{"id":26839,"date":"2026-01-07T20:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T04:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/palisades-rally-calls-for-stop-to-measure-ula-permit-fees\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T20:19:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T04:19:01","slug":"palisades-rally-calls-for-stop-to-measure-ula-permit-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/palisades-rally-calls-for-stop-to-measure-ula-permit-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"Palisades Rally Calls for Stop to Measure ULA, Permit Fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Residents and business owners gathered Wednesday in the Pacific Palisades as they pointed the finger at local and state officials for bungling the recovery and prevention of last year\u2019s deadly wildfires. Called the \u201cThey Let Us Burn\u201d demonstration, it was held on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton blazes, which damaged or destroyed some 16,000 residential and commercial structures across mostly Altadena, Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu. <\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

While local and state officials have repeatedly pegged the recovery as the fastest in history, many residents and business owners are still grappling with delays in insurance claims, rising construction costs and a web of taxes and fees for rebuilding or selling off their lots. They\u2019re asking their government leaders for accountability in helping complete the recovery.<\/p>\n

The Rally<\/h2>\n

At least one public official was on hand to listen to speakers at the demonstration, with Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park taking to the podium at one point to criticize \u201cbotched evacuations\u201d and \u201cdry hydrants.\u201d \u201cWhat you all are asking for going forward is basic. It is reasonable and we shouldn\u2019t have to beg our government to make this right,\u201d Park, whose district includes the Palisades, told the crowd of hundreds. She earned cheers when she allowed that \u201cof course, your permit fees should be waived,\u201d before criticizing speculators, saying \u201cdevelopers are circling like vultures, looking to profit by adding density.\u201d<\/p>\n

Political Announcement<\/h2>\n

The ire harbored by some could earn reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home to the Palisades Fire, some voter support as he announced his run for mayor of Los Angeles. He confirmed it while at the podium in a shock announcement that will pit \u201cThe Hills\u201d star against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a move that drew cheers from the crowd. \u201cI coped with [the fires] by eating burritos and putting every ounce of energy into uncovering the truth and the dirty facts I\u2019ve uncovered this year will completely blow you away,\u201d Pratt told the crowd. \u201cI used to think my taxpayer dollars funded a functional city and a state government whose infrastructure and essential services would be there when I needed them, but I was completely na\u00efve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prevention and Recovery<\/h2>\n

While many of the speakers focused on what went wrong a year ago, organizers of the demonstration also outlined 10 key moves seen as necessary for future prevention and shepherding a fast-tracked recovery. Some of the imperatives outlined overlap with calls residential agents and brokers made in the weeks after the fires were tamed last year, including a stop on permit fees and temporary moratorium on the Measure United to House L.A. levy, or so-called mansion tax, in the city of Los Angeles. The rally organizers are calling for a five-year \u201cULA holiday\u201d on property sales that would normally be hit by the transfer tax, while those who penned the agent letter asked for an exemption for sellers impacted by the fires.<\/p>\n

Real Estate Impact<\/h2>\n

The ULA tax, which has been a sore spot for residential and commercial real estate since going into effect in the spring of 2023, assesses a 4 percent tax on deals starting at $5.3 million and 5.5 percent on those of $10.6 million or more. Voters passed the tax as a 2022 ballot measure. In October, Bass asked the city council to approve an ordinance giving the finance director power to grant a one-time exemption from Measure ULA to residential property owners impacted by the fires. That was followed up in November with the Ad Hoc Committee for LA Recovery requesting a report in 30 days on the feasibility of such a carveout.<\/p>\n

Agent Perspective<\/h2>\n

Nourmand & Associates\u2019 Rochelle Atlas Maize, a Beverly Hills-based agent who was also at the demonstration, said full suspension of permit fees is the demand she backs the most. \u201cThese homeowners aren\u2019t upgrading or speculating,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are replacing what was lost. Every added fee delays recovery, increases underinsurance risk and pushes families out permanently.\u201d Like Kirman, she also supports the temporary ULA suspension and offered that in an ideal situation, the tax would be permanently waived in any instance of disaster recovery.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The Palisades rally highlights the ongoing struggles of residents and business owners affected by the wildfires. The call for a stop to Measure ULA and permit fees is a key demand, as organizers and attendees seek to hold local and state officials accountable for the slow recovery. As the city moves forward, it is essential to consider the imperatives outlined by the rally organizers and to address the systemic problems that are hindering the recovery process.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n