Supervisor Barger Pushes for Dedicated Rebuilding Authority, Vows No New Taxes for Altadena Homeowners

In a sweeping call for recovery reform, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger advocated for the creation of a dedicated rebuilding authority focused exclusively on Altadena’s restoration, following catastrophic fires that ravaged the area in January 2025. Speaking at the Altadena Community Meeting on July 21, Barger laid out a vision that centers local control, interagency coordination, and cost-conscious rebuilding — all without placing new tax burdens on residents.

Barger described the proposed entity as a centralized agency empowered to oversee reconstruction of critical public infrastructure and streamline rebuilding services.

“Unlike the Blue Ribbon Commission,” she said, “my vision for recovery does not include new taxes or added costs to homeowners.”

While distancing her plan from the commission’s tax proposals, Barger acknowledged that the Blue Ribbon Commission has “supported and adopted this authority idea,” providing crucial momentum for establishing such a body.

She emphasized the unique challenge Altadena faces in securing County support, noting that “County departments serve over 10 million residents.”

Without a dedicated team, Altadena’s recovery could get mired in resource competition, Barger warned.

“That’s why I believe we need dedicated staffing, accountability and resources solely for Altadena’s rebuilding.”

The authority would coordinate with Southern California Edison, Pasadena Water and Power, and three mutual water companies to synchronize restoration of utilities across jurisdictions. Barger called for “real-time coordination” to prevent costly delays and stressed the need to “leverage economies of scale” to reduce infrastructure delivery costs.

Building on existing local models like the Altadena One-Stop Permitting Center — where multiple departments and Edison operate under one roof — Barger argued for scaling up services to handle inspections, permitting, and utility coordination more efficiently.

Other speakers echoed the urgency of streamlined rebuilding. Mitch Glaser, assistant administrator with Los Angeles County Regional Planning, introduced the new eCheck platform, a free artificial intelligence tool for pre-screening building plans to accelerate code compliance.

Kira Barnett of Los Angeles County Public Works detailed the current dashboard metrics showing progress on applications and permit approvals, reinforcing Barger’s call for greater capacity.

Despite speculation surrounding SB 549 — which Barger rejected as a threat to property rights — she urged residents to stay informed and engaged.

“We cannot afford to wait for the federal disaster aid, which may not arrive for some time,” Barger said.