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December 2025 September
Erewhon to Reopen as Anchor Tenant in Data Shows Rebuilding Progress in PostPalisades Village Fire Palisades coastal neighborhood, including hundreds Other returning Pali Builds’ SeptemberWhile 1 analysis. The numbers indicate ofto Processing homes and businesses. Palisades times for new building Village largely survived the blaze due to tenants include permits averaged around 63-77 a surge in permitting private firefighting efforts and fire-resistant days in summer months, up from 31 the center has remained closed luxury activity,retailer particularly materials, days in March, suggesting growing for extensive refurbishment to remove administrative demands as applications elysewalker, while potential in recent months increase. contaminants. Pali Builds, founded by locals honored to joindata, the incredible to “We’re fill gaps in official continues high-end home goods New data from Pali Builds, a effort underway at Palisades Village,” tracking until the LA Mayor’s Office community platform tracking recovery Erewhon CEO and Co-Founder Tony provides comprehensive figures. store Elizabeth from the January wildfires, shows Antoci said in a statement. “Reopening Home sales data through Augustis 1a significant rebuilding momentum in meaningful to contribute to the7 Lamont has already reveals 160 way lots for soldussince the January Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home healing and renewal of this neighborhood.” fires, totaling $477.7 million. reopened nearby permits approved since the fires and 160 The include a café The rebuilt marketErewhon shows will stark disparities lots sold generating nearly $478 million and tonic bar. by area: Area 8 led with 11 sales at an with fire-recovery in sales, highlighting a robust but uneven average “Bringing backmedian to Palisades $10.6Erewhon million and $10.2 housing market. Village is contributing a major step $116.4 forward million for the million, discounts The numbers indicate a surge in entire community,” said Jackie chief in volume, while Area 2 hadLevy, 16 sales permitting particularly in recent Upscale activity, organic grocer Erewhon will months. return as the anchor tenant at Palisades From January to August 2025, with Los Village in Pacific Palisades, Angeles approved 179 on new homes in reconstruction underway a fully rebuilt the 90272 code, with approvals store featuringzip an expanded outdoor patio, accelerating time: only two in March the company over announced Wednesday. butThe jumping to 76 in August, announcement comes according nearly a year after the devastating Palisades Fire, which ignited Jan. 7 and destroyed more than 6,800 structures across the affluent
financial revenue officer for5developer averagingand $1.7 million. Area saw the Caruso, which owns shopping most activity with the 48 open-air sales averaging center. $2.1 million. Buyer composition from Other returning tenants 85 include luxury January to July included individuals retailer high-end (53%), elysewalker, 64 entitieswhile (40%), andhome 11 goods store(7%), Elizabeth Lamont already unknown pointing to has substantial institutionalnearby investment in the recovery. reopened with fire-recovery discounts. Palisades Village is targeted for a full reopening in 2026.
