Checkpoints limiting access into parts of Pacific Palisades were removed on Saturday, June 14. Photo by Gina Kernan
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Following months of checkpoints that have been staffed by Los Angeles Police Department and National Guard, Pacific Palisades reopened to the public, effective Saturday, June 14, at 6 a.m.
Since the Palisades fire on January 7, a portion of the Palisades has had its access restricted to residents, contractors, first responders and essential businesses. Following the reopening of a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace to the public on Friday, May 23, access to the Palisades was provided through 16 checkpoints.
“Due to citywide operational needs and demands, the LAPD has recommended a shift in the security plan in the Pacific Palisades to deploy officers to other parts of the city,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote on June 15. “On Saturday, the LAPD and contracted security guards began engaging in high-visibility patrols throughout the Pacific Palisades instead of operating fixed traffic control points.”
Bass’ office, along with Councilmember Park and LAPD officials, hosted a one-hour community meeting on Monday afternoon, June 16, to detail the changes.
“I know these changes are upsetting for some of you, and I take those concerns very seriously,” Park said on June 14. “Please know there will continue to be a very heavy presence of police and security in and around the area, and LAPD is fully committed to working closely with the community to make additional changes as needed.”
LAPD confirmed they would have “high-visibility patrols” seven days per week, 24 hours per day. The city-contracted private security companies that LAPD will be working with include ACS, Gates, Nastec, Black Knight, Allied and Apollo.
There were “no reported crimes since Saturday,” June 14, according to LAPD, with Chief Jim McDonnell saying during the meeting that the Palisades was in a “very good place” from a public safety standpoint.
“I wish we had the luxury of being able to provide some advance notice on [changes], but we had the unrest,” McDonnell said during the meeting. “That’s something I really have a hard time describing unless you were here in downtown LA—it was intense. It went on for an extended period of time.”
McDonnell said that “it’s a balancing act, always,” as LAPD has “very limited resources.”
“We’re down 1,400 officers from where we were a couple of years ago,” McDonnell said. “It’s a constant triage to be able to do the best job we can with the limited resources we could get to apply to any problem.”
Captain Rich Gabaldon described a “pretty successful” transition over the weekend. For patrolling purposes, the Palisades has been divided into four sectors, with two officers in each sector, as well as 16 private security officers at a time.
There is also the “traditional A1 and basic car,” to “handle calls for service and respond to emergencies.” California Highway Patrol was also still patrolling the Palisades as of the time of the meeting, but their resources will be pulled at their discretion, according to McDonnell.
LAPD also announced it will be launching a “Stop in Center” in the Palisades, which will open as soon as next week. This is a location where officers assigned to the Palisades can write reports, eat lunch and meet with community members. This will “minimize officers’ time away from the Palisades.”
The potential location being considered at the time of the meeting was 15224 Sunset Boulevard. When operational, community members will be invited to visit the center when they see a police car parked outside, indicating an officer is available—which differs from a sub-station, as those have officers available on-site at specific times.
There will be public roll calls each morning at 10 a.m., which LAPD invited community members to attend. The next few will be taking place June 19 at 15100 Pacific Coast Highway (lifeguard headquarters), June 20 at 16605 W. Sunset Boulevard (Marquez square) and 17380 W. Sunset Boulevard (Vons). Pacific Palisades Community Council later provided an extended calendar of roll call locations.
When it comes to contacting LAPD, life-threatening emergencies should be called or texted to 911. For non-emergencies, community members can call 877-275-5273 or the LAPD West Los Angeles Community Police Station: 310-444-0701. There is a community online reporting system available at lapdonline.org.
An email address, which will reach LAPD Senior Lead Officers Brian Espin and Matthew Kirk, has been set up: palisades@lapd.online. “Tips and other non-emergency information” can be sent to this address.
“I believe we’re in a good place to be able to be effective moving forward,” McDonnell said on June 16, “and anybody who comes to test it, I think we’ll see that the level of visibility is pretty dramatic.”
Palisadians are invited to join a series of focus groups between Monday, June 23, and Friday, June 27, to help shape a community-wide survey that is planned to launch this summer.
Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago, in partnership with Pacific Palisades Community Council and funded by the Riviera Foundation, have launched a study to understand the Palisades’ “priorities, values and preferences for recovery and rebuilding” following the January 7 fire.
