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October 2026 September 2025
Former LAUSD chief Austin Beutner Data Shows Rebuilding Progress in sues Postinsurer over toxic Palisades Fire damage Fire Palisades Fire, as reported by multiple Consultants concluded the house remains The lawsuit against Palisades to Palisources. Builds’ September 1 analysis. uninhabitable. The numbers indicate news Processingrepresenting times for Beutner new building Attorneys and his Beutner stated that Chubb offered to Chubb alleges permits averaged around 63-77 remediate only half of the contaminated Virginia, submitted the complaint a surge in permitting wife, days in Chubb, summeritsmonths, up from 31 rooms and proposed paying less than against subsidiary Bankers hazardous metal activity, particularly days in March, suggesting growing Standard Insurance Company, and two 25% of estimated restoration costs. administrative consulting demands as applications contamination has environmental firms. The suit Under California law, policyholders face in recent months increase.thePali Builds, founded by locals a two-year statutory deadline following claims insurer failed to adequately left the home unsafe to fill gaps in official data, continues New data from Pali Builds, a investigate, remediate, or fund repairs for a natural disaster to file legal actions tracking until the LAinside Mayor’s Office against insurance providers regarding substances the family's community platform tracking recovery hazardous for habitation. provides comprehensive figures. Pacific Palisades residence. property claims. from the January wildfires, shows By Carlos Reyes. momentum in significant rebuilding Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home Formerapproved Los Angeles Unified School permits since the fires and 160 District Austin lots sold Superintendent generating nearly $478 Beutner million filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles in sales, highlighting a robust but County uneven Superior Court against his insurance housing market. provider, alleging indicate the company refused The numbers a surge in to cover activity, full remediation toxic permitting particularlyfor in recent contamination caused by the 2025 months. From January to August 2025, Los Angeles approved 179 new homes in the 90272 zip code, with approvals accelerating over time: only two in March but jumping to 76 in August, according
Home sales data through August 1 Independent environmental testing revealsretained 160 lotsbysold thediscovered January 7 firms thesince family fires, totaling $477.7ofmillion. elevated levels heavy metals, The market shows zinc, starkand disparities including lead, arsenic, lithium, by area: Area 8 led with 11 sales at an throughout the structure. Test results average $10.6 million and median $10.2 showed lead concentrations inside wall million, contributing $116.4 million cavities reaching 9,574 micrograms per in volume, while Area 2 had 16 sales square foot, nearly 1,000 times the state averaging $1.7 million. Area 5 saw the safety threshold for48residential floors. most activity with sales averaging
The legal action follows Beutner's varied career in public service and business, including roles as co-founder of investment bank Evercore, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, and deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Beutner was a candidate for Los Angeles Mayor in the last election, but dropped out for personal reasons.
Customer backlash prompts LADWP to ban power shutoffs and reexamine billing formulas $2.1 million. Buyer composition from January to July included 85 individuals (53%), 64 entities (40%), and 11 unknown (7%), pointing to substantial institutional investment in the recovery.
