The following letter was sent to FEMA and additional government officials regarding fire-related debris removal at Tahitian Terrace and has been reprinted here with permission from the author.
As a resident of the historic Tahitian Terrace neighborhood of Pacific Palisades—one of the few coastal affordable housing developments in Los Angeles County—I am writing on behalf of my community of 158 households. We seek urgent clarity on the decision-making process surrounding the Palisades fire debris cleanup efforts and the ongoing delay in determining our mobile home park’s eligibility for FEMA assistance.
At the Pali Strong Straight Talk Event on March 30, a FEMA representative confirmed that FEMA has received all of the required paperwork (all Right of Entry forms have been submitted by 158 households and the property owners) and that “it’s with the appropriate individuals to make a decision.” They also stated that while FEMA doesn’t typically assist commercial properties, an exception has been made for condominiums and townhomes.
What is the rationale for including condominiums and townhomes in the cleanup efforts while excluding our mobile home park? What specific criteria is preventing a decision about our community? The delay has left the Tahitian Terrace community in a state of limbo, unable to move forward with rebuilding or planning for the future.
Tahitian Terrace is a rare enclave by the beach, offering an affordable pathway to homeownership in a city where housing costs are increasingly out of reach. Residents of our park include teachers, artists, seniors, firefighters, retired entertainment industry professionals and county workers—many on fixed incomes who’ve lived here for decades.
As a longtime Los Angeles resident, it took me nearly 25 years to find a neighborhood where I could afford to own a home on the Westside of Los Angeles. And my story is especially poignant—I closed escrow the day before my home burned to the ground. I never even received the keys.
The historical significance of Tahitian Terrace cannot be overstated. For over 100 years, this land has provided affordable coastal housing, a rarity in Los Angeles.
Beyond the human impact, neglecting cleanup efforts in this fragile coastal ecosystem could have serious environmental consequences. The Mello Act protects affordable housing in coastal zones, and failing to assist in debris removal would not only displace 158 households but also sets a dangerous precedent for affordable housing protections in California.
FEMA, and all officials involved in this decision, I implore you to do the right thing—fund the cleanup of the most vulnerable among us and provide the support needed to restore our community. Set an example by ensuring swift remediation after one of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history, and allow displaced families to return to manufactured homes quickly.
The waiting is agonizing, and we cannot move forward with our lives until you act. Please include Tahitian Terrace in the debris removal efforts and give us the chance to rebuild our homes and our futures. Thank you very much for all of your efforts and your consideration.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is partnering with other officials to present a virtual town hall on the “post-fire assessment plan,” addressing “soil and water testing,” as well as “next steps,” on Thursday, April 10, beginning at 6 p.m.
“Experts will provide testing results for completed assessments, explain what they mean, and answer your questions on how you can protect your health and community during recovery,” read a flyer about the town hall.
Grateful to read about the new playground coming to the Palisades. We need our community back as soon as possible. I hope they plant more trees, too!
Restaurants
With not all of us in the Palisades every day, it is important for those who are in the area, either having moved back or there for tasks, to visit all of the reopened and reopening restaurants.
Sam Laganà
Congrats to Sam Laganà—our new honorary sheriff! Now, who will be our next honorary mayor??
Thank You
One of the important things to come out of this time is seeing all of the local organizations step up and give back, even when their membership is facing their own set of struggles. Thank you to community organizations like the Park Advisory Board, Pacific Palisades Community Council, Allied Artists and many others. Your work is appreciated.
Bowl
What an opportunity for Pali High students—first to get to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, then to have their graduation ceremony there later this year.
Got something to say? Call 310-454-1321 or email 2cents@palipost.com and get those kudos or concerns off your chest. Names will not be used.
High School Junior Colton Etheridge Aims to Connect Community Members Through the Recently Launched Pali Life Brand
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
One Palisadian is using his recently launched brand to help bring the community closer together—no matter where they are currently residing.
After launching in October 2024, Pali Life founder Colton Etheridge lost his home and inventory in the Palisades fire—but has since been focused on rebuilding the brand, as well as using it to give back through a fire relief initiative.
