Latest news with #RebuildingLA
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Artist and Engineer Rebuild a Life from the Ashes After the Eaton Fire
When you think of the crew on a construction site, the word 'artist' probably doesn't come to mind. But for Michael Reilly, a union operating engineer, it's a work of art. That's more true than ever as he and his partner, sculptor Colleen Statt, stand on the land where their home and her studio used to be before the Altadena fire consumed it. The loss was huge for Colleen who lost five years of her body of work but after months of visiting the ashes of what once was, a new feeling has taken hold. 'I had a studio full of work, a 50 year archive of my work on paper, so it's overwhelming,' Colleen said, 'but having been here a number of times over the last three months I really feel it's time to let go and move on.' It's a sentiment of turning the page shared by both as they start to look at the cleared land not as a site of loss but as a canvas for their future. Now the focus is on rebuilding—not just a house but a home that's more resilient to the threats of the future. Michael's construction knowledge and Colleen's artistic vision are merging as they plan what's next. As he says, 'when I drive around Los Angeles and I look at the buildings and the bridges and all of the things that have been built, I see Beauty.' Find full episodes of the LA Times Studios podcast 'Rebuilding LA' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
How One Woman is Rebuilding Her Life and Her Community in Altadena
This video is about Sandra Molina, a single mom of three who turned her life around with the help of the Laborers Union. Her day starts at 4:00 a.m. where she's already getting ready for her 12 hour shift as a hazmat worker. A tough job she loves. Her journey wasn't easy. After becoming addicted to drugs at 17, Sandra spent years living on the streets. The turning point came when she found out she was pregnant at 22. That changed everything. Deciding to build a better future for her child and eventually all three of her kids, she found an opportunity through the Laborers Union apprenticeship program. The program gave her skills and a new start. Today Sandra is part of a crew in Altadena clearing ash and debris from properties destroyed by disaster. It's hard work, physical work, she has to suit up in protective gear and handle contaminated materials, but for Sandra it's deeply meaningful. She finds a connection between her own life's reconstruction and the work she does every day. 'It feels good to be here and to be doing something for the community,' she said. 'Because once the ash and debris removal has happened to the property, that means the homeowner can come and reclaim it and start thinking about rebuilding.' Everything Sandra does is for her three kids. They are the reason she kept going when everything felt impossible. 'When I felt like everything was going to swallow me whole I would look over at them and I'd be like I can't give up. I have three people depending on me.' Now she can provide for them in ways she never thought possible – a stable home, school supplies and money in the bank. Her oldest daughter Abigail sees the sacrifice and dedication firsthand and knows how hard her mom works to give them a better life. Sandra is not just rebuilding homes for others, she's building a foundation for the next generation. Find full episodes of the LA Times Studios podcast 'Rebuilding LA' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
'My Heart Was in My Stomach:' LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath on Rebuilding After the Palisades Fire
When the Palisades Fire first broke out 7 months ago, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath was in a Board of Supervisors meeting. When she arrived at the scene, the fire was spreading fast, and she knew it would go beyond the Palisades, down into Malibu. 'My heart was in my stomach,' Horvath recalls thinking of the residents and first responders going into the danger. The emotional weight of the disaster became even clearer at a town hall meeting shortly after where a family – a mom, dad and 2 daughters – shared their story. That family 'crystallized for me the range of experience that so many people were feeling,' Horvath said. In the months following the devastating fire, the cleanup process has been extremely fast, thanks to a massive effort between local, state and federal partners like FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers. 'This has been the fastest debris removal in history,' said Horvath. But she's quick to add a dose of reality to the achievement. 'We know that despite the success of that until people are home until they have their schools and their places of worship, their grocery stores and all of that our work is not done.' Now the real fight begins – cutting through the red tape of rebuilding. Anyone who has tried to build in California knows the headache of navigating conflicting regulations from the city, county and state. To prevent that bureaucratic paralysis from stalling recovery Horvath is pushing for a streamlined solution: a single rebuilding authority for the entire region. The goal is to get government out of the way so families can rebuild their lives. This authority would have the power to 'purchase materials at scale to help drive down the cost' and 'labor to be at the table.' The plan involves skilled labor and industry experts from the start to ensure the rebuild is not just fast, but also safe and smart. This approach will create good jobs and a more resilient community for the future. Find full episodes of the LA Times Studios podcast 'Rebuilding LA' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
