Three lights shoot up over Caruso’s Palisades Village, merging into one. Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
Residents of Pacific Palisades gathered on January 7, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles fires with a moment of remembrance.
At 6:30 p.m. prayers were led first by St. Monica Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson and then Rabbi Zushi Cunin, who spoke about gratitude, hope and moving forward.
Developer Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village is still standing, after the fire. Two of his adult children, who lived in Pacific Palisades lost their homes.
Caruso said that three beams of light rise from the heart of the Village, honoring the victims and survivors of the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu communities.
As the beams rise, they unite into one light, symbolizing the unity between the impacted communities and of the strength and resilience of all Angelenos.
Initially Caruso said, he had planned to only have them illuminated through January 11, but his son Alex told him people suffered beyond that first week of the fire and the decision was to keep the lights illuminated through January 31, as an ongoing tribute to those impacted and the enduring resilience of Angelenos.
It was a brief ceremony because it was mentioned that Caruso was going to celebrate his birthday with a dinner with his family.
The crowd spontaneously started singing “Happy Birthday.” Palisades Village is slated to reopen August 2026.
Rick Caruso surrounded by his family as the lights are turned on. Photo: RICH SCHMITT