Fire Recovery & July 4th Info.

Ad Hoc Committee on LA Recovery – The city council committee that I chair convenes on Monday, June 23 at 1PM at LA City Hall in the Council Chambers. We will hear public comment and discuss several critical issues impacting rebuilding efforts, including potential waiver of plan check and permit fees, creation of a climate resilience district to help pay for long-term infrastructure, and we will hear from DWP on the Santa Ynez reservoir and collection of deferred water fees.

[See the meeting agenda HERE. Note: public comment is in-person only; a link to hear the meeting audio is included in the agenda.]

School Reopening Updates in the Palisades Area
Palisades Charter High School announced it will begin the new school year at its temporary Pali South campus in Santa Monica. This decision allows critical restoration work — including repairs to the football field, gym, and aquatic center — to continue uninterrupted. The move is expected to last through at least Thanksgiving, possibly through the end of the semester.

Palisades Elementary will remain in Brentwood for the next few years while its original campus undergoes a full rebuild. Students will return once construction is complete and the new facility is ready.

At Marquez Charter Elementary School, located closer to the Highlands—where many homes remained intact — families are already home. In preparation for reopening this fall, LAUSD deployed 25 portable classrooms (bungalows) on-site.

St. Matthew's Parish School is currently planning to reopen in the fall of 2026. However, the school is actively working to accelerate remediation and cleanup efforts in hopes of opening sooner, if conditions permit. The school remains deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students and staff while exploring all options to move the timeline forward.

Calvary Christian School announced that the 2025–2026 school year will begin on the Calvary campus in the Palisades! The school recognizes this decision may affect each family differently and acknowledges that no single solution can meet every need. However, leadership firmly believes that returning to campus is a meaningful and positive step forward.

Security Update – LAPD continues to maintain a very heavy presence of police and security in and around the Palisades. The Department is fully committed to working closely with the community to make additional changes as needed. So far, their patrols and visible presence have been successful, and traffic flow through the area has improved significantly.

If Your Home Is Still Standing, Please Take Our Survey – If your home survived the Palisades Fire, please take a moment to fill out our Recovery Survey. Your feedback will help us understand your priorities, needs, and challenges as we plan for the long-term rebuild effort.