Vendors lined Alma Real and La Cruz for the PaliBu Expo.
The PaliBu Chamber of Commerce hosted their second recovery expo on a beautiful sunny day February 22. A prior Expo held in December gave residents a chance to speak to contractors, builders and architects, as well as City representatives. This one was similar, except the Goodyear Blimp was overhead in the background as the Genesis Invitational concluded that Sunday afternoon.
La Cruz between Sunset Boulevard and Swarthmore and on Alma Real to Toyopa were lined with booths.
One of the busiest tables was hosted by L.A. County Assessor Jeff Prang. Residents stopped by to understand the implications of their property assessment after the Palisades Fire. To sign up for Prang’s newsletter or to contact Prang, click here..
Another table that was busy was the Bureau of Street Services, as yet another Palisadian came up to them, one of the officials cut to the chase, “What street is the pothole on?”
Another Palisadian joked, they might as well ask, what street doesn’t have a pothole?
SoCal Edison, although not serving Pacific Palisades, was on hand for any Malibu residents that might need a question answered and they were giving out mini-first aid kits. Representatives from L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Councilmember Traci Park’s office were also available for questions.
Southern California Edison was giving away mini First Aid kits.
And then there were booths upon booths of professionals with building aids. There was everything from windows to flooring to steel framing.
Residents were able to not only pick up pens, but hats, cookies, water bottles, gift cards, and even rice crispy treats.
Legacy Home Builders, based in Thousand Oaks, acknowledged that many people might already have builders – but if anyone wanted a second opinion, they were happy to do it. (888) 925-3422.
On the other side of the street, Homebound was offering lattes and 11 different house plans to choose from. A representative said the plans were certified and once a plan was selected, a home could be built and someone could move in with nine months click here.
Palisadian Susan Sullivan had just organized a similar event in Pasadena the day before and was enjoying a walk through this event with her husband Brian. He had received a tape measure at one of the booths and joked “this event really measures up.”
“Both events were great and a chance for communities to gather,” Susan said.
Fancy feet dancers performed, members of the Theatre Palisades youth cast gave a preview of one of the numbers of this weekend’s musical “Guys and Dolls,” New Vibes Gymnastics were scheduled and in the background, the Amazing Music band provided a nice musical vibe for the event.
A resident wrote that Maryam Zar was introducing the head of FireAid to people yesterday and asked “How can a FireAid executive show her face when she squandered monies promised to help fire victims.”
Zar is the executive director of the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce and also a nonprofit, the Palisades Recovery Coalition. The resident was asked the name and responded, “I moved away as I didn’t want to ‘flame out.’”
CTN reached out to Zar about the FireAid rep. Zar replied, “I was glad to see Lisa Cleri Reale attended the Expo yesterday. I didn’t know she was coming — she wasn’t my guest — she was simply among the thousands of people who are estimated to have attended. For the few minutes I greeted with her at the American Legion Hall before and after the panel, I introduced her to Darragh Danton, and in that introduction she was able to share that Team Palisades is receiving a grant. It was a nice moment. It’s good to see Palisadian organizations moving ahead with recovery plans — each doing what they know best and contributing in their own way to the massive recovery ahead.”
Booth after booth of construction aids lined both sides of the street.