Steve Soboroff and Mayor Karen Bass
Photo: YouTube
This editor, who is also a resident of Pacific Palisades and who lost her home of 30 years, received an email today around 2 p.m. that Mayor Karen Bass would be holding a town meeting to discuss debris removal from 5 to 6 p.m. It appears that the townhall on the same subject by L.A. County Supervisor was not sufficient.
One had to register, which I did, and then shortly after 5 p.m. the government zoom started.
Lo and behold Steve Soboroff was on this meeting and spoke about how he had been to the Palisades. He spoke to Ralphs owner, who was going to rebuild and maybe would do a pop-up store.
The Palisades Playground it not handicapped accessible and was built in the 1980s with funding raised by Steve Soboroff.
He was optimistic that the 4th of July Run and parade could happen this year. Soboroff told how with private contributions, he was able to rebuild the playground and that his name was still on the plaque (maybe 1983?). He advised everyone to hire a lawyer to deal with insurance because they wouldn’t give you what was deserved.
Then, everyone was allowed to ask questions: This resident/editor asked:
- How long will it take the EPA to remove hazardous waste? What is the timeline for Phase 1? By now most Palisades residents know that nothing happens with their lots until they are certified safe. That question was not answered but, Steve Calanog the EPA’s deputy incident commander for the Southern California wildfires said “We will have up to 30 teams in the Palisades by this weekend. Each team generally clears six to ten residential parcels per day.” Zoom participants were told that there were about 500 FEMA people in the Palisades.
- How long will it take for Phase 2, removal of debris from private property by the Army Corp of Engineers? That question was not answered.
- The Army Corp of Engineers will not remove swimming pools, but the water should not be drained into streets because of pollution. This editor asked, “Water has been running down Temescal Canyon Road since the beginning of December, will that water be taken care of? That question was not answered.
- Several residents wanted to know about basements and foundations. One asked, “I want to grant the Army Corps of Engineers [ACE]to clean up the debris on my property, but I have to check ‘No’ to the removal of the foundation and basement walls because those walls provide lateral support to my neighbors’ property. I need to know how much FEMA is going to request from my insurance because I will also need the funds to demo those basement walls prior to rebuilding. How can we coordinate so we know how much it’s going to cost for debris removal?
Another resident asked, “How will basements be handled by ACE? . . .What about basements?” The question was not answered.
Soboroff said the underground structures/pipes should most likely be replaced.
One resident who posed the basement question said, “Fire burns up, not down. Your pipes are not necessarily going to melt. Soboroff is not a builder, he’s not a contractor. I hate misinformation.”
- Residents wanted to know about the trees that were tagged with white tape – what does that mean? That question was not answered.
- The insanity of having people line up in a parking lot to gain access to their homes is supposedly ending today. Even though residents were told today that they will need to revisit the parking lot to renew the pass in a week. Commander Goddard said, “Passes don’t expire.”
Another problem for residents and insurance adjusters is they were not allowed in before 10 a.m.
One resident who was in a line at the beach at 7 a.m. on January 27, but was not allowed to access the property until 10 a.m., sat in the parking lot for three hours. The resident noticed that Mayor Bass’s office was setting its tent up shortly before 10 a.m. and thought maybe that was why people needed to wait until then.
The tent promoting Mayor Karen Bass went up in the beach parking lot where people were required in order to gain admittance to their homes.
Several residents told CTN that they had skipped the beach and gone directly to their Palisades home, showed the police/national guard their identification, but were told they were not allowed in and then had to go get in the three-hour wait line by the beach to get a pass. Luckily, some popups at the beach were providing drinks and gluten-free crackers.
- “Am I able to get to my property before 10 a.m.?” a resident asked. Goddard answered, “Yes, if you have already been issued a pass officers will be reasonable at the various traffic control points.”
Mayor Karen Bass plans to hold these informative seminars on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. as needed. This coming Thursday, State Insurance Ricardo Lara will be featured and this editor is sure will answer all questions.
Gluten-free crackers and water were given out to people waiting in line to see their homes for the first time in 21 days.
Rick Caruso should be put in charge of rebuilding the Palisades. He has a significant interest in having our town come back and he builds things. Soboroff is just a hack.
Mayor Bass- the highlands have Moved home
BUT signs still read on my mailbox “ don’t drink water “
WTF – you say we can move home but “don’t drink the water?