Lawmakers Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry Over Local Control Loss Council Defers Study of Climate Resilience Some decried thefor bill, Palisades District now on Gov. Gavin The proposal, Newsom’s desk, for introduced by Park ignoring traffic, and seconded by infrastructure, Councilmembers environmental, and Nazarian andconcerns public safety Price Jr., called By Zach Armstrong for studying the California lawmakers approved creation a Climate Senate Bill 79, aof controversial housing mandate some have decried for ignoring Resilience District infrastructure and public safety concerns, in mid-September, prompting fierce to help address opposition from Los Angeles leaders. The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott infrastructure Wiener (D–San Francisco), allows for
more housing The multi-family Los Angeles City development Council on near transit stops,topermitting and Tuesday declined advance ataller proposed denser buildings closer to major transit feasibility study for a Climate Resilience hubs andaimed allowing transit agencies to District at supporting recovery buildrebuilding on their own land. Theinbill also and infrastructure Pacific requires afollowing share ofthis affordable housing Palisades year’s windstorm unitswildfire. in new projects. and In late August, a crowdvoted of Palisadians, Instead, the council to refer
along with city leaders and officials, rallied against the bill. “SB 79 is 100 times worse than existing laws,” the proposal backResidents to the Budget and Pacific Palisades Association Finance Committee and the Economic President Jessica Rogers said, warning Development and Jobs Committee for of risks in wildfire-prone areas like the further consideration. The motion to refer Palisades, citing inadequate evacuation the item passed on a 10–5 vote during a routes and infrastructure strain. regular council meeting. In August, the Los Angeles City The proposal, introduced in January by Council voted 8–5 in opposition to SB Councilmember Traci Park and seconded 79, led by Councilwoman Traci Park by Councilmembers Adrin Nazarian and and Councilmember John Lee. Park, Curren D. Price Jr., called for studying the whose district includes the Palisades, creation of a Climate Resilience District called a “Sacramento attemptneeds to hijack to helpit address infrastructure and local planning,” silencing residents. long-term recovery in areas affected byThe the Pacific Palisades Palisadesfire.Community Council Pacific also urged Newsom veto the bill, According to Park’sto office, funding referencing his emergency order limiting for the feasibility study had been dense housing fire Southern zones. California secured throughin the “This bill opens the allowing floodgates Association of Governments, the for developers, displacement, and study to move forward without affecting gentrification, with City no regard for our the city’s budget. staff from the neighborhoods,” Park saidDevelopment in a Sept. Economic and Workforce 13 statement, Los aAngeles Department hadnoting also that prepared report has thousands of housing units under outlining potential funding sources and construction. 79, she of argued, would evaluating theSB feasibility establishing undermine years of planning to place such a district. housing transit corridors. Despitealong those efforts, the council Daysnot after passage,the Park introduced opted to its authorize study at this a motion directing cityproposal departments time. Supporters of the cited to conduct a deficits comprehensive 90-day infrastructure and ongoing
recovery needs in the Palisades area, while opponents said additional review by the city’s budget and economic committees was warranted. The matter has consideration assessment of been SB under 79. The motion by multiple city bodies throughout 2025, instructs the Departments of City including the Ad Hoc Committee for Planning, Transportation, L.A. Recovery, the Budgetand andHousing, Finance along with the City Attorney, to analyze Committee and the Economic and the bill’s effects. The report will include Workforce Development Department.
Several neighborhood councils submitted community impact statements both in support of and raising concerns about the proposal. maps areas within quarter-mile and The of council’s action adoes not terminate half-mile of transit stops subject to SB the proposal. By referring it back to 79, impacts council on rent-stabilized housing, committee, members left open historic districts, coastal discussion zones, and the possibility of further or high-risk fire and tsunami areas. amendments before any future vote.
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December 2025
Alphabets Neighborhood to be First Area of Undergrounding by LADWP
Department outlines progress on conduit system, plans monthly community meetings and seeks funding as rebuilding continues after devastating blaze The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reaffirmed its commitment to undergrounding electrical utilities in Pacific Palisades during a meeting last week with community representatives and contractors involved in rebuilding efforts following the destructive Palisades Fire. LADWP executives told attendees that while undergrounding remains a priority, some areas may prove unachievable due to terrain or technical challenges. The department aims for block-level conversions but noted that overhead lines could persist on streets where property owners decline to participate or provide necessary easements. A detailed timeline for starting work is under development and expected to be ready for review in February 2026, officials said. The “Alphabets” neighborhood, known as Load Block 5, is currently
projected to be the first residential area targeted for undergrounding. Progress includes 1.65 miles of trench and 32 substructures installed as part of a 6.5-mile conduit system begun in April to support future underground services. Construction paused recently for a contractor transition but is slated to resume later this month. LADWP pledged monthly meetings with community representatives to share updates and address concerns, while continuing to pursue federal and state funding for the project. Residents and builders were urged to install “combo panels” allowing both overhead and underground service entrances, and to extend underground conduits to property lines according to specific guidelines for future connections. The department is also collaborating with other city agencies on feasibility and costs for placing equipment in public rights-of-way, though this process will not delay individual property rebuild reviews. A new Palisades Inspections and Permitting Support Center is under construction at 16925 Marquez Avenue and expected to open in early 2026. It will house staff from multiple agencies, including LADWP, Building and Safety, Engineering and the Fire Department, replacing a current unified center in Malibu.
