Army Corps Nears Completion of Palisades
Wildfire Cleanup
Debris removal began in late January with the Environmental Protection Agency handling hazardous materials, followed by Army Corpsled crews tackling ash, rubble, and contaminated soil
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday it is nearing the end of its debris removal efforts in Pacific Palisades following the Palisades wildfire, with cleanup of the final residential property underway. The
update, provided as of 3:00 a.m., reflects progress on 4,025 properties where right-of-entry requests were received, accepted, and submitted to contractors, with 3,973 receiving final sign-off.
At a news conference in Pacific Palisades, officials including U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and Councilmember Traci Park celebrated the rapid recovery, calling it the fastest wildfire cleanup in modern history. Horvath noted, “What was expected to take more than two years was finished in just seven months,” highlighting the collaborative effort.
Debris removal began in late January with the Environmental Protection Agency handling hazardous materials, followed by Army Corps-led crews tackling ash, rubble, and contaminated soil in February. The effort included all four Palisades schools, where all rightof-entry requests have been processed and finalized.
Park recalled the initial devastation to the Los Angeles Times, saying, “When I looked around that first morning, I wondered how on earth we were ever going to get it cleaned up?” She credited the Army Corps for laying the groundwork for recovery.
Local officials have issued 600 building permits in Palisades as the area transitions to rebuilding, though a few commercial properties remain under cleanup.
Rally Against SB 79 Draws Crowds in Palisades
The bill, which advanced through Senate and Assembly committees, faces review by the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week, with a full vote possible by August 29
Crowds gathered in Pacific Palisades on Saturday, August 23, to rally against Senate Bill 79, a state housing measure critics say endangers communities with unchecked high-density development.
Former Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock, reflecting on the event via Instagram, said, “I was there along with LA Council Member Traci Park and many community activists.” He added that the rally aimed to remind the California Senate and Assembly that SB 79’s passage would help decimate communities with unbridled residential
construction, potentially reducing affordable housing across the state.
The rally, held at the U.S. Bank parking lot on Sunset Boulevard, was part of a statewide movement with simultaneous protests in San Diego, San Francisco, and Marin County. Organized by the Pacific Palisades Residents Association and over a dozen grassroots groups under Our Neighborhood Voices, participants voiced concerns about SB 79’s allowance for large-scale housing projects— potentially up to 12 stories—near transit stops, including in single-family zones. Association president Jessica Rogers estimated thousands of Californians joined the effort statewide, calling SB 79 “100 times worse” than existing laws and alleging it prioritizes developer profits over safety.
Lori Brooke, president of Our Neighborhood Voices, echoed this, stating, “We all want affordable housing, but this bill risks preventable tragedies statewide.” The two-hour event featured speeches, music, and community interaction.
Critics, including Rogers, warned that the bill ignores fire risks and infrastructure limits, particularly in burn zones like Pacific Palisades, devastated by the January 2025 fire. SB 79, authored
The prior week, the Los Angeles City Council voted 8-5 to oppose it, with Park and Councilmember John Lee leading the resolution. Park argued the bill strips local planning authority, citing unique challenges like wildfire-prone hillsides and inadequate evacuation routes.
“Sacramento’s attempt to hijack local planning silences residents,” she said during a prior press conference, a stance she reiterated at the rally.
The bill, which advanced through Senate and Assembly committees, faces review by the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week, with a full vote possible by August 29. The Pacific Palisades Community Council also urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto the legislation, referencing his earlier emergency order limiting dense housing in fire zones.
As the bill moves forward, opponents plan virtual meetings across Council District 11 to mobilize further resistance.
by Sen. Scott Wiener, has sparked widespread opposition.
City Council Opposes Controversial State Housing Density Bill
The Pacific Palisades Community Council urged Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the bill
The Los Angeles City Council voted 8-5 on Tuesday to oppose Senate Bill 79, a contentious statewide measure authored by San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener that aims to increase housing density near transit stops.
The resolution, led by Councilmembers Traci Park and John Lee, follows a press conference where community leaders and residents warned of the bill’s potential to disrupt neighborhoods and threaten public safety.
