Rebuilding Life, Community Resilience, and Finding Strength After Losing Everything with Michael and Jaimie Geller

Summary

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The Fame Game with Heidi & Spencer

Episode: Rebuilding Life, Community Resilience, and Finding Strength After Losing Everything with Michael and Jaimie Geller

Release: November 20, 2025
Guests: Michael and Jaimie Geller

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Episode Overview

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, joined by Michael and Jaimie Geller, dive deep into what it means to lose everything in a disaster and the uphill battle of rebuilding—not just homes, but lives, community, and hope. Set against the backdrop of the Palisades fire that devastated their neighborhood, the conversation is raw, unfiltered, and highly personal. Together, they tackle topics ranging from the immediate chaos of escaping the fire, to lack of institutional support and accountability, to insurance woes, and the uncertain future of their once-tight-knit community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. The Immediate Terror: Stories From the Fire ([08:20]–[18:39])

• Jaimie’s Heart-Wrenching Evacuation

  • Jaimie recounts seeing smoke while in town, rushing home to quickly pack with her son and their housekeeper, only to be gridlocked with neighbors—including babies, elders, and nannies—with no help or guidance from authorities.
  • Quote:

    “I look to my left and I just see fire roaring down the mountain...I look up, the palm trees are on fire. Not a person in sight to help move anybody.” – Jaimie Geller ([09:21])

• Total Absence of First Responders

  • The guests describe a terrifying realization: "No one's coming." When they finally made it to the water's edge at Gladstone's, firefighters were present, but idle.
  • Quote:

    “People were going up to them, giving them water bottles. And I’m sitting there like, I can’t breathe. I have no mask, I can’t see, I have no goggles.” – Jaimie Geller ([11:35])

• Chaotic Information and Blocked Exits

  • Michael describes being trapped, police refusing to let anyone down from the Highlands, and the single, token police escort eventually letting a handful of cars out.
  • Quote:

    “They had police at the top saying, the canyon’s on fire. We’re not letting anybody go. Stay in place, shelter in place.” – Michael Geller ([12:47])

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2. Anger and Disillusionment: Systemic Failures ([18:44]–[27:18])

• Bureaucratic Apathy

  • The group details how their 911 calls went unanswered or were met with disinterest—“No one is going into that area”—even while loved ones might be dying.
  • Quote:

    “You are wearing dirt lots. You think all of a sudden now, if I'm going to be nicer, we're going to come rebuild our house?” – Spencer Pratt ([50:08])

• Frustration with Official Inaction

  • Repeated references to officials “doing nothing,” lack of water supply, and “immunity” for LAFD and public agencies who failed in their duties.
  • Quote:

    “We as taxpayers have created a situation where what people don’t get...the LAFD has full immunity. They can literally let your town burn down. You can die and they’re immune.” – Spencer Pratt ([21:25])

• Lack of Accountability

  • The discussion pivots to political blame and the perception of a “Ponzi scheme” with tax dollars and disaster relief.
  • Quote:

    “If you don’t do your job...you get fired. Not here.” – Michael Geller ([32:43])

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3. Insurance Nightmares & Rebuilding Obstacles ([34:00]–[41:48])

• Battling Insurance Companies

  • Jaimie and Michael, like many neighbors, struggle to access insurance settlements. Even after full-loss coverage, payouts are withheld or diminished by legal fees.
  • Quote:

    “Our insurance company, State Farm has not been like a good neighbor and has still withheld the money that we require to rebuild. If we don’t get the policy limit...we can’t afford it.” – Michael Geller ([34:07])

  • Spencer interjects with a hard-earned lesson:

    “They don’t actually even have to give you the policy.” ([34:35])

• “Affordable” Insurance Is Gone

  • Rates have now skyrocketed to unattainable levels—if insurance is available at all.
  • Quote:

    “The first year...was $14,000 for the year. The second year...it went up to 21,000. The next year...28,000. I don’t think I can afford [it].” – Jaimie Geller ([40:14])

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4. Community in Limbo ([41:48]–[63:44])