Researchers hope to assemble focus groups that reflects the full range of experiences within the Palisades community, and residents from all neighborhoods are invited to participate.
“These focus groups will help shape what we ask in the community-wide survey this summer that reflects the full range of resident experiences, priorities and values,” according to the focus group invitation. “Your input will directly influence the information that is shared with community, state and national decision makers.”
Researchers are seeking homeowners and renters, residents whose homes were destroyed and those unaffected, individuals from various housing types, and people at different stages of their recovery journey. This includes those who have returned, are undecided, have chosen not to return or have recently purchased property since the January wildfires. A range of ages, family types and neighborhoods will also be represented.
Participants will volunteer their time the week of June 23 online via Zoom with six to eight other Palisadians, a NORC moderator and notetaker for 60 to 90 minutes. Those who are selected to volunteer will receive a $75 Amazon gift card for their participation.
For those who want to catch a performance of Theatre Palisades’ “Jest a Second,” four shows remain between June 19 and June 21.
The show, a sequel to “Beau Jest,” which ran in 2024 at Pierson Playhouse, was slated to open on Friday, January 10, before the playhouse was destroyed in the Palisades fire. All performances during the two-weekend run are taking place at Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, which is home to the Kentwood Players.
“The follow-up to ‘Beau Jest’ is finally here,” read a synopsis from Theatre Palisades. “Sarah and Bob are married and expecting, but now it’s Joel’s turn to hide a secret from their parents … and Bob is back to ‘help’ him. Get ready for more family drama and non-stop laughs.”
As the synopsis stated, the theater was filled with laughter from the show’s start to finish during the Friday evening performance, June 13. With several actors returning to their roles—including Jeff Coppage as Bob, Laura Goldstein as mom Miriam, Lou Silba as father Abe and Jasmine Haver as Sarah #1—the performers were able to build on the believability of the family dynamic that was created when “Beau Jest” was first performed.
The family was joined by Levente Tarr in the role of Dr. Randy Rosen, who has previously performed with Theatre Palisades for “Harvey and “Other Desert Cities,” and Jon Paul Burkhart as Sarah’s brother, Joel. Claire Goldhush has made her Theatre Palisades’ debut as Sarah #2, while Jennie Fahn, who recently wrapped a fundraising weekend for the theater of performances of her solo show “Under the Jello Mold,” was Miriam’s understudy.
The actors each filled their respective roles with what came across on the stage as ease—despite the show’s incredibly fast-paced timing. After a five-month delay, it was meaningful to see Theatre Palisades bring the show to the stage—a sentiment Director Jonathan Fahn commented on before the show began and in the program in the director’s notes.
“Our little show, which had been rehearsing since Thanksgiving week, lost its chance to shine just three days before opening night,” Jonathan wrote. “But, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, and thanks to the generosity of the people at Kentwood Players (as well as the Morgan-Wixson and Blue Door, who also provided us rehearsal space), we have lived to fight another day in this beautiful theater … we are so grateful to be here.”
“Jest a Second” was produced by Martha Hunter, with Silba as assistant producer. Set and lighting design was done by Sherman Wayne, with Susan Stangl as sound design and Josh Harper as stage manager. Costume design was done by Hunter and Maria O’Connor.
Remaining showtimes include Thursday, June 19, at 8 p.m.; Friday, June 20, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, June 21, at 2 and 8 p.m.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students. Theatre Palisades is offering a free ticket to the show for first responders, who are encouraged to call the box office at 310-454-1970 with their badge number and preferred show date to claim a ticket.
Chamber Music Palisades will host a free community afternoon concert on Saturday, June 21, beginning at 4 p.m. featuring The Cantilena Trio.
“The Cantilena Trio features Santa Monica Symphony principal flutist and former flutist with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Susan Greenberg, guitarist Kenton Youngstrom, active as a recording artist, producer, composer, arranger and educator, and tenor Jon Lee Keenan, who has appeared as a featured soloist in each season of the Los Angeles Master Chorale since 2007,” according to CMP.
The program will include solos, duos and trios, which will highlight various combinations of flute, tenor and guitar. Pieces include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Alleluia,” Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze,” Vincenzo Bellini’s “Vaga Luna Che Inargenti” and more.
The concert will take place at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, which is located at 12000 San Vicente Boulevard in Los Angeles. There will be free parking available in the underground lot, located off Bundy on the east side, south of San Vicente close to Montana. Overflow parking is available in the CoMerica Bank lot.
