Carlos Rodriguez will be honored with a Sparkplug Award for his volunteer efforts to keep the hillsides clean from homeless debris.
Carlos Rodriguez was a unanimous choice of the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) for Golden Sparkplug honors this year for his extensive volunteer work with the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH).
Through his volunteer efforts, Rodriquez has helped clean too many homeless camps to count. And by cleaning camps, he has been the single person to load his pickup with abandoned tents, chairs, clothing and other debris left by people who have camped in Very High Fire Hazard Severity areas in the Pacific Palisades bluffs and hillsides.
He joined the PPTFH in 2017 as a volunteer, while he was working for local business owner Robert Munakash.
“Sharon Kilbride and Bruce Schwartz walked into the office and explained the task force they were part of and had questions as to how the local business were being affected,” he said.
“Her upbeat personality and vision caught my attention, and I knew I wanted to be part of this group looking to do good for those in need and help keep the community safe,” Rodriguez said. “It is very rare to see a group of individuals working together in a selfless way and creating a better community.”
Recently, Kilbride wrote about a few of Rodriguez’s cleanups. “This year, Carlos was called on to clear a large, abandoned campsite in the El Medio hillside, hauling away all the rubbish to prevent fires and making sure no other unhoused individuals would set up camps in the wilderness near homes and Temescal Gateway Park. He also cleaned up several campsites in the Via de las Olas bluffs where previous fires had been set, using his own truck to haul away debris.”
Kilbride continued, “This year, on his own initiative, he also replaced many broken and damaged ‘high fire hazard severity’ signs in our hillside areas. When called on, he responds to all abandoned encampments that need cleaning with ‘Yes, how can I help?’”
Rodriguez was asked about the cleanups and said one thing people might not realize is “the amount of planning and preparation it takes.
“What I enjoy most is the bonding with other volunteers and being able to work together towards something that makes it more pleasant for everyone in the community. I would never have had this opportunity to meet all these great people if it was not for the task force.”
Born in El Salvador, he came with his parents to the United States when he was four. He attended schools in Los Angeles before going to work in the Palisades with Munakash.
Rodriguez, a Palisades resident, is also an approved vendor for the Huntington Homeowners Association performing yearly brush inspections, safety walks and anything that might need attention in that area.
More recently, some might add he has also provided stability to an apartment building that was under siege: 16458 W. Sunset Blvd. Rodriguez with family members were able to purchase the property, closing in September. Tenants now have someone who cares about their well-being and that the building is maintained.
“I can say that I’m living what some could call the American Dream,” Rodriguez said.
Many in Pacific Palisades, including this editor, feel recognition is long overdue for his tremendous work as a true community steward of our hillsides.
Rodriguez will be with his family at the PPCC’s celebration on December 12 at Costa Nostra Ristorante in the Palisades Highlands.
The 2024 Sparkplug winner told CTN “I am very humbled and thankful for being able to serve and be part of this community. I have learned a lot through the years of volunteering and being able to reach out and connect with everyone.”