Los Angeles Fires One Year Later
The communities of the Palisades and Altadena are still devastated. The blame game continues unabated, moving into litigation. Some of our friends are rebuilding; other homes were spared. Most of the community residenta’ have lost everything. Many were underinsured. Developers (some) are trying to make fast bucks by buying cheap as fire victims get ever more desperate as their finances dwindle. Some insurers have reportedly been incredibly helpful and responsive to our friends; others not so much.
These were incredible communities. These were vibrant living places. These were the places of dreams and hopes and happiness. These were places where some residents lived their whole lives; where neighbors and neighborhoods (not all) cared for each other’s kids, played sports, surfed (the Palisades), made art, went to schools together; where parents passed on their homes to their children, where intergenerational wealth was being built.
I drove up to our old home with good friends; it’s gone. A checkerboard of homes remains. The old Spanish designs fared best. Whole streets are gone, others were spared.
Where’s the healing? Where are the healers? How do we prevent a repeat? Where are the local leaders? Where are the innovators? What progress is being made? How fast?
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