Tuesday, October 21, 2025

New Legislation to Help Altadena Fast-Track Post-Wildfire Recovery

Altadena leaders announced this week that new state legislation is expected to help the community to speed up disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts, aiming to restore homes and infrastructure damaged by recent wildfires while strengthening protections against post-disaster crime.

Senate Bill 782, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, gives counties the authority to create disaster recovery financing districts that redirect local tax growth into fire-affected areas.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Monday the measure will allow Los Angeles County to quickly establish an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) for Altadena.

“We will be able to accelerate the building of Altadena’s infrastructure without having to bear long delays that come with the traditional EIFD process,” Barger said.

According to County Recovery Director Anish Saraiya, the EIFD could generate needed funds to restore more than $1 billion worth of public assets, including roads, bridges, sewer systems, and community facilities.

“Preserving every ounce of district capacity is incredibly important to help restore critical government services,” Saraiya said. The plan also prioritizes affordable housing, sewer conversions for 700 homes, and support for sustainable utility upgrades in coordination with Southern California Edison.

Alongside rebuilding efforts, new state laws target post-disaster crime. Assembly Bill 468 and Senate Bill 571 raise penalties for looting and impersonating emergency responders.

“We will not stand by and allow wildfire survivors to be exploited,” Barger said.

At Monday’s Altadena community meeting, Assistant Deputy Public Works Director Ciara Barnett reported that Los Angeles County has processed 2,061 rebuild applications and issued 546 permits, with average approvals taking about 81 days. To ease the process, the County’s new Epic system lets residents track permit applications online, and community workshops this month will address reconstruction financing and design certifications.

Residents are also encouraged to use mental health services available through the Department of Mental Health, which offers free mindfulness and recovery classes at Loma Alta Park three days a week and 24-hour support through the helpline at 1-800-854-7771 or by texting 988.

Barger told residents that these combined initiatives—local funding, stronger laws, and community-focused planning—will help ensure Altadena emerges stronger. “We’ll keep working with smart tools and a united community to rebuild Altadena better than before,” she said.