Latest news with #Rebuilding
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
Los Angeles Times
25-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Rebuild or Relocate? How Home Insurance Impacts Wildfire Victims' Choices
The recent L.A. County wildfires have left many families in a tough spot, trying to figure out what to do next. Should they rebuild in the area still at risk or move somewhere safer? A big factor in that decision is home insurance, which can greatly impact the financial and logistical options available to those affected. Insurance and RebuildingFor survivors, a good home insurance policy is a lifeline. Those with comprehensive insurance that covers fire damage see rebuilding as a real option. These policies cover not just the physical repairs but also temporary housing costs, and some even allow for safer, fire-resistant materials to be used. This support gives families the confidence to rebuild and get back to the community they love. Some insurance plans have extended replacement cost coverage, which is crucial when costs are unknown, especially in L.A., where they can fluctuate wildly. State and federal assistance can fill in the gaps insurance leaves behind. However, navigating the claims process can be overwhelming. Many homeowners are unexpectedly faced with lower payouts that don't cover the cost of rebuilding. Disputes over damage assessments add to the emotional toll of losing your home. Government Resources for Rebuilding Los Angeles County is working to speed up the rebuilding process. California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken executive action to suspend regulatory barriers, while the L.A. County Board of Supervisors is working to cut red tape to get communities rebuilt. State and local officials have also declared emergencies to help speed up recovery. The LA County Recovers website has information on rebuilding, which may vary by city or community. It includes resources specific to Los Angeles, Pasadena, Malibu, and Sierra Madre, as well as unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Altadena and parts of Pacific Palisades. Residents can start the rebuilding process by applying for permits. Note that construction cannot begin until the debris removal is complete, but you are encouraged to apply for the permits as soon as possible. Insurance Challenges That Give Relocation PriorityConversely, many homeowners face insurance hurdles that make relocating seem like a better option than rebuilding. Insurance companies have raised premiums in high-risk areas to respond to wildfires, so some resident's policies are non-renewed. This leaves them in a tough spot with limited options. When faced with high costs or loss of coverage, some homeowners turn to California's FAIR Plan – a last-resort insurance option. Unfortunately, that plan offers minimal coverage, so individuals risk huge out-of-pocket expenses if another wildfire hits. That uncertainty can sway many to consider relocating for safety. Some insurance policies even offer incentives, through buyouts, to move. This encourages homeowners to sell rather than rebuild. Some plans cover alternative living expenses, making transitioning to a new area seem more financially appealing than throwing money into repairs. A Financial and Emotional DecisionAt the end of the day, it's a financial and emotional decision. Those lucky enough to have good insurance may feel compelled to reinvest, but it may be the only way to stop the financial bleeding for others. Those facing serious insurance challenges may prioritize safety and stability over the emotional ties to their old lives. This decision-making process is also fraught with emotional weight. Families have deep roots in their neighborhoods, schools, and local communities, so leaving all that behind is tough. These ties complicate what seems like a simple financial decision. Given these challenges, government agencies and policymakers are exploring ways to support residents. State-backed insurance programs and mitigation efforts are being discussed to give residents more options and resources to manage wildfire risk. The Next StepsAs communities recover from devastating wildfires, the choice to rebuild or relocate is a difficult one. Homeowners must weigh their situation with the financial reality and navigate an ever-changing insurance landscape that impacts their options. Right now, it's clear that home insurance is a key part of the recovery process for those affected by the wildfires.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Rebuilding review – Josh O'Connor is a stoic rancher in sensitive, if slight, wildfire drama
The difficult question of how one truly recovers from the devastating loss that a wildfire can bring is one that more and more are confronting. It's been a horrifying year for too many in California, land and lives lost, the unimaginable process of figuring out what comes next now on the horizon. In writer-director Max Walker-Silverman's quiet and timely sophomore film Rebuilding, he offers some insight into how this looks and feels, told through the eyes of Josh O'Connor's stoic rancher. The British actor, coming off his biggest role in Luca Guadagnino's teasing tennis drama Challengers, plays Dusty, a Colorado man who has just lost almost everything, acres of inherited land gone in an instant. We meet him not long after as he finds himself unmoored, unsure of what his life looks like now, moving to a pokey trailer paid for by rapidly decreasing government funds, forced back into a world he had mostly turned his back on. That world includes ex-wife Ruby (The White Lotus's excellent and underused Meghann Fahy) and young daughter Callie Rose (promising Australian actor Lily LaTorre), who he now has to parent in a way we assume he hasn't for a while. One of the film's more effective moments sees Ruby express frustration over how, as a mostly absent father, Dusty can still do no wrong in his child's mind, a tough pill to swallow for a mother who has taken on the harder day-to-day weight of true parenting. Walker-Silverman, who enjoyed a low-key Sundance hit back in 2022 with the delicate romance A Love Song, tells stories in the smallest of touches, spare dialogue deprioritised over stunning scenery. Part of Rebuilding involves Dusty's wrestle with how to accept help, the character often resembling the parody of a strong and silent big-screen cowboy. It's something the film is very aware of, with Ruby reminding him that his real name is the far less cinematic Thomas. O'Connor is familiar with this mode, having played a similarly reserved man of nature in Francis Lee's involving gay romance God's Own Country back in 2017. There's far less for him to chew on here but, despite a not always convincing accent, he acquits himself well, an actor who can do a lot with very little, relying on the tiny details of his unusual face to express emotions the script mostly chooses to repress. There's a new community for Dusty, among those who are also displaced, also living in trailers, a makeshift village of people tied together by loss (one that also includes True Detective's Kali Reis), figuring out how to gain some control over a life