SB 79 seeks to streamline approvals for multi-family housing near rail stations and rapid bus lines, even in areas where such developments are currently prohibited. The bill would limit local governments’ authority to regulate largescale projects, imposing uniform density increases across California. Supporters argue it will lower housing costs, reduce traffic, and boost transit use. However, critics, including Los Angeles officials, contend it undermines local planning and endangers communities.
“SB 79 is Sacramento’s attempt to hijack local planning and hand the keys to developers, silencing the voices of residents,” Park said during the press conference at City Hall. She emphasized that Los Angeles is already addressing housing needs through programs like the Citywide Housing Incentive Program, which promotes responsible growth.
Councilmember John Lee echoed these concerns, highlighting years of community engagement in areas like the San Fernando Valley to balance housing development with neighborhood preservation. “The people of Los Angeles deserve a say in how their city grows,” he said.
Community leaders at the press conference raised alarms about the bill’s impact. Alix Gucovsky of the Venice Neighborhood Council criticized SB 79 for treating residents as “commodities” and erasing local culture. Tracy Conyers, a Westchester resident, warned that the bill strips away community input, while Andrew Salimian of the Los Angeles Conservancy called it a threat to historic assets.
The vote comes amid broader opposition to SB 79. Last week, the Pacific Palisades Community Council urged Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the bill, citing risks in wildfire-prone areas like Pacific Palisades, which suffered devastating losses in the January 2025 Palisades fire. The council’s letter referenced Newsom’s emergency order acknowledging the dangers of dense housing in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, arguing that SB 79 lacks necessary exemptions for such areas.
SB 79, introduced on January 15, 2025, has advanced through the Senate and Assembly committees and is set for review by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. A full Assembly vote could follow in the coming weeks.
“We will fight for our neighborhoods, our history, and our right to shape our own future,” Park said, signaling Los Angeles’ resolve to challenge the bill as it progresses.
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Vittorio’s Pizza Relocating to Canyon Square After Palisades Wildfire
The fire reduced the restaurant to ashes, erasing 40 years of memories and leaving 16 families without their primary income source
Beloved Italian restaurant Vittorio’s Pizza, a community staple since 1984, is set to reopen at a new location in Canyon Square this August following its destruction in the Palisades wildfire on January 7.
The new site at 169 W. Channel Rd. will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., except Tuesdays, offering the same authentic flavors that defined the original eatery.
The fire reduced the restaurant to ashes, erasing 40 years of memories and leaving 16 families without their primary income source.
Founded by Mercedes Pellegrini, who began by selling baked goods from her car in 1988 before buying into Vittorio’s
in 1989, the restaurant was a family-run operation with daughters Vanessa and Sabrina and a loyal team of long-term employees. The blaze, which struck within 24 hours, devastated the business
and the community it served. A GoFundMe campaign has raised $48,423 toward a $50,000 goal, with donations from supporters helping to cover unexpected costs.
The Pellegrini family and staff are now focused on rebuilding, with the new Canyon Square location aimed at restoring the restaurant as a beacon of joy and togetherness.
The Third Place Reinvented: Why Kavahana Is Becoming LA’s New Favorite Hangout Spot
In a city full of coffee shops that close too early and bars that don’t cater to the sober (or sober-curious) crowd, Kavahana is carving out something new: a place to be. More than just a spot for drinks, work, or weekends, Kavahana is quickly becoming Santa Monica's goto "third place" for any occasion—from morning coffee to date nights.
Tucked on Pico Boulevard just blocks from the beach, Kavahana blends cozy café comfort with the spark of a community hub. It opens early, stays open late, and draws everyone from sunrise surfers to midnight creatives. But it’s not just the hours that make it special.
Kava Nectar: The Tingly Drink That Actually “Works”
At the center of the Kavahana experience is Kava Nectar, a natural, non-alcoholic beverage made from the root of the kava plant. Long used in ceremonial settings across the South Pacific Islands and Hawaii, kava is a family drink known for its relaxing, smile-inducing properties. Kavahana’s version, Kava Nectar, is coldpressed, potent, and one-of-a-kind in the United States.
