Latest news with #LADBS
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kanye West's burned down church being investigated amid arson probe
Kanye West bought a run-down church for $1.5million but failed to renovate it before it got burned down and now the incident is said to be under investigation Kanye West's burned down church is under investigation amid an arson probe. The $1.5million (£1.12million) derelict property was set alight in October 2024. The building in Northridge near Los Angeles was run down before it went up in flames. It burned down months after it's thought the artist now legally known as Ye, 47, let the plot to rot. The state it had been left in had caused neighbours to brandish the space an "eye sore". Now, it's claimed the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has inspected the place twice. Reports suggest they have visited once in January, and again in March. According to the Sun, the rapper wasn't present and hasn't paid for the inspections. The publication also says LADBS has placed two liens on the space. Ye initially bought the land in January 2023. The rapper purchased the property from Cornerstone Christian Church in Northridge, Los Angeles, but months later still hadn't made any major renovations. There had been reported plans to move his Christian school Donda Academy into one of the buildings. But instead, the lot was left in disarray before it was burned down. The fire at the property occurred on October 14, 2024. There were no injuries reported, but a nearby residence did sustain superficial damage from the fires that lasted over 30 minutes. The news comes as Ye reportedly faces more tax charges. He is said to have racked up more property tax arrears on five of his lavish properties. The Sun claims the total currently stands at an eye-watering $448,254. Ye recently stormed out of an interview with Piers Morgan after just two minutes. Appearing on On Piers Morgan Uncensored, the musician cut the interview short when he accused the former Good Morning Britain man of 'patronising' him. It came after the TV presenter mistakenly said that he had 32 million followers on Twitter /X - rather than 33 million followers. The interview didn't start well - coming a day late. When the hard-to-watch interview did kick off, Piers asked how Ye's life was at the moment? Referring to the backdrop, he said: 'You see that view?... Judge it on the view on the answer how my life is, judge me by the view.' Piers responded: 'The view is Majorca, I've been there. It's a beautiful place, and for all intents and purposes, you seem very relaxed and happy. That is in direct contrast to your public image at the moment, over the last couple of years, led by your ferocious… [he begins to interrupt] Well, hang on. Let me finish the question…' Ye hit back: 'But I already disagree, it's not in contrast, there's so many people and artists that are championing the idea of someone being able to just express who they really are, and have been able to go through the war of being attacked by the banks, being attacked, you know, by the banks - that's the best way to put it. Being attacked by the banks, and to still be here with this view is, you know, that's the win. So I think that's, I'm in contrast to your contrast.'
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Kanye West's $1.5m burned-down church building is subject of arson probe as his real estate tax bill reaches $448k
KANYE West's derelict church building - which was burnt to the ground - is now the subject of an arson investigation, The U.S. Sun can reveal. The rapper's rundown property in Northridge, north of Los Angeles, went up in flames in October 2024. 6 6 It was brought down months after Kanye left it to rot, much to the annoyance of neighbors who called it an "eyesore" and expressed their concern about squatters on the land. Now, The U.S. Sun can confirm the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has inspected the place twice, once in January, and again in March. But Kanye, 47, is nowhere to be seen and hasn't paid for the inspections. LADBS has placed two liens on the now-empty plot of land, which Kanye bought for $1.5 million in January 2023. They're not the only ones to be looking into the blaze, as the city's fire department is also looking into possible arson, as it was lucky that neighboring properties did not burn down. Kanye's property, bought from the adjacent Cornerstone Christian Church, was either going to be a possible location for his controversial Donda Academy or a Yeezy Headquarters. But eventually, it became neither and was abandoned. The fire that overtook the building began on October 14 last year, just after 12.45 am, authorities claimed. NEIGHBORS' ANGER No injuries were reported but one nearby residence did sustain superficial damage from the intense heat and flames as a crew battled the blaze for more than 30 minutes. Neighbors had previously complained about the boarded-up windows, old shopping carts, and trash dumped on the land. Kanye West's secret property deals revealed as he wins battle to buy $1.5m church space and Yeezy headquarters for $6.7m One said at the time, "I had no idea Kanye bought it but … it's not a good look for the neighborhood. "He needs to clean it up, you don't want a bum breaking in and living there." Yellow caution tape now surrounds the land and a broken fence with a no trespassing sign is leaning against a nearby tree. Aerial footage obtained by The U.S. Sun showed that all remains of the place are piles of debris. It's unknown whether Kanye is even aware the property burned down, and a rep for the rapper did not respond. Kanye is currently in Spain after fleeing America following a backlash over his Hitler comments on X. He stormed out of a Piers Morgan interview that aired this week after he was questioned about his vile posts. This month, Kanye racked up yet more property tax arrears on five of his luxury homes and offices, bringing the total to an eye-watering $448,254. In January, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed he owed at least $365,592 in taxes including penalties for non-payment. 