Board acts on Mayor Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry Lawmakers Bass's directive to freeze nonpayment Over Local Control Loss cutoffs through Some decried the2026. bill, along with city leaders and officials, By Sarah now on Lin. Gov. Gavin
Newsom’s desk, for ignoring traffic, infrastructure, environmental, and public safety concerns
Los Angeles Water and Power officials voted Tuesday to halt residential utility shutoffs through the end of 2026 and ordered an immediate overhaul of how the municipal utility structures customer rates, responding to widespread public frustration over punishing summer energy costs. The board resolution directs the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Byoverhaul Zachbilling Armstrong to outreach, review lowincome discount eligibility, expand California lawmakers andapproved access to conservation rebates. The Senate Bill 79, a controversial housing decision comes after typical household mandate some have decried for ignoring electricity consumption jumped 15% to infrastructure and public safety concerns, 20% during the latest bimonthly billing in mid-September, prompting fierce cycles compared with the same period in opposition from Los Angeles leaders. 2025. The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott Record-breaking heat waves across the Wiener (D–San Francisco), allows for summer and autumn drove prolonged air more multi-family development conditioning use housing throughout Southern near transit stops, permittingcosts taller and California, compounding for denser buildings closer to major residents. That surge collided withtransit a 7% hubs and allowing transit agencies to increase in base electric rates over the past build revenue on theirLADWP own land. The bill year, attributed to also grid requires a share of affordable modernization efforts that reducedhousing power units in new projects. outages, alongside higher municipal sewer In late August,fees a crowd Palisadians, and sanitation tackedof onto billing
rallied against the bill. “SB 79 is 100 times worse than existing laws,” statements. Pacific Palisades Residents Association The board’s voteRogers aligns with President Jessica said,directives warning issued Oct. 20 by Mayor Karen of risks in wildfire-prone areasBass, likewho the urged the utility to suspend nonpayment Palisades, citing inadequate evacuation disconnections through year's routes and infrastructure strain. end and called Monday for audit ofCity the In August, thea third-party Los Angeles department's billing Council voted 8–5 structure. in opposition to SB adopted directive, the 79,Under led bytheCouncilwoman Traci Park department must: and Councilmember John Lee. Park, Suspend residential power water whose district includes the and Palisades, service for nonpayment called it disconnections a “Sacramento attempt to hijack through Dec. 31,silencing 2026, while preserving local planning,” residents. The necessary shutoffs for safety hazards. Pacific Palisades Community Council Reexamine the city's electric rate also urged Newsom to veto the bill, ordinance to emergency reevaluate referencing his order seasonal limiting adjustments, formulas, dense housingtier in fire zones. and equity standards, affordability with grid “This balancing bill opens the floodgates for developers, displacement, and reliability. gentrification, with no rate regardmodeling, for our Evaluate alternative neighborhoods,” Park Los saidAngeles in a Sept. including prospective City 13 statement, noting that Los Charter revisions designed to Angeles navigate has thousands of under housing units under revenue restrictions Proposition 26. construction. SB 79, she argued, would Broaden promotion of efficiency underminesmart yearsthermostat of planning to place programs, initiatives, and housing along plans transitthat corridors. level-payment smooth seasonal after its passage, billDays spikes across 12 Park equalintroduced monthly a motion directing city departments installments. to Issue conduct a rate comprehensive annual notices each90-day year
before June 1 to prepare households for higher summer tier thresholds. Assess the EZ-SAVE Low Income and Lifeline Discount programs to identify gaps in aid for qualifying low-income Angelenos. Transition incoming accounts to paperless billing by default while encouraging active accounts to adopt digital statements. Overhauling the rate structure will ultimately require formal approval from the Los Angeles City Council. Board of Water and Power Commissioners President Richard Katz Marks endorsed modernizing the structure and welcomed the mayor's proposed audit, though he noted customer revenue covers such evaluations. LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who has been very open with his audit data, is infuriated about his office being bypassed for an outside audit when the office of the assessment of SB 79. The motion City Controller is an independent auditor instructs City that alreadythe has aDepartments budget for theseoftypes of Planning, Transportation, and Housing, situations. along with Cityaudit Attorney, analyze "There arethe several optionstoavailable, the bill’s effects. The report will include but it’s important to remember that any
audit will ultimately be paid for by our ratepayers," Marks said. "That’s why we are committed to working collaboratively with independent outside advisors, the Office of Public Accountability, and our city partners including the Mayor’s Office and City Council, to ensure the audit provides meaningful guidance for our decisions. If we revise our rates, we must do so in a way that is fair, transparent, and accountable." Marks stressed that any prospective adjustments must preserve the financial health of the municipal provider to maintain infrastructure investments. To help mitigate recurring costs, the utility pointed customers toward existing rebate programs, such as turf removal incentives paying $5 per square foot, subsidies for heat pumps and attic insulation, rooftop solar payouts, and free leak detectors and smart thermostats. maps of areas within a quarter-mile and Ratepayers can explore level billing, set up half-milearrangements of transit stops subject to SB payment without interest or 79, impacts on rent-stabilized housing, penalty fees, or enroll in income-qualified historic districts, zones, and assistance by visitingcoastal ladwp.com or calling high-risk fire and tsunami areas. 1-800-342-5397 (1-800-DIAL-DWP).
