers’ Dumping of Policyholders Prior to LA Fires, Doubling FAIR Plan Enrollment first appeared on Consumer Watchdog on November 3 and is reprinted with permission.) A New...
Posted in FireAid
5 Comments
“After the Fire USA” Threatens CTN with Lawsuit Over FireAid Coverage
“After the Fire USA” (formerly Rebuild North Bay Foundation a nonprofit), threatens CTN with lawsuit. Circling the News stands by its reporting and calls for transparency in wildfire relief funds. CTN also ran the nonprofit’s full written response. “After the...
Posted in FireAid
9 Comments
VIEWPOINT: Pali Strong and Other Nonprofits Receiving FireAid Questioned
Circling the News has been asked for months to query Larry Vein about the half million he received from FireAid. Of the $500,000 he received, he said he’s only spent 20 percent ($100,000). Many asked why it was only this...
Posted in FireAid
10 Comments
Fire Aid Money Never Went to Victims
A resident of Tahitian Terrace, a mobile home park in Pacific Palisades with 158 homes, wrote that they had just applied to L.A. County for a Household relief grant. “After applying with a very detailed application, called several times to...
Posted in FireAid
6 Comments