The concert is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Donations are welcome in person and online: “We are very grateful for these contributions as they enable us to continue providing these wonderful family-friendly concerts,” according to CMP.
California launched the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on Thursday, June 12, offering up to $20,000 in grants to homeowners whose properties were destroyed or left uninhabitable by recent wildfires, floods and other disasters—including those impacted by the January 7 Palisades fire.
The disaster mortgage relief program—managed by the California Housing Finance Agency—will be paired with $25 million in additional housing counseling support through CalHFA’s National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program. None of the funds impact the proposed 2025-26 budget, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund provides relief for vulnerable homeowners whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable as the result of a disaster that received a State of Emergency proclamation by the governor or a Major Disaster Declaration approved by the president between January 2023 and January 2025—including the Eaton fire, Palisades fire, Park fire and San Diego floods.
“Homeowners whose home was destroyed in a recent fire, flood or other disaster deserve support in their recovery,” Newsom said in a statement. “We know that recovery takes time and the state is here to support. California is extending this ongoing support to disaster victims in Los Angeles and beyond, by assisting with mortgage payments to relieve financial pressure and stress as families rebuild and recover.”
Eligible homeowners can apply for grants covering up to three months of mortgage payments, up to $20,000 total.
The grants do not have to be repaid and applying to the program is free. If approved, grants will be sent directly to the homeowner’s mortgage servicer.
Application and eligibility information about the CalAssist Mortgage Fund is available at calassistmortgagefund.org.
Pacific Palisades Art Association will host “Studio in a Box” on Sunday, June 22, from 1 to 3 p.m., with a lecture by Ruth Askren.
“Ruth Askren will be teaching how to compact your studio to a corner of your room, the dining room or on a patio,” according to PPAA. “You can also pack the studio in your car and paint outdoors—en plein air—with just a few adjustments.”
Askren—who has “artwork in many collections, galleries and exhibits around Southern California and worldwide,” according to a bio—is a member of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore.
PPAA wrote that the program is “for those who want to streamline their painting practice while getting the full benefit of great painting materials and an efficient set up.”
“If you are searching for a way to set up a functional place to paint within a small footprint, then this workshop is for you,” PPAA said.
The lecture will take place at Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club, which is located at 1210 Fourth Street in Santa Monica. Space is limited, so RSVPs can be made to 310-351-2346.
More Than 700 Seniors Attend Ceremony at Hollywood Bowl
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
If ever a group of young people is aware of the challenges life presents, it is the 740 Palisades Charter High School seniors who walked the stage to receive their diplomas at the end of their commencement ceremony on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 4, at Hollywood Bowl.
Graduation is traditionally held at Stadium by the Sea, but the 17,500-seat amphitheater off of the 101 Freeway was a fine alternative for students whose last few months of in-person classes were in the former Sears building in Santa Monica following the Palisades fire in January that damaged 40% of the Pali High campus.
As the blue-robed graduates filed in from both sides to their assigned seats, the Pali High Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band and Drum Line performed the processional tune of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” after which Student Body President Charlie Speiser, whose house burned down in the fire, led the pledge of allegiance and took a moment to honor the life and legacy of friend and Palisadian Braun Levi.
Willa Browne and Annika Johansson then duetted the national anthem. Next, 15 graduates took turns participating in a multi-lingual welcome: Andjela Malisich (Serbian); Gianluca Martinez (Spanish); Giada Musumesci (Italian); Finn Nance (Lithuanian); Alexios Stamepolous (Greek); Sofya Vaivad (Russian); Martha Valkov (Bulgarian); Madison Cheungsomboune (Mandarin); Sofia Engstad (Norwegian); KaLyssa Ferdinand (French); Isabella Karimi and Savannah Youabian (Farsi); Jiwon Kim (Korean); and Noa and Roi Levertov (Hebrew).
“When asked about their dream location for their high school culmination the top response of the senior class was—you guessed it—the Hollywood Bowl,” Principal Dr. Pam Magee said during the opening address. “Thank you to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Board of Directors for making this dream come true and providing us the opportunity to gather as a community in this beautiful, magical, historical location. Thank you to all our administrators, teachers, counselors and staff for preparing our seniors for their future endeavors.”
