In the weeks leading up to the holidays, many streets in Pacific Palisades carry a quiet weight. Cleared lots—once homes—can feel especially somber during a season traditionally defined by warmth and light.
As Palisadians, many of us carry a well-earned skepticism of city bureaucratic departments. That skepticism comes from experience. At the same time, we’ve also had to reckon with a difficult reality: these systems, for better or worse, play a decisive role in shaping our futures.
A clearer picture of the road back
Rebuilding after a fire is not just a construction process. It’s an emotional one. For many Palisades residents, the hardest part isn’t deciding whether to rebuild—it’s not knowing what comes next.