6 6 Now, a further $82,662 can be added to that tab, as he's failed to pay the first half of 2025 on time. Each month he defaults, another $3,272 in penalties is added to the bill. His church has now strung up arrears of approximately $49,200 and $358 per month penalties - as he's never paid taxes on the plot. The biggest debt is at his derelict $6.7 million Yeezy Headquarters on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. It's accumulated arrears of $202,287 and is being stung with $1,435-a-month penalties. Exclusive drone footage obtained by The U.S. Sun previously showed workers had ripped off the roof at the 7,400-square-foot space. In one image, a mountain of trash can be seen at the entrance to the building, with discarded items piling up inside the property. One worker could be seen digging in a mound of dirt, with vehicles situated throughout the space. Piles of different materials were dotted around and work is now beginning on a huge structure in the center of the building. Meanwhile, Kanye has never paid tax on a four-bed mansion in Calabasas that he acquired from his divorce from Kim Kardashian. He also owns apartments in Calabasas and Westlake Village which have unpaid tax debts. 6 6
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat-run Los Angeles failing wildfire victims' rebuilding plans months after Trump visit: GOP rep
Months after devastating wildfires wreaked havoc across communities in Southern California, thousands are still without homes as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has reportedly shown no urgency to rebuild. Cal Fire reported that more than 12,000 homes, businesses and schools have been lost to the fires and more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes since the January fires. So far, only 23 permits for 16 addresses have been approved to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged in the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades, City of Los Angeles officials told Fox News Digital. "The first rebuilding permit was issued on March 5, 2025, by the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) – 57 days after the start of the Palisades Fire and more than twice as fast as permits were issued after the devastating Camp and Woolsey fires," city officials said. Los Angeles Issues Only 4 Permits To Rebuild Homes After Devastating Palisades Fire: Report As of April 22, LADBS said it had received 192 permit applications related to significant fire damage repair or reconstruction at 156 unique addresses in the Palisades, where a total of 5,619 structures, including 5,495 residential homes, were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Read On The Fox News App "Mayor Bass has worked to expedite the rebuilding process so that, when property owners are ready, LADBS can issue permits as quickly as possible," city officials said. President Donald Trump declared the wildfires a national emergency after he visited the Golden State to survey the damage just four days after his inauguration. During his visit, Trump sat down for a roundtable with Bass and state officials, at one point even criticizing Bass for not using her emergency powers to respond to the wildfires. "You have emergency powers just like I do … you have to exercise them also," Trump told Bass, who responded that she did exercise them. Trump then vowed to sign an executive order to open up the water valves in the area. La Mayor Bass Points Fingers When Grilled On Africa Trip Amid Botched Wildfire Response "I don't think you can realize how rough, how devastating it is until you see it," Trump said of the wildfire damage. "The federal government is standing behind you, 100%." Trump added that he would waive federal permits for rebuilding in the area. "I'm going to be the president to help you fix it," he said. "We're going to waive all federal permits. ... Because a federal permit can take 10 years ... we don't want to take 10 days." Under Bass's Executive Order 1, issued less than a week after the wildfires, officials said Bass cut red tape and "directed City departments to complete permitting review in 30 days or less for rebuilding homes as they were." "LADBS is currently completing plan check review in about 6 days – 2x faster than before the wildfires. Mayor Bass also directed the creation of the One-Stop Rebuilding Center as a centralized resource for residents and business owners to access everything they need from the city to rebuild," city officials said. Bass' office referred questions to LADBS. California Assembly Leader James Gallagher told Fox News Digital that Trump has upheld his end of the bargain for cleanup efforts, yet California politicians have failed to deliver. "When President Trump came to L.A. in January, he vowed to remove the red tape and asked California politicians to do the same. He followed with the fastest debris cleanup we have ever seen, but California hasn't met its end of the bargain," Gallagher said. "Permits are slow, and the bureaucracy is fat. [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and Democrats can't get out of their own way and deliver for fire victims," he continued. Malibu real estate agent and lifelong resident of the area Liz Benichou told Fox News Digital that she is "not surprised" that little progress has been made since the fires. "Only 55 homes have been rebuilt since the Woolsey fire in Malibu, and that was in 2018," Benichou said. