Erin Stone
covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published April 5, 2025 5:00 AM
Matt Baffert stands in the ruins of his Altadena home that burned down in the Eaton Fire.
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Brian Vernor
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LAist
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Topline:
An Altadena resident and dedicated trail steward now has a two-fold mission — to rebuild his house, and the nearby trails that made it home.
Why it matters: The Eaton Fire not only destroyed thousands of homes, but also miles of beloved trails. For Matt Baffert, co-founder of the nonprofit trail restoration group Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, the trail restoration mission is more personal this time since he also lost his home in the fire.
What's next: The Angeles National Forest has reopened some trails, but it'll likely be a few years before others are open to the public again.
Two months and six days after the Eaton Fire broke out, on the very same day the Army Corps of Engineers came with bulldozers to clear the rubble of his burned down home, Matt Baffert finally got back out on the mountain trails.
“Idlehour Trail…in the upper Eaton Canyon,” he said. “For lack of a better word, my second home.”
Baffert works as a construction contractor by day. In his free time, he’s an avid mountain biker and trail steward, repairing trails after wildfires, floods and other mayhem in the Angeles National Forest. In 2019, he co-founded the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, a dedicated nonprofit group of volunteer trail builders and menders.
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After the fire, a volunteer looks to rebuild Eaton canyon trails -- and his Altadena home
Erik Hillard, CFO of Lowelifes (left) talks with Matt Baffert, CEO of Lowelifes (right) ahead of a trail work day on Mount Wilson in 2023.
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Erin Stone
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LAist
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Baffert and his crew have spent thousands of hours restoring trails in some of the more remote parts of the forest, including three off Mount Wilson that were heavily damaged after the Bobcat Fire and subsequent record rainstorms. That fire was the second-largest in L.A. County history, burning more than 115,000 acres in the Angeles National Forestin 2020.
Baffert’s group, in partnership with the Forest Service, has worked on those trails since. Thanks to their work, several of them are now open, but repairs are ongoing.
Matt Baffert during better days on the trails i the Angeles Forest.
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Brian Vernor
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LAist
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After the Eaton Fire, that volunteer work became more personal than ever. The January wildfire didn’t burn as many acres in the forest as the Bobcat, but it destroyed thousands more homes, including Baffert’s in Altadena, where he and his family lived for about seven years.
Baffert grew up in Long Beach, where he used to surf, but the mountains ended up calling him inland.
“Altadena, for me, is home, and the mountains and the trails are probably the biggest piece of that,” Baffert said.
Now, his mission is two-fold — rebuilding the trails he loves, while rebuilding his own home after fire.
Assessing the damage
On the same day the Army Corps was scheduled to clear the rubble of his home in mid-March, Baffert got the go-ahead from the Forest Service to assess the damage to nearby trails.
Before taking off for the wilderness above, Baffert and a friend and fellow trail steward made a stop.
“ I really wanted to see my property before it was gone,” he said. “I don't know why I was so compelled to do that.”
The view of the upper Idlehour trail in mid-March after the Eaton Fire.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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The drive through Altadena was heart-wrenching, Baffert said. Then came the next blow — to the 5.3-mile Idlehour trail up the mountain. They started their survey up at the Eaton Saddle and the plan was to ride their mountain bikes down from there.
“We had made our way maybe about one mile down the trail and the impact of the damages really started to escalate,” Baffert said. “As you progress down the trail, the after effects of rain and storms on completely burned areas just becomes more exponential.”
As they descended, things didn’t look so good — chaparral charred black; formerly lush, tree-shaded canyons now sparse; trails washed out from the recent storms.
Fellow Lowelifes volunteer and friend Eric Melanson surveys damage in the "Harvard Branch" area of Eaton Canyon.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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But there were pockets of hope.
“A moment of relief washed over me seeing green on the second half of Tom Sloane all the way to the saddle,” Baffert wrote in a web post of his post-fire observations on the group’s website. “Within the green are beautiful rock staircases built by the recently passed away volunteer and master mason, the legendary Dave Baumgartner.”
Despite the heartaches, Baffert also felt a sense of catharsis of finally knowing exactly how bad it all was. Baffert said he could now plan how to rebuild the trails — and his house.
Rebuilding home
Baffert said it’ll probably be at least three years before Idlehour and other heavily damaged trails reopen to the public.