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October 2026
Former Grand Egyptian Museum director to lead free lecture at the Getty Villa Egyptologist Tarek Tawfik will discuss King Tut’s treasures and the monumental Cairo institution during an in-person and streaming event. By Sarah Lin. Renowned Egyptologist Tarek Tawfik will take audiences behind the scenes of the world’s largest archaeological institution during a free hybrid presentation hosted Sunday afternoon by the Getty Villa. The lecture, titled "A Journey through the Grand Egyptian Museum," begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, with options to attend in person at the Pacific Palisades museum or stream the discussion live online. Tawfik, a Cairo University professor and current president of the International Association of Egyptologists, led the Grand Egyptian Museum Project as director general from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, crews coordinated the massive
transfer of more than 40,000 ancient artifacts to the new complex, whose monumental facade draws architectural inspiration from the adjacent Pyramids of Giza. His talk will explore the institution’s design and showcase its most prized collections, including an ancient obelisk
suspended in the open-air entrance plaza, newly uncovered Book of the Dead papyrus scrolls, and the complete burial assemblage recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Museum officials noted that in-person attendees will also have a final opportunity to view two departing antiquities
exhibitions, "The Egyptian Book of the Dead" and "Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt," before both close in the coming weeks. Admission to the lecture is free, though reservations and online registration are required for both auditorium seating and virtual access. You can register online.
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Pacific Palisades American Legion hosts inaugural Halloween haunted house to benefit local YMCA
Neighborhood families can reserve timed entries for an afternoon of seasonal games, costume fun, and wildfire rebuilding support. By Sarah Lin. Pacific Palisades American Legion will open its post doors to neighborhood families this weekend for an inaugural Halloween haunted house aimed at funding local wildfire recovery efforts. The community celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, running from noon
to 4 p.m. at American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, located at 15247 La Cruz Drive. Designed for children ages 5 through 15, the daytime gathering converts the veterans facility into an interactive autumn venue featuring costumed characters, themed games, and three trick-or-treat stops. Costumes are welcome, and event volunteers will distribute complimentary trick-or-treat bags to every young participant while supplies last. All attending children must be accompanied by an adult. To regulate foot traffic and avoid long wait lines inside the building, organizers are implementing timed admission windows. Families must secure reservations online prior to arriving, as capacity remains strictly capped across all entry slots. Organizers are requesting a $10 donation per household upon registration. All collected contributions will support reconstruction campaigns for the Pacific
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Palisades YMCA, which sustained catastrophic damage during the Palisades Fire last year. Free street parking is available along La Cruz Drive and throughout the surrounding
residential neighborhood. Post organizers urged families to reserve time slots early to guarantee entrance before individual sessions fill to capacity. You can register at the American Legion Post 283’s website.