A video message was shown on the screens on either side of the stage featuring Governor Gavin Newsom, who concluded his two-minute statement saying: “Think about everything you’ve gone through in the last four years—the pandemic, social unrest, the drought, the floods and obviously the devastation of these fires—but the fact that you’re here is a testament to your grit and recognition that it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond to what happens to you. It’s decisions, not conditions, that determine your fate.”
Next to talk was Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Nick Melvoin.
“If you can’t have an ocean view, this isn’t a bad consolation prize,” Melvoin said. “I don’t care how corny this sounds, but when things around you have gone low, you have gone Pali High.”
Magee then introduced 1983 Pali High alum, nine-time NBA champion and current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who was greeted with thunderous applause.
“A mere 42 years ago I was in your shoes on the Pali football field, and I remember feeling very unsure of myself in my cap and gown,” Kerr said. “I was an aspiring basketball player with no place to play. I didn’t have a college scholarship, I didn’t have any college coaches knocking on my door, I had a less-than-inspiring 1070 SAT score in my back pocket, and while many of my classmates were seemingly mapping out their futures, I had no idea what was next. The thought I’m here giving the commencement address … if somebody had said back then that this would happen I would’ve laughed at them.
“Somehow, mainly due to good fortune of being born into a life of opportunity, I found my way into a career of basketball. Yes, it helped that I had good hand-eye coordination and that I led the Hippos to the 1972 championship at the [Malibu] Palisades YMCA on Via De La Paz and that my dad was a professor at UCLA, taking me to games at Pauley Pavilion during the John Wooden era, sparking a lifelong love for the game.”
Kerr said that after playing in summer leagues across Los Angeles after graduation, he did “just well enough” to be offered “a last-second scholarship” to University of Arizona, which is here his “journey in basketball really took off.”
“When I think back to all those days playing on the blacktop at Palisades Elementary, Paul Revere and Pali, I never could’ve imagined living the life I live today,” Kerr said. “The game has given me so much, and I feel like the luckiest person on earth.”
Photo by Chuck Larsen Photography
Kerr passed along words of wisdom from three people who helped him on his journey: San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich (for whom Kerr played for four seasons and won two titles); Phil Jackson (Kerr’s coach in Chicago where he helped the Bulls win three straight titles alongside Michael Jordan); and All-Star Steph Curry (Golden State’s franchise player while Kerr has coached the organization to four titles since 2015).
“Coach Popovich had a great saying: ‘by the accident of birth,’ and I love that expression … remember that you are one of the lucky ones,” Kerr said. “Coach Jackson used to say basketball is a metaphor for life, and what he meant is that the only way to flourish on or off the court is to learn how to work with others. Basketball is a five-man symphony. The best teams become more than the sum of their parts and life is no different.”
Kerr told the graduating class that whatever career they choose, they will find “the most satisfaction” when “engaged deeply with others.”
“Even you Lakers fans like Steph Curry and, in his words, be humble, be confident, be present,” Kerr said. “I’ve never seen a guy with a greater combination of confidence and humility, and to me those things should absolutely go hand in hand.
“If I can give one piece of advice for you graduates today it’s to figure out what it means to be emotionally intelligent. It’s self awareness, understanding yours and others’ emotions, and it’s a powerful force that’ll help you in every aspect of your life.”
Kerr, who met with Pali High basketball coach Jeff Bryant and his players after the Lakers-Warriors game February 6 at Crypto.com Arena and told the seniors he would try to make their graduation if the Warriors were out of the playoffs, was true to his word. After his speech he hugged his mom Ann, whose house atop Chautauqua (and the one her son grew up in), was destroyed in the fire.
Attentions then turned to the video screens to watch a senior video produced by film teacher Malia Jakus and Pali High film students, after which Magee introduced the program’s second special guest speaker: six-time Emmy Award-winner, Tony Award-winner, actor, comedian, director, humanitarian and a former Honorary Mayor of the Palisades Billy Crystal, speaking on his 55th wedding anniversary with Janice.
“Every year Janice and I have taken this day to do something special, go someplace, but the Clippers and Knicks sort of determined we should be here,” he started, inducing laughter. “After the invitation to speak arrived, we spoke about it and thought what could be more special than to be here with you in this intimate setting after all that you and your families have been through, and tell you how proud I am of you and all of the people who made it possible for you to finish your studies in the building where I once bought a washer and dryer?
“I don’t know any of you but I know all of you. We’ve shared difficult times alone together. COVID robbed us of so many important things in our seclusion, and for you that meant being together, going to classes, football, basketball, baseball games, hanging out—for those in the Palisades—at Garden Cafe, or getting sushi at Gelson’s or going into Toppings and tasting everything but never buying anything.