“Since the fire—I mean, we lost everything,” Etheridge, who lived on Galloway Street, described. “All of our inventory was gone.”
Etheridge said he originally launched the brand, which he began thinking about in summer 2024, to “bring everyone in the Palisades closer together”—a meaning that became even deeper following the Palisades fire.
“The whole reason I started it was because I used to play baseball with a ton of kids in the Palisades,” Etheridge explained. “Once we all grew out of the league, I didn’t really see any of them anymore.”
Then, the Geffen Academy junior said he had seen some of the friends he used to play baseball with last summer, recalling thinking to himself how nice it was to see them and wanting to have something that would reconnect them.
He originally started Pali Life with hats and thermals and hoodies, as well as a couple of pairs of jeans. When the full inventory is available, he now offers a line of men’s and women’s wear, as well as accessories, like socks and hats, with the red and white Pali Life logo. There is an assortment of vintage items available as well.
“The Pali Life has been bringing exceptional style to shoppers far and wide since our founding, and we don’t intend on stopping anytime soon,” read the brand’s website. “Our vision is fast-paced, forward-thinking and fashion-centered at its core, and all of our products reflect these ideals.”
When it comes to women’s wear, Pali Life has a Tower 15 Hoodie, as well as a half-zip jacket. Under men’s wear, there are items like a Wool Plaid Shirt, Waffle Long-Sleeve T, Indigo Jeans and the Fleece Hoodie.
Socks are available in white, black with white accents and white with black accents. There is a Pali Life sticker with the signature logo.
There is an option on the website to join Pali Life’s mailing list, which has the most up to date information about the brand. Community members are also invited to follow along on Instagram, where Etheridge will post where and when he will be popping up in the future.
After losing his inventory in the Palisades fire, Etheridge was introduced by a close friend to someone who “donated a ton of hats.” He also went downtown to make new connections with sellers in the area.
“So far we’ve only had enough time to get hats and hoodies, and we’ve also done some socks as well,” Etheridge said. “So kind of just staying with simple, easily appealing stuff.”
Prior to the fire, Etheridge was present at several events within the community, including Pacific Palisades Farmers Market and Palisades Charter High School’s inaugural Flea Market on October 20, 2024, the event where the brand was originally launched. He also did a pop-up in the Village area across from Cafe Vida in early December 2024.
Now, he operates a booth some weeks at the Brentwood Farmers Market, where he has been able to connect with community members.
“Seeing our friends and neighbors, sharing trials and smiles, is why we are here,” he wrote on March 16 following a market day. “Thank you for coming out to the Brentwood Farmers Market.”
Through Pali Life, Etheridge is raising money for One Voice: a fire relief fund that is dedicated to helping “service workers after the fires” by providing “rent, food and essentials.”
“We know that all of the people that helped make our community as beautiful and as friendly as it was by contributing their working hours to work in our neighborhood are also suffering a loss of income,” Etheridge wrote on the fundraising site. “ … We are grateful to have benefited from the beautiful community of the Palisades and the people who spent their days there. Thank you, One Voice LA, for recognizing this need.”
To date, the brand has raised more than $5,000 for One Voice.
When it comes to the future of Pali Life, Etheridge said he “really just [wants] to bring everyone from the Palisades closer together.”
“I know a lot of people have been dispersed across LA,” Etheridge said, “and I think it’s really powerful to have a brand that will bring everyone in Los Angeles closer.”
Pop-Up Boutique Offers Free Shopping Service to People Impacted by LA Fires
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
With the hope of providing some sense of normalcy to those who have been impacted by the Los Angeles fires, friends Courtney Mizel and Erin Maggio launched Rebuild & Renew—a free pop-up boutique in Santa Monica.
Described as “a collaborative effort led by friends, fashion students, designers, stylists and volunteers,” the boutique invites people impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires to “shop” for new or curated vintage clothing and essentials through the end of April.
