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Inside the costly and complex process of smoke remediation after wildfires

Judy Abel
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Inside the costly and complex process of smoke remediation after wildfires

One family’s struggle to save their smoke-damaged home

On a quiet, well-manicured street in Altadena stands the home of Dave and Kelsey Szamet. Their Spanish Mediterranean house stands stately amidst surrounding verdant vegetation. But the inside of the architectural structure belies a serioushealth threat. While the interior of the Szamet home is exactly how it was left when they evacuated from the Eaton Fire Jan. 7, it is now filled with invisible hazards — smoke damage — toxic particulate matter that can irritate the respiratory system and with prolonged exposure cause cancer.

“We are sort of on the front line of really mass devastation,” Kelsey Szamet explained of where the fire started. “The homes across the street did not survive going all the way up into the foothills and the fire just tore west from here. It’smiraculous that our home survived.”

The Szamet home did survive not just by miracles, but with the help of good Samaritan neighbors who formed a bucket brigade from a nearby home with a pool after their hoses ran dry. Unlike in Malibu, many Altadena pool owners don’thave pool pumps used to help put out fires since most Altadenans typically didn’t identify as living in an extreme fire risk area. 

Still, the Szamets and their two young daughters have not spent one single night in their home since Jan. 7. The family had been bouncing from hotels to friends’ homes. They were in six different places in just the first few weeks after the fire and say that burden is a struggle for their young children.

“The home’s absolutely not safe,” Szamet stated. “Within the first week that initial gratitude of, oh my gosh, the house survived and we feel fortunate, we still have our family photos and some important family pieces that other people lost.But then the reality sits in, in those weeks and months after the fire of it doesn’t feel like the insurance company is interested in getting our house cleaned safely, enabling us to get back in with our young daughters and to come back to the neighborhood.” 

Kelsey Szamet elaborated on her struggles with her insurance company currently being investigated by the California Department of Insurance for mishandling claims. “It feels like they’re fighting us every step of the way. It feels like we’reon our own. Our company is State Farm, and they have never offered to lead the way and (direct us) to the kind of testing we need to do. This is what we need to look at inside your house to properly clean it and make it safe so that you can come back. We’re on our own. We’re trying to figure out what the science is. We’re trying to figure out what is safe.” The family has paid $10,800 out of pocket for industrial hygiene testing. The results showed 20 times the allowable limits of lead in most rooms, including their young daughters’ bedrooms. 

After finally finding some stability in a Pasadena rental, they are still looking for long-term solutions to remediate their home. “When you have lead inside a structure, you have to use a certified lead abatement company in California. You can’t use, you know, Jane Doe’s cleaning service. The bids we have gotten are upwards of $110,000 and we’re just getting push back from our insurance company. They have told us that they now want to bring in a different company to dotesting. We’re not sure why, because the company that we used actually was a State Farm-approved vendor coincidentally.We worked with a vendor that they have approved, that found lead. I can’t imagine that new testing would reveal different results, but they have not approved our light abatement remediation bid.” 

The Szamets joined the Eaton Fire Survivors Network to push for accountability by insurance companies and government on behalf everyone affected by the fires including those in the Palisades and Malibu. 

“All these insurance companies need to help homeowners get back safely into their standing structures. It’s going to be expensive to properly clean these homes, but that’s what we paid for, in our policies, right?” Szamet exclaimed.  “You insure against disasters like this, and it’s clear what the science says. The home needs to be cleaned properly. I would never jeopardize the health of my young daughters. Lead is extremely toxic to children and it feels like they don’t care.”

At one point the Szamets were $119,000 out of pocket until State Farm started reimbursing rent under their (ALE) Alternative Living Expense claim. The family also missed out on a FEMA payout of $770 due to fraud. Swindlers used their name and address to apply for the initial grant and claimed the check before they could. The Szamets say they’realso frustrated with the rotating cast of adjusters. They’re on their third, but say they have friends on their sixth or seventh.

Their advice for others in the same boat: “Document, document, document. They (insurance companies) get you on the phone on purpose. They do not send confirming emails. You need to send confirming emails. You need to upload things on the portal. You need to keep a contemporaneous Google doc of all of the representations that have been made for you because they will walk it back and say, ‘no, that’s not true. We never agreed to that.’ Document, document, document.”

