Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is pushing for relief measures aimed at Palisades Fire survivors to support their recovery and expedite the community's rebuilding process. The mayor has advised the City Council to introduce an ordinance that would establish a one-time exemption from Measure ULA, according to an announcement from her office. Once in place, this exemption would help homeowners affected by the Palisades Fire with property transfer tax considerations as they attempt to sell their fire-impacted properties.
Over the course of the past few months, Mayor Bass has taken several executive actions designed to streamline rebuild efforts in the fire-ravaged Palisades. Among these initiatives, an Emergency Executive Order, known as "Return and Rebuild," stands out for having expedited permitting for fire-damaged structures and restoring utilities at a record pace. Bass mentions, "Pacific Palisades rebuilding permits are being approved nearly three times faster than typical single-family home projects before the wildfires," according to a statement released by the Mayor's office.
Under the proposed legislation, a one-time, three-year exemption from Measure ULA would be granted to properties affected by wildfires, with the stated goal of enhancing home sales and construction. Mayor Bass emphasized the necessity of this exemption for the successful revitalization of the Palisades, noting that potential buyers are currently offering below market value for properties due to the costs associated with Measure ULA. This, in turn, has left many residential lots unoccupied and has made the sale of remaining homes more difficult. " Exempting owners of homes, condominiums and other residential housing whose ownership was affected by these devastating wildfires from Measure ULA for a one time exemption over three years will speed up sales of these properties and spur rebuilding and rehabilitation of the Palisades," Bass wrote in a letter to the City Council and the Director of Finance.
The office of Mayor Bass outlined a two-step approach in her correspondence to the City Council. First, she urges the council to delegate authority to the Director of Finance to create rules allowing for a temporary Measure ULA exemption. Following the adoption of said ordinance, Bass intends to issue an executive directive to implement the exemption. "We are on track to lead the fastest disaster recovery in state history because that is what Angelenos deserve," Bass expressed, highlighting the urgency and critical nature of these efforts.
With hundreds of rebuilding plans already approved and multiple emergency executive orders in place, Mayor Bass remains confident in the city's ability to revitalize the Palisades at an unprecedented rate. The official letter to the City Council underscores the importance of the new exemption as part of L.A.’s broader recovery strategy and the commitment to bring relief to the homeowners affected by the January 2025 fires.