You’ll feel it. Most people notice a gentle tingle on the tongue, followed by a wave of relaxed energy and ease. Some describe it as “a mental massage” or “a hot tub for your mind.” Others just say it helps them feel genuinely happy, social, and present without alcohol or anything synthetic. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, the feeling doesn’t fade.
Kavahana’s signature cocktails showcase kava nectar with real, natural ingredients like mango, ginger, spirulina, and coconut cream. They’re delicious, effective, and zero-proof. This is one wellness drink you can actually feel working.
Not Into Kava Nectar Yet? No Problem.
Kava not your thing (yet)? Kavahana’s
menu goes beyond. Their Hawaiiansourced Kona coffee is low-acid, smooth, and bold without bitterness. Or try hojicha, a roasted green tea from Japan that’s rich, nutty, and naturally low in caffeine.
The team is friendly and happy to walk you through the options. You’ll probably try something new, and you’ll probably love it. Food-wise, Kavahana offers islandinspired snacks that hit the sweet spot between satisfying and light.
Where You Can Hang Past 5 PM
With plenty of seating, fast Wi-Fi, and an unusual abundance of power outlets, it’s ideal for remote work, studying, or just posting up with a book. The vibe is welcoming and relaxed, with just the right level of background buzz. And unlike most cafés that close by late afternoon, Kavahana stays open late, often until
1 AM on weekends. It’s one of the only places on the Westside where you can hang out after dark without drinking alcohol. Every week, Kavahana hosts free events like Open Mic Night (Tuesdays) and Comedy Night (Wednesdays). Regulars say it’s one of the most welcoming crowds in town.
Whether you’re there to perform, support a friend, or just unwind after work, there’s a sense of shared energy and presence that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Visit Kavahana
306 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405
Open daily (morning to late night) Tuesdays: Open Mic Night Wednesdays: Comedy Night
Website: Kavahana.com
Instagram: @kavahanabar
Welcome to Urban Jungle
Immerse yourself in a sanctuary where nature’s tranquility meets the vibrancy of city life. Urban Jungle is more than a plant store it’s a communitycentered oasis bringing a lush slice of paradise to your urban lifestyle. Here, we passionately believe in the power of plants to transform spaces and elevate well-being.
Rebuilding the Palisades: Choose Zoie Brook Designs for Your Rebuilding Needs
Many families in the Pacific Palisades are rebuilding and restarting this year.
After a fiery tragedy crossed miles across the community where she was born and raised, interior designer Zoie Aliado saw the devastation and destruction of the January wildfires with a crushed heart.
Where to start, how to rebuild and how to navigate insurance are many of the questions that came to mind. As an interior designer, Zoie’s seven-year background in the industry gives her insight to hold hands with those who have lost everything and start rebuilding.
“We rallied as a community, but I know it’s really difficult to restart and rebuild, not knowing where to start or how to rebuild,” Zoie said. “My design team can help you start — we’ll guide you every step of the way.”
Through a clear, collaborative process, Zoie Brook Designs, founded in 2020, helps you transform your home, whether it’s a new build, remodel or a full furnishing project. This full-service interior design firm specializes in high-end residential interiors, working closely with clients, architects, builders and trades to ensure seamless execution from concept to completion.
Every stage of the process is thoughtfully guided, from space planning and finish selection to the creation of custom furnishings.
“We find great contractors and architects to guide you through rebuilding your home. With the tragedy striking close to home, close to people I love and grew up around, I’d like to give back and put my heart and passion into helping people rebuild,” Zoie said.
Growing up in the Pacific Palisades, Zoie has always been inspired by the intersection of design and human connection. After earning her undergraduate degree in business
communication, Zoie pursued further education in interior architecture, blending creative vision with technical expertise. Her professional journey began as an interior design associate at a boutique firm where she gained foundational experience in residential design.
