A Tale of Two Cities: LA County's Fire Recovery Challenge

The recent Los Angeles fires have written a story of two communities - Pacific Palisades and Altadena - each facing profound loss but with vastly different recovery paths ahead.

In Pacific Palisades, where homes regularly sell for over $3 million, the destruction is devastating. Families have lost treasured homes, irreplaceable memories, and the sense of security that comes with having a place to call your own. The pain and trauma are real, and the road to recovery will be long.

But it's in Altadena, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, where we see a different kind of vulnerability - one that threatens not just individual homes but the fabric of a historic community. For generations, Altadena has served as a rare refuge where Black families could build generational wealth through homeownership. Since the 1950s, this community has created extended networks of homes passed down through generations, offering stability and opportunity to each new generation.

When homes burn in Altadena, we lose more than buildings. The fires threaten multi-generational family networks that provide mutual support throughout the community. They endanger affordable homeownership opportunities that don't exist elsewhere in Los Angeles County. They put at risk cultural institutions and local businesses built over decades. Most critically, they threaten one of the few remaining areas where Black families have nearly twice the typical homeownership rate.

While Pacific Palisades residents will face significant challenges rebuilding, most have insurance and resources to recover. In Altadena, many families face a stark choice: try to rebuild with limited resources in an increasingly expensive market, or leave the community they've called home for over half a century.

As the region plans its recovery, we must recognize that while all fire victims deserve support, some communities need different kinds of protection. Preserving Altadena's unique role as a diverse, multi-generational community requires specific attention. The recovery process must protect existing homeowners from displacement while preserving affordable housing opportunities. It must support community institutions and maintain the networks of mutual support that have defined this community for decades.

The path forward isn't about choosing one community over another - it's about recognizing that different communities need different kinds of support to truly recover. Only by acknowledging these distinctions can we ensure that Los Angeles County emerges from this disaster with its diverse community fabric intact.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​