• Exodus and Uncertain Futures

  • The new, post-fire Palisades will not resemble the old. Many former residents, especially young families, may never return.
  • Quote:

    “At first it was like, okay, all the people that are like 75 and older, they’re not gonna wait for it. Then I was like, wait a minute. All my older kids...don’t want their four bedroom, five bedroom house anymore...Then I'm like, wait a minute...they make a new life now.” – Jaimie Geller ([36:34])

• Developers Circling

  • Spencer shares a blunt exchange with a developer:

    “He’s like, the palaces is over. Like, what you guys know, the palace is gone. Like, you need to start thinking about the new policies and get something built.” – Spencer Pratt ([37:27])

• Loss of Community Fabric

  • The guests mourn a culture and unity now at risk.
  • Quote:

    “There was a culture in the Palisades. There was a community. There was a spirit, There was an essence. There was a oneness. You know, there was a camaraderie.” – Heidi Montag ([37:42])

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5. Political Blame & “Nobody Cares” ([24:26], [43:29]–[58:44])

• Political Cowardice & Distracted Discourse

  • The hosts are exasperated with how politics derails holding anyone accountable—people “refuse to say anything bad about Democrats,” or blame-shift to climate change or each other.
  • Quote:

    “It's not about the issue anymore. It's just about the hatred for the other person.” – Jaimie Geller ([32:06])

• Follow the Money (Developers, Lobbyists, Insurance)

  • The group unpacks how political connections, international investors, and systemic incentives have pitted profit and growth against the needs of a devastated community.
  • Quote:

    “It’s all just like mafia cartel.” – Spencer Pratt ([56:10])

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6. “We Are On Our Own” – Resilience, Survival, & Moving Forward ([33:36]–[63:44])

• Self-Reliance and Resilience

  • The guests and hosts underscore how, in disaster, communities are forced to band together and fend for themselves.
  • Quote:

    “Biggest takeaway from this whole experience is that we’re on our own. No one cares about us.” – Jaimie Geller ([33:25])

• Rebuilding as a Fight

  • Rebuilding means battling bureaucracy, developers, insurance companies, and even your own sadness. Many are considering selling, moving, or never returning.
  • Quote:

    “So many people like us are in limbo right now...there isn’t much momentum.” – Michael Geller ([64:44])

• Lingering Grief

  • Michael and Jaimie reflect on homes and a way of life that can never be replaced.
  • Quote:

    “Every house Jamie and I…ever bought together as a married couple. Gone. The saddest is the house that we just sold…18 months before the fire they just bought the house. Burned. All they had was a dog.” – Michael Geller ([70:53])

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7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Calls for Accountability:

  “Even just say sorry. Like, anything.” – Jaimie Geller ([51:16])
  “If they say sorry, that implies some liability.” – Michael Geller ([51:21])

• On Public Perception:

  “People think Heidi’s song blew up and they’re fine, you’re rich, I'll do it. She’s a pop star…No. If we were rich pop stars, you would see some pilings going in here right now.” – Spencer Pratt ([48:49])

• On State of the Community:

  “It changes…not your life. Yeah, we would be changed. And how does that look? …We are in a mistake in limbo.” – Michael Geller ([64:59])

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8. Timestamps of Key Segments

• [08:20] Jaimie’s evacuation story & lack of first responders
• [13:00] Michael’s account of blocked exits, “shelter in place” orders
• [18:44] Spencer on 911 failures & lack of emergency response
• [21:25] Discussion of governmental immunity, taxpayer frustration
• [34:00] Ongoing fights with insurance companies
• [36:34] Families considering whether to return or move on
• [37:27] Developer: “The Palisades is over…”
• [43:29] Anger at political/moneyed interests taking advantage of tragedy
• [50:08] Spencer on community criticism/defensiveness & advocacy
• [64:44] Limbo and “the fight to rebuild”

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Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode offers a brutally honest window into the trauma, anger, and resilience that comes when a disaster destroys not just material belongings, but a fabric of daily life and community trust. Michael and Jaimie Geller’s stories, shared with candor and emotion, make clear the systemic failures—governmental, political, and financial—that complicate recovery. Yet, they also highlight the stubborn persistence of those choosing to rebuild, if only to keep their story—and calls for justice—alive.