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Malibu West brings back beloved brush-clearing goats for fourth year

Barbara Burke
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Malibu West brings back beloved brush-clearing goats for fourth year

Nearly 400 goats grazed 16 acres to reduce wildfire risk and unite the community for its annual ‘Goat Festival’

For the fourth year in a row, Malibu West, a close-knit community of 238 residences, has hired a herd of goats to graze through brush and foliage that otherwise would provide fuel for dangerous wildfires. Malibu West homeowners are understandably incredibly concerned about brush clearance, structure protection, and possible loss of, or damage to, the habitat, and the animals, fish, and plants that live side-by-side with the neighborhood. So, led by the Malibu West Fire Safe Council, which residents formed in 2022 to do all they can to prevent wildfires, the community hires goats annually to graze throughout the neighborhood.

“We hosted almost 400 goats this year! They grazed through more than 16 acres and they were grazing at Malibu West for a little more than two weeks,” Tim Bigelow, president of the Malibu West Swimming Club Homeowners Association and Fire Safe Council member, said proudly. “Everybody loves the goats!” 

Mikke Pierson, who also serves on the council, noted that having the goats grazing every year “is a very big deal in the neighborhood and hosting them has been an annual tradition.”

For the most part, the goats cheerfully transition from one area of Malibu West to another, Pierson commented, noting that generally, it takes only one human and a guide dog to shepherd almost all of the goats when they need to change their grazing location. However, Pierson said, there is one qualifier to that — goat psychology skills can come in handy at times. Sharing a picture of the very brave Kim Retts carrying a goat to a new area, he stated, “It takes a few humans to help those few goats who do not want to change their location.” 

When the goats were preparing to leave, the neighborhood celebrated its now-traditional annual goat festival. 

“We had a taco truck and Mister Frosty’s ice cream at our festival!” Bigelow exclaimed. “Representatives from Poison Free Malibu also joined us and all four of the city’s fire liaisons insisted on attending, stating that they love to attend our goat festival each year. The fire liaisons made appointments with some residents to visit their homes and give them ideas and tips about how they can harden their homes to mitigate the risk of fire danger.”

Bigelow noted that there is another significant benefit to hosting goat herds each year in addition to the goats eating their way through overgrown weeds, grasses, shrubs, hard-to-access slopes, difficult terrain, and flat areas, and busilycrunching low-hanging tree branches to reduce the amount of readily combustible material that burns easily.

“Having the goats graze annually is of great assistance when our HOA is trying to get insurance,” Bigelow said. “The goats clearing the brush convinces insurers to talk to us about writing us a policy.” 

According to goatfarmers.com, using brush goats for clearing plants to avoid fire is both cost-effective — those who own the goats save on food — and effective for fire avoidance. Moreover, goats also can restore pastures that have been taken over by invasive plants and their manure is great fertilizer as well.

Goats are smarter than sheep, the website states, noting “they have more relational interaction with humans than sheep — one research study found that goats can be compared with dogs in their relatability to people.”  

There are several things to consider when deciding to bring in goats for fire mitigation. The experts at the website recommend using a cross between a meat goat breed and a dairy goat breed because crosses have stronger parasite resistance and they are hardy, healthy, and good-tempered. 

So, all in all, the Malibu West neighborhood has concluded that, when there is a need for vegetation management, goats are the G.O.A.T.

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8-year-old boy killed by falling tree limb identified

Judy Abel
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8-year-old boy killed by falling tree limb identified

Park closed indefinitely as investigation ensues 

An 8-year-old boy is dead and four others are injured after a massive oak tree branch unexpectedly snapped and fell on a group of children and adults at a summer camp held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Authorities have identified the young victim as Lamar McGlothurn, an 8-year-old Los Angeles resident. According to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, Lamar died from blunt force crush injuries sustained during the July 9 incident.

Lamar was attending Camp Wildcraft, a nature-focused day camp for children, when a large tree limb unexpectedly snapped and fell on a group of campers waiting to be picked up by their parents. The tragedy occurred at the headquarters of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) in Malibu Canyon.

The tragedy occurred on July 9 around 2:45 p.m. at Camp Wildcraft, which had temporarily relocated to the 500-acre park this summer due to damage from the Palisades Fire. The large branch, estimated to be 25 to 30 feet long, broke off from a towering oak tree and came crashing down on picnic tables where campers had gathered right before parent pick-ups.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that five individuals were injured in the incident. In addition to the Lamar, who later died at a hospital, an 11-year-old girl suffered a broken leg and was airlifted from the scene. A 5-year-old boy sustained head lacerations, while two men — ages 22 and 73 — also suffered minor injuries. According to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which manages the park, “We can confirm that camp staff immediately began rendering aid following the incident, and emergency responders continued life-saving efforts on arrival.”

