The six-month community listening session launched by the state in the wake of the devastating L.A. wildfires has concluded, offering leaders a detailed look at ongoing resident needs and necessary infrastructure improvements.
The undertaking, part of the Engaged California initiative, sought to gather survivor input on the recovery efforts following the Eaton and Palisades fires earlier this year and garnered some 2,500 responses through the platform between March and August.
Respondents outlined what officials called “remarkable consistency” in their post-wildfire priorities, which included improvements to utility infrastructure, water and communications systems, better access to financial support and information, and help with the permitting process.
“This is democracy in action. Engaged California, as a program, has created a pathway that streamlines the needs of the community and their government. We are able to listen to multiple voices at scale, all at once, then synthesize their input using the latest technology. Now that survivors have shared their priorities, state and local governments will use their responses as a road map to guide recovery efforts in these communities,” Office of Data and Innovation Director Jeffery Marino said in a press release.
In addition to identifying survivor priorities, the initiative also led to the creation of 19 policy actions based on public input. The next steps outlined for state, local and utility partners include undergrounding power lines, upgrading water systems to comply with fire code and firefighting needs, and strengthening emergency communications and warning systems.
On the financial front, government partners are working to secure $3 billion in federal assistance and loans, provide $100 million in mortgage relief from the CalAssist Mortgage Fund and $50 million from the L.A. County Wildfire Relief Fund, while waiving or deferring fees associated with rebuilding.
According to the press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a host of executive orders related to streamlining state requirements around permitting, including faster permit review and AI-powered permit pre-checks, among others.
The full report is available for review here.
The Engaged California platform is also being used to survey state employees to identify potential operational efficiencies and service improvements.
Engaged California Wraps L.A. Fire Listening Session
The survivor listening session that followed the devastating L.A. wildfires earlier this year has come to a close after outlining post-fire priorities and expectations.
