By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Residents opposing Senate Bill 79 joined elected officials and community leaders on Saturday morning, August 23, for a rally in the U.S. Bank parking lot at the corner of Sunset and Swarthmore.

Headed by Pacific Palisades Residents Association President Jessica Rogers, the protest was one of many that took place statewide to advocate against a bill the California Senate Appropriations Committee narrowly passed June 3: San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act.

The bill would allow for the construction of multi-family housing near designated transit stops. Buildings up to seven stories high would be allowed near subway stations, and buildings up to six stories would be allowed within one-quarter mile of light rail, Metrolink or Bus Rapid Transit stops.

“This is a big deal,” said Chris LeGras of Our Neighborhood Voices, a coalition that organized rallies in the Palisades, Altadena, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, Marin County, Lakewood, Torrance and Hermosa Beach. “Who gets to decide whose town it’s going to be? They want to build high-density housing in fire severity zones and they call that progress.”

In July, the legislation was moved forward by the Assembly Housing and Local Government committees, though it is still subject to a vote by the full Assembly, which could pass it as is or amend it.

Rogers gave a shout-out to Palisadian celebrity influencer Spencer Pratt, who came to the rally.

“You are fearless,” Rogers said. “We’ve got your back.”

Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, lost their Chautauqua home in the Palisades fire and have since been displaced to a rental home in Santa Barbara.

“We want to share our voice,” Rogers said while addressing the crowd of people holding signs reading “Stop SB 79 Now.” “We’re going to end SB 79 today. The PPRA has been around for more decades than I’ve been alive. It’s nonpartisan, and this is a nonpartisan issue.”

Rogers said “we don’t want to recreate what’s behind us,” referring to buildings that had burned across the street. She then introduced Councilmember Traci Park.

“We need housing that people can afford, and we need to have a say in where that housing goes,” Park said. “This reckless build from Sacramento undoes all of the work we’ve done as a community. It hands the keys to corporate developers, and this build is being rammed down our throats by bureaucrats who’ve probably never set foot in your neighborhood … Affordable housing needs to be done thoughtfully. I led the City Council’s vote in opposing SB 79. We’re a community, not a commodity.”

Next to the podium was Larry Vein, CEO of Pali Strong, a foundation established to help rebuild the town and support fire recovery efforts.

“Even though we’ve lost our community, we’re coming back so much stronger,” said Vein, who shared how he was trapped in gridlocked traffic for two hours surrounded by fires as he tried to get out of the hills. “We don’t do politics, we do Palisades. We’re coming back, but we’re going to do it smart. There’s a rational way to do it.”

Additional speakers included entrepreneur and LA native Daphne Bradford, who ran for election to the LA County Board of Supervisors in District 2 (she finished second to incumbent Holly Mitchell in March 2024), Westlake Village Mayor Kelly Honig and Alex Villanueva, who served as the 33rd sheriff of Los Angeles County from 2018-22 and is now a candidate for the position again.

Proponents of the bill argue that increasing the supply of housing in transit-oriented areas will help lower overall housing costs, and that increased housing near transit will encourage greater ridership and promote public transportation, thus supporting the financial stability of transit agencies.

“It’ll make evacuations more complicated,” Villanueva said while explaining why he believes SB 79 would put lives in danger. “We have to go a different way … This is about public safety. You matter. Don’t let Sacramento dictate how you rebuild your community.”

Also speaking against SB 79 was Nico Ruderman, who lives in Venice and is campaigning for the State Senate in District 24, a position currently held by Ben Allen.

“It’ll rip communities apart by forcing longtime residents out of neighborhoods it claims to help,” Ruderman said. “We can’t keep building in areas where people need to be able to get out. Nothing in this bill is about affordability. Wiener claims SB 79 won’t affect the Palisades but the Big Blue Bus travels through the Palisades and once it passes Metro gets the zoning. All they have to do is change the routes and it’ll be affecting you.”

Reza Akef, who manages Polaris Homes LLC and launched a petition to waive sales taxes on reconstruction materials for fire victims, also spoke Saturday. He grew up in the Palisades, graduating from Palisades Charter High School in 1998 and, after attending law school, lived in the Palisades for 11 years before relocating to Palms.

“If they have their way in Sacramento there’ll be no backyards,” Akef said. “The American Dream is to be able to buy your own home. I grew up here and in 2022 we left because we wanted to save our money. You work hard to work hard to achieve where you want to live.”

Community activist Susan Collins drove from Sherman Oaks to express her disapproval of the bill, stating that Mayor Karen Bass was asked to sign off on resistance to SB 79—and she did on August 20—clarifying in a post that she opposes SB 79 “unless it is amended to exempt cities with a state-approved and compliant housing element.”