“After those dark days were gone, we all experienced the unthinkable tragedy on January 7. For those of us who lost our homes and everything in them, we faced a seemingly impossible situation. For us, it was our only home for 46 years … all gone in less than 15 minutes, according to a gallant fireman who was trying to help us.
“For many of you, it was the same, and to compound this, we lost our town and you lost your school … monumental anchors of all of our lives. But from this chaos comes something very important—perspective. Many of you have been relocated, your stuff is gone, the things you loved and took for granted never to be seen again, but now replaced by life lessons. Out of pain comes growth, out of loss comes wins, out of despair comes joy.”
Six weeks after the fires, Crystal and former major league manager Joe Torre visited the Pali High baseball team during practice at Rancho Park and shared how important it is to have something you do that you love and talking to your coach if you are feeling down is not a sign of weakness but of strength.
“In a few days it’ll be [five] months since the fires but now, as the town and school you love so much begins the slow process of rebuilding, you’re leaving it, you’re heading to the next stage of your lives and I envy you,” he concluded. “It’s your time. Off you go. You’re on your way—you’re driving. Life is not a Waymo. The road ahead is long, windy, sometimes bumpy and you know there’ll be detours, but after what you’ve been through you’re going to navigate it with grace. The future is yours 2025 … and call us when you get there.”
Acapali performed a musical interlude arranged by Diya Prakash titled “End of the Road,” Senior Class President Taylor Beljon-Regen spoke about how it is the people, not the place, that she will remember most.
She was followed by Annalisa Hurd, who began her valedictorian address by stating her 15-year-old self, who had been certain of the future and made predictions about what her life would be like now, “was right about some things—like the classes she’d be taking—but a lot of it was totally off.”
“She was so sure I’d continue pursuing ballet, for example, but life had other plans,” Hurd said. “Honestly, our whole high school experience has been defined by life having other plans. Who could’ve predicted we’d be graduating at the Hollywood Bowl or that we’d finish senior year learning in what used to be a department store? Life doesn’t always follow the script we write …
“My sophomore self did have a couple wise things to say. She said ‘Take every chance and live every moment of life to the fullest since you don’t get much of it.’ I hope we carry that attitude with us throughout life and embrace the unexpected.”
A video greeting by Sam Jacobson, a “Grad Medley” arranged by Henry Jamison and performed by Pali High’s senior musicians, and sentiments from two other speakers, Anthony Haladjian and Cyrus Hemmens preceded the long-anticipated presentation of diplomas, after which Magee instructed the Class of 2025 to move their tassels from the right side of their caps to the left, symbolizing their transition from student to graduate.
The recessional song was Kool & the Gang’s 1980 hit “Celebration.”
As debris removal and rebuilding efforts are underway across Pacific Palisades, Mayor Karen Bass announced on June 6 that global infrastructure firm AECOM has been selected to “support a number of long-term components in the city’s recovery effort.”
“AECOM will work alongside city officials and Hagerty Consulting, which has been focused on debris removal and immediate disaster recovery support in the wake of the wildfires, to execute a community-driven rebuilding plan that is the least disruptive to residents and business owners with the widespread, ongoing construction of homes, buildings and public infrastructure in the Pacific Palisades,” according to the city.
AECOM will help develop and support a “comprehensive rebuilding master plan that is informed by the community” and an “infrastructure reconstruction plan for the phased deployment of all utilities above and below ground, in tandem with widespread commercial and residential construction.”
The firm will also help create a “logistics plan for materials management in coordination with local builders and suppliers,” as well as a “master traffic plan to manage an increased number of builders, trucks, construction materials and other activity as more and more property owners begin the rebuilding process.”
“AECOM’s expertise in long-term infrastructure planning and design will only further expedite our work to get families home,” Bass said in a statement.
AECOM has 30-plus years of disaster recovery experience, including a “working history with FEMA,” according to its website. The firm has managed recovery efforts after hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and wildfires, including fires in Colorado, the Northridge Earthquake and flood relief in Hawaii.
When it comes to ongoing debris removal work, the number of sites cleared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Palisades fire area was 3,450 as of Monday, June 9, according to Melanie Peterson with the USACE Public Affairs Office. There are 3,106 sites that have received final sign off in the Palisades fire area.