Witnesses described hearing a loud cracking sound moments before the branch fell, giving those nearby little time to react. First responders from the L.A. County Fire Department rushed to the scene, and the area was immediately securedfor safety.

The entrance to King Gillette Ranch was closed off to the public Wednesday evening as homicide detectives launched an investigation into what officials are calling a devastating accident. A sign at the front gate now reads: “Area Closed Due to Hazardous Conditions.” The park will be closed indefinitely.

While the MRCA is not offering interviews as of July 10, the agency did issue a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. “Words cannot express the depth of our sorrow. Our hearts are with the child’s family, friends, and all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” the MRCA said. “The safety and well-being of children and adults in our parks is, and always will be, our highest priority. This is a profoundly difficult time for our entire MRCA community and the parks community of the Santa Monica Mountains,” the MRCA said. “We grieve alongside the family and ask for compassion and privacy as they navigate this loss.”

MRCA officials say they are cooperating fully with investigators and are committed to a thorough and transparent investigation. The agency has not yet commented on The Malibu Times’ queries as to whether the tree had been inspected prior to the start of camp, whether it will conduct its own investigation into the tragedy, and whether it will send arborists to conduct evaluations on all the trees at King Gillette. But MRCA did reply, “Additional details, including safety protocols and inspection processes, will be shared as they become available and appropriate.”

Meanwhile, local residents and parkgoers were left shaken. Some expressed concern about whether the park’s hundreds of trees were assessed before camps were allowed to open on the grounds.

“I did hear that the camp had been moved here,” one neighbor said. “I just hope a proper safety review was done before kids were brought in.”

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also released a statement: “My heart is with everyone impacted by this tragic situation. We are actively working to provide all possible support. We hold everyone involved in our thoughts and pray for their safety.

An eerily similar incident occurred in July 2015 adjacent to the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena. In that incidenta 75-year-old pine tree nearly 70-feet tall suddenly uprooted and struck more than 30 children ages 5-9 who were waiting to be picked up from summer camp. Eight children were injured, two critically.

In 2013 at a summer camp near Yosemite in Groveland California, a 21-year-old counselor was killed in a tree collapse.Four other staff members were injured. No definitive cause was ever determined in the 2015 or 2013 tree events. According to the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 30 to 40 people die each year in the United States due to falling trees or tree limbs.

Who is Malibu for? A call to protect the soul of our city 

Letter to the Editor
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Who is Malibu for? A call to protect the soul of our city 

By Haylynn Conrad, Columnist 

Malibu has always been a place of natural beauty and dreams — of surfboards and sunsets, of riding horses on the beach, of families raising children by the sea. But that dream is at risk. If we don’t take a hard look at where Malibu is going, and who it’s leaving behind, we find ourselves a city of mostly empty second homes, luxury storefronts, and lost character.

We’re at a pivotal moment. The question isn’t just “What should Malibu look like?” It’s “Who is Malibu for?”

Good people—teachers, nurses, tradespeople, small business owners, and young families—are being priced and pushed out. While Malibu High undergoes hundreds of millions of dollars in transformations, we should ask: who are we building it for if families can’t afford to stay or come?

I think of my friend—let’s call her Sarah—who bought a modest, fire-damaged lot after Woolsey, hoping to raise her kids here. They spent over $250,000 on consultants and expediters—not to build, just to get permission. Then a neighbor demanded $100,000 so they wouldn’t threaten an appeal. After five painful years, they finally got their permit, but the kids are now off to college, and the house hasn’t broken ground. Malibu lost a great family to the process and red tape.

That money could have gone to city fees or into the community. Instead, we’ve created a cottage industry that profits from dysfunction. We make it nearly impossible for everyday families to build, while those with unlimited time, money, and legal teams glide through. I know our city staff is working diligently, and so is Council. This is not just a people problem—it’s a process problem. And it’s a system we’ve unintentionally designed to be too slow, too expensive, and too easy to manipulate.

I believe expeditors have a role to play in the city—especially for complex or technical projects—but not for the simpler ones, where they’re increasingly being used just to hold applicants’ hands through an unnecessarily confusing and intimidating process. That’s a sign that something is broken. It shouldn’t require a middleman just to navigate basic permitting.

Even more frustrating is the pattern of developers who insist at public hearings that they’re building their forever home—only to flip the property or list it as a short-term rental. It erodes public trust and makes it harder for the real residents to be taken seriously.

