Barger’s $60 Million Push to Rebuild Altadena’s Fire-Damaged Parks
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger on Friday announced that more than $60 million has been secured to support the comprehensive restoration and rapid rebuilding of all Altadena parks destroyed or damaged in the Eaton Fire.
Barger delivered the announcement alongside Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, community partners, and residents during an event held inside the renovated Loma Alta Park gymnasium.
Barger emphasized that while the County has secured a major funding milestone, the $60 million raised so far represents only about one-third of the over $190 million needed to fully restore all impacted park spaces. She called upon philanthropic, nonprofit, and private-sector partners to join the effort to complete this ambitious community restoration.
“Altadena’s parks are the heart of this community, so securing strong partnerships is essential for the thousands of displaced Eaton Fire survivors eager to reconnect,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “From little league games at Farnsworth Park to cultural festivals at Charles White Park to hiking in Eaton Canyon, these parks hold cherished memories. We are committed to bringing them back stronger than ever.”
Director García-González echoed that sentiment. “As we approach Thanksgiving, I am truly moved by the sponsors who make this park renewal possible. And to realize our goal of reopening all our Altadena parks, we welcome new partnerships,” she said.
During the event, Barger provided a detailed update on Altadena’s unprecedented era of park investment. She described the significant progress made across multiple park sites and outlined several major restoration efforts already underway.
Altadena Trails recovery work has secured $800,000, with completion anticipated in December 2026. The Landscape Recovery Center at Eaton Canyon Natural Area has received $2.9 million in funding. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center project has secured $16.2 million, but additional funds are needed to restore this educational treasure.
Hahn, Horvath float ordinance to bar ICE from concealing identities
Los Angeles County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey P. Horvath have unveiled an ordinance they plan to bring up for a vote at the December 2 meeting of the Board of Supervisors that would prohibit law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, from wearing masks or concealing their identities when conducting law enforcement business in unincorporated LA County.
“I never thought I would see the day when a masked, anonymous federal police force would be swarming our neighborhoods, targeting people based on the color of their skin or the language they speak, and forcing men and women into unmarked vans at gunpoint. This is how an authoritarian’s secret police operate – not legitimate law enforcement in a democracy,” said Hahn.
Hahn acknowledged that, if passed, the motion will likely face opposition from the federal government, which has already sued the State of California over a similar law.
“If this means a fight with the federal government, I think it is a fight worth having. We cannot give in now and make this okay in America,” she said.
The proposed ordinance would:
- Prohibit all law enforcement, including local, state, and federal, from wearing masks or personal disguises while interacting with the public in the course of their duties in unincorporated LA County; and
- Require that all law enforcement, including local, state, and federal, wear visible identification and agency affiliation while interacting with the public in the course of their duties in unincorporated LA County
La Cañada Flintridge approves no parking during red flag warnings
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council last week approved a “No Parking During Red Flag Warnings” program on select streets in the City, following community town hall discussions held earlier this year.
Similar to programs adopted by Pasadena in 2009 and Los Angeles in 2006, La Cañada Flintridge will restrict parking on select streets when the National Weather Service determines that a combination of dry fuels and weather conditions supports extreme fire danger.
“This program is the result of more than a year of collaboration with first responders and broad community engagement. It represents a critical investment in the safety of our residents,” said La Cañada Flintridge Mayor Kim Bowman. “Public safety remains our number one priority, and this is an important step in readying our community in case of an emergency.”
Key restrictions include:
- Major Collector Streets: No parking on both sides, regardless of street width
- Streets under 30 feet wide: No parking on both sides
- Streets with a single point of access: No parking on one side (ingress or egress)
- Potential evacuation routes requiring two-way traffic: No parking on one side (ingress or egress)
The program was developed in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and traffic engineers, and the designated streets will be refined prior to implementation and continually reassessed. Additional adjustments to the number, spacing, and cost of signage will be brought back to the City Council to ensure effectiveness.
The City Council emphasized that this initiative will return for continued evaluation, including collaboration with local schools and efforts to provide proper education to the community regarding the program.
To learn more about the program and to view the full map of streets affected by the program, please visit the City’s No Parking During Red Flag Warning Program webpage.
Bass announces first COO for first Pacific Palisades rebuilt home
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that the first rebuilt home from the devastating Pacific Palisades fire has officially been issued its Certificate of Occupancy (COO), the final step in the rebuilding process.
The home is located at 915 N Kagawa Street and was built by Thomas James Homes.
“The Palisades community has been through an unimaginable year, and my heart breaks for every family that won’t be able to be home this holiday season. But today is an important moment of hope,” said Bass. “With more and more projects nearing completion across Pacific Palisades, the City of Los Angeles remains committed to expediting every aspect of the rebuilding process until every family is back home.”
Less than a week after the start of the Palisades Fire, Mayor Bass issued Emergency Executive Order 1 to cut red tape and streamline the rebuilding process to expedite projects like this. To date, more than 340 rebuilding projects are confirmed to have started construction across Pacific Palisades.
Bass also recently announced the first approvals under the City of Los Angeles’ Standard Plan Pilot Program for single-family homes. Established through Executive Directive 13, the Standard Plan Pilot Program provides a catalog of pre-approved, code-compliant single-family home designs, dramatically reducing permitting time, cost, and uncertainty for homeowners, builders, and architects rebuilding in Pacific Palisades.
More than 340 projects have confirmed construction has started. While rebuilding is a deeply personal choice, more rebuilding plans are being submitted to the City every day. The latest permitting numbers for the City of Los Angeles, updated hourly, are available on the dashboard here.
The state also published a dashboard showing permits issued for the City of L.A., L.A. County, Malibu, and Pasadena (updated daily).
