L.A. Marks One-Year Fire Anniversary With Ceremony, Continued Homelessness
'We've made tremendous progress,' said one official, standing in front of an empty lot that used to contain 47 homes. 'Over 1,100 permits issued. Less than 12 homes rebuilt.'
[Official giving speech in front of debris-cleared empty lot]
Mayor Bass gestures toward where homes used to be, promising 'expedited processes' and 'streamlined procedures'
Los Angeles marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating January 2025 wildfires with a solemn ceremony on Saturday, featuring speeches from local officials, a memorial wreath, and the continued homelessness of thousands of displaced residents.
“We’ve made tremendous progress,” declared Mayor Karen Bass, standing in front of an empty lot in Pacific Palisades that once contained 47 homes. “We’ve cleared debris. We’ve issued over 1,100 rebuilding permits. We’ve created committees. We’ve had meetings about those committees. The bureaucracy is moving forward.”
Rebuilding Progress Report
- 16,000+ — Structures destroyed
- 1,100+ — Permits issued
- ~12 — Homes actually rebuilt
- 0.075% — Completion rate
- 2031 — Projected date for full rebuild (optimistic)
When asked about the fewer than twelve homes that have actually been rebuilt in the affected areas, the Mayor noted that “rebuilding takes time” and that “we’re dealing with unprecedented challenges that require unprecedented solutions, which also take unprecedented amounts of time.”
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They sent us a very nice brochure about expedited permitting. I’ve been living in my car for eight months. The brochure is under my pillow.
The ceremony included a moment of silence, a reading of the names of the 29 victims, and a ribbon-cutting for a new “Resilience Center” that will provide mental health resources, free coffee, and pamphlets about insurance claim procedures.
“This center represents our commitment to the community,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “Here, survivors can access counseling, attend workshops on navigating the permitting process, and enjoy a quiet space to contemplate why their insurance claims are still listed as ‘pending.’”
Among those in attendance was Robert Michaels, 67, who lost his family home of 42 years in the Palisades Fire. Michaels has been living in a FEMA trailer since March and says he’s been told his rebuilding permit is “in the queue.”
“I appreciate the ceremony,” Michaels said, watching as officials posed for photos with shovels they would not be using to rebuild anything. “It’s nice that they remembered. But my wife and I are sleeping in 300 square feet, and our claim is still under investigation for reasons no one can explain. So, you know. Mixed feelings.”
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We will rebuild. We will recover. We will emerge stronger. Please also remember to vote in the upcoming municipal elections.
The event concluded with the release of white doves, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the freedom to fly away from a situation that remains unresolved. Several attendees noted that the doves appeared confused about where to go, circling overhead for several minutes before flying toward Malibu.
“That’s about right,” observed longtime Altadena resident Patricia Williams, watching the birds disappear. “Nobody knows which direction to go anymore.”
Officials have announced that a one-year progress report will be issued next month, following several more meetings about the format of the progress report.