Officials Not Making It Easy for Residents Affected by Palisades Fire

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Lindsey Horvath organized a debris town hall. An sign language interpreter is next to her.

At the January 26 Palisades Fire Debris Removal town hall, sponsored by L.A. County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath at Santa Monica College, the more than three-hour meeting provided few answers.

The live event was sold out (zoom was available), and attendees had to line up to check in – just one of many lines that residents are now subjected to.  While waiting for 10 minutes to sign in, this editor noticed that one of Horvath’s workers was just putting signs outside at 3 p.m. for the 3 p.m. meeting to show the location.

Then, once residents were seated, they were handed cards in which to write questions. This editor/resident wanted to know how long it would take EPA to examine the properties and would there be a site that people could go to each day to see the progress.

But before any of the questions were read, Horvath, wearing make-up and a L.A. County Fire cap, welcomed us, “We want you to go back to your homes and rebuild your lives.” And added, “Debris is dangerous, please take every precaution.”

Mayor Karen Bass was next on the dais, and said, “As I speak to you who have lost your homes, the anger is palatable. . . .But the City is with you.”

It took an hour of dignitaries speaking, which included State Senator Ben Allen, who said, “What an awful couple of weeks we’ve had,” before the first question was asked.

There were a lot of questions, but not many answers.

The moderator repeated several questions and then looks for someone to answer it and the audience shouted, “That’s already been asked.”

People started shouting out questions from the audience, frustrating people who had written down questions and were patiently waiting for an answer. If something simple such as running an organized, efficient meeting couldn’t be done by the county or city, there was not a lot of hope for a quick return to homes.

DEBRIS REMOVAL:

Phase I:

The Environmental Protection Agency has to inspect every home before debris removal starts. The EPA agent was on her phone ng the presentation and missed a question and it had to be repeated. She said there are 15,000 residential and commercial sites that have to be inspected and that could take months.

Residents were told they could check on the status of the hazardous waste removal by calling 833-798-7372, or by going to EPA.gov/California/wildfires.

If every Palisadian called every day to check on status and also made calls to the Mayor’s office and Steve Soboroff, Bass’ disaster tsar, perhaps this could be sped up.

Exactly what is the hazardous waste that the EPA is looking for?

Paint—leaded paint was outlawed in in 1978; Asbestos – banned in California in 1977; herbicides and pesticides (this is the Palisades where people have gardeners and do not routinely store these items); oil (not many mechanics in PP); propane tanks (yes there are BBQ’s) ; batteries (everyone probably had a couple of double A’s) and battery walls. And plastics found in clothing, furniture and most housing materials when burned release microplastics, bisphenols and phthalates.

One person told this editor, “All of those Teslas up there with their Lithium batteries has to be dangerous.”  There are a lot of Teslas in Pacific Palisades, but most joined the gridlock of traffic trying to escape as the fire came through. (By the grace of God, people were not burned in their cars as they headed east on Sunset. People near PCH had to abandon cars, to escape the fire.)

Once the EPA assesses a property is not dangerous and posts a sign, then debris removal can begin.

Colonel Eric Swenson of the Army Corp of Engineers explained the steps needed to clear the properties in Phase II.

Phase II:

Residents can sign up tomorrow, Tuesday,January 28 for debris removal (844) 347-3332 (but it will not actually begin until the EPA finishes). When residents sign up, they can opt in to having the government clean the property.

If a person decides not to opt in, then they need to receive a permit from the city to ensure that the contractor is licensed and approved to do removals. That licensed contractor must follow all the rules that the Army Corp of Engineers follow.  (Once a resident opts out, they cannot opt back in. Attendees were told that at Lake Fire, the average cost for debris removal on an individual property was $170,000.)

Residents were told this is “Not a first come, first served,” process. If an entire neighborhood has been inspected by the EPA and all residents have opted in, they might be the first served because the Corp can do an entire block of hauling, rather than a property here and there, which would not be as efficient.

Mayor Bass said she was trying to make it as easy as possible and possibly the 1950s brick Recreation Center, could serve as a central area for permits. (That Rec Center, does not have ADA bathrooms, nor wifi, but maybe this will be a chance to update the center, too.)

One woman shouted, “Where is Steve Soboroff? Why isn’t he here?”  Bass assured everyone he is involved. Most felt like he should have been at the meeting.

Recoup:

• Residents from most areas will be allowed back into the site, today, Monday, if the weather cooperates.
• EPA has to inspect every property—no timeline when certain properties will be inspected—no timeline when they will be done. It could take several months.
• SIGN UP TOMORROW, Tuesday, January 28, to allow the Army Corp of Engineers access to your property (once the EPA is finished). Or opt out and hire a city approved licensed contractor – and you will need to apply for a permit. No timeline when the first removal will happen.
  

  An exhausted Traci Park stayed after the town hall to speak to residents .

  Councilmember Traci Park was visibly frustrated during the presentation. She was asked about it afterwards and said, “People have so many questions and they’re not being answered.”

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