A charred landscape in the upper Idlehour trail.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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Signs of regrowth as native Humboldt lilies peak out of ashy dirt in mid-March.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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“There's still cleansing that needs to take place, more erosion that's gonna take place,” Baffert told LAist. “Like we saw with the Bobcat Fire, eventually things start to stabilize. Chaparral starts to grow in. Roots start to bed into the hillsides. Eventually, you start to see things starting to hold.”
The aftermath of the Eaton Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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Once vegetation like chaparral takes hold, Baffert said they can start repairing the trails in earnest.
“It'll always look different, but you'll build a new relationship with the land, and then you'll realize that you kind of love it just as much as you did before,” Baffert said.
Even though things will never be exactly the same, Baffert said he’ll do everything he can to regain that old sense of home.
“Altadena’s forever changed,” Baffert said. “But everybody just kind of wants what they had before. So working towards that, like rebuilding my home and rebuilding Idlehour, I think of them collectively. It's a mission and I must do it.”
Before and after the Eaton Fire on the Idlehour trail.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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After the Eaton Fire on the Idlehour trail.
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Courtesy of Matt Baffert
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How to help
Baffert said Lowelifes always welcomes new volunteers. You can keep up with their post Eaton Fire efforts and sign up to volunteer here.
There are also other trail steward groups in the region, including:
And remember, if you do visit the forest, tread lightly and stay on the trails — the land still needs time to heal, and higher traffic on trails after fires is one reason trails and landscapes can face further damage.
The USS Iowa approaches the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
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CindiK.
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via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
)
Topline:
Starting Saturday, Nov. 7, the 63-year-old Vincent Thomas Bridge will shut down until at least March 2028 for major construction. Workers will replace its deck, which has become “severely deteriorated” from thousands of vehicles driving across it daily.
Why now: Caltrans began forming this plan after a 2021 inspection found that the bridge deck condition had dropped from “fair” to “poor” in part because of heavy truck traffic from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That ultimately led to the $750 million bridge deck replacement project, which will also replace the center median, railing, fencing and install new seismic sensors and utilities on the bridge.
Detour: Caltrans’ official detour recommends that drivers from San Pedro use the 110 Freeway to access Harry Bridges Boulevard, then take the 47 Freeway at Henry Ford Boulevard or the 710 Freeway.
Read on . . . for more on the impact on local residents and businesses.
Starting Saturday, Nov. 7, the 63-year-old Vincent Thomas Bridge will shut down until at least March 2028 for major construction. Workers will replace its deck, which has become “severely deteriorated” from thousands of vehicles driving across it daily.
The Vincent Thomas, which connects San Pedro to Terminal Island, is the state’s fourth-longest suspension bridge. It handles an estimated 53,000 vehicles — including 4,600 heavy trucks — each day.
The bridge is often the quickest route between San Pedro and Long Beach. Detours along Anaheim Street or Pacific Coast Highway could double many people’s commute times.
Tate Allen and his San Pedro neighbors have begun referring to the closure as “Harborgeddon.”
The Vincent Thomas Bridge will close to traffic starting Saturday, Nov. 7 in San Pedro, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.Allen, with help from Claude AI, even put together a website bearing that name that has a countdown clock and a map of suggested detours.
Caltrans’ official detour recommends that drivers from San Pedro use the 110 Freeway to access Harry Bridges Boulevard, then take the 47 Freeway at Henry Ford Boulevard or the 710 Freeway.
That’s likely the route most truck drivers entering and exiting the Port of Long Beach will take, Allen said, and commute times could vary widely depending on the time of day.
He currently travels from San Pedro to his downtown Long Beach office three days a week. Once the bridge closes, his 15-minute drive will likely take 30-45 minutes, Allen estimated.
Ahead of the bridge closure, Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents District 15 including San Pedro and Wilmington, pushed for road improvements along the detours to prepare them for increased traffic.
In Wilmington, those efforts included “slurry sealing along Alameda Street and Harry Bridges Boulevard, with concrete repairs in some locations,” Sophie Gilchrist, the councilmember’s spokesperson, wrote in a statement.
McOsker is also asking the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to monitor traffic on Anaheim Street after the bridge closes and identify short-term and long-term fixes “if problems arise,” Gilchrist wrote.