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Newsom Presses Congress for Delayed LA Wildfire Aid
Nearly a year after the Palisades and Eaton fires, longterm federal relief remains stalled without a formal disaster request from the Trump administration California Gov. Gavin Newsom met with congressional leaders from both parties on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as he sought to accelerate long-delayed federal recovery aid for Los Angeles communities hit by last year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. The trip came as the region approaches the one-year anniversary of the wildfires, which destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure across the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Malibu. Despite the scale of the damage, Congress has been unable to advance long-term assistance because the Trump administration has not submitted a formal disaster aid request — a required step before lawmakers can act. Newsom met with Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., whose committee is involved in wildfirerelated legislation, and with several Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, Rep. Brad Sherman of California and Sen. Brian
Schatz of Hawaii. Participants discussed the remaining gaps in federal support, including housing assistance, smallbusiness loans and resources for rebuilding schools, water systems and other public infrastructure. According to lawmakers who attended the meetings, the discussions focused on the economic and logistical hurdles facing Los Angeles communities still recovering from the fires. Officials also noted the unusual length of the delay, which they said is far outside the typical timeline for major federal disaster responses. State and federal agencies partnered last year on debris removal, which officials described as one of the fastest wildfire cleanup efforts in the country. But longterm aid — the funding that helps rebuild homes, schools, utilities and essential services — has remained on hold. Local officials say the stalled request has slowed reconstruction projects and left displaced families without the federal support usually available after disasters of similar scale. Small businesses in affected areas have also reported difficulty accessing recovery loans and grants normally issued in the months following a presidential disaster declaration. Members of Congress who met with Newsom said they would continue pressing for action but acknowledged that no movement can occur until the White House sends a formal funding proposal.
December 2025
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Palisades Lacrosse Coach Aims to Raise $55K for Team
Despite the loss of over 200 homes among team families and access to their home field, every team made the playoffs last spring, with several winning championships More than 100 young lacrosse players from Pacific Palisades returned to the field just weeks after the January Palisades Fire thanks to donations raised through a GoFundMe campaign, allowing the program to replace lost equipment and maintain a sense of normalcy amid widespread destruction. The fundraiser, organized by Palisades Breakers Lacrosse coach Dayton Gilbreath,
has collected more than $30,500 toward a $55,000 goal as of mid-December, nearly a year after the blaze destroyed or damaged thousands of homes in the coastal neighborhood. In a Dec. 8 update, Gilbreath credited donors with re-equipping players who lost helmets, gloves, sticks and pads, enabling practices and games to resume in February without interruption. Despite the loss of over 200 homes among team families and access to their home field, every team made the playoffs last spring, with several winning championships. “Your donations didn’t just replace equipment or fund events. They kept a community alive,” Gilbreath wrote. “They gave our kids stability when their world had been turned upside down.” Initial funds supported emergency assistance, including shelter, clothing, food and basic necessities, as well as efforts to sustain youth activities and rebuild lives. The campaign emphasized the lacrosse program’s role as a “family” providing support during hardship.