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Los Angeles opens permit fee waivers and refund process for Palisades Fire rebuilds
Property owners rebuilding after the January 2025 wildfires can claim exemptions and reimbursements. By Carlos Reyes. Property owners rebuilding after the destructive January 2025 wildfires can now access formal fee exemptions and seek refunds for municipal plan check and construction costs, under city guidelines implementing Ordinance No. 188985. The ordinance waives a wide array of municipal permitting and clearance fees up to 110% of a damaged or destroyed structure’s original footprint. Relief applies directly to individuals who owned the affected property at the time of the fires, provided the parcel is not sold before a final Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Under the rules, permit fee waivers cover building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), along with LADBS plan-check fees. Exemption coverage also includes Los Angeles Fire Department access and inspection reviews, Department of City Planning clearance fees, Department of Transportation assessments, public works engineering permits, park fees, and tree replacement clearances. School impact fees through the Los Angeles Unified School District are similarly waived for rebuilds that do not expand square footage
beyond the original footprint. Certain costs remain exempt from the waiver policy: ● Rebuilds exceeding the original square footage by more than 110% will incur standard LADBS fees on the additional area. ● School impact fees apply if a project adds more than 500 square feet to the original building size. ● State-mandated charges, including the Strong Motion Instrumentation Program earthquake fee and the California Green Building Fee, must still be paid in full. ● Property owners who paid fees in full prior to the enactment of Ordinance No. 188985 or Emergency Executive Order No. 7 can request a complete reimbursement. Applicants must submit a Department of Building and Safety Claim for Refund form (or City Form Gen 64) paired with a Property Owner Fee Waiver Acknowledgement Form for the January 2025 Wildfires. Claims must include original cash register receipts and validated permit copies. If originals are unavailable, property owners may submit a signed, notarized affidavit alongside proof of payment, such as a canceled check. Completed application packages can be submitted at any LADBS cashier counter or mailed directly to the City Clerk at City Hall (Room 395, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). The refund program operates under a $90 million total cap over a threeyear eligibility period. Applicants can track claim statuses or request forms by contacting the LADBS Financial Services Division at 213-482-6890 or through the MyLA311 system.
October 2026
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State lawmakers grant regulators new power to fine insurance companies for ignoring consumer reforms Legislation allows penalties up to $20,000 per violation when insurers fail to correct harmful business practices. By Carlos Reyes. California insurance regulators will soon have the authority to levy hefty fines against insurance companies that fail to correct predatory or flawed business practices. State legislation known as Senate Bill 1209, authored by state Sen. Ben Allen, equips the California Department of Insurance with direct enforcement tools targeting companies that drag their feet on state-mandated fixes. Under the measure, regulators can hit noncompliant insurers with penalties reaching up to $20,000 per violation following a formal administrative
hearing. State officials routinely monitor carrier operations through market conduct examinations, which evaluate whether companies are following state law and treating consumers fairly. While these audits regularly identify operational failures and recommend specific corrective
steps, regulators previously faced legal roadblocks when trying to force insurers to act. State regulators cited compliance failures at the California FAIR Plan as a key catalyst for the reform. A 2025 examination launched after widespread consumer complaints in the wake of the
Los Angeles fires revealed that the FAIR Plan had carried out less than half of the corrective actions ordered in its 2022 state exam. Regulators said those delays left property owners facing avoidable delays and claim disruptions. The enforcement measure takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
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October 2026
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California financial regulators investigate mortgage lenders over delayed Los Angeles fire payouts
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State agencies mandate full disclosures from banks following 160 complaints of withheld insurance money from fire survivors.
whether all funds were disbursed to survivors, how long the disbursements took, and reasons for any delays," state regulators noted in Thursday's filing, cautioning that non-compliant institutions face potential enforcement under state and federal consumer protection laws. The regulatory crackdown expands on executive actions taken earlier by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who pressed financial
trade groups over escrow delays while overseeing legislation passed in August 2025 requiring lenders to pay homeowners interest on withheld post-loss insurance funds. State officials urged any fire survivors encountering payment delays or administrative friction to submit confidential consumer complaints directly through the DFPI online portal.