Why is this happening now?
Caltrans began forming this plan after a 2021 inspection found that the bridge deck condition had dropped from “fair” to “poor” in part because of heavy truck traffic from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
That ultimately led to the $750 million bridge deck replacement project, which will also replace the center median, railing, fencing and install new seismic sensors and utilities on the bridge.
Caltrans officials say a full bridge closure was the most palatable of several unsavory options. Plans to just close the bridge at night would have stretched construction to 48 months. A mix of weekend and overnight closures to keep one lane open ranged between 25 and 32 months.
What does this mean for locals?
Business owners in San Pedro are worried that lengthy detours will frustrate potential customers and lead to a dip in sales.
Stephanie Crawford, who has owned Creative Pet Supply in San Pedro for the past 26 years, said construction on the 47 Freeway off-ramp just up the road from her business has already hurt.
Lately, she’s had “quite a few” customers from Long Beach asking how they’ll be able to visit her store once the bridge shuts down.
She’s been telling customers: “We’ll still be open, if you can get to us.”
The Vincent Thomas Bridge will be closed for repairs for over a year, starting Saturday, Nov. 7, in San Pedro, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.The closure might also be a headache for the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro, which is just finishing up renovations of its own, albeit at an inopportune time, said Liz Schindler Johnson, executive director of the Grand Vision Foundation – a nonprofit arts organization that markets the theater’s events.
On average, roughly 10-15% of their audience comes from Long Beach, Schindler Johnson said. She’s hoping they won’t be put off by the longer drive, especially because the shows primarily take place on weekends.
Two of her eight employees typically commute over the bridge to their San Pedro office and are bracing for added drive time, she said.
“We don’t want to go back to remote work if we can help it,” Schindler Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Allen is trying to stay positive. The longer drive, he said, will give him an excuse to catch up on audiobooks and check out a new grocery store — the Northgate Market along Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington.
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.
Topline:
Construction of the green metal fence around MacArthur Park will begin Monday, Nov. 16, with work scheduled to continue through fall 2027.
What to expect: The city announced the start date Nov. 4, saying crews will install an 8-foot fence around the park’s perimeter. Nearby residents and businesses can expect some noise, dust and vibration during construction, although the city said mitigation measures will be in place. Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the park will remain open while crews are working.
Construction of the green metal fence around MacArthur Park will begin Monday, Nov. 16, with work scheduled to continue through fall 2027.
The city announced the start date Nov. 4, saying crews will install an 8-foot fence around the park’s perimeter. Nearby residents and businesses can expect some noise, dust and vibration during construction, although the city said mitigation measures will be in place.
Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the park will remain open while crews are working.
Some say they hope the fence will make the park safer, while others question whether it will actually improve conditions there. Police and city officials say the fence will give them more control over the space and make it easier to enforce the law.
Ana Luz Vazquez, a street vendor near MacArthur Park, said her main concern about the fence is what will happen to the unhoused people who stay in the park throughout the day and whether the city plans to address that issue directly.
She is also concerned that construction during the day could affect her ability to work because of traffic, less parking availability and loud noise.
Vazquez said she would prefer construction to take place at night so it would have less of an impact on street vendors.
“If they’re working in the day then how are we supposed to come here and who is going to help us survive,” Vazquez said.
Construction will happen in two phases
Phase 1
Alvarado St. from W. 6th St. to Wilshire Blvd.
S. Park View St. from Wilshire Blvd. to W. 6th St.
Wilshire Blvd. from Alvarado St. to S. Park View St.
Phase 2
Alvarado St. from Wilshire Blvd. to W. 7th St.
S. Park View St. from W. 7th St. to Wilshire Blvd.
Wilshire Blvd. from S. Park View St. to Alvarado St.
W. 7th St. from Alvarado St. to S. Park View St.
Existing trees will be protected and monitored during the work, according to the Department of Recreation and Parks. Traffic control measures will be in place during work hours, and crews will post temporary “No Parking” signs near active work areas in advance.
Services at the park are expected to remain the same throughout construction. The schedule could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances, according to the city.
The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.
After the fence is installed, the city plans a second phase focused on adding decorative elements. Officials have said residents will have an opportunity to provide input on the design.
