Pacific Palisades residents frustrated over long lines, process to return home after wildfire
LOS ANGELES - Some residents in Pacific Palisades say they waited in line for more than two hours Tuesday to obtain an orange placard needed to visit their home.
"I think the line, when we first got in it, was maybe a mile and a half long, but it kept moving," said Chris Torgerson.
Officials have an ID check system in place to try and prevent burglars and possible looting. Some residents say they appreciate the extra security, while others call it frustrating.
"I feel it’s worth it, because I haven’t been back since the fire in maybe two or three weeks," said one resident.
"I’m not sure why this orange pass thing," said a second resident. "All I need to do is show my driver’s license. It has my address on it. It’s a real California ID. That should be enough."
In addition to access, officials have created a system for residents to start thinking about the debris removal process. Residents can now fill-out right of entry permit forms that would allow county-sponsored workers on private property for debris removal or not.
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"They are reacting, but they have no plan," said James Borow. "There’s no way they sent this PDF out, put this online and said, people can actually go ahead and do this easily."
Borow shared video with FOX 11 of what’s left of his home in Pacific Palisades. Officials have him, and his neighbors, working by street blocks to fill-out the right of entry forms.
"All we’re trying to do is basically get in line for the city to come and clear the debris," said Borow. "When I opened up the form, it’s an 18-page PDF [and] it requires a sketch of your house. My house is rubble. There’s language in there that says you may not be able to opt out. No one has any idea what the hell is going on."
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Within 24 hours of expressing his frustrations on X, and tagging LA Mayor Karen Bass, the City released a new system on Tuesday that can be filled out completely online. On the website they say it should take "approximately 15 minutes".
"Everyone is sort of paralyzed," said Borow. "People were basically starting to mobilize, to start and actually fill out this stuff. Now, everyone has paused and said, we need to figure out what’s really going on here."