The Brief

Many property owners who fell victim to the recent L.A. wildfires have a tricky decision to make in the next few weeks — whether to opt into the public debris removal program, or opt out and hire a private contractor. The deadline to opt in is March 31.

To date, the so-called Phase 2 cleanup work is only about 3% complete, according to an online tracker from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is spearheading the program. And with the deadline approaching to opt in, thousands of households have yet to make a decision.

LAist has put together this guide to help overwhelmed homeowners figure out next steps in the cleanup process, including how to track the government’s progress and prepare for any nasty surprise bills.

The public debris cleanup program, in a nutshell

The government-run Phase 2 fire debris removal program is designed to be free for property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton or Palisades fires. But if you have insurance, your insurance company, or you, will have to reimburse the government — up to the amount covered by your insurance for debris removal. More on that below.

To opt in, property owners have to fill out a so-called “right of entry” form, either online or at one of the Disaster Recovery Centers. This allows workers to come onto your property and do the work on their schedule (you don’t necessarily need to be there, but you can be if you want).

Officials estimate the work will take two to three days per property, depending on size and the amount of debris that needs to be removed.

As part of that form, you’ll also need to upload a copy of your insurance policy, including the section on debris removal coverage, if you have it. You’ll also need to submit a sketch of your property (it can be hand-drawn) showing what you want removed, and what, if anything, should stay.

You will also need to decide whether you want workers to remove the foundation of your home or leave it in place. Officials are recommending removal because fire can leave a foundation structurally unsound. This video from L.A. County Public Works provides more guidance for making this decision.

Note: If you opt into the Phase 2 debris removal program but you are missing one of the required documents, a case manager from the L.A. County Department of Public Works should contact you either by phone or email (check your spam/junk folder). You can submit missing documents to the Department of Public Works through their online form.

What does the cleanup entail?

If you opt into the debris removal program, the Corps of Engineers' contractors will remove:

• 6 inches of soil from the burn area.
• Chimneys and other remnants of the home.
• Burned vehicles on the property.
• The foundation if you requested it be removed on your right of entry form, and if it can be removed safely.
• Hazardous trees, unless you fill out a waiver requesting that a tree be left standing.

They will not remove:

• Pools.
• Driveways.
• Slope stabilizing walls.

This means you might need to hire a private contractor after the government finishes its work on your property to remove things not covered by the public program.

What’s the status of the cleanup?

Two websites track the status of the debris cleanup, including on your property.

First, L.A. County’s right of entry status tracker lets you see how many forms have been received and how many are incomplete. You can also search your property and check the status of your form.

As of Saturday, about 65% of the 13,579 eligible parcels destroyed or heavily damaged in the Eaton and Palisades fires had opted in to have debris removed, according to the tracker.

Only 876 property owners had officially opted out — which means there are thousands of property owners who either haven’t filled out their opt-in form or haven’t informed the county that they intend to opt out.

Second, the Army Corps of Engineers tracker lets you see where debris cleanup has been completed — 355 properties as of Saturday — and look up your property to check its status.

What happens if you opt out?

If you opt out of the program, you must hire a private contractor to clean up your property and have the work completed by June 30. You and your insurance company handle all costs if you go this route.

The contractor must be certified by the state to handle hazardous waste. The city of L.A. has compiled a list of contractors who can do the work.

You can also look up licensed contractors on the website of the Contractors State License Board (filter for “HAZ” to see contractors with hazardous substance removal certification).

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Submit the “opt out” form to the county. (You can also do this in person at one of the Disaster Recovery Centers.)
2. Find a private contractor for debris removal and disposal. 
3. Get a fire debris removal permit from L.A. County (this is free). You can apply for a permit online or visit one of the county’s planning offices. 
4. You may also need to get a permit from your city, but the county is working with affected cities to streamline the process. 

Why you still might get a big bill for the ‘no cost’ cleanup

The government cleanup should not cost you anything. But if you have insurance, the county will seek reimbursement from either you or your insurance company for the amount your insurance covers for debris removal.

For example, if your insurance covers up to $25,000 for debris removal, or specifies a percentage of your coverage dedicated to debris removal, the government will seek to recoup that amount.

Don’t panic — but you could get an invoice for much more than that. In past California fires, cleanup costs for individual properties have reached up to $600,000, said Tony Cignarale, deputy state insurance commissioner. “The bills are shocking,” Cignarale said.

But again, don’t panic! It’s like an invoice you might get for a hospital stay or a surgery — they’ll tell you how much it cost, but that doesn’t mean that’s how much you owe.

