Governor Newsom and First Partner meet with impacted communities on the road to recovery

What you need to know: Honoring the one-year anniversary of the LA fires, Governor Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom joined members of the Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu communities, spoke with survivors, faith-based organizations, and community advocates to reflect on recovery efforts.

LOS ANGELES - Today, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom met with survivors of the Palisades and Eaton Fires and heard directly about their recovery journeys and ongoing needs.

Recovery is not measured by a date on the calendar. It's measured by students returning to classrooms, families finding stability, and communities coming back together. The Los Angeles community has demonstrated resilience and strength as we continue to work together towards restoring neighborhoods. The state remains committed to standing with survivors every step of the way, not just in moments of crisis, but for the long road of rebuilding that follows.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Today, we continue to honor the resilience of Angelenos who lost so much yet stand strong in their recovery. Throughout this past year, we've witnessed the incredible efforts it takes to rebuild entire communities. Families, educators, first responders, firefighters, local partners, faith leaders, and so many more came together to support neighbors and fight to ensure our communities remain intact despite this year's hardships. That is California love.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

At Palisades Charter High School, the Governor and First Partner viewed areas damaged by the fires, saw rebuilt and restored facilities, and heard directly from educators and facilities staff about the steps taken to ensure a safe, timely return for students and staff. The Governor and First Partner were joined by State Senator Ben Allen, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member for District 4 Nick Melvoin, and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, and Dr. Pam Magee, Executive Director and Principal.

Pali High's return marks an important milestone for the community, underscoring the urgency, and care, being taken to bring students back to their home campus quickly and safely. Following the fire, students were temporarily relocated to Santa Monica while debris was cleared, buildings were cleaned and tested, and portable classrooms were installed to support on-site learning as permanent rebuilding continues.

The visits highlighted the state's ongoing commitment to helping schools recover and rebuild faster - including record-setting debris clearance, expedited permitting through exemptions from CEQA and the Coastal Act for school reconstruction, and continued advocacy for federal disaster recovery funding.

The Governor and First Partners later visited a temporary memorial exhibition curated by the Department of Angels in Los Angeles to meet with survivors of the Palisades and Eaton Fires and hear directly about their recovery journeys and ongoing needs. The visit began with a tour of the immersive memorial space honoring lives, homes, and communities impacted by the fires with visuals, sounds, art, and recorded testimony from survivors.

The exhibit was followed by a roundtable conversation with a group of survivors put together by the Department of Angels representing Palisades and Altadena Fire-affected communities where survivors shared firsthand experiences navigating rebuilding, displacement, insurance challenges, environmental safety concerns, and the toll recovery has taken on mental health and community stability. The Governor and First Partner were joined by U.S Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.

Closing the gaps

The state is closely supporting recovery efforts across Los Angeles and relies on trusted community organizations like the Department of Angels to identify gaps, elevate survivor voices, and inform ongoing improvements. While the state has moved aggressively where it has authority - prioritizing displaced renters for state-supported affordable housing, and expanding forbearance relief and direct mortgage assistance through CalAssist - the largest remaining barrier to recovery is the lack of sufficient federal disaster funding.

California's work to support recovery goes beyond rebuilding structures, from restoring the heart of communities by protecting survivors from predatory buyers, supporting the return of local businesses, schools, and gathering spaces, and expanding mental health support. Through California Health and Human Services, the state is partnering with Los Angeles County to provide free virtual counseling for children, train school staff, and fund mental health and addiction services for survivors.

For more information about the Governor's actions to support LA's recovery, click here. B-roll of the Governor and First Partner's visit is available here.