that has just shown that you ultimately have very little. Resistance for him is brief and futile as he starts to find his way back into the world. Like many a Sundance movie, Rebuilding is a hushed and handsomely made drama reliant on the overwhelm of nature to fill in the many gaps. It has slightly more substance and refreshingly less forced quirkiness than A Love Song, which was almost too thin and would surely not have worked without the transfixing face of Dale Dickey, but it's another film that's sometimes a little underwritten to work as well as it could. Walker-Silverman's characters need not speak in clumsily unreal, exposition-swamped terms but there's a dearth of real, distinctive detail, some of his pages a little too blank. This lightness then makes the final act feel almost too plotted, as the sudden death of a minor character is quickly followed by a sweet if unrealistically easy save-the-day act of kindness, too much after too little. There are still scenes, even without the shadow of recent events, that offer an effective pang of poignancy, Walker-Silverman and O'Connor's heavy-lifting performance showing us how jarring and hopeless the aftermath can feel. It's a story about how to maintain one's deep love for nature even when you've just been shown how awful and violent and unpredictable it can be. Recovery is shown to be a tough, jagged process and while Rebuilding might not offer much in the way of specifics, it offers a wealth of hope which might be enough for now. Rebuilding is screening at the Sundance film festival and is seeking distribution
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Together' Review: Alison Brie & Dave Franco Put Codependency To Test In Michael Shanks' Body Horror Rom-Com — Sundance Film Festival
Although Alison Brie and husband Dave Franco have shared the screen in the past, they truly sink into each other with some skin-crawling, albeit heartfelt and hilarious performances in writer-director Michael Shanks' feature debut, which seamlessly blends body horror and romantic comedy. Together stars the real-life couple as Millie and Tim, who relocate from their bustling city life to a quaint home in the country after Millie gets a job teaching at a local elementary school. Following a hike in which they stumble upon a cave with a mysterious water source, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. More from Deadline 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman' Review: Bill Condon's Film Version Brilliantly Reinvents Broadway Musical And Finally Gives Jennifer Lopez The Role She Was Born To Play - Sundance Film Festival 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman': World Premiere Of Jennifer Lopez Musical Receives Standing Ovation At Sundance 'Rebuilding' Review: Josh O'Connor Tries To Find Home Again After Losing Everything In Moving & Timely Drama - Sundance Film Festival As they bid farewell to their group friends at a going away party, it's quickly evident that the couple is growing apart as Tim has a personal crisis over sacrificing his dreams to let Millie chase hers. When Tim hesitates to say yes to her proposal in front of everyone they know, they consider splitting up, as Millie notes 'it would be harder later,' a thought that becomes all too literal as their unexplained situation progresses throughout the dark comedy. Shanks brilliantly paces the story with several pieces of foreshadowing, including a rat king as symbolism for toxic codependency, mirroring a gruesome story Tim tells Millie about his father's death and his mother's mental health. It's a fate he fears for himself, with their new home triggering his traumatic memories. Meanwhile, an ominous piece of dialogue sheds light on the supernatural origins of the water source, referencing Plato's Symposium. The Socratic dialogue features a story about an ancient race of people with double bodies who were cut in half by Zeus, forever being doomed to wander the earth in search of their other halves. While the film is ripe with jump scares and body horror — conceived largely with practical effects — the tone is offset by Brie and Franco's undeniable comedic synchronicity. Meanwhile, their emotional connection is on full display as their character arcs take them through a spectrum of love, neediness and fulfillment, which can be bizarrely hopeful and endearing at times. A worthy follow-up to Franco's 2020 feature directorial debut The Rental, which stars Brie in a chilling horror about a vacation gone wrong, the pair is at their best when drawing from their own chemistry and history to bring Shanks' dark romance to life. Producers are Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Mike Cowap, Andrew Mittman, Erik Feig and Max Silva. Title: TogetherDistributor: WMEDirector: Michael ShanksScreenwriter: Michael ShanksCast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie and Damon HerrimanRunning time: 102 min Best of Deadline Deadline Studio At Sundance Film Festival Photo Gallery: Jennifer Lopez, Benedict Cumberbatch & More TIFF People's Choice Award Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery Venice Film Festival 2024: All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews
Khaleej Times
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Is Josh O'Connor the new James Bond?
Actor Josh O'Connor has addressed the persistent rumours about him stepping into the iconic role of James Bond, joking that if he had been cast as the secret agent, he was be completely unaware of it. The speculation surrounding O'Connor as the next 007 has been gaining momentum in recent months, but the actor himself seems far from concerned. In an interview with Deadline, O'Connor said, "The truth is that ... I think in the space of a week, I made a joke about, wouldn't it be funny if I played Bond? Then, me and Daniel Craig did an Actors on Actors, and then something else happened, and then suddenly I was James Bond. If I am Bond, I don't know about it." The actor is currently promoting Rebuilding, where he plays Dusty, a cowboy trying to rebuild his life after losing his ranch in the devastating Colorado wildfires. Co-star Kali Reis, who gained recognition for her Emmy-nominated role in True Detective: Night Country, joked about the possibility of O'Connor playing Bond, saying, "Just as long as I can be your sidekick." While O'Connor laughs off the rumours, he is just one of many actors mentioned in connection with the coveted Bond role, which remains a topic of significant interest in Hollywood. Other actors speculated to potentially take on the role include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Rege-Jean Page, Sam Heughan, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the James Bond franchise stems from a variety of factors, including the reported creative impasse between Amazon, which acquired MGM, the studio behind Bond, for $6.5 billion (Dh23 billion) in 2022, and the Broccoli family, who control the franchise, according to Deadline. Daniel Craig's final appearance as Bond in No Time to Die in 2021 has left the future of the franchise up in the air, with fans eagerly awaiting news on the next instalment and who will be playing the secret agent.
