Resilient Palisades

06/19/2026

Please enjoy today’s newsletter:

Resilient Palisades is proud to march in the upcoming Pacific Palisades Fourth of July Parade. Sign up to help and/or march with us!

06/18/2026

💧 Rebuild Smarter with Water Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems help save water, reduce runoff, lower costs, and create more resilient homes.

Did you know?
A 1,000 sq. ft. roof in LA can capture 6,000+ gallons of rainwater each year.

🌿 Capture rain
🚿 Reuse water
🔥 Support fire-resilient landscaping

Let’s rebuild cleaner, safer, and stronger.

06/12/2026

Today’s Green Tip by SaraGMarti in the Palisadian Post reflects on the “Bittersweet Brush Clearance” that took place over the past week.

Our Removal of Invasive Plants team has noticed significant brush clearance lately along Temescal Canyon Road. It’s bittersweet. For those who are new to our work, our team does not simply “clear brush.” We selectively remove invasive plants while protecting native plants whenever possible. Th...

06/07/2026

I don’t know about you, but WE’RE gonna stuff some Mycowattles this morning! Join us at Temescal and PCH for some cool science 🔬 10am - 12pm

06/05/2026

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with MySafe:LA to talk about Resilient Palisades, our journey since 2019, and how our work has evolved since the fire.

We discussed everything from clean energy, composting, and gas leaf blower replacement to invasive plant removal, bioremediation, sustainable rebuilding, electrification, and our vision for a safer, healthier, more resilient Pacific Palisades.

Most importantly, we talked about community. None of this work happens without the volunteers, partners, donors, and neighbors who continue to show up for one another, even while navigating their own recovery.

Thank you to Cameron Barrett and the Rebuild:LA Podcast team for the opportunity to share our story.

Give it a listen:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2441905/episodes/19250693

What part of rebuilding and recovery are you most hopeful about?

05/31/2026

Yesterday, Resilient Palisades participated in the Pacific Palisades Community Care Day: Wellness, Support & Renewal Resource Fair hosted by the Office of Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. Care.

We had the opportunity to connect with neighbors, share resources, answer questions, and talk about the work being done to support a healthier, more resilient recovery for our community.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table, shared their stories, and continues to show up for Pacific Palisades. Recovery is not something we do alone. It happens through connection, collaboration, and neighbors helping neighbors.

📸 credit: Sue Pascoe

05/28/2026

Excellent Letter to the Editor by our very own Rob Lempert, along with Kathrin Werner, and Maryam Zar in the Palisadian Post

One thing worth remembering: the Marshall Fire happened in December 2021, and years later parts of that community are still rebuilding. As of December 1, 2025, 75% of homes destroyed in that fire had been rebuilt and granted certificates of occupancy.

That does not mean communities should stop pursuing serious long term funding tools. It means they should pursue them early, before rebuilding momentum and future tax revenue disappear into general systems elsewhere.

A Disaster Recovery District may not solve everything, but right now it is one of the only mechanisms being discussed at the scale this recovery may actually require.

Recent discussions around a proposed Disaster Recovery District (DRD) for the Palisades have revealed a growing frustration with the pace of recovery. That frustration is understandable. But some of the criticism aimed at the DRD concept reflects a misunderstanding not only of how these mechanisms w...

05/27/2026

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Environmental Advocate Scholarship recipients: Justin Reinman, Maria Knierim, Brooke Santos, and Mark Schneeman.

These students represent the next generation of environmental leadership, and we are incredibly proud to support their passion, hard work, and commitment to creating a better future with these $1’000 scholarships.

Thank you for using your voices, your time, and your energy to make a difference in your communities and beyond. The future is brighter because of young advocates like you.

Congratulations from all of us at Resilient Palisades.

05/18/2026

🏡 A big opportunity for LA homeowners with a few important caveats:

LADWP’s Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program (LEAP) is being offered as a no-cost yard transformation for qualifying customers.

If you qualify, this can include:
💧 Drought-tolerant native plants
🌱 Smart irrigation (drip systems + controllers)
🌧️ Rain capture features
🌿 Full yard design + installation support

It’s a strong offer, especially if cost or getting started has been a barrier.

But it’s important to understand what this program is actually designed to do.

LEAP is focused on:
• reducing water use
• replacing existing turf
• climate-friendly landscaping

This kind of landscape supports healthier, more hydrated soils and long-term landscape and wildfire resilience.

It is not focused on:
• soil safety
• contamination
• post-fire recovery

And for many Palisades properties right now, this program likely won’t apply.

If your lot is empty, newly cleared, or you’re starting from bare soil, there may be no lawn to replace and no pathway into this program.

LEAP is built for:
✔️ Homes with active LADWP service
✔️ Existing lawns or irrigated yards

It is not designed for:
✖️ Building a landscape from scratch
✖️ Empty or post-fire lots
✖️ Soil remediation or stabilization

And one more thing to keep in mind:

After a fire, soil conditions matter. Planting or digging too soon without testing can spread contamination rather than support recovery.

Test first. Then make a plan that actually fits your site.

💧 Available for eligible LADWP customers

LEAP funds are limited. Customer participation is on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. For more information and to check program eligibility, visit ladwp.com/LEAP.

05/15/2026

Neighbors rebuilding in the Palisades should know that more than $22,000 in rebates may be available for electric equipment and all electric rebuilding, but the programs are not easy to understand.

I wrote this Green Tip for the Palisadian Post to help explain how LADWP’s HOME LA program and the California Electric Homes Program, also called CalEHP, can work together.

The main things to know:

You do not have to fully electrify to qualify for some incentives through LADWP’s HOME LA program.

CalEHP is different. To qualify for that program, the home must be 100% electric, with the gas line capped and no gas appliances, fireplaces, grills, or pool heaters.

Some details have to be planned early, including circuit separation and the right heat pump equipment. Small mistakes can become expensive later.

Resilient Palisades is not the incentive program, but we are trying to help neighbors understand what questions to ask before equipment and plans get locked in.

You can read the full piece here:

Many homeowners are facing various financial gaps including the difference between what insurance covers and what it actually costs to rebuild. More than $22,000 in rebates is available but unfortunately, applying for them is not easy and it is easy to make mistakes. No one needs another maze to wal...