Later recruited to lead the interior architecture team at a Beverly Hillsbased firm, Zoie advanced to managing both the architecture and interior design departments, overseeing multiple largescale residential builds.
Zoie Brook Designs was launched to bring a more personalized, boutique experience to Zoie’s clients. Cultivating polished, yet livable spaces, her work is deeply collaborative, detail-driven and rooted in timelessness.
“Part of being an interior designer is the relationship you have with your clients and understanding what grief they are going through, where they’ve come from and the timeline and processes for projects, you have to come from a space of empathy and understanding yourself to envision the end goal with the client,” Zoie said. “That’s what separates me from other designers — I understand
what makes their house a home.”
With a Palisades 3,200 square foot project currently in process, Zoie said she’s anticipating the timeline to be six or eight months out. Her connection to the area plays a major role in her commitment to rebuild the community she knows and loves.
One of the project’s core challenges was working within the limits of the existing structure. Rather than opting for a full addition, the homeowners wanted to make strategic updates that dramatically improve livability. Behind the scenes, this required detailed coordination to accommodate structural beams, plumbing relocations, and permitting logistics—all while staying true to the couple’s design vision. To see photos of this project, visit ZoieBrookDesigns.com.
For homes affected by the Pacific Palisades fires, Zoie Brook Designs is offering special promotions.
To learn more about Zoie Brook Designs and see the firm’s portfolio of work, visit https://zoiebrookdesigns. com.
Los Angeles Delays Palisades Fire Report Amid Federal Probe
The report could clarify the Los Angeles Fire Department’s response, including its decision not to pre-deploy engines
Los Angeles will delay releasing a report on its handling of the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 and devastated the Westside neighborhood, to avoid interfering with a federal investigation, Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California requested the hold late last week, Bass said, citing the ongoing probe into the fire’s cause. The city’s after-action report, mandated by California regulations, will be released upon the investigation’s conclusion in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The fire, detected around 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, tore through Pacific Palisades’ mountainous area near the Pacific Ocean, fueled by high winds. Investigators are examining whether it was a reignition of the Lachman fire, reported on New Year’s Day and believed extinguished, or if a person sparked it, given the absence of power poles near the origin and heavy trail traffic.
The delay has drawn criticism from Sharon Delugach of the city’s Fire Commission, who told the Los Angeles Times, “It’s fire season. We need to know what worked and what didn’t.”
The report could clarify the Los Angeles Fire Department’s response, including its decision not to pre-deploy engines despite severe wind warnings, a departure from past practices. Mayor Bass removed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley post-fire, citing delayed communication.
• 20 open Acres
• 4100 sqft. Home
• 6 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 4 baths, 2 living rooms, family room, 2 laundry rooms.
• Large 3 car garage, hot tub room, storage room
• 1 bedroom guest/caretaker apartment in outbuilding.
• Shared private access to Yellowstone River across street. Fly Fishermen’s Heaven!
• Deeded right to build another residence and 2 guest houses. Very private, long driveway. Lots of special features.
• Log sided, with log themed porches, large fenced in yard. Above ground pool w/large deck, children’s play yard.
• Semi-Private K-8 Arrowhead School 5 miles
• Duplex Layout with access between unit. Perfect for single family or two families with additional deeded building options, even a group of people or vacation rental income.
• Fantastic views.
• 20 min to Yellowstone park, 25 min to Livingston, 1 hour to Bozeman.
• Other out buildings and greenhouse.
• Comes with it’s own small bulldozer for winter plowing.
• Some corral fencing. Great property for horses.
• Sportsman’s Paradise. Skiing, Fishing, Rafting, Mountain Biking, Trails galore.
• Bridger Bowl and Big Sky nearby for Skiing
• National Forest Service and BLM lands right up the road for Hunting.
• Some furnishings available.
• In office, virtually, or WLA home visits
• Palisades fire informed trauma support, provided by displaced Palisades resident
Going for the throat
Coach Bill Schuman expects protégé Golda Zahra to hold back nothing
By Linda Chase
World famous competitors hire special coaches to make sure they are ready for critical events. These experts concentrate on specific muscles that are vital for success.
