SB 549 Takes Away Local Control for Rebuilding

The Rodeo Realty building on Via de la Paz has finished framing. The owner hopes to be in the building in December.

A Blue Ribbon Commission Report, a Recovery Coalition plan and a California Senate Bill all propose to tell those affected by the fires, how they should rebuild, who should be in charge and what should be done.

What’s missing? Input from actual fire victims/survivors, architects and builders – and if the plan is actually needed.

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath launched a Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on Climate Action and Fire Safety Recovery on February 13, 2025. The final version was released on June 20 click here and called for the creation of two new governance structures: Resilient Rebuilding Authority and Los Angeles County Fire Control District. It also recommended strategies to fast-track resilient rebuilds of homes and businesses affected by the January 7 Fires.

One community member analyzed the BRC “overall this feels like a group of academics seeking to use the Palisades as an experiment.”

Founder of the Palisades Recovery Coalition Maryam Zar was appreciative of Commission findings and was quoted when it was released. She presented a plan at an April 10 Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting  click here.. That plan included reconstruction logistics: workforce dwelling: material staging sites: traffic and road management: resilience (including fire-resistant construction and legislative action); communication and coordination.

SB 549, which was introduced by State Senator Ben Allen on February 20, seemed to be a well-intentioned way to help those impacted by fire and would establish a Resilient Rebuilding Authority for the Los Angeles Wildfires. The bill would also take away local control.

A special district and special administrator (appointed)  would be set up and have the power to issue and receive funds to support recovery, manage and coordinate rebuilding, purchase lots, work with builders to reconstruct properties, be able to purchase critical construction materials in bulk, support the reconstruction workforce by partnering  with trades and facilitate training and creating temporary worker housing.

Basically, this bill would take power away from local elected officials and appoint a special person to run this “Resilient Rebuilding Authority.”  It would be a little like hiring the head of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, who is not elected. It is unclear how that person would be appointed, the salary, or the way the person could be removed if ineffective in the post.

The Bill Text can be read in its entirety click here.,

The State Senator told the CTN Editor by phone on July 7 that the bill was only a draft but felt that the concept “merits a discussion.”

Before the bill will be voted on, he said, “it should involve a lot of discussion from the community.”

The bill was initially supposed to have its first hearing on July 2, and this editor asked why the rush? He explained that he had introduced the bill as a place holder.  (That first hearing was cancelled at the request of Allen).

“If we wanted to get something done this year, it had to be introduced before a certain date,” Allen said, and emphasized this was only a draft and that amendments were possible.

About rebuilding, this editor explained to the Senator that:

1) Not everyone is in a hurry to rebuild–for whatever reason.

2) For many people the difference between what insurance has paid or will pay for construction costs is a big gap. Many people were underinsured, and don’t have money or resources to start construction.

3) Interestingly enough, developers haven’t purchased lots in Pacific Palisades because they can’t make it work financially.

4) There are those who inherited family homes and are at a loss about how to go about rebuilding–they’ve never done it before, and the process seems overwhelming.

5) About 25% of the Palisades were seniors (retired-with no substantial income or savings to be used on a rebuild).

6)Finally, if people rebuild, they want assurances that a conflagration won’t happen again–and the cause of the fire and its spread have not been published.

Horvath is holding a townhall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via zoom on Wednesday, July 9, to discuss Resilient Rebuilding Authority. “What will it do? Why do we need it? How will it work? Join at bit.ly/RebuildAuthority Residents are told to bring their questions.

Resident Sharon Kilbride stands at the Mayor’s podium in front of a newly framed house on Depauw.