Altadena residents demand LA County waive rebuilding permit fees
Altadena residents are demanding that Los Angeles County officials waive the rebuilding permit fees that could cost Eaton Fire survivors upwards of $50,000.
Freddy Sayegh, who started the neighborhood coalition, said many people who lost their homes can't afford to rebuild unless the county intervenes. Sayegh's family home on North Lake Avenue is one of the 9,418 buildings destroyed by the Eaton Fire, which is the second most destructive wildfire in California.
"It's been horrendous," he said. "Every dollar is going to matter, especially in permits, fees and licensing, everything across the board. None of us have enough money to rebuild, nobody."
Shawna Dawson Beer lost her entire neighborhood in west Altadena. She called on the county to waive permitting fees after LA Mayor Karen Bass took a similar step for the Palisades Fire zone. The executive order still requires approval from the city council.
"We are a community of working-class people and historically underrepresented people," Beer said. "People are getting $40,000 and $50,000 base permit estimates and fees that they are supposed to cough up."
Altadena and Pasadena residents will march outside Fair Oaks Burgers on Sunday to call on lawmakers to provide more financial support for rebuilding.
"Those who stand in the way of rebuilding efforts should go and start finding a new profession," Sayegh said. "We will vote. We will not forget."
The county said it is facing unprecedented financial challenges. Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office said they are working on plan that will be presented by the end of next week. She also plans to introduce a motion to defer permitting and inspection fees for like-for-like rebuilds as well as a funding strategy to waive fees.
"I do appreciate the incredible work by Supervisor Barger," Sayegh said. "We want them waived, not deferred."
The county said it received more than 600 applications to rebuild in the Eaton Fire area. It's only issued 15 permits as of Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mike Trout's 'Sick' Reaction to Historic Angels Game at Fenway Park
Mike Trout's 'Sick' Reaction to Historic Angels Game at Fenway Park originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels came right out of the gate on Monday night's game against the Boston Red Sox like a house on fire. Advertisement In the first inning of the three-game series opener at Fenway Park in Boston, the Halos homered not once, not twice, but three times in a six-run frame that immediately blew the game wide open in favor of Los Angeles. Zach Neto started the Angels' home run party with a solo shot off Boston starter Richard Fitts. Trout later smashed a 454-foot three-run home run before Jo Adell smacked one into the stands for a 404-foot solo blast. According to Rhett Bollinger of the Angels became the first visiting team ever to score three home runs in the first inning of a game at Fenway Park. Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) high-fives catcher Logan O'Hoppe (14) after a game against the Red Fluharty-Imagn Images The Red Sox threatened Los Angeles by scoring the next five runs to pull within a run through five innings. Adell then smashed another solo homer in the sixth inning to give the Angels a two-run lead. Advertisement Boston's Ceddanne Rafaela cut the Red Sox's deficit to one with a home run in the eighth inning, but Los Angeles managed to hold off Boston for a 7-6 win. After the game, Trout was informed of the incredible feat he helped author in the first inning. "Yeah, that's sick," the three-time American League Most Valuable Player told Los Angeles reporter Erica Weston in the postgame interview. "Like I said, it was fun to be a part of that first inning. Give the guys a lead, and you know we held it." The Angels improved to 27-32 with their win over Boston and will look to sustain their form when they give the ball to Yusei Kikuchi for the second game of the series this Tuesday. Related: Angels Fans Upset With Mike Trout Announcement After Red Sox Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Wall Street Journal
23 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Will District Judges Now Run the Government?
The Supreme Court may soon apply reasonable guardrails on the ability of a single federal district court judge to decide national policy, and not a moment too soon. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley flags another case of judicial overreach that has inspired the Trump administration to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Specifically a judge in the Northern District of California thwarted administration efforts to manage the federal bureaucracy nationwide. The professor writes: But of course this is the Trump administration, not the Clinton administration, so a double standard seems to apply. Mr. Turley has more of the particulars:
CBS News
31 minutes ago
- CBS News
Thunderstorms strike San Gabriel Valley and mountain areas
Summer thunderstorms have arrived in the Southern California mountains and have the potential to affect Tuesday evening's commute. As a result, the KCAL News team has issued a Next Weather Alert to help you prepare for the possible storm heading for the San Gabriel Valley. The alert will remain in effect until at least 8 p.m. and potentially through 9 p.m., depending on how the conditions evolve. The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for Pomona, Glendora and Covina. The NWS expects wind gusts to reach 50 mph, and half-inch-sized hail could strike those cities Tuesday afternoon.
