As first responders, elected leaders, and communities in Los Angeles face the ongoing wildfire emergency and immediate need to save life and protect property—TPR publishes this open letter in the spirit of collaboration to begin the conversation for what comes next. Complementing Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders signed yesterday to waive CEQA and Coastal Act requirements for reconstruction and expedite debris removal efforts, here, civic leaders put forth 5 ideas for ensuring impacted Angelenos can build back better without delay.
"This list is only a starting point for what we hope will be an inclusive – but urgent – discussion"
Dear Los Angeles:
Our hearts are broken. By the lives lost, and people and animals injured. By the stricken faces of those struggling to comprehend homes, jobs, and schools gone amid the chaos and the flames.
The fires are not yet out. First Responders and elected leaders are dealing with the crisis around the clock, as they should be. We’ve come together to share some ideas about critical next steps.
Thousands of people have lost their homes, places of business, schools and jobs. Coming together is the only way we can ensure that people are made whole, and see a path to hope and their future.
Most fire victims have no choice but to turn to government for some of that help.
Our response must fit the scope and scale of the disaster.
The take-a-number, have a seat, we’ll let you know when we’ve processed the paperwork government, which we tolerate most of the time, just won’t work. People who want nothing more than to reclaim the lives they had before this disaster should not be forced to navigate the normal Winchester Mystery House of overlapping regulations and layers of local government.
We write as proud Angelenos with time in the trenches and no agenda beyond wanting to see our community get back on its feet. None of us are running for office; our only goal is working together.
The issues are complex. We don’t have all the answers. Clearly, temporary housing and mental health assistance is urgent, but here are five straight-forward ideas we believe build upon efforts by the Governor, the Legislature, and locally elected officials.
One Big Law -- One Big Build.
We can’t let bureaucracy get in the way. We need a solution now: legislation that gives a designated leader authority and accountability – limited to three years - to supersede the various power structures in the region, including the Coastal Commission, County Supervisors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, Water Boards etc. etc. The rules developed under this legislation should govern the rebuild of the LA region – and cannot be overridden, slowed down, or prohibited by any other government body. Victims of these terrible fires live throughout the region. They can’t be hampered by different and overlapping hurdles and regulations. One set of rules, one set of tools.
A Ten Dollar, One Page, One Week Permit Process for Rebuilding.
Any homeowner, apartment owner, business who wants to rebuild and move back into their homes, should be able to bypass months of the permitting process and pay $10 fee, fill out a one-page permit application, that must be acted upon within one week so that people can start to rebuild. (Of course, the permit should require best practices including fire codes regarding fire safety, vegetation, roofing etc. but it should not be onerous and prohibitive for the progress of the new build.)
Suspension of Property Taxes.
Nobody who is simply replacing what they lost should have their property taxes go up. Furthermore, all property taxes should be suspended on the permitted property until the rebuild has a Certificate of Occupancy giving property owners the time to catch their economic breath.
An LA Regional Construction Co-Op.
Working with suppliers, construction managers, labor unions and raw materials providers, create a co-op of needed basic construction materials so that builders can get fair and competitive prices for the materials they need.
Expedited Energy and Utility Repairs.
Like the building permits for home and business reconstruction, all energy projects should be given a fast-track, utilizing best practices and undergrounding where appropriate.
This list is only a starting point for what we hope will be an inclusive – but urgent – discussion. We can’t ignore the fact that many were struggling to keep a roof over their heads long before the first fire began, or that our state’s home insurance market has been faltering for years. And we must protect coastal public access as we rebuild.
And as we do, we must ensure that the lessons we learn and the practices we employ are made available to any California community where and when disaster strikes.
We know what our community can do when we set our minds to it. We’re already been inspired by thousands of neighbors coming together to help each other. At the Santa Anita Racetrack, at churches and shuls, at YMCA’s and Red Cross shelters, at the Pasadena Job Center and hundreds more. Government is helping too. These ideas are offered in the spirit of collaboration and love.
We ask the leadership of our city, state and nation – and all of you – to join us. It’s time.
Signed,
John A. Pérez
Speaker Emeritus
Renata Simril
President & CEO, LA 84 Foundation
Stephen Cheung
President & CEO, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
David Abel
Publisher, The Planning Report
Robert Hertzberg
Fmr. Majority Leader, CA State Senate
Virgil Roberts
Managing Partner, Bobbit & Roberts
Brenda Levin
Founder, Levin & Associates
Kathleen Brown
Fmr. CA State Treasurer
Jules Radcliffe
Campaign Manager, Tom Bradley for Governor 1982
Billie Greer
Civic Activist
W. Roderick Hamilton
Fmr. Chair, Los Angeles Educational Partnership
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