Residents with questions or concerns about the project can contact Recreation and Parks at RAP.PublicInfo@lacity.org or (213) 202-2700.
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How it compares: Palmdale and Lancaster have even higher sales taxes. Those cities charge 11.75% sales tax. Those are the highest in L.A. County and the nation.
Read on… to see the list of sales taxes for other L.A. County cities.
The city of L.A.'s current sales tax is 10.25%. But after the region’s stretched firefighting services became visible during the devastating 2025 fires, voters solidly approved Measure FD this week, increasing the rate to 10.75%.
How and when the increase will trickle down to you
L.A.'s sales tax will go up to 10.75% after the passing of measure FD.
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Julia Kozlov
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Getty Images
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It’s likely you won’t start paying the additional sales tax until spring. The exact date is difficult to predict: The measure says the tax will be collected on “the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than one hundred ten (110) days after the adoption of this Ordinance” by the L.A. City Council. The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder has until Dec. 3 to certify county elections.
Until then, the City of L.A.’s 10.25% sales tax won’t change. Then it will go up to 10.75%.
A $1,000 laptop, for example, would carry $102.50 in sales tax. But the sales tax increase would raise that sales tax by $5 on that computer.
Under state law, the municipal sales tax will be charged on merchandise such as furniture, giftware, toys, antiques, clothing and restaurant food.
Grocery food and medicine are exempt, however.
How L.A.’s increased sales tax compares to elsewhere
Highest:
11.75%: Palmdale and Lancaster (highest in the nation)
11.5%: Santa Fe Springs
11.25%: Azusa, Bell Gardens, Calabasas, City of Commerce, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Gardena, Glendora, Irwindale, Lynwood, Pico Rivera, San Marino, South Gate, Santa Monica
10.25%: Bell, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Cerritos, City of Industry, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Maywood, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, Santa Clarita, Walnut, West Covina, Westlake Village
Lowest:
7.75%: Tustin, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano
7.25%: Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo
Outside of California:
10.4%: Seattle
10.5% : Chicago
8.25%: Dallas
8.875%: New York City
Next time you get sticker shock after you swipe your card or phone to pay for something, remember that cities turn around and use that money to pay for water, trash collection, police and emergency services with that money.
Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published November 6, 2026 5:00 AM
File photo: The Mariposa pedestrian bridge damaged by a landslide in San Clemente.
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Orange County Transportation Authority
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Topline:
The California Coastal Commission voted Thursday to allow transportation authorities to build a quarter-mile-long seawall to protect the coastal railroad in Orange County from rising sea levels and erosion.
Why it matters: Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, whose district includes the stricken area, hailed the decision as “a major milestone to save our critical coastal rail corridor and restore San Clemente’s iconic beaches following decades of erosion and inaction."
Read on ... for more on what comes next.
The California Coastal Commission voted Thursday to allow transportation authorities to build a quarter-mile-long seawall just south of San Clemente State Beach to protect the coastal railroad from rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The plan also includes a major influx of sand for local beaches.
Why this matters
The tracks that carry passengers on the Pacific Surfliner between Orange County and San Diego have shut down frequently in recent years due to rising sea levels and erosion. Rail authorities have dumped thousands of tons of boulders on the beach to buttress the tracks. Now, they’re hoping a seawall will buy them time to come up with a more permanent solution. Not everyone is happy about the plan. Critics say seawalls cause waves to refract and dig deeper, ultimately stripping away even more sand in the long run.
What else do I need to know?
Environmental groups and local tribal authorities say the emergency work has already ruined the beach. To mitigate the negative effects, authorities will haul in close to 700,000 cubic yards of new sand to San Clemente beaches over the coming year.
What's the official reaction?
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement hailing the decision. “Today’s unanimous approval from the California Coastal Commission marks a major milestone to save our critical coastal rail corridor and restore San Clemente’s iconic beaches following decades of erosion and inaction,” Foley said. “The placement of 690,000 cubic yards of sand represents the region’s largest beach nourishment effort in decades and demonstrates our commitment to long-term coastal resilience."
She added: “Wide sandy beaches provide a natural buffer for our rail corridor while protecting our coastline, expanding public access, and supporting our local economy. Through continued collaboration with our state, regional, and local partners, we will advance lasting solutions that protect our beaches and preserve this vital transportation corridor for future generations.”