This isn’t about being pro-development or anti-development. It’s about helping people who want to live here full-time. We say we don’t want to become a city of Airbnbs and absentee owners, but our process is enabling exactly that—it’s catering to applicants like developers who have deep pockets and endless time.

Now, with an estimated 700-plus homes needing to be rebuilt on the east side of Malibu, I fear we’ll be confronting this challenge on a much larger scale. If we don’t fix the system, we’ll repeat the same mistakes—only multiplied.

So what are we really protecting when we talk about “rural” and “neighborhood character”? Is it people, nature, history—or just a status quo that only works for the wealthy and well-connected?

A long-term vision for Malibu means finding balance. That means:
• Streamlining the permitting process so families aren’t bankrupted before they can build
• Ensuring transparency and fairness so appeals and delays aren’t weaponized
• Creating real paths for affordable housing so workers and families can live here, not just commute
• Reclaiming public lands for parks, senior centers, cultural events, and community use
• Supporting local businesses that give Malibu its heart and soul
• And protecting our environment—not just for its beauty, but because our coast, canyons, and wildlife are part of what makes Malibu worth fighting for

The true character of Malibu isn’t in its square footage… it’s in its people, its natural beauty, and its spirit. Little League games, creative shops, and neighbors who stop to wave. That’s what we risk losing.

Write to Haylynn at hconrad@malibucity.org. 

New director leads Malibu’s rebuild effort

Barbara Burke
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New director leads Malibu’s rebuild effort

Yolanda Bundy oversees Malibu’s new Rebuild Center, offering permit help and tech-driven support

As many homeowners and some businesses rebuild after the Palisades Fire, Yolanda Bundy, the director of the newly established Community Development Department, oversees the Malibu Rebuild Center, which offers in-person and online support for those applying for building permits, including assisting with such matters as arranging geotechnical, biological and other assessments, dealing with foundations and seawalls and installing septic systems, solar panels and energy storage systems, and many other matters that have to be addressed to rebuild.  

The fire destroyed 720 structures in Malibu, and many others were damaged. Clearly, the task of rebuilding is enormous, and the city of Malibu is doing all it can to help those rebuilding, Bundy assures.

This is not Bundy’s first rodeo. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in the public sector to the role. She holds a master’s degree in structural engineering and is a state-licensed registered professional engineer (civil) in California, andshe is a certified building official, fire code official, and a California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) safety assessment program coordinator. 

“I helped with the Thomas Fire in my prior job in Ventura, and I’ve helped residents and businesses in Malibu after the Woolsey, Broad, and Franklin fires and now, my staff and I are helping with the Palisades Fire,” Bundy commented. “The more I go through this process, the more immersed my heart is in helping victims rebuild. I also focus on long-term recovery and consider the future for the entire town as we rebuild. I serve with passion and I want my staff to be motivated to do so as well.” 

Bundy’s new position comes after the consolidation of the Environmental Sustainability and Planning Departments. The Malibu City Council decided on Nov. 25, 2024, to consolidate the two departments, a restructuring recommended by consultant Baker Tilly, whose 2023 Development Services Report stated that consolidation was designed to increase efficiency, improve service delivery, and create a more streamlined development process for Malibu. The new department brings together six divisions — planning, long-range planning, building safety, code enforcement, environmental programs, and administration.

“For the Community Development Department, I oversee approximately 55 employees and our department is supported by 131 consultants,” Bundy explained. “We all are committed to help those who need to rebuild move forward in doing so.”

Readers can access the Malibu Rebuilds website at maliburebuilds.org.

The status of rebuilding efforts

Debris removal has been completed for all but 14 properties, including four commercial properties, Bundy explained, noting the city has established an abatement program and is reaching out to those property owners who still have not cleared debris. “Most of those residents are dealing with insurance company issues,” she stated.  

Currently, no building permits have been issued. “We are very close with regard to our first permit issuing,” Bundy noted.“It is a beachfront property and I anticipate its permit will be issued in approximately one month. To date, I have not seen any applications for commercial permits.” 

There have been a total of 319 initial visits to the rebuild center, Bundy recounted, noting that there have been 258 comeback meetings. Thirty properties are seeking approval from the planning officials while five are in the building and safety process. 

The latest AI technology helps expedite plan checks

Bundy explained that the city’s development portal coordinates all phases of planning. “We use Bluebeam, a plan check software that allows us to do digital plan checks and to be more efficient,” she said. “Applications and other documents can be reviewed by multiple departments at the same time and the city is also in the beginning phases of utilizing Archistar, which will be a tool to help us build more complete construction files.” 