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Dry January in LA Without Missing the Nightlife: Kavahana Offers a New Way to Go Out
Dry January does not have to mean staying in. In Los Angeles, it simply means knowing where to go, and Kavahana has quietly become one of the city’s favorite places to hang out without alcohol, offering the kind of social energy many people miss when they skip the bar. Located on Pico Boulevard just blocks from the beach in Santa Monica, Kavahana is a late-night hangout that blends café comfort with the energy of a neighborhood gathering space. It is not a “traditional” bar, nor is it a coffee shop. It is a place where mornings turn into afternoons, afternoons turn into evenings, and people stay a little longer than they planned. At the heart of the experience is a neat drink called kava nectar. What is Kava Nectar? Kava Nectar is a natural, zero-proof drink made from the root of the kava plant, a member of the peppercorn family traditionally enjoyed across the South Pacific Islands and Hawaii in social and ceremonial settings. Kavahana’s kava nectar is coldpressed kava root nectar gently dried into a fine powder. The result is a drink that offers a subtle tingle on the tongue followed by a calm, uplifted, and social feeling. It supports presence and ease without intoxication,
hangovers, or next day fog. If you’re curious about the coconut shell cups, that’s part of the point. In many Pacific Island cultures, kava is served exactly this way. Kavahana keeps that format, pouring traditional style kava nectar into coconut shells as part of the experience. For many guests, kava nectar becomes a natural alternative during Dry January because it still feels like going out. Their menu features thoughtfully crafted zero proof kava nectar cocktails made with real ingredients like mango, coconut milk, ginger, pineapple, and spirulina. Drinks like their “Beach Nectar” and “Paradise Nectar” are designed to mask the naturally earthy taste of kava while still offering the same tingly benefits. Beyond kava nectar, Kavahana serves Kona coffee sourced from Hawaii’s Big Island, along with ceremonial matcha, roasted hojicha, and other delicious drinks. The team is friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to guide first time guests through the menu. Open Late - a rarity on the Westside! What makes Kavahana especially unique in LA is its late night energy. While many cafés and restaurants close early, Kavahana stays open into the evening and often until
1 AM on weekends. It is a place where you can meet friends after work, go on a date, or enjoy a night out without alcohol, while still feeling connected to the city’s social rhythm. Many brands and spaces claim to be community driven, but Kavahana backs it up with action. Tuesdays feature the Santa Monica Open Mic Night with local musicians, poets, and storytellers. Wednesdays bring Comedy Night, drawing a relaxed, welcoming crowd. Both events are free and open to everyone, whether you are performing or just listening. And if you’re reading this and not local to LA, you can still be part of the Kavahana experience. Kavahana ships its kava nectar powder nationwide, making it easy to enjoy at home as a relaxing alternative or to create your own zero proof cocktails. Orders ship to all 50 states and Canada, so Dry January does not have to end at city limits! 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
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Fire Survivor Who Carried Mother from Burning Building Says Legal Loophole Threatens Family Home Chad Comey warns of legal loophole that could force sale of destroyed complex without state fix
Nearly a year after escaping the devastating Palisades Fire by carrying his paralyzed mother down five flights of stairs, Chad Comey says his family still lacks stable long-term housing and now faces the potential forced sale of their destroyed condominium due to an expired legal document. In an update posted Dec. 11 to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised nearly $145,000 of a $150,000 goal, Comey described ongoing health struggles for his parents — his mother paralyzed by a rare autoimmune disease and his father blind — alongside a legal crisis affecting more than 100 homeowners in their Pacific Palisades complex. The family’s condominium covenants, conditions and restrictions — known as CC&Rs — expired unnoticed on Jan. 1, 2024, a year before the January fire that destroyed their home of 51 years. Without valid governing documents, the homeowners association cannot vote to rebuild or sell, leaving residents in limbo. A Los Angeles judge recently ruled that courts lack authority to reinstate the expired CC&Rs absent a legislative amendment to California’s Davis-Stirling Act, which governs condominium associations. Comey warned that without a fix by a
mid-January court hearing, the complex could enter receivership, likely leading to a forced sale. The family continues paying HOA fees on the destroyed property while expenses have tripled, Comey said. The GoFundMe, organized by a friend, seeks funds for shelter, supplies and recovery after the fire destroyed everything and the parents lacked insurance coverage. Comey, a musician and community organizer who has served as his parents’ primary caregiver, described persistent trauma and health setbacks, including multiple surgeries for his mother and high blood pressure complications delaying cataract treatment for his father.