The government will not ask you to pay more than your insurance covers for debris removal. Read your insurance policy and talk with your insurance agent or adjuster to make sure you understand your coverage.

You are also allowed to use your debris-removal insurance coverage to pay for getting rid of things that are not covered by the public debris removal program, like swimming pools. Keep careful receipts for any work done — the government will collect whatever remaining insurance funds are available for debris removal on your property only after you rebuild your home.

If you’ve already gotten a payout from your insurance company that includes money for debris removal, you should set that money aside for when the county’s bill comes, Cignarale advised.

In past fires, that bill has sometimes not come to property owners until several years later. Bottom line: You don’t want to be surprised by this bill when it finally shows up.

Additional resources

• L.A. County explainer on insurance and debris removal
• California Department of Insurance guidance for insurance firms on debris removal

Reasons why you might opt in or out

Local officials are encouraging people to opt into the public Phase 2 debris cleanup, saying it’s the most efficient way to get the job done and ensure a high level of safety and public health standards. Here are some other considerations:

Opting in, pros

• If you don’t have insurance, the public debris removal program won’t cost you anything. 
• If you have insurance, you can take advantage of the free public program and save your debris removal insurance payout for cleanup tasks not covered by the public program. (Keep your receipts!)
• Opting in is fairly straight-forward, and you won’t have to spend the time and energy to find and vet a private contractor and oversee the whole process. 

Opting out, pros

• You might have more control over the details of your property cleanup. 
• You might have to hire a private contractor anyway to remove things like retaining walls not covered under the public program, so it might be more efficient to do it all at the same time. 
• You might have more control over the timeline of your property cleanup, which could allow you to rebuild sooner. Then again, there are a limited number of contractors licensed and certified to do this kind of work, and there’s a lot of work to be done.  

Here are some additional guides:

• Army Corps of Engineers FAQ on debris removal
• L.A. County Phase 2 debris removal website
• L.A. County FAQ on opting out of government debris removal

Still confused or overwhelmed?

Here are some people who can help:

• L.A. Department of Public Works debris removal hotline: (844) 347-3332 or email ROE@dpw.lacounty.gov.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris call center: (213) 308-8305.
  
• Visit either agency at a Disaster Recovery Center, open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at the following locations:
  
  • UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
  • Altadena Disaster Recovery Center, 540 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena

• California Department of Insurance: (800) 927-4357; wildfire resources website.
  
• United Policyholders insurance claim and recovery help website.

"Galentine's Day" was first introduced to us in 2010 on the television series Parks and Recreation. Since then, it has become so deeply embedded in popular culture that I bet most of you didn’t know you should be thanking Leslie Knope for “only the best day of the year.”

Well, there has never been a better time than now to focus on the love for the ladies in your life. Although really, it's a day about celebrating those you can always count on, no matter the gender.

Read on for ideas on how to celebrate Galentine's Day in Los Angeles, which traditionally falls on Feb. 13, (but this year is beginning as early as Feb. 5). 

Rooftop cinema screening

NBC's Parks and Rec, the series which created Galentine's Day

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Courtesy NBC

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Dig into the real story behind Galentine’s Day at Rootop Cinema Club in DTLA on Thursday, Feb. 5. It’s an entire mini-marathon of Parks and Recreation, the show that started it all. Tickets begin at $35 per person and include a love seat with fireside heater and a hot chocolate for you and your bestie. As the website says, "Valentine’s Day is for lovers — but Galentine’s Day? That’s for legends."

When and How: Reserve your tickets here for the 6:30 p.m. screening.

Galentine’s dinner under the stars

Oysters and champagne anyone? At Mother of Pearl in DTLA

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Michael Kleinberg

/

Courtesy Mother of Pearl

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Set the stage for a night of pure fabulousness with a rooftop dinner at Mother of Pearl, the oyster and champagne bar from Michelin-starred Chef Joshua Gil. The four-course prix fixe begins with a caviar bruschetta and small plates for the table, which is a perfect time to order a round of mini tinis. Menu highlights include tuna ribbons with wild baby fennel and salsa verde, steak Diane with pommes puree, and a strawberry tiramisu to finish. Since Mother of Pearl is part of the multi-level nightclub and restaurant space Level 8 in Downtown Los Angeles, your night doesn’t need to end with dinner.

When and How: Reserve via OpenTable for Friday, Feb. 13, beginning at 5 p.m. 