Bill Schuman focuses on “two pieces of gristle in the throat.”
That’s how Schuman described vocal cords in a recent interview. For his young client, Golda Zahra, they aren’t for chatting on her phone or making Tik-Tok videos. She will need them to be flexible and powerful for her performance in Puccini’s Turandot in Disney Hall on Aug. 16.
Zahra is playing the role of Liu in a concert version of the opera being presented by Pacific Music Festival. The cast also features Nina Warren in the title role, Alfred Kim as Calaf and Andrew Potter as Timur, plus the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Dream Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Suk. Schuman looks at Zahra’s voice as an instrument she plays, but which she can never put away. “She carries that Stradivarius around with her all day,” he said.
Nedra Zachary, who runs the prestigious Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition, introduced Zahra to Schuman, and he discovered, “Her voice was beautiful.”
But that’s just the beginning for an aspiring performer, according to Schuman, a vocal coach who’s worked with opera stars Marcello Giordani, Lisette Oropesa, Stephen Costello, Michael Fabiano and Angela Meade -- and also with singers from the worlds of Broadway and pop music, such as Judy McLane, Anne Crumb, Michael Jackson and Michael Bolton. Did Zahra have the three essential qualities that he knows are the keys to success — humility, discipline, and curiosity? “Not everyone has the openness to learn,” he noted. As he began to work with her, he found that Zahra was willing to put in the work and make the necessary sacrifices.
“Bill cleaned up the rough edges,” Zahra said in an interview. “He has the magic touch.”
Schuman’s approach asks the singer to seek out the emotion in music and make each aria unique. For Turandot, he’s preparing her for a role that requires fragility as well as vocal beauty. “She will be stunning as Liu,” he asserted.
The story of Turandot’s first performance is as dramatic as the opera itself. Puccini was interested in Asian motifs – one of his most famous operas is Madame Butterfly –and he chose a play with a Chinese setting by German writer Friedrich Schiller to set
“Turandot in Concert,” presented by Pacific Festival, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Ages 9 and older. Tickets, $33 to $105, including all fees, are available at www.TurandotConcert.com
to music. “I have placed, in this opera, all my soul,” he told a friend, and then he died of throat cancer before he could finish it.
Another composer was hired to fill in the missing work, but on opening night at La Scala in 1926, conductor Arturo Toscanini dropped the baton in the final act and turned to the audience, announcing, “This is the end of the opera, because the Maestro died here.”
The version at Disney Hall will be minus elaborate opera sets and stage effects, but
production of Turandot.
Schuman supports Zahra’s goal of bringing new audiences to opera. “The music world has changed,” he asserts. “Opera needs to be made more accessible, especially for the younger generation.”
Recalling the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti being criticized for singing in different genres before wider audiences, Schuman notes that “he helped to increase the popularity of opera.” It was Pavarotti who popularized the aria “Nessun Dorma” (none shall sleep), which will be sung by Alfred Kim as Calaf in the third act.
Even though there isn’t a lot of action in a concert presentation of an opera, audiences can expect Zahra, who is a huge fan of horror films, to come up with something special when she sacrifices herself to love. It’s probably not exactly what Schuman has in mind when he tells his singers to “bring the drama.”
He has high hopes for his protégé. “She can go to the very top, if she wants it,” he said, because “that mystical thing that we call charisma: Golda has it.”
Linda Chase is a freelance writer based in Santa Barbara specializing in the arts, travel and lifestyle. This feature is produced by the Journalism Arts Initiative, which is underwritten by donations from arts organizations and others interested in supporting excellence in arts journalism.
the unamplified singers will have the benefit of the venue’s world-renowned acoustics. Curved walls of vertical-grain Douglas fir and terraced vineyard-style seating create a space where someone sitting in the top row can hear a pin drop on stage.
It will be the third time Zahra has appeared at Disney Hall. In 2015, she sang there in the Spotlight Awards competition and became the youngest winner in the Classical Voice category. In 2024, she performed Liu there in a different