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33 Firefighters Extinguish Fire in Two-Story Palisades Home Crews arrived in offensive mode and found flames contained primarily to one room
A fire that broke out Friday afternoon in a two-story home in Pacific Palisades was extinguished in under an hour with no injuries reported, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters responded around 12:40 p.m. to a blaze on the second floor of a single-family residence in the 1400 block of Chastain Parkway West. Crews arrived in offensive mode and found flames contained primarily to one upstairs room, the department said. A total of 33 firefighters brought the incident under control by 1:37 p.m. The cause of the fire was not immediately released, and no additional details were provided.
House Museum Launches Brick Initiative Aimed at Rebuilding and Remembrance New program uses locally made bricks to aid reconstruction and help fund planned Palisades Fire Memorial
A year after fires tore through Palisades to Malibu, a local preservation nonprofit is turning to one of the oldest building materials on earth to support recovery. House Museum, a Los Angeles–based historic preservation group, has begun taking pre-orders for “Rebuild Bricks,” red clay bricks manufactured in Southern California and sold both as construction materials and as symbolic keepsakes tied to the region’s rebuilding effort. The bricks go on full release Jan. 7. Proceeds from the sales will help fund the Palisades Fire Memorial — an installation of seven surviving chimneys saved from homes destroyed in the fire — while also contributing to House Museum’s broader preservation work. House Museum officials say the bricks are intended to promote more durable masonry in future rebuilding while giving residents a way to directly support recovery efforts. The nonprofit has preserved six firedamaged chimneys from homes designed
by Richard Neutra, Ray Kappe and Eric Lloyd Wright, along with others built with historic Higgins Bricks or linked to early Hollywood foothill estates. Those structures — left standing after homes burned around them — became the basis for the memorial now planned for the Santa Monica Mountains. “I love how the brick is so symbolically charged, and yet it’s just … a brick,” fire survivor and chimney donor Kraig Hill said in written comments. The bricks, made with low-carbon manufacturing processes by Pacific Clay, are rated for severe weather and can be used in exterior walls, walkways and hardscaping. They are available individually or by the pallet in three regional editions — Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu. Single bricks range from $55 to $550 depending on tier, and a pallet of 450 bricks is priced at $1,125. Pre-orders opened Dec. 1 on the House Museum website.
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December 2025
Over 375 Eateries to Take Part in Winter Restaurant Week Dine LA Restaurant Week, running from dishes, and Good Alley in Rosemead for Biannual event Jan. 23 to Feb. 6, 2026. noodles and dumplings. The 15-day event features prix-fixe In the San Fernando Valley, options organized by Los lunch and dinner options starting at $15 and range from Firefly in Studio City with its ranging up to $65 or more at participating cabana seating to handroll-focused The Angeles Tourism venues spanning 70 neighborhoods and Bar by Seabutter, and hilltop venues like about 30 global cuisines. Odyssey and Castaway for panoramic offers fixed-price New participants this season include views alongside steaks and seafood. menus across diverse Koreatown spots like Gebang Sikdang, Several hotels are promoting packages known for high-end seafood, and Jinsol combining meals with overnight stays, neighborhoods and Gukbap, specializing in Busan-style soups. including SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, The In South Los Angeles, additions feature Garland in North Hollywood, The Godfrey cuisines Somerville, a supper club serving elevated Hotel in Hollywood and Hotel Per La Photo: LA Tourism More than 375 restaurants across Los Angeles County will offer special fixedprice menus during the winter edition of
American comfort food, and Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen. The San Gabriel Valley lineup includes Michelin-recommended Bistro Na’s in Temple City, offering Imperial Manchu
downtown. No tickets are required; diners can request the Dine LA menu at participating restaurants. Reservations are recommended via the event website.