Maggio said the inspiration behind Rebuild & Renew came “from a deeply personal place:” Her family lost their home in the Montana fires five years ago, and she witnessed the devastation of losing everything.
“When the fires struck the Palisades and California, I knew I had to act,” Maggio said to the Palisadian-Post. “I rallied my Montana community to donate new and gently used clothing, but I also knew there was only one person I could call who would understand the vision I had: Courtney Mizel.”
Maggio said she had a vision to create something more than a donation drop, but a space for individuals to “shop with dignity and experience a sense of normalcy amid chaos.”
“Courtney not only shared that vision, she brought it to life,” Maggio explained. “From securing a space, to building a team and being hands-on every step of the way in California, she truly spearheaded Rebuild & Renew. This boutique is a reflection of both our shared commitment—and her incredible ability to turn compassion into action.”
Individuals are invited to shop the boutique by appointment only, to ensure privacy and personalized attention. Volunteer stylists are available at the boutique to support individuals and assist them in choosing from its offerings.
To make an appointment, interested individuals need to fill out a “short registration form. After submitting the form,” a team member will review and approve it.
Individuals and families affected by the 2025 Los Angeles fires are eligible to shop. The service is entirely free.
Once approved, individuals can schedule an appointment to visit the Santa Monica boutique. During a single appointment, individuals are able to pick 10 items. Individuals are also able to return once per week, as needed, for additional items.
“When someone arrives at Rebuild & Renew, they’re welcomed with warmth, compassion and genuine care,” Maggio said. “Our team, made up of incredible staff and volunteers, has poured love into every inch of the boutique. We take the time to connect with each individual, learning about their needs, their work, their lives and their stories. We aim to create a deeply personal, joyful and empowering shopping experience. It’s about more than clothing. It’s about being seen, heard and uplifted.”
Of being able to help families and individuals affected by the fires, Maggio said the experience has been “incredibly meaningful.” The generosity has been “overwhelming”—with an abundance of donations being made, from clean beauty products to sunglasses, cookware sets and more.
“It’s not just about providing clothing or essentials,” Maggio said to the Post. “It’s about restoring a sense of joy, confidence and possibility. We’ve seen women use this moment to rediscover their style, take chances with fashion, and feel excited to make dinner plans or go on a date again because they have something that makes them feel good. Watching people from all corners come together with so much heart to support these families has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
For more information, including a link to make an appointment, visit rebuildrenew.org.
Las Madrinas hosted its annual meeting on February 12 at Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, celebrating the “organization’s continued commitment to philanthropy, community impact and the dedicated individuals who help drive” its mission forward. The organization, which was established in 1933, marked the first affiliate group of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Pictured right are Sheridan Russell Link (president of Las Madrinas) who presented Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt (Las Madrinas chair and division chief in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics) and Bonnie Blackman McClure (chair of the Associates and Affiliates of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles) with a $1.4 million contribution to the Las Madrinas Endowment and Chair in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics on behalf of the members of Las Madrinas: “The sizeable gift resulted from a year in which 26 families were honored at the 2024 Las Madrinas Ball,” read a statement.
Julia Hampson Lang of Pacific Palisades was introduced as one of the organization’s “newest members,” who are pictured above.
Photos courtesy of Las Madrinas
The Music Center named 113 high school students in Southern California as semifinalists in its 37th annual Spotlight Program, including Joshua Ho (classical instrumental, Palisades Charter High School), Aria Kamei-Oser (ballet, Pali High Virtual Academy) and Palisadian Bianca Iker (classical voice, Pacifica Christian High School).
The “nationally recognized arts learning program and competition” offers $100,000 in scholarships for “aspiring artists with performance opportunities and invaluable professional feedback,” according to a statement.
This year, more than 1,600 teens from 269 schools in 174 cities and eight counties auditioned.
Each semifinalist will receive $500. The Grand Prize Finalists, who will receive $5,000 scholarships, are set to perform in The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale on Friday, June 6, at 8 p.m. at Ahmanson Theatre.