“While I support the intent to accelerate housing development statewide,” Bass wrote, “as written, this bill risks unintended consequences for LA.”

Rally attendees included Larry Goldberg (founder of Palisades Dolphin Strong) and longtime neighborhood safety advocate Mark Ryavec, president of Venice Stakeholders Association, a nonprofit community group founded in 2010.

LeGras delivered closing comments and encouraged everyone to contact their state assemblymember.

“We came within one vote of defeating SB 79 in June,” he said. “If we can flip one or two votes, it’s dead. It’s now in the Assembly so go online, find out who your representative is and call them. It’s amazing how the grassroots works. Ben Allen doesn’t like this bill … he may not oppose it, but he won’t vote for it.”

Allen, who represents Westside communities like the Palisades and Santa Monica, was present June 3, but did not vote, which amounted to an abstention.

In a statement posted on Wiener’s website June 3, the senator is quoted as saying: “Tonight’s vote is a big step toward making California an affordable place for people to live and thrive. California urgently needs to build more homes to bring down costs and building them near transit provides our public transportation systems with an infusion of new riders. This is an idea whose time has come. I thank my Senate colleagues for supporting this legislation and look forward to working with my Assembly colleagues to get the bill across the finish line.”

Theatre Palisades Hosts Annual Meeting and Awards Show

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Theatre Palisades hosted its Annual Meeting and Awards Show on Sunday evening, August 17, at Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club in Marina del Rey—with a program featuring preview scenes, musical numbers and reflections on the loss of Pierson Playhouse.

The playhouse—home to Theatre Palisades, Theatre Palisades Youth and Teen, and Theatre Palisades Actors’ Troupe—was destroyed in the Palisades fire. Despite this loss, programming for the theater groups has continued since January 7, taking place at venues like Paul Revere Charter Middle School, Westchester Playhouse and The Blue Door.

Theatre Palisades President Phil Bartolf began the evening by detailing the theater’s current financial situation, which he described as “very solid,” with a “quick settlement” received from insurance, which is being held for rebuilding efforts. Debris removal was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Bartolf said he anticipated a “capital campaign” of a “few million” would be needed as part of the rebuild process, as the insurance settlement covered the face value of Pierson Playhouse. In the interim, Theatre Palisades has been “nomadic,” Bartolf described, with the new board set to look into possibly renting a rehearsal and performance space while rebuild efforts are underway.

The theater has received a series of unsolicited donations following the fire, including from the Samohi Theatre and Long Beach Shakespeare Company.

A lifetime membership award was given to Cynthia Wright-Banks for assisting with the theater for 55 years, including navigating building the performance space on Temescal Canyon Road after the lot was gifted from Lelah and J. Townley Pierson.

“It’s about time,” Wright-Banks said when receiving the honor.

TP Board Member Hahnah Jackson then announced the incoming board, which includes Bartolf as president, Jackson as VP of administration, Richard Johnson as VP of building operations, Sherman Wayne as VP of production, Rich Little as secretary and Mitch Feinstein as acting treasurer.

General board members will be Michael Keith Allen, Jon Ganz, Nona Hale, Betsy Handler, Josh Harper, Manfred Hofer, Martha Hunter, Maria O’Connor, Maria Pavone, Holly Sidell, Firdosi Wharton-Ali and Wright-Banks.

The awards show portion of the evening—which was emceed by Hunter and Destin Bass—honored three performances that took place in 2024: “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Private Eyes” and “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

Wayne was brought up for a “special musical number,” “I Want to Linger” from “The Andrews Brothers,” led by Tasha Taylor and featuring a dozen performers, to celebrate his 90th birthday. He described working with Theatre Palisades as a “highlight of my life,” making “beautiful art.”

Ali Banks and Doug Green performed their annual show medley—parodying songs to highlight the plays and musicals being awarded—concluding with the audience joining to chant “we will see her standing proud again” in reference to Pierson Playhouse.

After a scene from “The Wisdom of Eve” and performance of “Take Me Or Leave Me” from “Rent,” Bartolf and Wayne honored Clayton Collins before he leaves for college in Michigan for his contributions to lighting design for various shows since he was 9 and “love of Theatre Palisades.” Collins described being at the playhouse at all hours hanging lights: “Thank you for trusting me,” he later said of his work.