Archistar, a digital compliance platform employing artificial intelligence, fast-tracks building permit checks and has been adopted by the City of Los Angeles and LA County. 

Solar

The city of Malibu is also partnering with Symbium to provide an automated permitting platform to establish rapid plan reviews and create consistent permitting practices for automated permitting of residential solar and energy storage systems. Doing so assists the city in complying with the requirements of Senate Bill 379, which was approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2002, Bundy explained. 

Newsom’s executive order N-29-25 exempts residents’ rebuilds from stricter solar and energy building requirements that take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, Bundy noted. According to a statement from the governor’s office, the order also exempts the rebuilds from the requirement to install rooftop solar and battery storage systems. However, homeowners are still required to build “Solar Ready” structures, ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place for future solar energy system installation. 

Self-certification is under consideration

“The City Council has directed our staff to explore allowing self-certification by licensed architects in some circumstances,” Bundy noted. “However, I’m not sure how much we can use self-certification in Malibu because of the complexities involved in building in Malibu after our disaster and it would be extremely challenging to do so in the context of geohazards.” 

All in all, with the opening of the rebuild center, the use of AI-assisted technology to process permit and inspection applications, Bundy anticipates that the processing of permits will be much more rapid than it was for past fires. 

Many who are beginning the rebuilding process find the process daunting and Abe Roy, recently appointed by the City Council to serve as an ambassador to help coordinate communications between rebuilding homeowners and city staff, states that many who are rebuilding think the process with the city is going too slowly. 

“While Malibu residents understand the challenges of coastal development, they are growing increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of progress, especially compared to neighboring Pacific Palisades, which shares similar topography and has issued over 100 permits,” Roy said.

While Bundy seeks to be responsive to all residents, she also is trying to assist the City Council in addressing the need to fund the largest rebuilding effort in the history of the city of Malibu. 

“The city has been meeting with FEMA and CalOES to coordinate long-term recovery and to address funding needs,” Bundy said, noting that the expense of rebuilding such a significant part of Malibu is enormous, both for the city and for residents. “We will be holding a workshop for residents with regard to FEMA soon. Further, the City Council is considering fee waivers — we are trying to do all we can to alleviate these expenses for the families.” 

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Rebuilding after the flames: Who shapes Malibu’s future?

Barbara Burke
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Rebuilding after the flames: Who shapes Malibu’s future?

Government and private civic groups efforts to guide rebuilding after the Palisades Fire 

Renowned modernist architect Hugh Newell Jacobson once quipped, “When you look at a city, it’s like reading the hopes, aspirations, and pride of everyone who built it.” Due to the tragic Palisades Fire in January, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena have a chance to participate in urban planning, with hopes of capturing the essence of the communities that once were, with their public gathering places, businesses, churches, schools, and critically, neighborhoods, while also rebuilding for the future.

As individual homeowners begin the rebuilding process, there are also efforts by government officials and private sector entities to guide rebuilding. Readers may have heard about a Blue Ribbon Commission, created by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath and Steadfast LA, a civic nonprofit organization launched by Rick Caruso, that seeks to “accelerate the rebuilding of Los Angeles by cutting through bureaucracy, mobilizing the expertise of the private sector and to deliver real solutions to rebuilding with urgency and efficiency.” Further, there has been a lot of press concerning State Sen. Ben Allen’s now-paused bill proposing to establish a Resilient Rebuilding Authority and thereby implement one of the key recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Commission. Finally, on July 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he was allocating $101 million “to jumpstart critical rebuilding” even as he petitions Congress for more financial support to rebuild.

Some residents have expressed concerns about  such government-centered and public-private initiatives. It is helpful to outline what all those parallel efforts are recommending and undertaking, and to discuss the concerns that some residents have expressed.

The Blue Ribbon Commission’s recommendations

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action, formed in February as an independent commission by Horvath in collaboration with UCLA, has released its final recommendations and action plans concerning “the resilient and sustainable rebuilding of the fire-affected areas and preparing for future climate crisis-fueled wildfire and related disasters,” according to the organization’s press release. The commission, which was composed of scholars from UCLA, subject matter experts, and other civic leaders and government officials, recommended just under 60 specific critical actions that policymakers should take to ensure an equitable, sustainable, and resilient recovery. The commission recommended the creation of two new governance structures: a Resilient Rebuilding Authority to help finance and accelerate fire-resistant rebuilding and a Los Angeles County Fire Control District that would create vegetated buffer zones and retrofit fire-vulnerable neighborhoods. 