Joshua Ho Photos courtesy of The Music CenterAria Kamei-OserBianca Iker
Palisades Village, pictured January 8 Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Palisades Village is eyeing an early 2026 reopening, a Caruso spokesperson confirmed on April 4.
“We are working to reopen Palisades Village in early 2026,” the Caruso spokesperson told the Palisadian-Post, “and will open only when the area is safe for our tenants, employees and guests.”
Speaking with ABC7’s Josh Haskell during an on-site interview on April 1, Rick Caruso reported they were waiting until the area surrounding Palisades Village gets cleaned so that “it’s safe” and “the streets are fully reopened again.”
“While Palisades Village remains temporarily closed for restoration, you can continue to support your favorite shops, restaurants and neighborhood businesses through our shopping and dining directory, which includes exclusive offers and ways to stay connected,” the Palisades Village website read.
Plans before reopening include going into all of the spaces, including the businesses and restaurants, and “completely redoing them” before reopening: “Everything’s going to be fresh and new and ready to go, so we need some time to do that, but the plan is the beginning of the year,” Caruso told Haskell.
The development remained largely undamaged by the fire, aided by private firefighters, water tenders that were brought in and fire-resistant material used to build it. Caruso told Haskell that they protected their property and “freed up LA fire resources to go protect other properties.” He also said they loaned equipment to first responders when needed.
“We’re very much a part of the community,” Caruso said to Haskell. “It was the smart decision to do.”
On the CAL FIRE Palisades Fire Damage Inspection Status map, the inspections of Palisades Village’s 40-plus units were broken up into nine sections: three of which sustained “no damage.” Five were listed as “affected,” meaning they were damaged 1-9%, while one received “minor” damage (10-25%).
The development first opened in September 2018. At the time of the Palisades fire, its list of tenants included Saint Laurent, Netflix’s Bay Theater, Erewhon, lululemon, Bonjour Fête, Porta Via Palisades and others.
Party supply shop Bonjour Fête—one of the original tenants to open within Palisades Village—Founder Rachel Huntington shared her experience of returning to the storefront for the first time after the fire on social media.
“The emotions were overwhelming—grief, relief, gratitude and guilt all mingled together as we saw our business amidst the surrounding devastation,” she wrote, detailing that there was “ash and soot” coating the walls, shelves and products, “making it unsafe to salvage anything.”
City National Bank, which is located within Palisades Village, confirmed with the Post on March 11 the branch sustained “smoke and water damage, which will need to be addressed before it can reopen,” on a timeline that will be worked out with Caruso.
Haskell reported that Caruso believes a few tenants will not return to Palisades Village, but that the majority will.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to reopen Palisades Village with the same promise we made from the start—to be a gathering place for this resilient and beloved community,” the website concluded. “We look forward to welcoming you back.”
Claire Buchanan-Gaughan at the Via De La Paz showroom in 2022 Photo by Rich Schmitt
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
After losing her showroom on Via De La Paz, Claire Buchanan-Gaughan wants to let the community know: Floorish is open for business.
“We are busy meeting customers and doing measures for repair work,” Buchanan-Gaughan described. “I have the use of a local showroom on Lincoln Boulevard where I am meeting customers to show a great selection of carpet, rug, hardwood and vinyl samples.”
Buchanan-Gaughan is “readily available” to meet customers at the showroom for projects.
“We are carrying out multiple services: sanding and refinishing wood floors, recarpeting rooms, fabricating custom rugs and runners, installing new hardwood, laminates and vinyl floors, as well as fabricating custom drapes,” Buchanan-Gaughan said. “For a couple of weeks, my phone rang non-stop once homeowners had met with insurance adjusters, however, I feel things have now slowed down, so it is important to let residents know I am still here and able—and most of all wanting—to help them as they move forward.”
Three of the projects Buchanan-Gaughan is currently working on are homes on Piedra Morada where she is replacing “smoke-damaged carpets.” For one of the projects, she is creating a custom work, which she described as “replicating a carpet the homeowner saw in the Ritz Carlton in Paris.”
