Barger Highlights Rebuilding Progress in Eaton Fire Burn Area
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) this morning highlighted significant rebuilding progress of the devastating Eaton Fire while underscoring the urgent need to support wildfire survivors who have yet to begin the recovery process.
To date, more than 1,025 homes are currently under construction, approximately 2,000 building permits have been issued, and Los Angeles County has received over 3,000 rebuild applications.
While these milestones reflect meaningful forward momentum, Barger noted that with more than 6,000 homes lost in the fire, only about 50 percent of impacted households have applied to rebuild—signaling a critical gap in recovery.
“Today’s progress demonstrates that when survivors are able to enter the rebuilding pipeline, our system is working to move them forward efficiently,” said Barger. “However, the fact that only half of wildfire survivors have submitted applications makes clear that significant barriers remain, especially financial ones. Many impacted residents have taken no action to rebuild because they lack the capital to move forward—an issue exacerbated by delayed insurance payouts.”
Building on these concerns, Supervisor Barger emphasized the importance of strong federal partnership to help close the recovery gap.
“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to meet with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler over the course of these past few months to have solutions-oriented conversations focused on recovery,” said Barger. “Both administrators remain engaged and attentive to our local Eaton Fire recovery work. I remain thankful that President Trump has an interest in supporting wildfire recovery efforts, and I welcome opportunities to work collaboratively with his administration to deliver meaningful relief for our residents.”
Brownley Introduces Bill Protecting Foster Care Kids’ Access to Mental Health Treatment
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas (portions) and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) yesterday introduced the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2026—commonsense, bipartisan legislation to ensure vulnerable children do not lose access to essential mental health care because of a bureaucratic technicality.
Children in the foster care system have often endured severe trauma, abuse, or neglect. Many rely on specialized, around-the-clock care to begin healing. Congress recognized this need when it passed the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (FFPSA), which created Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs)—high-quality, trauma-informed settings designed to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to children with the most complex needs. But due to a technical interpretation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), many of these programs are being treated as Institutions for Mental Disease (IMDs) simply because they serve more than 16 individuals.
As a result, children placed in these appropriate, clinically recommended settings can lose access to Medicaid coverage for the very services they depend on. In plain terms, this means that a child who has already experienced significant trauma could be denied care—not because it isn’t needed, but because of how a facility is categorized on paper.
The Bilirakis-Brownley bill fixes this problem by ensuring that QRTPs are not unfairly classified as IMDs, provided they meet the rigorous standards and accreditation requirements established under FFPSA. This targeted solution preserves accountability while ensuring that children can continue receiving the care they need, when and where they need it.
“Children in foster care deserve stability and consistent access to the mental and behavioral health services that support their well-being,” said Brownley. “Yet because of how certain programs are classified, children placed in clinically appropriate settings can lose access to Medicaid coverage for the very care they rely on. That is a failure of our system. This legislation fixes that gap, strengthens continuity of care, and ensures foster youth can access the services they need without disruption. We have a responsibility to ensure no child’s health, stability, or future is put at risk by outdated policy, and to make sure every child has the support they need to thrive.”
Valladares Announces Legislative Package to Expand Economic Opportunities
State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, portions of the Antelope Valley) announced her Opportunity Legislative Package, aimed at expanding economic opportunities for Californians.
The package includes SB 1174, which creates new pathways for workers to build long-term financial security, and SB 1113, which strengthens California’s role in global trade.
“California has the highest cost of living in the nation, and we must do more to foster economic growth for hard-working Californians,” said Valladares. “California should be a place where businesses can grow, workers can build wealth, and our economy can compete on the global stage. This package is about removing barriers, modernizing outdated policies, and creating real opportunities for Californians to thrive.”
Specifically, Senate Bill 1174 expands workers’ opportunities to build wealth by encouraging employee ownership in the construction industry. The bill establishes a bid preference for companies competing on California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) projects if they operate an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
ESOPs are federally regulated programs that allow employees to earn ownership stakes in the companies they work for, without requiring personal financial investment. These shares can generate substantial retirement income for workers.
Senate Bill 1113 updates California’s tax code to align with the federal tonnage tax system governing international shipping. California currently taxes income that is already exempt under federal maritime policy, placing U.S.-flag shipping companies at a disadvantage, even when vessels never enter California ports.
This lack of conformity increases costs, discourages investment in American vessels, and undermines national efforts to rebuild the U.S. maritime fleet.
SB 1113 conforms state law to longstanding federal policy, ensuring consistent treatment for qualifying international shipping companies.
“California is home to the largest ports in the nation, yet our tax policy puts California out of step with the rest of the nation,” said Valladares. “SB 1113 is a targeted, technical fix that supports supply chain resilience, strengthens our maritime workforce, and helps to ensure that the U.S. maintains a strong commercial fleet.”
Both bills will be heard in policy committees in the coming weeks.
Long Beach Demolishes Abandoned Nuisance Buildings
The City of Long Beach this week took special action to demolish two dilapidated buildings after the property owner failed to comply with multiple orders to address safety hazards on an abandoned lot that has been a neighborhood nuisance for years.
The buildings at 6020-6090 Long Beach Blvd., just north of the 710 Freeway, were torn down and the lot cleared of trash to bolster safety in the area.
“Residents of every part of Long Beach deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “The City has heard ongoing concerns about this property and provided the owner multiple opportunities to address them. With those efforts unsuccessful, we are stepping in to protect the surrounding community.”
The City has followed a long and deliberate code enforcement process to address safety concerns at the two vacant buildings on the property, which were formerly a gas station and fast-food restaurant. City inspectors responding to community complaints first found the property to be in violation of safety ordinances in 2022, noting fire damage, broken windows and excessive weeds. In 2023, inspections in three separate months all resulted in citations sent to the owner. Follow-up inspections in 2024 noted progressive deterioration, including damaged plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, exterior doors that did not close properly, broken windows, graffiti and abundant weeds and trash.
The Long Beach Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation (BEAC) in July 2025 voted to give the property owner, Los Angeles-based Golcheh Developments and Investments, until Aug. 21, 2025, to rehabilitate or demolish the buildings.
After the deadline passed without significant or sustained improvements made by the property owner, and after exhausting all code enforcement options amid continued community complaints, the City moved forward with demolition to address the ongoing safety concerns.
An estimated 250 abandoned lots exist within Long Beach city limits. The vast majority of them are privately owned and do not pose hazards to surrounding communities. When concerns do arise, more than 90% of owners do respond to City citations, demands to clean up a property or otherwise address public safety concerns. If an owner does not respond, or cannot be located, the City may declare that a property is in substandard condition and take necessary action to address safety concerns.
The Code Enforcement Bureau will continue to work with Long Beach Fire and Police Departments to share information and identify locations of repeated nuisance calls — particularly sites where structure fires and criminal activity have been reported.
These Code Enforcement actions are part of the City’s broader efforts to address issues at vacant lots and storefronts.
Learn more about the Code Enforcement Bureau at longbeach.gov/LBCD/Enforcement.