USACE had received 4,292 rights of entry from the county so far. There are 842 parcels remaining to be cleared, with 1,186 remaining for final sign off.
“We have completed final sign off for 72% of the rights of entry we’ve received,” Peterson explained. “This number may fluctuate if we receive more eligible ROEs from the county.”
The five-day average for sites cleared by USACE is 14, with 37 debris crews working in the Palisades fire area.
In the city of Los Angeles, 81 rebuilding permits had been issued as of May 30, according to the mayor’s office. The most recent number of properties in the city of LA with no opt in or out of the government-run debris removal program was 36, according to the city attorney’s office.
Properties in the county of LA—which includes unincorporated areas, like Sunset Mesa and Topanga—that opted out of the government-run debris removal program had a deadline of June 1 to pull a permit for private debris removal, with a deadline of June 30 to have debris cleared. These deadlines apply to commercial properties in unincorporated areas of LA County as well, which do not typically qualify for government-run debris removal and, in most cases, will be handled privately. For non-compliant properties, a nuisance abatement process will begin.
For properties in the city of LA’s jurisdiction, letters from the Department of Building and Safety were to be sent to non-responsive properties, according to Councilmember Traci Park. The mayor’s office did not respond to the Palisadian-Post’s requests for information about the deadline for properties to comply before the city would enforce its nuisance abatement process for private and commercial properties.
The abatement process will apply to residential properties in the city of LA that have not opted in or out, have opted out but not pulled permits for private debris clearance, or pulled permits but have not completed the work, Park described, “to make sure that all properties are being timely cleared.”
Violet Chapman Robinson Photos courtesy of Lizzy Robinson
The Selection Process and Story Were Postponed Following the Palisades Fire
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The first baby born to a Palisadian family in 2025 is Violet Chapman Robinson, who arrived the morning of January 10 to parents Lizzy and Brian Robinson at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica.
The family, which includes Violet’s older sister, Clara Chapman Robinson, 2, resides in the Highlands in a town home they purchased in 2020. While their home is still standing, they have been displaced since the Palisades fire began on January 7.
“It’s been a really bittersweet time,” Lizzy said to the Palisadian-Post of having Violet just three days after the fire started. “Also very confusing and hard to navigate, but Violet has brought us so much joy.”
She said that watching her older daughter become a big sister has been “such a joyful time,” but that “it’s really hard to believe that something so sad can coexist with something so happy as well.” Lizzy described having “so many plans” of taking Violet back home with them, with a nursery “all set up.”
“We were so excited,” Lizzy said, “and I was so excited for this maternity leave with both of my girls.”
Lizzy—who grew up in the Palisades after moving to the area at the age of 6 from New York—described their experience since Violet’s arrival as “nomadic,” but they are currently living in Manhattan Beach after spending time in places like Palm Desert. Her parents reside in the Highlands in the house where Lizzy grew up, which had “substantial damage” to the side, but is still standing. Brian grew up in Brentwood.
“We had a tough experience actually getting out of the Highlands,” Lizzy said. “We unfortunately couldn’t get out when we tried to evacuate. I think just going through something so frightening—having my 2-year-old in the back of the car, realizing that we couldn’t get out—and then realizing, once we did get out, how bad the fire actually was.”
Violet and Clara
Lizzy said her parents came to visit Violet while they were in the hospital—not knowing at the time if their houses had made it through the fire. Her dad was tracking through an AirTag that kept going off, which they took to mean the home was still standing.
“That’s how chaotic and confusing it was at the time,” Lizzy described. “We were celebrating this beautiful little baby’s birth and then we were also trying to figure out if our home had burned down.”
Lizzy said the news of having the first baby of the year was “very exciting” after “so much uncertainty and fear and sadness” surrounding the fire and its aftermath.
“It was nice, too, to be connected back to the Palisadian-Post, even though so many Palisadians are all over LA [and] outside of LA,” Lizzy said. “It was nice to have that connection back to my home.”
With her parents in Marina Del Rey, Lizzy said one of the things she is missing the most is being five minutes from family members. She said she “really can’t wait” until they are in “super close proximity again.”
“There’s so many wonderful things about the community of the Palisades,” Lizzy said. “I’m really just looking forward to bringing them back there and hopefully raising them there too for a long time.”