“Next week I begin a large sand and refinish job,” Buchanan-Gaughan said, “for another I am shipping hardwood floors for a family who is moving back east. Alongside flooring, we are fabricating custom drapes and stair runners.”
Looking to the future, Buchanan-Gaughan said it is difficult to know how long before physical rebuilding can begin, which “impacts how residents and businesses can begin planning for returning to the Palisades.”
“For now, my contribution to the rebuilding is centered on helping residents move back to their homes, or settling into their temporary accommodations or new properties,” Buchanan-Gaughan described. “I have been exploring alternative, temporary locations to commence business, not too far from the Palisades, with the plan to return to the village and work with the community as they create the new Palisades.”
The family-owned showroom, located at 874 Via De La Paz, was destroyed by the Palisades fire. British-born Buchanan-Gaughan has been at the helm of the business, which has roots that date back decades in the Palisades, since she took over from original owner Bob Byrne in 2008.
Buchanan-Gaughan grew up in England, where her father had a carpet store. Amassing more than 50 years of experience in the flooring industry, Byrne approached Buchanan-Gaughan’s father when he planned to retire, leading to her taking over the business.
She revamped and renamed the space from Carpets West to Floorish in 2022 to reflect the range of products the store offers, which includes hardwood, floor tiles and drapery, as well as soft flooring like rugs and stair runners.
“Immediately following the fire, I was busy trying to cancel orders for customers who had lost their homes,” Buchanan-Gaughan described, “as well as ensure those who were still housed could decide how they were going to proceed with planned installations.”
At the same time, she was completing her own “mountain of paperwork,” making calls to “sort out [her] own situation.”
“I then took a short break to find out where the Palisades’ community, including my customers, had dispersed,” Buchanan-Gaughan said. “As my son attended Pali Elementary, I was able to gather information from parents, plus many past and present customers emailed or texted me.”
She found that “many people” had relocated to places like Santa Barbara or Orange County, while others stayed closer to the Palisades in Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice and Manhattan Beach.
“During this time, I was contacted by other flooring business owners who extended their condolences and also offers of help,” Buchanan-Gaughan said. “Within a very short time, I started to get calls from homeowners whose properties had suffered smoke damage. I reached out to a showroom in Venice asking if she would allow me, temporarily, to meet my customers at her showroom, which is fairly central to where Palisades people were now staying.”
Buchanan-Gaughan said that “without hesitation,” the storeowner gave her the go ahead.
“I am very grateful to her,” Buchanan-Gaughan said, “and luckily, she stocked most of the product samples I had displayed on Via De La Paz, plus some items I did not show. My customers have had no hesitation in meeting me in Venice.”
One customer—who recently moved into an apartment in Culver City—called Buchanan-Gaughan to ask if Floorish was still in business. When they met at the showroom, Buchanan-Gaughan said she could “immediately” see the customer was “feeling down and maybe a little lost.” She said they exchanged stories of what they went through on January 7.
“As she was about to leave, she stopped and turned around, walked back over to me and asked if she could give me a hug,” Buchanan-Gaughan recalled. “We hugged for quite a while and afterward both said, ‘That felt good.’ I then realized that no matter how well—or not so well—I know a Palisades customer, we now have a strong connection through our shared stories, even if it is one of tragedy.”
Since the fire, Buchanan-Gaughan said she has also been in touch with a number of “new customers.”
“Yes, a lot … have been referred by their neighbors who I have worked with, but when I learn that someone I have not met before spends time trying to figure out how to reach me, this is amazing as it would have been easier for them to get in their cars and drive to an operating showroom near where they are situated,” Buchanan-Gaughan said. “This shows me how important it is to people to hold onto the sense of Palisades’ community and to help keep businesses like mine going in the hope we will all return and rebuild.”
Recently, Buchanan-Gaughan completed the installation of seagrass into a condo in Century City.
“This is the fourth home I have worked on for this long-standing customer,” Buchanan-Gaughan said. “Today I received a call from the customer to thank me for rushing the install, and she finished off saying, ‘Claire, I am not just your customer, we are friends.’ Well, that says it all.”
