In just the past month, Los Angeles has faced a series of devastating wildfires that have upended lives and destroyed entire communities. The Hollywood Hills fire was quickly contained, and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar, while limited in damage, put lives and livestock at serious risk. But the Pacific Palisades fire? It was catastrophic—thousands of homes lost, 12 lives tragically taken, and thousands of residents permanently displaced. Over 250,000 people were forced to evacuate. These disasters have made one thing painfully clear: LA isn’t prepared for the wildfire threats we’re facing.
Yet, despite this reality, the City Council just voted against fast-tracking a fire safety bond measure analysis—choosing instead to delay action when urgency is needed the most. This decision is not just disappointing; it’s dangerous.
LA is already below national fire safety standards. Our fire stations are outdated, our first responders are stretched too thin, and the resources simply aren’t there to match the scale of the crisis. This delay only pushes back the critical upgrades LAFD desperately needs to protect our growing city.
Rebuilding after these fires isn’t enough—we need to invest in prevention and preparedness. That means modernizing fire stations, securing life-saving equipment, and ensuring LAFD has the staffing to respond effectively. Every delay puts more lives, homes, and communities at risk.
The message is simple: We can’t wait. The safety of Los Angeles residents must come first. We remain committed to fighting for the resources and leadership needed to build a safer, stronger, and more resilient city.
Now is the time to act. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Right now.
