LOS ANGELES – While some have said the next phase of debris removal could take months to begin, Mayor Bass today applauded the collaboration and coordination that led to Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that private property debris removal will begin in the Palisades this week.
“This is an unprecedented disaster recovery effort, and we are doing everything we can to make sure families can rebuild their homes and their lives as quickly and safely as possible,” said Mayor Bass. “This accelerated timeline emphasizes the power of local, state and federal coordination and leadership, and we will continue cutting through bureaucracy and working together on behalf of the people of the Palisades.”
According to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, this regional effort, which includes clean up work from both the Eaton and Palisades fires, marks the fastest large-scale debris removal operation in modern state history.
“The speed of this cleanup is unprecedented, and it’s a testament to local, state, and federal government’s commitment to getting families back on their feet as quickly as possible,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re cutting through the red tape and working with our partners to ensure that recovery moves at a record pace, helping communities rebuild stronger and more resilient.”
On Friday, Mayor Bass announced that the federal EPA had more than one thousand workers on the ground and were slated to complete “Phase 1” hazardous material removal by the end of this month, according to the federal EPA. “Phase 2” is led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and can begin on individual properties following a federal EPA’s sign-off that their work is complete on the property. Property owners must also choose to accept U.S. Army Corps debris removal or to hire their own contractor. More information on that choice is available here.
This week, Mayor Bass will open a one-stop shop permitting office where residents can go for rebuilding needs. Mayor Bass has exercised her emergency powers to dramatically cut red tape for rebuilding. City departments will also open new Impacted Workers and Family Recovery Centers to offer assistance for Angelenos whose employment was impacted by the wildfires.