Those who would like to get in touch with Buchanan-Gaughan can text her at 310-497-8046 or call the store at 310-454-0697. More information is available at floorish.store and instagram.com/floorish.store.
Claire and Samantha O’Connor Photo by Reid Anderson
Claire and Samantha O’Connor Speak on Life in the Community Before and Looking Forward
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Real estate agent and principal of O’Connor Estates Claire O’Connor lost both her home and real estate office to the Palisades fire.
She and her sister, Samantha O’Connor, spoke with the Palisadian-Post of their experiences—as victims of the fire and real estate agents looking ahead.
Claire explained that she has lived in Pacific Palisades since 2017, first in Castellammare on Tramonto for three years, then the Alphabet Streets on Kagawa. She was also in the process of building a property in Rivas Canyon.
“We were drawn to the Palisades outdoor lifestyle,” Claire said to the Post. “We didn’t know what to expect at first as we moved from Venice … We love the community feel, and we were so excited to have found an amazing place to start a family when we welcomed our first son in 2021 and our second in 2024.”
Both Claire and Samantha said they loved spending time at the Village and were there multiple times per week. Of the things they enjoyed most, they recalled ordering lunch from Palisades Garden Café, hiking Temescal Canyon and going to Will Rogers State Beach.
“When I lived in Castellammare, I loved traversing the secret stairs and meandering down to the beach below the neighborhood first thing in the morning,” Claire added. “It felt like having a private beach.”
When the fire began on January 7, Claire said she was at a sales meeting at Berkshire Hathaway on Alma Real Drive. At the end of the meeting, she overheard somebody mention a fire by Las Lomas. She said her stomach sunk, thinking of the high wind warnings that had been issued in the days prior.
“No one knew what to do, but when we walked outside and saw the huge smoke plume above the Village, we knew this wasn’t going to be a normal day,” Claire said. “We could never have imagined how the day would unfold.”
Claire recalled returning to her house on Kagawa, grabbing a few items—assuming she and her family wouldn’t be able to return for a few days—and leaving for her parents’ condo in Santa Monica.
“Never in a million years did I think that would be the last time I would leave my house,” Claire said. “I thought a few houses in the hills would burn down. It wasn’t until we turned on the news and I saw the fire next to the Palisades Woman’s Club that I understood that the fire was in the Village.
“I went into shock but when I look back at text messages from that time, I was messaging people that the entire town was about to be wiped out. I barely remember anything from the next 48 hours.”
Claire and her family lost their Palisades home to the fire and have been staying in a rental north of Montana.
“It’s lovely, but it’s not home,” Claire said to the Post. “I always thought North of Montana was a goal neighborhood, but I miss having a downtown to walk to that’s not a major thoroughfare, as well as a park for my kids nearby. Pacific Palisades was a little slice of heaven that I was certainly grateful for at the time, but didn’t realize how incredible it was until it wasn’t there to enjoy anymore.”
Although Claire is dealing with the aftermath of the experience, she said she is committed to rebuilding her home and office, while helping others navigate this difficult time.
“We learned very quickly that everyone deals with crises differently,” Samantha explained. “Some clients wanted to buy something immediately, some wanted to rent, some left the state and some considered all three as an option hourly.
“While it was a rollercoaster of emotions, I had to just meet people where they were at. The leasing market was a total blood bath, so we recommended all our clients to go directly to the listing agent or owner to give them a better shot of winning the home.”
When asked about where Palisadians are currently standing—in terms of returning and rebuilding—Samantha acknowledged the lots hitting the market, but said a majority of their clients and friends are planning to rebuild.
“Claire said it best recently, ‘When you find utopia, you’re going to do everything you can to get back there,’” Samantha said. “Of course, there will be ups and downs with the rebuilding process, but we anticipate a lot of people we know returning to the area. We firmly believe the Palisades will come back and it will be better than ever.”
By continuing to use our site, you understand that we use cookies to improve your experience and collect analytics data. To find out more, read our privacy policy here.
