LA Times feature: Civic and business leaders call for new local authority to oversee post-fire rebuilding

In a piece covering the initial recommendations and draft action plans from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery, Ian James writes:

“An independent commission is calling for the creation of new local government authorities to oversee the rebuilding of fire-destroyed neighborhoods in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, with powers to coordinate planning and construction efforts and secure financing from property taxes, state and federal funds and philanthropic organizations. The proposal is one of several preliminary recommendations in a report issued by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery, which was formed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to help inform the recovery efforts.

“‘It’s really critical we provide homeowners and communities all the resources they can get to be able to afford to rebuild,’ said Matt Petersen, the commission’s chair and chief executive of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, which works with startups to promote renewable energy.”