Crimes of the Times: Rebuilding L.A.

A Detailed Episode Summary

Podcast: Crimes of the Times (L.A. Times Studios)
Episode: “Rebuilding L.A.”
Air Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Kate Cagle
Featured Guests: David Goldblum (filmmaker, Malibu fire survivor), Rick Caruso (developer, philanthropist, fire survivor), Mark Dunkelman (author, infrastructure expert)

Overview

This episode of "Crimes of the Times" investigates the aftermath of the devastating January 7th fires that swept through Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, and Altadena, presenting the efforts to rebuild through the lens of those directly impacted. Reporter Kate Cagle interviews survivors, community leaders, and experts to dissect the failures in disaster response, the resilience and organizing among residents, private versus public solutions in disaster relief, and the broader challenges facing L.A.'s infrastructure and communities in an increasingly climate-threatened era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surviving the Fire: The Community’s Response (00:01–08:55)

• David Goldblum’s Firsthand Account:

  • Goldblum recounts the night of the fire—lack of official communication, confusion, and a reliance on improvised channels like WhatsApp groups.
  • Grassroots coordination: Residents band together, disseminate information, check on homes, support each other emotionally and practically.
  • Quote: “It was a really beautiful unfolding of the best of a community during a crisis.” (01:21, David Goldblum)
  • Anger at lack of official response: “Nobody came for us ... there weren’t any firefighters that came to the mountain ... we were abandoned.” (02:30)

• Genesis of Goldblum’s Film ‘Big Rock Burning’:

  • Inspired by the community's demand to make their story known; Goldblum volunteers as filmmaker.
  • Rapid mobilization and powerful response from fire victims.
  • Quote: “If one person had said, 'I don’t think you should do this,' I wouldn’t have. Instead, within three hours, 40 people reached out.” (03:34)
  • Film’s impact: Premiered at Malibu City Hall, acclaimed as a voice for the community.

2. Failures of Leadership and Disaster Management (08:55–11:39)

• Describing Institutional Failures:
  • Evacuations were chaotic, critical infrastructure like hydrants failed, and the city leadership (esp. Mayor Karen Bass) became focal points for criticism.
  • Notably, Rick Caruso’s own family lost multiple homes, and his business was reportedly saved by private firefighters he deployed.
  • Quote: “If somebody just stepped to the table and said, 'I messed up … I failed as a leader,' I should have done better. It doesn’t seem like anybody has done that in LA in terms of leadership.” (00:19, David Goldblum)
• Caruso’s Advocacy and Nonprofit Formation:
  • Launch of Steadfast LA, aiming to rebuild and support affected communities “faster than government can do alone.” (10:55-11:39, Rick Caruso)

3. Public vs. Private Rebuilding: Speed, Safety & Policy (11:58–26:32)

• Permit Bottlenecks and Innovations:

  • Over 1,000 rebuilding permits issued – considered “hopeful,” but not enough; the government is too slow.
  • Caruso’s nonprofit developed an AI model to speed up plan checks—hours vs. weeks—but city has not fully adopted it.
  • Quote: “It’s just way too long ... we delivered Steadfast, delivered this AI model to expedite it, which will plan check in a matter of hours versus a matter of weeks.” (12:09)

• Calls for Accountability and Improved Management:

  • Absence of “rebuilding czar” and clear logistical oversight.
  • “We need to get people in ... give people the hope that it’s going to come back within a reasonable period of time.” (13:58)

• Safe, Resilient Building and Infrastructure Upgrades:

  • Debate over safety vs. speed in rebuilding—homes often being rebuilt to old standards.
  • Caruso pushes for incentives for non-combustible materials, infrastructure updates.
  • Quote: “The state needs to solve [the insurance problem] ... it’s disgusting that agency has been fighting people. You paid your premiums. They should go above and beyond.” (19:24)

• Modular Home Giveaway, Community Prioritization:

  • Steadfast LA, with partner Samar, is giving away modular homes to those with no options.
  • Quote: “Last week ... met five families we’re giving a home to at no cost. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better day in my life.” (21:26, Rick Caruso)

• Rebuilding Concerns:

  • Caruso addresses fears that developers could price out original residents; he argues against turning disaster into a land grab and stresses preserving community diversity and affordability.

4. The Insurance Crisis and Housing Affordability (18:57–29:10)

• Underinsurance is rampant; Caruso calls for state intervention and insurance companies to honor full claims.
• New homebuilder alliances to cut costs and help close gaps between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs.