Technical Awards were presented by Sara Kaner and Cara Kluver to Joanne Reich for Graphic Design for “Private Eyes,” Bass and Jackson for Costume Design for “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” and Susan Stangl for Sound Design, Collins for Lighting Design, and Wayne for Set Design for “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

Supporting Actor Awards—presented by Valerie Ruel and Celeste Keith—were given to Hunter for her role as Marjorie Baverstock and Brendan Serapiglia as Detective Michael Kelly in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” Presented by Ashley Hawkins and Hofer, Featured Actor Awards went to Kluver as Nikki Crandall in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” and Anthony Galang as Michael in “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

“I’m usually a singer so I guess this [award] makes me an actor,” Galang said at the podium.

Lead Actor Awards were then presented by Hunter and O’Connor, with Kluver being awarded for her role as Lisa in “Private Eyes” and Bass as Jonathan Larson in “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

Kluver said that working with Theatre Palisades has been a “wonderful way to get back into theater” after she had taken a break, while Bass said of the role: “Jon will be with me for a lifetime.”

The Award for Direction was presented by Feinstein to Lindsay Johnson followed by the Award for Production, presented by Steven Frankenfield, to Hunter and Laura Goldstein—both for “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

The evening concluded with a raffle, featuring items like gift cards to Bacio di Latte and Labubus, and a closing performance of “Louder Than Words” from “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

The next Theatre Palisades play will be “The Wisdom of Eve,” which is set to open September 5 at The Blue Door in Culver City.

Lowe Family, Supervisor Horvath Pledge Contributions During Launch Event

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles launched a $25 million capital campaign to rebuild and expand the Palisades-Malibu YMCA into a dual campus, which was announced during a press conference at Simon Meadow on Thursday, August 14.

“Since the 1960s the Palisades-Malibu YMCA has been more than a facility—it has been foundational to our community,” read the event program. “Generations of families, students and neighbors have found a home at the Y, where programs and services have fostered growth, health and connection.”

The project will support rebuilding the space that was destroyed in the Palisades fire on Via De La Paz, which will be renamed the Lowe Family YMCA, as well as a proposed expansion to Simon Meadow.

“With a new dual-campus model, we are expanding our reach and deepening our impact to serve the Palisades-Malibu region like never before,” read the program. “Together, these two campuses will carry forward the legacy of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, building on our roots while evolving to meet the urgent needs of today.”

At the time of the event, the Via De La Paz main campus was proposed to be rebuilt with fire-resistant construction; men’s, women’s and family locker rooms; teen center and multipurpose room; welcome center; green energy systems and solar power; enhanced youth and wellness spaces; and a “sustainable, environmentally conscious design.” The Via De La Paz facility was anticipated to receive partial support from FEMA for its rebuild.

The expanded campus at Simon Meadow—“entirely donor-funded through community giving”—is proposed to include an outdoor pool complex; fitness and wellness center/basketball court; outdoor programming spaces; bocce court and t-ball baseball diamond; permanent infrastructure to support programs; and expanded capacity for camps, sports, and outdoor community events.

In its current iteration, Simon Meadow is used by YMCA for things like the annual Palisades HoHoHo! and its two largest fundraisers of the year: the pumpkin patch and tree lot.

During the campaign launch event, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath pledged $10 million toward the rebuild effort.

“Community isn’t just about the homes we live in—it’s also about the places where we come together, where we build relationships and where we watch our children grow,” Horvath said. “The Palisades-Malibu YMCA has long been one of those beloved gathering spaces, and its loss after the fires remains deeply felt.”

Members of the Lowe family, including Bob and Beth, spoke on their family’s history and commitment to the facility. The multi-generational Palisadians shared about raising their children while participating in YMCA programming as early as when their sons were in first grade, with their grandchildren now a part of it and their son, Rob, a longtime board member.

“The Palisades-Malibu YMCA has been an important part of our family for three generations,” Bob Lowe said. “We are so pleased that the Lowe family can help ensure that the Y will be able to serve the Palisades families now and for generations in the future.”

Additional speakers during the launch event—which was emceed by YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Board Chair Wendy Greuel—included YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles President and CEO Victor Dominguez, Palisades-Malibu YMCA Executive Director Jim Kirtley, Councilmember Traci Park, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Mayor Karen Bass, Palisades-Malibu YMCA Board President Tracey Price and YMCA teen speaker Taylor Beljon-Regen.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the only community center in the Palisades,” Kirtley said. “The Palisades-Malibu YMCA will not only be a return to what was, but an opportunity to create something even greater.”

Following the press conference, attendees were invited to eat brunch, while listening to a program emceed by longtime community leader and current Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà, whose experience with YMCA dates back decades.

