Thursday, October 22, 2026

Altadena Fire Survivors Press Lawmakers for New Ways to Finance Rebuilding

At a Wednesday news conference, local residents called for a California investment fund and federal disaster tax incentives to help families and businesses recover.

Eaton Fire survivors gathered on a fire-damaged residential lot in Altadena yesterday to press state and federal lawmakers for new financing programs that could help residents rebuild their homes, reopen businesses and remain in the community.

The Oct. 21 news conference, organized by Beautiful Altadena at 425 E. Las Flores Drive, focused on two proposals: a California Disaster Investment Fund and a federal Disaster Opportunity Zone. Organizers said both would attract additional investment while communities continue seeking federal disaster recovery grants and other assistance.

Assemblymember John Harabedian, state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez and Rep. Judy Chu were among the elected officials identified by organizers as participating in the event.

Shawna Dawson Beer, an Eaton Fire survivor and founder of Beautiful Altadena, described the burden residents face navigating complex recovery programs while trying to rebuild their lives.

“Survivors should not have to become fiscal policy experts to get their neighbors home,” she said in prepared remarks distributed after the conference.

The proposed California Disaster Investment Fund would offer tax incentives for qualified investments in disaster-affected communities. Draft legislation calls for state oversight, financial reporting and participation by approved financial organizations.

Organizers also want lawmakers to revisit Harabedian’s Assembly Bill 797, the Community Stabilization Act. The measure passed the Legislature in 2025 but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. It sought to establish financing mechanisms to stabilize property ownership and support recovery in wildfire-damaged neighborhoods.

At the federal level, survivors are proposing a Disaster Opportunity Zone program that would adapt existing investment tax incentives to federally declared disaster areas. The goal is to attract capital for housing, small businesses and infrastructure while protecting existing residents against displacement.

Chu expressed interest in examining the proposal through her work on the House Ways and Means Committee.

“We can’t leave any tool off the table,” Chu said in prepared remarks, adding that she wanted to explore how such financing could benefit Altadena homeowners, businesses and families.

The proposed programs are separate from California’s existing $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program, launched Sept. 17. That initiative provides interest-rate reductions and loan guarantees to help eligible homeowners obtain rebuilding financing.

For some survivors, additional loan options could determine whether rebuilding is financially possible.

“I was underinsured. I might personally only be able to rebuild with something like a shared appreciation loan,” said Sylvie Andrews, an Eaton Fire survivor, in remarks supplied by the organizers.

Altadena Town Council Executive Committee Chair Nic Arnzen also participated on behalf of the council, which organizers said supports pursuing additional recovery financing. Council Vice Chair Milissa Marona and Councilmember Anton Anderson participated as individual residents and survivors rather than as representatives of the council.

Survivors emphasized that private investment would supplement, not replace, Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding and Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance.

Neither proposed investment program has been enacted. Creating them would require further action in Sacramento and Washington.

For Altadena residents facing rebuilding costs beyond their available resources, the central demand was for additional financing options that would allow families and businesses to return without surrendering their place in the community.