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By Sarah Lin. State financial watchdogs launched a formal inquiry Thursday targeting mortgage lenders across California to determine if institutions are unlawfully withholding insurance payouts intended for survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, alongside the Business and Consumer Services Agency, issued an administrative order requiring banks and credit unions to detail their handling of property loss, personal property, and living expense proceeds. State investigators are probing whether lenders intentionally delayed releases, failed to offer clear appeal options, or improperly retained insurance money after loans were completely paid off. Since early 2025, state officials have received more than 160 formal consumer grievances detailing bureaucratic roadblocks with escrowed rebuilding funds. In response, regulators ordered lenders to provide comprehensive accountings by Sept. 30, 2026, documenting all received insurance funds, disbursement timelines, and explicit justifications for any withheld capital. "Licensees must provide written explanations to BCSA and DFPI as to
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October 2026
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Second rabid raccoon discovered in Los Angeles County prompts pet safety warnings
Health officials confirm another infection, urging pet owners to update rabies vaccines following the area's first cases in decades. By Carlos Reyes. County health officials have confirmed a second rabid raccoon in Los Angeles County, prompting urgent appeals for pet owners across the region to update their animals' vaccinations. The detection comes shortly after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the first rabies-positive raccoon found in the county in more than 50 years. Laboratory tests determined that the earlier raccoon carried a rabies strain typically associated with bats. Testing to identify the specific variant in the second raccoon remains underway. “The detection of rabies in another raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals, even when they appear healthy,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “Always keep a safe distance from wildlife and contact your local animal control if you encounter an animal that appears to be sick, injured, or behaving unusually. It is also critical to
ensure your pets are up to date on rabies vaccination so they are protected before any potential exposure. Keeping your pets vaccinated is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your entire family.” In response, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control issued a warning emphasizing the danger of wildlife transmission to domestic animals, noting that rabies is virtually 100% fatal in mammals, including humans, once clinical symptoms appear. The recent cases mark the first confirmed raccoon rabies detections in the county since 1973. Authorities advise residents to take proactive measures to protect their households, including: ● Seek immediate medical treatment for bites: Anyone bitten by a wild mammal—such as a raccoon, skunk, opossum, or coyote—must consult a physician right away and notify Public Health. Rabies is preventable in humans if post-exposure prophylaxis is administered promptly through a series of vaccines. ● Get veterinary care for exposed pets: If a pet is bitten by a wild mammal, owners must contact a veterinarian, local animal control, and Public Health immediately. Exposed pets will require a booster vaccine and must undergo a temporary home quarantine for observation. ● Recognize signs of rabies in wildlife: Sick animals may exhibit uncharacteristic aggression, attempt to approach people or pets, or appear lethargic and uncoordinated. Because bats are nocturnal, any bat seen flying during daylight hours, grounded, or unable to fly should be treated as potentially infected. ● Safely report bats and erratic
wildlife: Never touch or approach an animal acting abnormally. If a bat is found indoors or outdoors—especially near sleeping individuals, children, or pets— carefully place a box or container over it if safe to do so. Contact animal control immediately for collection and testing rather than releasing it. ● Deter wildlife on private property: Store outdoor garbage in tightly sealed bins, feed domestic animals inside, and avoid feeding or handling free-roaming animals. Property owners should also clear yard debris, trim overgrown brush, and seal crawl spaces and structural openings where wildlife could nest. Symptoms include: ● In people: initially vague symptoms including fever, weakness, headache; progressing to tingling sensation,
anxiety, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, coma, death. ● In animals: initially non-specific signs (vomiting, respiratory distress) progressing into neurologic signs – circling, difficulty walking, behavior change, aggression, paralysis, hydrophobia (fear of water), death. The county provides low-cost and free pet inoculations throughout the area, including complimentary shots, microchipping, and routine wellness checkups through its mobile Vet@ThePark clinics. Schedules and clinic locations are accessible through the Department of Animal Care and Control website. For more information about rabies, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/ rabies/about/
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October 2026
SMC Start Up: Campus Event Supports New, Continuing Students
Three weeks into the new semester at Santa Monica College (SMC), students may find themselves adjusting to new norms and juggling deadlines for multiple classes as the semester takes off. Whether they are new to college or returning, it’s easy to forget the many resources available to students presented at the beginning of the semester. That’s why SMC Start Up was created: an early-semester welcome and resource fair held on campus to re-engage students, connect them with campus student clubs and resources, and provide information on mental health and basic needs support. This year, SMC Start Up partnered with campus resources such as Health Services, Basic Needs and the Center for Health and Wellness. Community health and wellness organizations were stationed on site, offering booth activities, games and music as students passed through the main campus quad. Campus support services, student clubs and academic resources
joined in to remind students: we are here for you. “We want students to feel cared about,” said Dr. Kiersten Elliott, Dean of Community and Academic Relations at Santa Monica College. Elliott has worked at the college for 22 years in various roles. Her current role includes onboarding new students and overseeing large-scale student-support events, like this one. “We chose week three because that’s when we noticed that students may start to think, ‘this isn’t for me,’ or ‘I haven’t made one friend yet and I’m not liking this experience,’” Elliott said. “We’re trying to surround students with support and information, so they feel connected and like they belong.” Designed so that students would actively engage with resources instead of passively walking through, participants received a game card and could earn free food by interacting with organizations at the resource fair.
