LOS ANGELES – At a virtual town hall she organized today, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said that Sunday’s 8:00 AM reopening of the Palisades will be accompanied by a zero tolerance LAPD surge to keep the community safe. Mayor Bass was joined today by Councilwoman Traci Park, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, District Attorney Nathan Hochman and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
“Our recovery effort is based around getting people back home to rebuild as quickly and safely as possible. We are making sure that the Palisades will be safe as residents access their properties with their insurance adjusters, contractors, tow trucks, moving trucks and more,” said Mayor Bass. “If you do not need to be in the Palisades, don’t be. We have a zero tolerance policy for crime. The LAPD will arrest, and City Attorney Feldstein Soto and D.A. Hochman will prosecute.”
“The presence of LAPD and other law enforcement forces will be more than ten times the deployment before the start of these fires,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, who also noted that 33 patrol cars are being deployed 24/7 in the Palisades along with new automated license plate readers. Prior to the fires, the Palisades usually had two officers in one car patrolling the area. He also noted that areas in the jurisdiction of the LA County Sheriff that have previously been opened after the fires have not seen an increase in crime.
On Sunday, February 2nd at 8:00 AM, the checkpoints on PCH will be removed and LAPD will surge a strategic presence into the Palisades community.
LAPD will maintain a command post at Will Rogers State Beach, and police deployment will include a strike force patrolling across the Palisades. Until Sunday at 8:00 am, Lot 3 will remain operational in handing out resident access passes until the official opening of the Palisades.
Governor Newsom has also deployed additional California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers along the Pacific Coast Highway, with a marked patrol vehicle stationed every half-mile along the state-owned Right-of-Way to protect motorists, traffic flow and public safety between Santa Monica and Malibu.
With hazardous materials throughout the area, unstable burned buildings and utility crews, other workers, and heavy equipment hard at work, Angelenos are asked to exercise extreme caution.
This opening will be monitored closely by the Mayor’s Office and the City of Los Angeles, LAPD, CHP, the National Guard, CalTrans, and more for a smooth and safe transition. The Mayor’s Office will continue to hold regular virtual community meetings to keep the community informed on the transition.
On PCH:
There will be one lane open in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace.
A 25 mph speed limit will be in place.
All signals will be flashing red.
Avoid the area if possible as extreme congestion is expected.
Be mindful of the active construction zone. Watch for trucks moving in and out.