Harvard-Westlake Junior Selected as Young Arts Award Winner Kim is also eligible for further honors, including being nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts
Collin Kim, a junior at HarvardWestlake School in Los Angeles, has been named a 2026 YoungArts Award winner with distinction in Writing. Kim, an accomplished writer, is among the nation’s most talented young artists selected from nearly 13,000 applicants across 39 states and the District of Columbia. Kim’s writing has earned recognition from prestigious organizations such as the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the Poetry Society of Virginia, and the National Council of Teachers in English. His poetry has appeared in various publications, including the Diode Poetry Journal and West Trade Review. Along with his literary pursuits, Kim is also an avid violist and surfer. The YoungArts Award recognizes young talent in various artistic disciplines, and Kim’s achievement places him among a distinguished group of visual, literary, and performing artists. The award, which has been presented annually since 1981, provides young artists with mentorship and professional development opportunities. Kim’s selection comes with a $250 monetary award in recognition of his outstanding work in writing. As a YoungArts winner, Kim has been invited to participate in National YoungArts Week, which will take place in Miami in January. This week-long event
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Palisades Homeowner Sues LA, Mayor Bass Over Negligence in Wildfire The homeowner accused officials of contributing to the fire’s spread through inadequate firefighting resources, an empty water reservoir and ignored warnings about high winds
A California homeowner has sued the city of Los Angeles, its mayor and other government entities, alleging negligence and other failures that allowed a small New Year’s Day brush fire to reignite and explode into the devastating Palisades Fire, which ravaged Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas in January. In a complaint filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Aurora Point LLC accused the city, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles County, Mayor Karen Bass and unnamed others of contributing to the fire’s spread through inadequate firefighting resources, an empty water reservoir and ignored warnings about high winds. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the contamination and uninhabitability of the company’s property on Rustic Lane in Pacific Palisades. Federal investigators have linked the Palisades Fire to a “holdover” from the earlier Lachman Fire, which broke out Jan.
1 near Lachman Lane in the hills above Pacific Palisades. Jonathan Rinderknecht was indicted in October on federal arson charges in connection with that blaze. The lawsuit alleges Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters warned superiors that the Lachman Fire site was still smoldering days after it was declared contained, but command staff ordered crews to demobilize anyway. Despite red flag warnings for Santa Ana winds exceeding 60 mph, no patrols or thermal imaging checks were redeployed, allowing underground embers to reignite on Jan. 7, the complaint states. Compounding the issue, the lawsuit claims the Santa Ynez Reservoir — a key water source for firefighting in the area — had been drained and offline for nearly a year for repairs, leaving hydrants with insufficient pressure. Firefighters reportedly found tanks empty and were forced to retreat for distant water sources as the flames advanced. The complaint also accuses the water and power department of failing to deenergize power lines during the high-wind warnings, leading to a broken pole that sparked additional fires. It cites conflicting statements from the department about whether the lines were active, noting an ongoing investigation into its role. Aurora Point alleges Bass ignored critical emails from the National Weather Service and the city’s emergency management department warning of “damaging winds and elevated fire conditions” just before she left for Ghana on Jan. 4 to attend the inauguration of that country’s president. Bass was at a cocktail party there on Jan. 7 as the fire erupted, according to the lawsuit. The suit further claims Bass cut the fire department’s 2024-2025 budget by
$17.6 million and eliminated 61 positions despite repeated warnings from thenFire Chief Kristin Crowley about staffing shortages, aging equipment and risks to wildfire response. Crowley was fired after whistleblowing on these issues and has filed her own retaliation claim against the city. Los Angeles County is accused of hindering the response through staffing vacancies, outdated policies and communication breakdowns, as detailed in an after-action report by the McChrystal Group consulting firm. The plaintiff’s home, while not burned
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to the ground, was coated in toxic ash and soot containing harmful chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals, rendering it uninhabitable and posing health risks, the lawsuit states. Subsequent storms in February brought mudslides and debris flows through the burn scars, further contaminating the property. The complaint includes causes of action for negligence, inverse condemnation, trespass, nuisance, premises liability, violations of state health and safety codes, and federal civil rights claims under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
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