At the time of the event, several donor recognition opportunities remained available, ranging from $100,000 for a team lounge, executive director’s office or administrative office to $2 million for a fitness center. There is also a $1 million opportunity for a “Beacon of Hope” monument to “honor the transformational impact and legacy of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA illuminating the path for future generations.”

“We’re not just restoring what was lost—we’re honoring our past while building a more sustainable tomorrow,” the program concluded. “This is more than a building project—it’s an investment in our well-being, community resilience and our shared future.”

For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit ymcala.org/locations/palisades-malibu-ymca.

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a board meeting the evening of Thursday, August 14, which included updates from Congressmember Brad Sherman and the Small Business Administration.

PPCC President Sue Kohl announced the board had voted unanimously on three items: approving several PPCC bylaws amendments, a motion to support subway options for Metro’s transit corridor project in the Sepulveda Pass, and a motion to support Councilmember Traci Park’s motion in the City Council about city compliance with AB 747 and evacuation planning.

Kohl asked Sherman to give a report on possible federal funding.

“I began the morning at Rustic Coffee meeting with Traci Park, and I reviewed with her some federal earmarks in process, which should be approved in September,” Sherman said. “A little more than $1 million for the West LA Real Time Crime Center, $2 million to improve fire stations across my district—this is on top of the $3 million that I got for that purpose a couple years ago—and a bid of more than $1 million for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to do brush clearance.”

Sherman acknowledged John Alford’s work in the Constituent Service office.

“If you’re dealing with FEMA or the SBA, whether it be on the grants that FEMA provides, the FEMA-provided temporary housing or the SBA low interest loans for homeowners … the problem with SBA loans is they’re limited to $500,000 for real property and $100,000 for personal property, including cars and furniture,” Sherman explained. “Those limits are too low. The governor has asked for $40 billion in supplemental appropriation. I don’t think we’ll get that much, but I’m fighting to increase the amount of loans people can get from $500,000 per homeowner to $2 million, and to try to increase the amount of the grant, which is currently limited to two grants of $43,000.”

Sherman said that following his meeting with Park, he joined Governor Gavin Newsom downtown for his rollout of an initiative to create new Congressional districts.

“I insisted that if I was going to support it they had to keep two things in my district: my home in Sherman Oaks and the Palisades, because for the last six or seven months, this has been a very important part of my life and I don’t plan to hand it off to anyone else,” Sherman said. “So you can vote against the initiative or you can vote for the initiative, but in either case, the Palisades stays in my district. We’re joined at the hip.”

Corey Williams, a public information officer with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster, Recovery and Resilience, spoke next during the meeting.

“The deadline to apply for homeowners and renters expired on May 31 after which SBA offered a 60-day grace period,” Williams said. “I have encountered people in Pacific Palisades who didn’t apply, so if you as a homeowner or renter didn’t apply, it’s critical that you go to one of the state survivor locations (the closest one is on Sawtelle) or the disaster loan outreach center at the American Legion Post 283 in the Palisades.”

Applications need to be completed in person.

“You need to state an ‘overcoming reason,’ like you suffered emotional or mental trauma, you were caring for a family member or had an existing medical condition that precluded you from being able to apply at the time,” Williams said. “The deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program is October 8. If you get the first unsecured $50,000 as a business owner or a nonprofit, that may be all you need, but once you’re in our system you have up to two years to apply for increases in loan amounts.”

Williams explained that they look at “credit history and payment ability.” They will need most recent tax returns (2023). For businesses, “financial statements or statements of liabilities” may be needed.

“The first $50,000 is our unsecured amount,” he explained. “That may be all you need, and in that situation, no other signature documents are required. If you haven’t received that first $50,000 I suggest you wait until you’re about one month away from being able to build to request that initial $50,000 disbursement because as soon as it’s disbursed, that 12-month clock of no payment and zero interest accrual start to tick. If you’re not close to starting your rebuild don’t request a disbursement.”

Williams cited a three-month time frame at the end of which the offer can expire if not extended.

“If you’re receiving emails about needing to disburse money or deactivate your loan, respond that I’d like to extend my loan disbursement period another three months,” he added. “Don’t make my loan inactive. Put it in writing, not a phone call.”

Williams cautioned that taking the initial $50,000 in June then waiting nine to 24 months to see if more is needed is risky since, even if the home isn’t rebuilt in June 2026, the actual payment of the loan will be the full amount.

“You’d be paying the full interest and principal on the $500,000, even though you haven’t yet been advanced the full amount of funds,” he said. “You can always request increase in loan amounts for two years.”

Williams said that “communication is key,” recommending sending a message through the portal or by email to the case manager twice per month.