The commission also recommended the implementation of strategies for climate resilience and fire safety, such as new building standards and water systems that are climate-resilient. Finally, the commission urged insurance reform to integrate affordability, equity, and risk reduction into insurance models utilized by the California Insurance Commissioner to approve insurance premium rates, including the implementation of renter protections. 

Allen, whose senatorial district includes Pacific Palisades, introduced SB 549, a bill aimed to streamline and coordinate wildfire recovery across Los Angeles County by establishing a new Resilient Rebuilding Authority to serve as a centralized recovery agency with redevelopment powers, to assist communities impacted by the wildfires. However, on July 14, Allen announced that he will not move forward with the proposed legislation this year. He did so after a difficult Senate committee meeting wherein attendees demanded more community input from local officials and fire survivors. Acknowledging concerns regarding local control, transparency, and governance, Allen said, “For me to feel comfortable proceeding, the bill would have to be deeply grounded in community input, empowerment, and decision-making, including the support of the impacted councilmembers such as Councilmember Tracy Park.” 

Wade Major, a lifelong Malibu resident who serves as a public works commissioner, president of Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS), and a member of the Malibu Rebuild Task Force, vociferously objected to establishing the Rebuilding Authority in a lengthy email sent to local leaders and members of the press. “We do not want or need ‘land-banking’ (by a Rebuilding Authority) as a strategy to circumvent local planning and zoning in order to combine single-family lots into multi-family apartments. We do not want or need ‘low-income’ or ‘multi-family apartments’ where single-family homes and neighborhoods once stood,” Major stated. “We do not want or need ‘15-minute cities’ imposed on our communities as the price of assistance in rebuilding what was destroyed. We do not want or need our local zoning and planning laws undermined or usurped by a new, centralized county bureaucracy which no one credibly believes can better manage 14,000-plus rebuilds than the existing city and county departments presently charged with doing so.”

Importantly, Major said that some of the commission’s proposals might be of help to those rebuilding, including providing financing assistance, taking steps to preserve local and small businesses, and providing a sales tax holiday for purchases related to rebuilding. He also strongly advocated restoring tax consequence protections for inter-generational property transfers, which was removed in 2020 by Proposition 19, which imposes a valuation reassessment when properties are transferred inter-generationally. That reassessment can result in tax bills that many families cannot afford, forcing them to sell their homes. Finally, Major noted — as did many who testified at the legislature’s committee hearing — that before establishing such a rebuilding authority, lawmakers and policymakers need to obtain as much feedback from residents as possible by having virtual meetings and town halls. Admonishing lawmakers, he said, “You need to hear the passion, pain, and anger of survivors. You need to feel what they feel. No meaningful policy can be implemented on their behalf without that input.”

Steadfast LA

In late June, the City of Malibu posted on social media, stating, “The City of Malibu is partnering with State and philanthropic organizations — including Steadfast LA — in a groundbreaking regional effort to launch a new digital platform that will expedite the rebuilding process for communities.” 

The posting concerned the new platform from Archistar and Mike Hopkins from Amazon, which provides an artificial intelligence software that can perform e-checks of some permit applications. The City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County are also employing Archistar for some permit application reviews.

Led by Rick Caruso, Steadfast LA’s chairman, the effort launched in February to coordinate expertise, influence, and power from the private sector to expedite rebuilding by developing solutions with the brightest minds in real estate, finance, construction, infrastructure, and more, according to the Steadfast LA website. The organization’s coalition includes business leaders from CBRE, ESRI, Latham & Watkins, LLP and Gensler.  

Advocating public-private partnerships that collaborate with civic leaders, local groups and industry leaders, such as Steadfast L.A.’s effort to rebuild the Palisades Recreation Center, Caruso and his team aim to restore integral parts of communities ravaged by the wildfires. It remains to be seen how much Steadfast L.A. will be involved in Malibu’s rebuilding other than its urging the use of archistar for permit expediting.

Following the money: Gov. Newsom’s $101 million allocation for rebuilding 

On July 8, Gov. Newsom and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the release of $101 million “to help rapidly rebuild critically needed, affordable multi-family housing in the fire-devastated region.” The funding allows affordable housing developers to apply for multi-funding programs through a single application to support rebuilding efforts that prioritize projects that are close to the wildfire burn areas and include a resident preference for households displaced by the wildfires, according to Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. The goal, according to Moss, is to “accelerate household stability, climate, and health outcomes in communities.” Moss noted that in February, announced availability of $382 million for development of affordable multi-family housing rental properties statewide, and that in March, a separate $50 million funding allocation was announced for Indian tribes. Readers can find out about the details at www.hcd.ca.gov. 