Now that student schedules have settled and new or returning students are adjusting to the new semester, SMC Start Up serves as a gentle, helpful reminder for things that may have fallen off their radar since the semester started. “Knowing about the health center, knowing about tutoring, or clubs, and getting involved—those are things they may be ready to learn more about and try,” Elliott said. Rather than overwhelming students all at once, Santa Monica College reinforces available resources at different stages throughout the semester. “We bring the resources to them, otherwise, how else would they know?” Elliott added. SMC Start Up is one of several events designed to meet students with different kinds of support as they progress through the semester. VIP Welcome Day is held over the summer before classes start, followed by SMC Start Up during the third
week. Ahead of midterms, Santa Monica College plans Midterm Motivation and toward the end of the semester, students can feel more prepared for finals during Fuel for Finals Week. Midterm Motivation focuses on helping students de-stress. This event features yoga instructors in the quad, relaxing music and another reminder about free tutoring. The College’s Center for Health and Wellness also shares tips on reducing test anxiety and managing stress during tests. “We try and give them even more tools as the semester progresses,” Elliott said. Toward the end of the semester, Fuel for Finals Week provides students with a hot breakfast and coffee while encouraging them to finish the semester strong. “This is our culture of care. We want to tell students, ‘We got you. You’re going to be ok,’” she said. To learn more about Santa Monica College, visit smc.edu
October 2026
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Paramount Pictures and Caruso partner to reopen Pacific Palisades’ only cinema, the Bay Theater Luxury dine-in company THE LOT will manage day-today operations at the Palisades Village theater. By Dolores Quintana There is finally news about the future of The Bay Theater in Palisades Village. It was one of the landmarks of the Carusoowned shopping center that has been sorely missed on the Westside, especially among film fans. Today, Caruso and Paramount Pictures announced that they would bring The Bay, the only cinema in Pacific Palisades, back under a new longterm leasing agreement. David Ellison, Chairman & CEO of Skydance, said, “Together with Caruso,
we are proud to help bring the Bay back to life as a place for the Pacific Palisades community to gather around the shared experience of cinema. This theater has always meant more than movies alone – it’s woven into the fabric of this neighborhood, and helping restore it is a privilege. We’re inspired by the resilience of Pacific Palisades residents, and we’re honored to help support this community’s comeback.” Netflix formerly leased the theater starting in 2021, and it closed after the tragic Palisades Fire in 2025. The Bay Theater was built in 2018. Day-to-day management of the theater, which will screen first-run Paramount releases, repertory screenings, “experiential activations…curated events, and special programming,” will be taken over by the luxury cinema company THE LOT. It is a luxury dine-in theater with four other locations in Northern California, Orange County, and San Diego. Culinary offerings are provided by ZENTRL Kitchen in the theater group’s other locations, but it is not yet known if
they will also run the kitchen at The Bay Theater. The theater will also have a craft cocktail menu. A grand opening date for the theater will be announced in the coming weeks. Rick Caruso, Founder and Executive Chairman of Caruso: "The Bay has always been at the heart of the Palisades, and its return is one of the most meaningful signs
yet that this community, following the reopening of the Palisades Village this summer, is coming back stronger than ever. David Ellison and I have a shared ambition to make it one of Los Angeles’ premier moviegoing destinations. I am grateful for David’s leadership and commitment to Los Angeles and the entertainment industry."
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October 2026