One year after the Palisades fire killed 31 and destroyed 16,000 homes, residents are staging a protest demanding accountability from Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass — accusing them of negligence and mismanagement that left families homeless and rebuilding efforts stalled.
The anniversary of the catastrophic Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires arrives amid rising anger and frustration among survivors who say their government failed them. Over 1,000 people have already RSVP’d to attend “They Let Us Burn!” — a protest scheduled for January 7, set to directly confront leaders like Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.
The event’s organizers describe it as a rally against gross negligence, mismanagement, and lack of infrastructure — not an act of nature but a failure of governance. “We are speaking truth to power,” said Jeremy Padawer, founder of PacificPalisades.com and the protest’s organizer. “This is about holding those in charge accountable.”
Padawer, whose home was destroyed, argues that the fire was preventable due to ignored warnings, inadequate hillside infrastructure, and breakdowns across city and state agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable communities. He invited both Newsom and Bass to attend the protest — not as appeasers, but as witnesses. “All they would need to do is listen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jessica Rogers — a social worker who lost her home and now helps neighbors navigate displacement — described the aftermath as a “compounding grief” of loss, instability, and identity. Her work centers on the Pacific Palisades Long-Term Recovery Group (Pali LTRG), which coordinates wellness programs and community recovery efforts.
Despite promises from Newsom’s office to visit survivors, officials have not confirmed attendance at the protest. Bass’ office has not responded to requests for comment. “We’re still hopeful,” Padawer said. “But what we don’t know is how many original community members will be able to join that rise.”
The scale of destruction remains staggering. By the time flames were contained, more than 16,000 homes, businesses, and structures were lost — including thousands in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Entire blocks remain empty lots or half-cleared debris fields. Families remain displaced, rebuilds stalled, and insurance payouts have dried up — forcing some into unhoused conditions.
Rogers emphasized that the disaster didn’t end with the fire — it shifted into paperwork, debt, and displacement. “There are a lot of everyday hardworking people — teachers, nurses — with dependable jobs,” Padawer said. “Not all finance rainmakers people assume.”
For Rogers, the anniversary isn’t only about anger — it’s also about hope. She’s organizing the White Glove Flag Presentation and Remembrance Ceremony to honor the 12 Palisadians who died and recognize those helping rebuild. “This is about honoring the people we lost,” she said. “But it’s also about reminding ourselves what we stand for — and committing to rebuild together.”
The protest, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Palisades Village, will follow the ceremony. Organizers say the goal is clear: demand help, accountability, and transparency from leaders who they believe abandoned them.
“People are running out of insurance money,” Rogers said. “They’re running out of savings. People are becoming unhoused.”
Historical context adds weight to this moment. Similar disasters — like the 2018 Camp Fire or the 2020 California wildfires — revealed recurring patterns of underinvestment in hillside infrastructure, delayed evacuation protocols, and fragmented communication between agencies. This time, residents argue that the same mistakes are being repeated — and consequences are worse because recovery has been slow and underfunded.
What makes this anniversary particularly potent is the contrast between the tragedy’s scale and the political silence around it. While officials offer condolences and visitations, the protesters demand action — not sympathy. “They let us burn,” reads the protest’s central slogan. “Through gross negligence, mismanagement, poor preparedness…”
The stakes are high. If the government fails to deliver tangible solutions — housing, infrastructure, legal clarity — the community risks further erosion of trust. As Padawer warned, “We know that the Palisades will rise like a phoenix… But what we don’t know is how many of the original community members will be able to join that rise.”
This is not just about rebuilding houses — it’s about rebuilding trust. And for residents still living in limbo, that trust must be earned through decisive, transparent leadership — not hollow gestures.
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