Property owners can learn more at the L.A. Sentinel Wildfire Recovery & Rebuild Conference.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger is urging Eaton fire survivors to be cautious when approached with offers to sell their property, warning residents to avoid selling too quickly or accepting low-ball offers.
“There are predatory buyers out there looking to take advantage of vulnerable fire survivors and pitching low-ball offers,” said Barger.
“I strongly encourage my Altadena constituents to resist the temptation to sell their property for less than what it’s truly worth. Recovery is very challenging, but there are resources available to help residents stay afloat. FEMA continues to offer grants for wildfire survivors, and the U.S. Small Business Administration is providing low-interest loans to help individuals and businesses recover. Those resources are available now and our County will continue to corral and promote additional support resources. I don’t want anyone to lose hope.”
“This is the exact reason we are hosting this Wildfire Recovery & Rebuild Conference on Saturday, March 29,” said Bakewell Media President and Sentinel Executive Editor Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
“We want to empower and inform Altadena residents on what are the best options and avenues to go even if they decide to sell.”
The free conference, hosted by the Los Angeles Sentinel, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Hilton Pasadena, 168 South Robles Ave., in Pasadena. Attendees can register at www.lasentinel.net or click on the QR code on page A-5.
The conference agenda include reasons to opt in to both Phase 1 and Phase 2 residential debris removal, insurance coverage options and the process for maximizing homeowner claims, and banking opportunities concerning mortgages, construction loans, and other financing resources. Information will also be available on hiring an architect and general contractor and building an ADU on your property.
“In addition, this conference will detail the steps to enhance and how avoid issues with property taxes, assist in understanding your legal rights and the opportunities and pitfalls of lawsuits, and offer guidance on timelines to apply to the rebuilding process,” explained Bakewell.
“We understand the issues that are directly facing people and families that have impacted by these fires. We are intentional about what and how we are putting together this event to inform our community about their options and rights. I cannot thank enough those corporations and people who have stepped up in support of these efforts to ensure that this is the most comprehensive and informative conference about how to recover and rebuild,” he noted.
Conference sponsors include Airbnb, Bank of America, BMO Bank, Brotherhood Crusade, Chase Bank, City National Bank, Community Build, Law Firm: Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell & Diggs, Los Angeles Urban League, SEIU 721, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Torrey Pines Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank. Partners include The Bakewell Company, Los Angeles Sentinel, CBS2/KCAL9, 94.7 The WAVE, Mothers in Action, 102.3 KJLH, John Langston Bar Association, Pasadena NAACP, and the Pasadena Chapter Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi.
Also, residents are encouraged to visit recovery.lacounty.gov for more information on available resources and support.
In addition, FEMA continues to offer grants for wildfire survivors, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest loans to help individuals and businesses recover. Both FEMA and SBA resources are available until March 31, 2025.