Afternoon tea

Visit the iconic Culver Hotel in Culver City for a one-day-only Galentine’s Tea that will give you a reason to feel your best. The experience includes artisanal tea, finger sandwiches, and heart-shaped sweets along with bite-sized petit fours. Dress to impress as a festive ensemble will earn you a complimentary glass of pink bubbly. The entire tea time will be accompanied by live music.

When and How: Galentine’s tea is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. Reserve on OpenTable. The cost is $75 per person.
 

Après Surf Lounge

You get your own personal firepit at Viceroy Santa Monica

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Courtesy Viceroy Santa Monica

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Gather up to six of your girls for a poolside cabana with everything you need for a fun celebration. A night out at the Après Surf Lounge at the Viceroy Santa Monica includes a curated cheese board, tabletop s’mores, and a bottle of something sparkling. There are also table topic cards and a build-your-own bouquet activity to keep things festive while you share laughs around your personal fire pit.

When and How: Galentine’s Day cabanas are available on both Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, beginning at $230 for up to 6 guests. Reserve on their website.

Line Dancing with your Ladies

The Galentine's Day Bootloose event happens on Feb 13

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Courtesy Desert 5 Spot

)

There’s nothing like line dancing to spark a night of liveliness between friends. On Friday, Feb. 13, Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood is hosting a Galentine’s Day Bootloose with free line dancing lessons led by Mike & Diana. They’re also extending Desert Hour drink specials until 9 p.m., which includes $6 beer and wine, $9 cocktails, and 2-for-one $10 tacos.

When and How: RSVP for your Friday, Feb. 13 bootloose on the hour beginning at 7 p.m. here. RSVPs aren’t necessary if you won’t be line dancing, but Galentine’s Day is not about putting baby in the corner. Let your inner cowgirl roam free!

It’s no secret that childcare is expensive — and unaffordable — for many families. In L.A. County, costs for childcare take up, on average, nearly 20% of a family’s household income.

But in papers published last week, researchers at the University of California and Stanford say a solution is possible — and that a universal childcare system can be implemented in California, the most populous state in the country.

“It is not easy to fix the childcare market. It requires investments of resources … but it is feasible,” said Neale Mahoney, a professor of economics and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. “I'm optimistic that if we focus on this issue, then we can take big strides.”

Last year, New Mexico became the first state to offer universal childcare, and local jurisdictions like San Francisco and Alameda County have moved to infuse money into their childcare systems.

Economists at Stanford estimate it would cost the state between $12 to $21 billion a year to implement a universal childcare system for children 3 and under. The researchers say the investment could lead to 100,000 mothers joining the workforce, which could create up to $23 billion in GDP for the state.

“What happens fairly immediately from a program that provides more robust childcare coverage is that you have more parents working in particular, you have more moms able to work, and of course, that contributes right back to the economy in the form of taxes,” said Chloe Gibbs, a policy fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

Researchers at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley, in a parallel paper, said the current childcare infrastructure needs to be changed to make a universal system possible and made a series of recommendations. That includes combining a confusing system of 14 different funding streams for subsidized child care.

“ It shouldn't be on providers and families to sort through what they're eligible for and the regulations of all of them,” said Jade Jenkins, associator professor of education policy at UC Irvine.

Where will the money come from? 

In New Mexico, the state’s universal childcare program is paid through the state’s sovereign wealth funds supported from oil and gas revenues. While California doesn’t have that sort of dedicated funding stream, Gibbs says there are other options.

Gibbs said some states have used lottery funds for childcare, or implemented so-called “sin taxes” — taxes on products like cigarettes or alcohol, while others have also created endowment funds. “Then of course, there’s the redeployment of dollars that are currently spent on other things,” she said.

Currently, the state has set aside $7.5 billion for subsidized childcare in the proposed budget, including more than $5 billion from the state’s general fund. That amounts to about 2% of the state’s budget.

Learn more about the child care system

• California's childcare sector is already fragile. Can it survive the next natural disaster? Preschools have been closing in L.A. County. There also are not enough childcare providers, and those who are in business are chronically underpaid.
• San Francisco gave child care workers a massive raise. Is it a model for LA? Three years after the city's pay plan launched, those involved say it's been transformative. Some educators said the additional pay is keeping them in their jobs, and making a future in the profession viable.
• New Mexico will be the first state to offer universal child care. What could that mean for California? New Mexico has been offering free childcare for families who make up to 400% of the federal poverty level, and starting in November, it removed the income eligibility requirements — making the program universal for families.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an $843 million homelessness spending plan that includes nearly $200 million in reductions to programs and services in the next budget year.