Congressman Brad Sherman supports Gov. Newsom’s updated wildfire aid request for $34.1 billion 

On July 15, Gov. Newsom submitted an updated wildfire aid request to Congress, seeking a supplemental appropriation of $34.1 billion in federal assistance to respond to the destruction caused by the January wildfires, noting that the basic package of federal benefits is insufficient in the wake of one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history. That request sought less aid than the governor had requested in February to account for the $5.5 billion in federal funds already disbursed by FEMA and SBA this year.

Supporting the governor’s request, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued a supportive notice, stating, “I am pleased to see two priorities included in the Governor’s request that I will continue advocating for as we move forward: first, a sharp increase in SBA’s maximum disaster loan limit so families and small businesses have sufficient funds to rebuild their homes; and second, major Community Development Block Grant funding for the state to provide grants to those who lost everything without adequate insurance. These tools will make the difference between temporary relief and long-term recovery.” 

As those in Malibu traverse the long road to recovery after the fire, residents will, no doubt, interface with efforts by governments of all levels and philanthropic organizations offering to assist and Malibuites will, as they have since cityhood, evaluate whether such offers of help align with the vision that locals have for our rebuilt community.

Malibu Rebuild Survey open through Aug. 15

The Malibu Times
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Malibu Rebuild Survey open through Aug. 15

The City of Malibu is inviting residents to participate in the Malibu Rebuild Survey, now open through Aug. 15, to help improve services offered through the Malibu Rebuild Center.

Whether you’ve recently visited the Rebuild Center or simply want to share your thoughts on the city’s fire rebuild efforts, your feedback is welcome. The brief, confidential survey is designed to gather insights that will help the city enhance its support for homeowners and community members navigating the rebuild process.

Your voice matters — take a moment to share your experience and help shape the future of Malibu’s recovery.

Click here to take the survey.

Malibu City Council holds special meeting to discuss fire recovery 

Hayley Mattson
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Malibu City Council holds special meeting to discuss fire recovery 

Council waives fees, streamlines permits, and clarifies policies to help residents and businesses rebuild after recent wildfires

The City of Malibu has entered a new phase in its recovery from the devastating Broad, Franklin, and Palisades fires, taking steps to support affected residents and businesses in the wake of debris removal efforts. At the July 14 City Council meeting, council approved measures to ease financial burdens and streamline permitting for fire survivors, reaffirming their commitment to rebuilding a safer, stronger Malibu.

“We are deeply grateful to the Army Corps of Engineers and to all the private contractors who have worked tirelessly to help us reach this important milestone,” said Mayor Marianne Riggins. “The city thanks all property owners who met the deadline and contributed to the safety and well-being of our community. Now that debris removal is nearly complete, our homeowners can move forward with the next steps in their rebuild process, and we are here to guide and assist them every step of the way.”

The council voted unanimously to waive planning and building permit fees for “like-for-like” rebuilds — homes that will be reconstructed in the same footprint and size as their pre-fire structures, with an optional 10% additional square footage allowance under the governor’s emergency order. This order temporarily suspends certain California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Coastal Act provisions to expedite recovery efforts, although it does not override local permitting authority.

In the same meeting, the council adopted an ordinance aimed at supporting small local businesses by streamlining Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and Sign Permit processes. The new rules simplify approval for events with fewer than 99 attendees and ease requirements for gatherings up to 250 attendees. This business-friendly ordinance, which will remain in effect through May 31, 2026, is designed to reduce red tape and foster economic revival in fire-impacted areas.

“We’re taking thoughtful, proactive steps to provide relief for our impacted community members,” said Community Development Director Yolanda Bundy in a statement. “Our goal is to minimize financial burdens while streamlining regulatory processes.”

While progress has been substantial, the city remains focused on public health and environmental safety. Staff is continuing to follow up with property owners who missed the June 30 debris removal and onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) deadlines. Noncompliant properties may face legal action, including potential abatement warrants issued through the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The July 14 meeting laid the groundwork for more significant discussions on July 22, when the City Council reconvened to address one of the aspects of Malibu’s rebuild process: determining what constitutes a “lawfully erected” structure in the absence of complete historical permitting records.

The conversation, prompted by staff requests for clarity, centered on how to verify the legality of pre-fire homes — especially those built before Malibu’s incorporation in 1991, when county records were often incomplete or missing.

