Army Corps Engineer Brian Sawser took questions during a press conference today that was held at a former home on Via de la Paz, which was undergoing debris removal. To his right is Mayor Karen Bass to the left is sign language interpreter.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference on Via de la Paz this morning, March 21, to emphasize the success in “leading the fastest recovery effort in modern California history” after the January 7 Palisades Fire destroyed nearly 7,000 homes.
She also said that more than 1,000 Palisades residents have neither Opted-in nor Opted-out. The deadline is March 31.
“In a few days they were loose the opportunity for FEMA reimbursement,” Bass said. “If you earlier had Opted-out, as long as you have not started debris removal, you can still Opt-in at no cost to you.”
She continued that if people do not take action in the next 10 days, properties will be declared a nuisance, and owners will be responsible for all abatement costs and possibly be subject to a lien on their property. “You cannot just leave debris like that,” she said.
Bass said she had also signed an executive order to help expedite building. All electric buildings will be fast tracked and City departments (within 90 days) will offer recommendations for fire-resistant construction materials.
CTN asked does the executive order include waiving building and permit fees? (About 8:12 in the tape click here).
Bass replied that she asked for a list from building and safety and planning of all the fees and to waive everything that they can. She said that some fees they can’t waive, but those that can’t be waived, she would try to have them reduced.
CTN subsequently reached out to Councilmember Traci Park and asked what fees can’t be waived and why. If she responds, the story will be updated.
At about 18 minutes into the 23-minute press conference, CTN told the Mayor, “Prior to the Palisades Fire, there was not a police presence here. That meant many people had Ring cameras. During the Fire, they watched their homes and their neighbors’ homes go up in flames because there was no one to fight the fires. People here are hurting, insurance is not covering the cost of rebuilding. Could some of the homeless money be used for these new homeless, such as Measure A funds?”
Bass answered, “It’s something I could look into, but I don’t believe money could just be moved from one issue to another.”
There is a change.org petition to Waive the Rebuild Permit Fees Petition · Waive the Rebuild Permit Fees Now! – Los Angeles, United States · Change.org
This statement is misleading: “Bass said. “If you earlier had Opted-out, … , you can still Opt-in at no cost to you.””
In fact, what I understand is that Opt-in does cost: the ACofE is paid from the item in the owner’s insurance ear marked for debris removal. This is then deducted from the total allocated for an “in-kind” replacement of the burned house. That is, the owner has less money for rebuilding or for buying another house. Thus, it’s not the case that Opt-in is at no cost to the owner.
RE: Lot Cleaning
Ask for a schedule weekly
Ask for a 2 week schedule
Review these every week
We will then know how long
I notice not PPE. Let the dioxins and lead and asbestos fly free!
Steve,
The use of asbestos was banned in California in 1977. However, houses built between 1930 and 1950 may still contain asbestos in the insulation, textured paint, and patching compounds that were used on wall and ceiling joints. So homes built after 1977 would not have asbestos.
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978. All homes built before 1978 are presumed to contain lead paint.
Millions of tons of lead were added to gasoline worldwide beginning in 1922, and leaded gasoline has been a major source of population lead exposure. In 1960s, lead began to be removed from automotive gasoline. Removal was completed in 2021.
Sue
The Army Corps of Engineers does not take everything from a lot – they leave swimming pools, driveways and patios/hardscape. Then people go to their homeowners insurance and use the debris deductible to finish cleaning the lot. If there is anything left from the debris allowance of the insurance, then L.A. County will try to recapture the remaining funds.
USACE assets are employed when a mission assigned and funded by FEMA. https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/National-Response-Framework/Debris-Management/
And I’m sure all insurance companies operate slightly differently.
Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference on Via de la Paz this morning, March 21, to emphasize the success in “leading the fastest recovery effort in modern California history”………I think the air in the Palisades gives her an extreme case of brain fog when she visits and forgets she is one of the MAIN people responsible for us losing our community!