Among those programs is Pathway Home, which helps move people from encampments into temporary housing. The county reduced funding for that program by $92 million, which will shrink it from 20 project sites to seven, officials said.

Supervisors also approved $105 million in reductions to other programs, including large cuts to street outreach teams, homelessness prevention programs and other supportive services.

County officials said they had to reduce spending in order to cover the rising costs of operating shelter beds and the loss of tens of millions in temporary state and federal funding, including some COVID-19 relief dollars.

“With federal neglect and state cuts, we have to do more with less,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told LAist. “And we will.”

The county’s new Department of Homeless Services and Housing has been warning about the looming shortfall since July. County officials solicited input on how to fill an initial $303 million gap.

Since then, the department adjusted the county’s homelessness spending plan, after finding some one-time state grants and cost-saving measures.

The budget year starts July 1.

Some funding restored

Last month, local homeless service providers urged county officials to restore all of the more than $200 million in proposed reductions to programs and services. Some supervisors raised concerns about specific cuts.

Since then, new revenue projections show the county stands to bring in $21 million more through Measure A than originally anticipated.

Measure A is a sales tax ordinance, approved by L.A. County voters in 2024, that funds homeless services and affordable housing initiatives. It is expected to generate about $1 billion annually, but exact revenues fluctuate with consumer spending.

The county’s slightly rosier revenue projections allowed the homeless department to roll back a fraction of the proposed reductions.

“It’s not a windfall and it doesn’t solve every challenge, but it does give us the ability to restore important programs that were on the chopping block,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said.

The board voted to use much of that $21 million to restore funding for two dozen full-time outreach workers and about 100 shelter beds that were previously on the chopping block.

The plan approved Tuesday also calls for $5 million in Measure A revenue to partially restore funding for interim housing in Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale. It restored more than $1 million to operate family solution centers — hubs to connect unhoused families with services — and about $500,000 for a program that helps military veterans access government benefits.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell said she wishes Pathway Home funding could be maintained. She said it’s been crucial for helping people living in RV encampments in her district, which spans from Koreatown to much of the South Bay.

"These restorations don't expand encampment resolution operations,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “The services with the greatest impact in the Second District remain reduced, and the current plan does not replace what was cut."

County homelessness officials told supervisors the 100 shelter beds they saved will be prioritized for people living in encampments and will help make up for cuts to Pathway Home.

"The reduction to Pathway Home is not a reduced commitment to encampment resolution,” L.A. County Department of Homeless Services and Housing director Sarah Mahin said Tuesday. “It’s a recognition that it was built on one-time funding and we need to expand strategies to include more cost-effective resolution solutions."

New oversight push

The supervisors also voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a new motion focused on accountability in homeless service contracting. The motion by Horvath and Kathryn Barger directs the homelessness department to work with the county auditor-controller to create strict oversight procedures for contracts, including random site visits, performance monitoring and provisions for termination.

They said the goal is to prevent the mismanagement that has plagued the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the fraud that has resulted in recent arrests. Last month, federal authorities arrested Alex Soofer, director of a nonprofit called Abundant Blessings, on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions in dollars meant to serve unhoused Angelenos. Soofer pleaded not guilty to the charges this week.

"Public dollars intended to address homelessness have gone unaccounted for under LAHSA," Horvath said. “That is unacceptable and it ends now with the county.”

Last year, the board voted to divert more than $300 million in county homelessness dollars away from LAHSA and administer the funds itself with a new homelessness department.

“As the department launches, every contract, every dollar, and every outcome must withstand scrutiny,” Horvath told LAist in a statement. “We don’t have resources to waste or time to lose in addressing the homelessness crisis.”

Barger described instances of fraud within the homeless services sector as “moral failures” that cannot be tolerated.

“They represent theft from the most vulnerable people in our community,” she said.

She also argued that ethical service providers “should not have their reputations destroyed by the criminal actions of a few bad actors.”

Barger told fellow supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting it’s their responsibility to monitor how county homelessness dollars are being spent — and to defund programs that aren’t generating results.

“Setting the budget is the easy part,” Barger said. “We have to see results. And if we don’t, we have to have a debate at this board: is that the best use of these resources?”

The department must report back to the board in 60 days with their full plan for monitoring contractors and preventing fraud and misuse of public funds.

Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez told supervisors his office would submit a plan to county homelessness officials Tuesday.