LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement:
“While Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) was passed to support the creation of more housing across California – something that our state desperately needs – legislators in Sacramento could not have foreseen the bill’s impact on the Palisades community as it works to rebuild from one of the worst natural disasters in state history. More than 5,000 single-family homes were damaged or destroyed in the devastating Palisades Fire. The ability for developers to use SB 9 to change recently destroyed single-family home lots into multiple residences could drastically further challenge ingress and egress in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFSZ) following the worst fire disaster the city has ever faced. It could fundamentally alter the safety of the area by straining local infrastructure. I oppose this usage as it relates to rebuilding in the Palisades, and I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Newsom and state leaders to advocate for the Palisades community and identify a path forward as we continue to rebuild.”