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the City of Los Angeles is "responsible for and has legal jurisdiction for reviewing and approving permits for homes in the Pacific Palisades," adding that the state "has no formal role in the local permitting processes." The governor's office added that what the state has been doing "since the immediate days after the fire ignited is removing barriers and cutting red tape that stand in the way of homeowners being able to rebuild quickly and safely." Newsom's office said he has taken a series of "aggressive action to aid homeowners in navigating the recovery process," which include the following actions: Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger Providing tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the fires Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants Safeguarding survivors from price-gouging Protecting victims from real estate speculators After the fires broke out, Trump blamed Newsom and Democrat city policies for the damage, citing their forest and water management policies. Los Angeles Wildfire Czar's $500K Paycheck For 90 Days Of Work Draws Swift Blowback, Mayor Reverses Course Trump had initially threatened to withhold wildfire aid until certain stipulations were met in California, including changes to water policy. In February, Newsom traveled to the White House to push for increased federal funding for recovery efforts and said he and Trump had a "very productive meeting." "As we approach one month since the devastating wildfires across Southern California, we continue to cut red tape to speed up recovery and clean-up efforts as well as ensure rebuilding efforts are swift," Newsom said in a previous statement. "We're working across the aisle, as we always have, to ensure survivors have the resources and support they need." "The Governor expressed his appreciation for the Trump Administration's early collaboration and specifically thanked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for his agency's swift action, including over 1,000 personnel on the ground focused on debris removal," Newsom's office added in a statement. Trump declared that his administration was "looking to get something completed. And the way you get it completed is to work together." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House. Fox News Digital's Aubrie Spady, Anders Hagstrom and Louis Casiano contributed to this article source: Democrat-run Los Angeles failing wildfire victims' rebuilding plans months after Trump visit: GOP rep
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Democrat-run Los Angeles failing wildfire victims' rebuilding plans months after Trump visit: GOP rep
Months after devastating wildfires wreaked havoc across communities in Southern California, thousands are still without homes as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has reportedly shown no urgency to rebuild. Cal Fire reported that more than 12,000 homes, businesses and schools have been lost to the fires and more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes since the January fires. So far, only 23 permits for 16 addresses have been approved to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged in the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades, City of Los Angeles officials told Fox News Digital. "The first rebuilding permit was issued on March 5, 2025, by the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) – 57 days after the start of the Palisades Fire and more than twice as fast as permits were issued after the devastating Camp and Woolsey fires," city officials said. As of April 22, LADBS said it had received 192 permit applications related to significant fire damage repair or reconstruction at 156 unique addresses in the Palisades, where a total of 5,619 structures, including 5,495 residential homes, were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades Fire. "Mayor Bass has worked to expedite the rebuilding process so that, when property owners are ready, LADBS can issue permits as quickly as possible," city officials said. President Donald Trump declared the wildfires a national emergency after he visited the Golden State to survey the damage just four days after his inauguration. During his visit, Trump sat down for a roundtable with Bass and state officials, at one point even criticizing Bass for not using her emergency powers to respond to the wildfires. "You have emergency powers just like I do … you have to exercise them also," Trump told Bass, who responded that she did exercise them. Trump then vowed to sign an executive order to open up the water valves in the area. "I don't think you can realize how rough, how devastating it is until you see it," Trump said of the wildfire damage. "The federal government is standing behind you, 100%." Trump added that he would waive federal permits for rebuilding in the area. "I'm going to be the president to help you fix it," he said. "We're going to waive all federal permits. ... Because a federal permit can take 10 years ... we don't want to take 10 days." Under Bass's Executive Order 1, issued less than a week after the wildfires, officials said Bass cut red tape and "directed City departments to complete permitting review in 30 days or less for rebuilding homes as they were." "LADBS is currently completing plan check review in about 6 days – 2x faster than before the wildfires. Mayor Bass also directed the creation of the One-Stop Rebuilding Center as a centralized resource for residents and business owners to access everything they need from the city to rebuild," city officials said. Bass' office referred questions to LADBS. California Assembly Leader James Gallagher told Fox News Digital that Trump has upheld his end of the bargain for cleanup efforts, yet California politicians have failed to deliver. "When President Trump came to L.A. in January, he vowed to remove the red tape and asked California politicians to do the same. He followed with the fastest debris cleanup we have ever seen, but California hasn't met its end of the bargain," Gallagher said. "Permits are slow, and the bureaucracy is fat. [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and Democrats can't get out of their own way and deliver for fire victims," he continued. Malibu real estate agent and lifelong resident of the area Liz Benichou told Fox News Digital that she is "not surprised" that little progress has been made since the fires. "Only 55 homes have been rebuilt since the Woolsey fire in Malibu, and that was in 2018," Benichou said. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the City of Los Angeles is "responsible for and has legal jurisdiction for reviewing and approving permits for homes in the Pacific Palisades," adding that the state "has no formal role in the local permitting processes." The governor's office added that what the state has been doing "since the immediate days after the fire ignited is removing barriers and cutting red tape that stand in the way of homeowners being able to rebuild quickly and safely." "As the state helps the Los Angeles area rebuild and recover, we will continue to remove barriers and red tape that stand in the way. We will not let over-regulation stop us from helping the LA community rebuild and recover." Newsom's office said he has taken a series of "aggressive action to aid homeowners in navigating the recovery process," which include the following actions: After the fires broke out, Trump blamed Newsom and Democrat city policies for the damage, citing their forest and water management policies. Trump had initially threatened to withhold wildfire aid until certain stipulations were met in California, including changes to water policy. In February, Newsom traveled to the White House to push for increased federal funding for recovery efforts and said he and Trump had a "very productive meeting." "As we approach one month since the devastating wildfires across Southern California, we continue to cut red tape to speed up recovery and clean-up efforts as well as ensure rebuilding efforts are swift," Newsom said in a previous statement. "We're working across the aisle, as we always have, to ensure survivors have the resources and support they need." "The Governor expressed his appreciation for the Trump Administration's early collaboration and specifically thanked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for his agency's swift action, including over 1,000 personnel on the ground focused on debris removal," Newsom's office added in a statement. Trump declared that his administration was "looking to get something completed. And the way you get it completed is to work together." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Government Goons Destroy Tree House
A Los Angeles homeowner has conceded defeat in his fight against the city to keep a tree house on his property. After seven years and more than $50,000 spent on legal fees and permits, the battle ended this weekend with a demolition crew. The tree house, which was built and owned by The Simpsons producer Rick Polizzi, was a staple of the Sherman Oaks neighborhood for 24 years. The structure was three stories tall and inspired by the show's "Treehouse of Horror" episodes. Originally built for his daughters, it eventually evolved into a centerpiece for a family-friendly, light-up Halloween display called Boney Island open to the community. In 2017, a neighbor complained about the large crowds of children accumulating during the 10-day Halloween event. The city shut down the Boney Island attraction—which Polizzi later revived and turned into a fundraiser at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum—and cited Polizzi for the tree house's permit violations. Since the tree house was built around the three sweet gum trees in his front yard and couldn't be moved, Polizzi began applying for the necessary permits to keep it for all to enjoy. Bringing the tree house into compliance was no simple task. Polizzi tells Reason that while he had secured the necessary zoning permit for the tree house—a feat in and of itself—he'd been unable to obtain a building permit from the L.A. Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). While one would think it'd make sense to permit the structure as a tree house or play structure, Polizzi says that the LADBS took a strict stance, ruling that the roughly 120-square-foot tree house instead had to meet the arduous requirements for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Los Angeles defines an ADU as "an attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities" and must include "permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation." Securing these building permits requires "soil reports, structural designs, Americans With Disabilities Act compliance, and all this stuff that is just kind of absurd" for an existing treehouse that has stood for 25 years with no safety incidences, Paige Gosney, Polizzi's attorney, told The Los Angeles Times. According to Polizzi, meeting the ADU demands would've cost another $50,000 to $80,000 on top of what he had already spent. "It's felt like a strong-arm tactic meant to get me to buckle." Despite ongoing good faith efforts to comply with the city's regulations, Polizzi was criminally charged with four misdemeanors by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office in 2020 for the tree house's noncompliance. Unable to move forward with renovations, he applied for a permit waiver in April 2024 but never heard back from the city. Stuck in limbo without an accepted or denied waiver, Polizzi's last hope was for the misdemeanor charges to be dropped. However, with a fast-approaching trial date and an unrelenting city attorney threatening to force Polizzi to pay court costs and legal fees, he could no longer justify the increasing costs of fighting to keep the tree house—even with the 6,000 neighbors rallying in support. Polizzi ultimately decided to pay to have the tree house taken down on March 9 and "stop the bleeding." "It's been up 24 years, never had an incident once. So, it's just sad," Polizzi said during an interview with NBCLA hours before the demolition crew arrived. "It's a shame that a city built on creativity can't make some concessions." Polizzi tells Reason that since the tree house was taken down, he's gotten a lot of media attention. "I didn't want all this attention," he says, "I just wanted to keep the tree house I built for my daughters. But I guess this has really struck a nerve with people about government overreach." Once this chapter is finally closed, Polizzi says he plans to leave California and may even take Boney Island with him. "I want nothing to do with this city anymore." The post Government Goons Destroy Tree House appeared first on