5. Private Firefighters & Personal Experience (36:07–51:41)

• Caruso details his private firefighting force, learned from experience in Montecito fires; imported to his Palisades development, bringing water and flame retardant.
• His property (The Village at Palisades) survived, serving as a focal point for rebuilding community life, though his family’s homes were destroyed.
• Debate over fairness:
  • Quote: “Early on ... people were upset ... Over time, that village is becoming a beacon of hope and renewal and rebirth because it’s the place the community can gather.” (50:23)
• Sharp criticisms for City Hall’s response:
  • Insufficient advance preparation, absent or failed evacuation planning, mismanaged resources.
  • Quote: “The minute we got the wind warnings ... I’ve never gotten a warning on my phone that said ‘catastrophic, life-threatening winds.’ ... So you didn’t have to be a genius to figure out something really bad could happen.” (36:33, Rick Caruso)
• Calls for accountability; Caruso repeats, “She needs to own this.” (43:57, regarding Mayor Bass)

6. Infrastructure, Bureaucracy, and the Limits of Government (35:06–67:07)

With Mark Dunkelman (author of Why Nothing Works):

• U.S. public infrastructure is plagued by “too many vetoes,” regulatory hurdles that stymie action—even when consensus exists.
• “We built up a series of checks within the system that now are so oppressive ... even when someone comes with a good project, someone will find an objection.” (36:07, 63:15, Mark Dunkelman)
• Efficient action possible only in crisis; "We've overcorrected" since abuses of power in the 1960s-70s.
• Urges for reform: empower decision-makers while ensuring voices are heard but not paralyzing projects with endless objections.

7. Forward-Looking: Political Futures and Lessons Learned (54:05–60:05)

• Caruso, despite speculation, is not a declared candidate for mayor or governor but wants to “give back” and fix what’s broken in L.A. and California.
• Warns of dire affordability crisis for renters, lack of new housing, and failing infrastructure.
  • Quote: “We got a state that’s suffering ... 65% of the people in Los Angeles are renters. 10 years ago, it was under 50%.” (56:00, Rick Caruso)
• Advocates for more workforce housing initiatives, including private sector efforts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 01:21 | “It was a really beautiful unfolding of the best of a community during a crisis.” | David Goldblum | | 03:34 | “If one person said, I don’t think you should do this, I wouldn’t have. ... Within three hours, 40 people reached out to me.” | David Goldblum | | 13:58 | “The leadership isn’t there to do it. We don’t have a rebuilding czar that we were promised.” | Rick Caruso | | 19:24 | “It’s disgusting that agency has been fighting people. You paid your premiums. They should go above and beyond.” | Rick Caruso | | 21:26 | "Last week ... I met five families that we’re giving a home to at no cost. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better day in my life." | Rick Caruso | | 24:54 | “I’m a developer and that’s supposed to be a bad name ... but I understand how the name has a negative connotation.” | Rick Caruso | | 36:33 | “The minute we got the wind warnings ... I’ve never gotten a warning on my phone that said ‘catastrophic, life-threatening winds’ ... You didn’t have to be a genius to figure out something bad could happen.” | Rick Caruso | | 41:20 | “This was a failure of government on an epic level, starting with Mayor Bass ... Her and the city’s incompetence ... led to people dying, thousands of lives upended ...” | Kate Cagle (quoting Caruso) | | 43:57 | "She needs to own this. That’s just the way the world works when you’re a chief executive, you need to own it." | Rick Caruso (re: Mayor Bass) | | 63:15 | “We built up a series of checks within the system that now are so oppressive that even when someone comes with a good project ... someone will find an objection.” | Mark Dunkelman |

Segment Timeline Highlights

• 00:01–08:55 — David Goldblum: Survivor experience, Big Rock Burning documentary, community response.
• 08:55–11:39 — Fires' aftermath, blame, and birth of Steadfast LA.
• 11:58–26:32 — Permit delays, insurance failures, modular home giveaways, debate over future development and affordability.
• 36:07–51:41 — Caruso's private firefighters, infrastructure/safety lessons, detailed account of fire night.
• 54:05–60:05 — Caruso discusses potential political future, housing and affordability policy priorities.
• 35:06–67:07 — Mark Dunkelman on infrastructural gridlock, the problem of too many regulatory vetoes, need for government reform.

Tone & Style

The episode alternates between raw emotional storytelling (David Goldblum’s and Rick Caruso's personal accounts), pragmatic policy critique (Caruso’s calls for reform; discussion of AI permitting and insurance failures), and expert analysis (Dunkelman's diagnosis of national infrastructure malaise). The language is urgent and direct, reflecting both trauma and a drive for actionable solutions.

Conclusion

“Rebuilding L.A.” combines the personal with the political, revealing how the January 7th fires exposed both the best of L.A.’s communities and the failings of its institutions. The episode scrutinizes government response, highlights grassroots organizing, and probes the complex interplay between public authority and private initiative. Calls for policy reform, better management, and a focus on affordability echo throughout, leaving listeners with a nuanced understanding of what’s at stake—and what must change—as L.A. rebuilds in an era defined by fire.