A key proposal for the approximately 600 properties without open code enforcement cases, the city should presume eligibility for “like-for-like” rebuilds, using flexible evidence such as aerial photography or GIS (Geographic Information System) records. Homes with open violations — about 108 properties — would be evaluated differently, with further scrutiny and potential delays.

“If it was there, it should come back, unless it absolutely couldn’t have been permitted,” said Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein. He argued against placing the burden of proof on homeowners and advocated a common-sense approach: unless a structure was blatantly illegal — like building across property lines — it should be allowed to return.

Councilmember Steve Uhring offered a cautious perspective, warning against setting precedents that might unintentionally reward past code violations. He voiced concern for future neighbor disputes involving view corridors or substandard septic systems and suggested clear boundaries on which rebuilds should be approved.

Councilmember Doug Stewart emphasized the need for clarity and efficiency, cautioning against creating “layers of review” that could stall rebuild efforts and exacerbate community tensions.

The council reached tentative consensus on a working definition of “lawfully erected”: whatever can be verified as having existed pre-fire, minus anything demonstrably illegal. However, rebuilds must still comply with current building codes, which may require upgrades like improved septic systems or geological safety assessments — especially for homes built on unstable or landslide-prone land.

The council also acknowledged several gray areas. A notable case involved a house that had been entirely constructed without any permits; it was excluded from rebuild eligibility under the proposed policy and will require further review.

Another hot-button issue was the treatment of basements. Staff asked whether a basement — potentially adding 1,000 square feet of space — would count toward the 10% bonus square footage allowed under the governor’s emergency order. The council did not reach a decision, agreeing instead to defer the matter to a future meeting.

With time constraints limiting the July 22 discussion, the council agreed to schedule a workshop-style meeting to address unresolved issues, particularly those involving variances and complex rebuild cases. This workshop format, favored by both Riggins and Councilmember Haylynn Conrad, aims to foster open dialogue between city staff and residents, clarify misunderstandings, and encourage more homeowners to engage with the Rebuild Center.

“There’s chatter out there preventing people from coming to the Rebuild Center,” noted Stewart, urging residents not to delay in seeking assistance.

Planning staff, including Bundy and Planning Deputy Tyler Johnson, reiterated their commitment to finding flexible, fair solutions for homeowners. They encouraged residents to meet with city planners to explore their options, noting that rebuilds — even on complex parcels — are possible with the right documentation and collaboration.

The City Council directed staff to return with revised language on key issues, including the legal definition of “lawfully erected,” the treatment of variances, landslide area concerns, and further guidance on rebuilding homes with partial or undocumented structures. A special workshop will be scheduled in the coming weeks, though a specific date has not yet been set.

As Malibu continues its long road to recovery, City leadership remains focused on balancing regulatory integrity with compassion and flexibility.

Villanueva sets sights on sheriff’s seat again

Judy Abel
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Villanueva sets sights on sheriff’s seat again

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has filed paperwork for an apparent 2026 bid to run for the county’s top law enforcement official. Villanueva, whose 2018 upset surprise victory over former Sheriff Jim McDonnell caused repeated clashes with the County Board of Supervisors, lost his second attempt for the post in 2022. Robert Luna won that election and has already announced his bid for reelection. 

Villanueva registered a campaign committee with the California Secretary of State for next year’s November election. Villanueva originally ran in 2018 as a reform-minded Democrat who vowed to overhaul the department, but his term as sheriff became mired in controversy over allegations of ignoring alleged deputy gangs, mishandling leaked photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, and resisting enforcement of 

Former Malibu resident Ozzy Osbourne dies

Judy Abel
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Former Malibu resident Ozzy Osbourne dies

Considered one of the inventors of heavy metal rock, Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of Black Sabbath, has died. Known to fans as the “Prince of Darkness,” Osbourne just recently gave his final performances billed as retirement concerts. The heavily eyelinered performer suffered from a rare genetic condition known as Parkinsonism, which is similar to Parkinson’s disease. Due to his illness, he performed while sitting on a black throne for his final concert this month in his hometown, Birmingham, England. 

In 2002, Osbourne and his family were featured in the highly successful reality TV show “The Osbournes.” The show, that ran for four seasons, featured the often funny and over-the-top lifestyle that Ozzy, wife Sharon, and children Kelly and Jack led in their homes in Beverly Hills and Malibu. The show became one of MTV’s most popular and highest-rated programs. The family sold their La Costa beach house in 2012. Ozzy Osbourne died July 22. He was 76.

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