The next PPCC meeting will take place Thursday, September 11, via Zoom. Tentatively scheduled to give presentations are representatives of Friends of the Palisades Library and Pali Long Term Recovery Group.

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades had its first official meeting in town since the Palisades fire, gathering for dinner on Wednesday, August 13, at the lower Bel-Air Bay Club.

A Rotarian for almost 40 years, Perry Akins is beginning his third go-around as president. He reported there were 15 members before the fire and eight active members after, although that number grew that evening, as five new members were inducted.

Moving forward, the club will meet on the second Wednesday every month. The fiscal year started July 5.

Akins spoke on the history of the club, which started in 1952 and, over the decades, has had as many as 75 members. Meetings used to be held at Riviera Country Club, then Mort’s Deli, then Gladstones and, for a year prior to its closing, at Modo Mio.

“It’s not just a club you join,” he said. “It’s a commitment you make.”

Happy Birthday was sung to native Palisadian Andrew Cereghino, chair of membership development, after which Sam Schwartz, a junior at Palisades Charter High School and member of the school’s Ambassador program, thanked the club for its $10,000 donation to Virtual Enterprises, DECA and the Dolphins’ basketball team, then shared how he was affected by the fire.

“I know many of you here had a similar experience to mine—which was a feeling of pure panic,” said Schwartz, who was at Disneyland with his family on the morning of January 7. “This kind of makes it not the happiest place on earth for me anymore. I had no idea of the magnitude of what was going on and it felt like the world was swallowing me up as Mickey Mouse was taking pictures with little kids. It was an incredibly difficult situation.”

Schwartz, who was recognized as Ambassador of the Month in July, concluded: “I can say for sure that my choices led me to the right place—and that place is here, the community I grew up in. Despite our new school being a place where many teachers bought washing machines, it feels like a school now … Everything shows us that Pali is not a place … it’s the people that make Pali, Pali. The community’s been through so much but as my chemistry teacher said, we’ll rise again like a phoenix, stronger and better than ever.”

Also in attendance were the District 5280 Governor Alex Parajon and Assistant Governor LeeAnn Robinson (5280 covers the Greater Los Angeles Area and has 62 clubs, including Burbank, Beverly Hills, Calabasas and Santa Clarita).

Then it was time to induct the five new members—Jeff Lemen, Rene Rodman, Ryan Akins, Tamar Springer and Ali Ossayran—with Cereghino awarding each a framed certificate and a wood plaque. Parajon gave each a “superhero” pin, and Akins congratulated them.

“Some of the best friends I have in the Palisades I met through the Rotary Club,” Akins told the new members. “We don’t just welcome you, we celebrate you.”   

Then, past President Hagop Tchakerian, whose one-year term ended June 30, shared that his former next door neighbor, Joel Ruben, had recognized him when he recently visited the Manhattan Beach Rotary Club (where Ruben is now a member), so Tchakerian invited him to the August 13 meeting. Ruben resided in Marquez Knolls from 1986 to 96.

“I went there because they wanted to donate money, but I told them that right now I cannot accept it because we’re scattered,” said Tchakerian, who is now living in Glendale after his house on Jacon Way (where he had lived for 42 years with his wife Marilynn) burned down.

According to Parajon, Rotarians have donated $1.2 million for fire aid worldwide, and the district’s Fire Relief Committee is discussing how remaining funds could be applied to the Palisades, like rental assistance and small business and workforce reactivation programs, working in collaboration with nonprofit organizations.

The meeting ended with Lemen, who was born and raised in the Palisades and has been a Realtor in the area for 25 years, sharing data about market statistics before and after the fire.

“Now would be a good time to get a drink,” he told his attentive audience. “This is sobering information I’m going to share.”

He reported that as of that date, 209 lots were on the market in Pacific Palisades, 134 lots had sold since January 7 and there were 28 pending lot sales. Of the 59 standing homes in the Palisades active on the market at that time, most were in Riviera, Rustic Canyon or the Highlands. Approximately 6,000 homes were destroyed, another 1,000 severely damaged.

“As of today, 106 applications have been filed for new builds and 16 have been approved,” Lemen said. “The average right now is 46 days to issue a permit.”

“Most of the destruction was in the Alphabets, Marquez Knolls and the Via Bluffs,” he continued. “The silver lining is that once areas become rebuilt, it will come back bigger than ever.”

The next Rotary meeting will be held in a bigger room at Bel-Air Bay Club on September 10, when Hagop is roasted in the Club’s traditional “demotion” party to honor the 2024-25 president.