Greetings Neighbor,
I hope this message finds you safe and well. We continue to share our Wildfire Update to keep you informed about the latest resources that will help you navigate the aftermath of the LA wildfires.
This issue also shares information on our new legislative package that ensures our communities get the support they need now and in the years ahead.
As always, our district team is here to assist you. Please reach our district office at (213) 745-6656 or visit our website to email us directly about any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Senator, 28th District
CA Senate Unveils Major Wildfire Bill Package
Proud to have joined our Pro Tem and a broad coalition of Senators in announcing the Golden State Commitment legislative package that strengthens California’s wildfire response and recovery while making communities more wildfire safe. This legislative package includes 13 initial bills that target:
Wildfire Recovery Measures:
- Speed-up residential rebuilds.
- Provide property tax relief.
- Protect consumers from price gouging.
- Expand insurance protections for small businesses.
- Expand protections for homeowners, tenants, and mobile home residents.
- Support the rebuilding of health facilities.
- Strengthen penalties against bad actors following disasters.
- Provide desperately needed resources for impacted school districts.
Fire Prevention and Response Measures:
- Transition all 3,000 seasonal CAL FIRE firefighters to full-time, permanent status.
- Establish an insurance community hardening commission that will ensure more fire-safe communities and homeowners get the financial credit they deserve.
- Advance new policies that require fire-safe landscaping, setbacks, and inspections in high fire hazard zones.
Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are currently open and operating at two locations:
UCLA Research Park West
- 10850 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles 90064
- Open Daily, 9am to 8pm
- For a tour of the center, watch here.
Altadena Disaster Recovery Center
- 540 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena 91001
- Open Daily, 9am to 8pm
FEMA
To receive Clean-Up and Sanitize assistance, you must first register with FEMA. To apply, please visit DisasterAssistance.gov, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or apply in person at a Disaster Recovery Center listed at lacity.gov. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 10, 2025.
Debris & Ash Disposal
Los Angeles County communities impacted by the wildfires are working with federal, state and county agencies to safely remove and dispose wildfire debris and ash – at no cost to property owners. For more information on this debris removal program, please visit the Debris Removal website or call FEMA Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500.
Mortgage Relief
Governor Newsom has announced that 270 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders and servicers have now committed to providing mortgage relief to impacted property owners. These institutions have committed to offering impacted residents a 90-day forbearance on their mortgage payments, while not reporting late payments to credit reporting agencies.
Impacted residents, who qualify, won’t have to submit forms or documents and will be protected from foreclosures or evictions for at least 60 days. Relief is available for impacted residents who are customers of the institutions linked here.
This announcement adds to the five major financial institutions that have already agreed to offer mortgage relief to impacted residents. To learn more about the Governor’s announcement, please visit here.
Tax Relief
Governor Newsom has signed an Executive Order extending state property tax deadlines until April 10, 2026. Please visit here to learn more about how the order affects property tax relief, as well as the zip codes to which this order applies.
Insurance Policy Moratorium
Insurance Commissioner Lara has announced a one-year mandatory moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations for properties affected by the recent fires. Click here to learn more.