Mayor Bass – can you multi task and answer the question
Steve Soboroff endorsed you but is not the most qualified to build back palisades,
Why must you put politics ahead of tax paying residents who are Hurting?
Can we drink water in the highlands???
The pool and basement issue is quite important yet it seems that it is being ignored. Basement removal affects not only the homeowner who has to remove a basement it also affects neighbors on either side of the basement. Also, if the cost of basement removal is high those with “burned out” houses and basements may be in no hurry to clean-up/remove their basements.
During Mayor Bass’s “virtual town hall” last night
-Steve Soboroff commented that house foundations should be removed (he also said the cost of rebuilding could be $1,000/square foot, insurance companies will short change policyholders and that it made sense to hire an attorney to deal with the insurance companies)
– Sue Pascoe (https://www.circlingthenews.com/palisadians-need-answers-not-more-town-hall-meetings/) noted:
Several residents wanted to know about basements and foundations. One asked, “I want to grant the A[r]my Corp[s] of Engineers to clean up the debris on my property, but I have to check ‘No’ to the removal of the foundation and basement walls because those walls provide lateral support to my neighbors’ property. I need to know how much FEMA is going to request from my insurance because I will also need the funds to demo those basement walls prior to rebuilding. How can we coordinate so we know how much it’s going to cost for debris removal?
Another resident asked, “How will basements be handled by ACE? . . .What about basements?” The question was not answered.
The town hall largely (intentionally?) ignored the issue of what to do with pools and basements following a wildfire
Since human expert opinion seems to be in short supply, here is the “expert” opinion of an AI chatbot
Hypothetical question asked of Perplexity
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/following-a-wildfire-that-comp-8WZ05KE9Qc2GOgqDdetrvQ#locale=en-US
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Following a wildfire that completely destroys a 6,000 square foot house (a 2,000 square foot basement, a 2,000 square foot ground floor and a 2,000 square foot upper floor; there is also an in-ground swimming pool) in which the debris falls into the basement is it necessary to:
1) remove the house’s foundation
2) remove the house’s swimming pool, and
3) remove the house’s basement
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Answer
Following a wildfire that completely destroys a house, including its basement and surrounding structures like a swimming pool, the necessary steps for debris removal and site preparation depend on several factors. Here’s an analysis of whether it is necessary to remove the house’s foundation, swimming pool, and basement:
1) Foundation Removal
In most cases, the foundation of a fire-destroyed house must be removed. Extreme heat from wildfires often compromises the structural integrity of concrete foundations, rendering them unsafe or impractical for reuse. Key reasons include:Damage to embedded plumbing pipes and electrical conduits, which are typically destroyed in fires.Loss of structural strength in concrete due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.Potential contamination of the soil beneath the foundation by hazardous materials released during the fire.Local jurisdictions often require foundations to be removed as part of wildfire debris removal programs. However, exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis if a structural engineer certifies the foundation’s safety and compliance with building codes197.
2) Swimming Pool Removal
The removal of an in-ground swimming pool is generally not mandatory after a wildfire unless it has sustained significant structural damage or poses safety hazards. Pools may be contaminated with ash, debris, or toxic chemicals, but these issues can often be addressed through cleaning, draining, and refilling rather than demolition. Structural components like the shell and decking should be inspected for damage before deciding on removal4818.If the pool is heavily damaged or no longer desired, complete removal involves breaking down and hauling away all materials (e.g., concrete, steel) to allow unrestricted future use of the area. This is more thorough but also costly1620.
3) Basement Removal
Basements in fire-destroyed homes are typically required to be removed. This is because:The debris from the collapsed structure often contaminates the basement.Soil testing and cleanup are necessary to remove hazardous materials like heavy metals or chemicals that may have seeped into the ground.Structural integrity is usually compromised, making it unsafe for future use.Standard wildfire recovery protocols often mandate removing basements entirely as part of debris removal efforts. Contractors may also need to stabilize surrounding soil by cutting slopes back to prevent erosion during reconstruction97.
Conclusion
Foundation: Likely needs removal due to structural compromise and contamination risks.
Swimming Pool: Removal is not always necessary; cleaning and repairs may suffice unless there is significant damage.
Basement: Typically requires removal due to contamination and safety concerns.
Consulting with licensed professionals (e.g., structural engineers) and adhering to local regulations are crucial steps in determining specific actions for each component197.