Friday, June 27, 2025

Guest Opinion | Brandon Lamar: Pasadena Must Remove Permitting Fees for Eaton Fire Survivors

By Brandon D. Lamar, President, Pasadena NAACP

In the wake of the devastating Eaton Fire, our community continues to grapple with the painful  and costly process of recovery. Homes have been reduced to ashes, lives have been uprooted,  and families—many of whom have lived in this region for generations—now face an uphill  battle to rebuild. As the flames subsided, the long road to restoration began. But instead of being  met with open arms and support from every level of government, many Pasadena residents are  being burdened with another fire: the cost of rebuilding.

The City of Pasadena must immediately remove all permitting fees for properties damaged or  destroyed by the Eaton Fire.

Our neighbors in Altadena, just across the city line, have already received this kind of support.  Supervisor Kathryn Barger led the charge to waive these fees for unincorporated areas, ensuring  residents aren’t penalized for trying to rebuild their lives. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass  took similar action for the Palisades following disaster. These are not just compassionate  gestures—they are necessary steps toward equitable recovery.

Pasadena must do the same.

This is not just about dollars and cents. It is about dignity, justice, and fairness. Many of those  affected by the fire in Pasadena are working-class families, seniors, and longtime Black and  Brown residents who have already been disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity,  environmental racism, and historical disinvestment. Requiring these families to pay permitting  fees—often totaling thousands of dollars—only deepens these inequities.

We cannot allow bureaucracy to block recovery. These are not luxury remodels or elective  improvements. These are emergency repairs and essential rebuilding efforts born out of tragedy.  No one should have to pay to restore their home after losing everything.

Removing permitting fees is a simple, powerful way for Pasadena to demonstrate that it stands  with its residents—not just in words, but in action.

I urge the Pasadena City Council and City Manager Miguel Márquez to act swiftly. Time is of  the essence. Every day we wait is another day that families are delayed from returning home.

Pasadena has an opportunity to lead with empathy and equity. Let us not be the city that lags  behind in compassion. Let us be the city that clears the way for healing.

Now is the time to act.

Brandon D. Lamar is President of the NAACP Pasadena Branch