The tradition of honoring the baby born closest to 12 a.m. on January 1 began in the paper in 1954 and has been published since. In past years, entries have been sought in January, with the story published at the end of January or early February. This year’s selection process and story were postponed following the Palisades fire.
The family received a basket of prizes from contest sponsors, including a handmade quilt from Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, a gift certificate to Sanctuary Spa at the Palisades (temporarily closed but still standing with plans to reopen), items and a gift card from The Pump Station & Nurtury in Santa Monica, and products from Busy Benny—which were delivered before Founder Laura Gowing lost her inventory and home in the fire.
Other contest sponsors are Above Bar, The Gray Dragon and tawnya, who lost their business spaces, inventories and homes in the fire. The Post wanted to acknowledge and thank them for their willingness to sponsor the contest.
Caruso at a press conference at Palisades Recreation Center on April 10 Photo courtesy of the office of Mayor Karen Bass
PPCC Board Votes to Support Project Chimney
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Pacific Palisades Community Council met on Thursday, May 22, for its most recent board meeting, which featured guest speakers Rick Caruso and Nick Geller of Steadfast LA who provided updates and insights on local development and community recovery following the Palisades fire.
Steadfast LA—led by Caruso—launched in February to assemble the “expertise, influence and power” of the private sector to expedite the rebuilding of the communities destroyed by the January fires. Doing so would reportedly cut through delays and develop solutions with real estate, finance and construction departments, and others.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on April 10 the launch of a public-private partnership that will fund, redesign and rebuild Palisades Recreation Center following damage sustained in the January fire—alongside Steadfast LA and other groups.
“It’s just really exciting to have you here because Steadfast has been so proactive and so supportive,” PPCC President Sue Kohl said during the meeting. “I think we just all want to hear what you might be thinking about … what’s happening at the Rec Center, what other ideas you have, what other projects you might be working on.”
Caruso reported he and his team are “moving the needle” forward everyday, “all day long.” Caruso said designs for the Rec Center are underway, as well as fundraising. Through Steadfast LA, private funding is being raised to revitalize public spaces that are central to the community, including the Rec Center.
“The goal is that we want to get the Rec Center under construction in about a year, and that’s what we’re going to be pushing for,” Caruso explained.
Caruso also said he has also been working with Los Angeles Unified School District, as he said it is a priority to reopen the public schools in the Palisades.
“We’re glad that they’re going to be getting [Palisades Charter High School] open,” he said. “Marquez [Charter Elementary School] is going to open up for next season, which is great.”
For Palisades Charter Elementary School, Caruso said there are discussions about advancing and shortening the timeframe down to get the school open “as quickly as possible,” with a goal of reopening within a year and a half to two years.
“We think that can happen,” he said. “It will be a heavy lift, but we’re going to dedicate a lot of our resources to supporting the school system.”
After providing a number of updates, Caruso and Geller answered questions from attendees.
One attendee asked the team if they would consider installing a solar canopy for the Rec Center’s parking lot—which would utilize solar panels on a supportive frame to provide shade for vehicles and simultaneously generate electricity.
“We always look at doing solar and, unfortunately, it never pencils out,” Caruso said. “But my team here is looking at it again. They have it at the Grove, so yes, we will take a look at that … It’s a good idea.”
Following the presentation, the PPCC Board continued its agenda, which included unanimously passing a motion, sponsored by the Executive Committee, to support Project Chimney. House Museum Director Evan Hall presented on the project during the Thursday, May 8, PPCC board meeting.
Project Chimney emerged as an initiative to “catalogue, relocate and memorialize a selection of historically significant chimneys in the Pacific Palisades burn zone,” according to a statement. Over 55 historically significant chimneys have been identified, dating back to Palisades’ founding in 1922.
“Designed by master architects Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., Paul R. Williams and Richard Neutra, surviving chimneys capture a glimpse of the architectural DNA of Los Angeles.”
House Museum is working with community members to salvage and preserve select chimneys, a project that will culminate in a permanent installation known as the Palisades Fire Memorial, situated ideally “somewhere in the Santa Monica Mountains.”
When it comes to PPCC officers, there were no additional officer nominations from board members, meaning the nominating committee’s candidates—and current PPCC officers—will be re-elected during PPCC’s June 12 meeting, including Kohl, Vice-President Quentin Fleming, Treasurer Jenny Li and Secretary Beth Holden-Garland.
“We thank all the officers for their willingness to continue serving the board and community,” PPCC said in a follow-up to the meeting.
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