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For listeners seeking to support or follow the Gellers' journey, visit Jamie Geller Jewelry ([74:21]), and for more advocacy updates, stay tuned to Spencer’s social channels and upcoming projects.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[A]

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[D]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[B]

Oh, no, that's all good.

[A]

Welcome back to the Fame game. You're wondering why my gorgeous pop star wife is in the dirt lot after we were in that beautiful recording studio listening to peaceful birds. And now we're back to chainsaws. Well, life happens. And here we are. Heidi also has no voice. She tore her.

[B]

I have a hemorrhage in my vocal cords.

[A]

A hemorrhage in her vocal cords. So just know that album three, she put some real energy into it. So that's been fun. The sign language for the last three weeks. But she is here. She wanted to be part of this big podcast. We have two legendary Palisadian locals. Currently they're. They're slumming it in rentals in Malibu. So they're right now Malibu locals.

[B]

Actually, this is why we are here in our lot because these are dear friends of ours. And Spencer, how long have you known both of these amazing people?

[C]

Decades.

[A]

Too long to date any of our ages here. We're going to hit all demos, so let's not put us in any box.

[B]

And I met Jamie when I first started dating Spencer in 2006 or seven too. So that's a long Jamie.

[A]

Obviously they can all speak on themselves in a second. This is still part of the intro. Jamie was a world famous stylist before branching out and creating one of the most unbelievable jewelry businesses that carries some of the best jewelry in the world and Mike GTV's custom pieces as well. So not just other names. So. And Mike Geller, you're with third gen.

[D]

Oh, I've been in jewelry since diapers.

[A]

You're third generation Palisades and jeweler.

[D]

Yeah, I think my grandfather dabbled a bit. You know, he was a music. He was a music manager. He wrote some really cool songs and did a lot of jewelry for his artists. And my mom, you know, went to Hollywood high, very LA local and started making jewelry for her friends. And then it grew into a business and I just sort of was on her hip the whole time, just, you know, watching. I didn't think I would ever do jewelry, but I guess it was just always in my cards.

[A]

Did Jamie style you today? Because that shirt you're wearing looks.

[C]

I did buy the shirt for him. I was the first sale, to be honest.

[D]

Spencer, this fit is inspired by you, buddy.

[A]

But I'm confused.

[C]

You style.

[D]

You know, I've watched the show, I've seen some other people on the show. I figured I'd dress.

[A]

Oh, Jeremy did wear a coat.

[D]

Jeremy, shout out to Jeremy. Love you, buddy. I wore the sport coat with the, with the, with the straight out of water.

[C]

I have a question. How long have you been in? Like how long is your family from Palisades? Like how back?

[A]

Like, I think Skipper was in the 90s. So like 45 something years. And that was a big thing. I just had a call shout out sue from circling the news because I was checking in with her because tomorrow is the congressional field hearing where the senators are coming from D.C. to talk to witnesses, fire victims. And I just wanted to check in with her and I was like, what are some beats that you feel like no one is really hit on? And she said the generational connection to these homes, that's where I was going. People think that it's all affluent people in the Palisades. And she's like, you really need to make clear that so many of the people that now are not going to be able to come back to the Palisades, their grandparents and some even their parents. Grandparents. Parents have these homes and they've just been passed down from when these homes cost $40,000. And another interesting thing, she said the amount of grandparents that also had the other generation living in the houses with them was. Is such a big part of the policies that people can't even comprehend. She also said all the old school.

[C]

Families, like none of us could afford to come here now. Like, like we can't.

[A]

Like it's totally cooked.

[D]

It's a different back into the Palisades after this is pretty. Gonna be pretty impossible. So you moved for the people that are born here?

[A]

Yeah, I think I was like 5 years old when they moved from Malibu. And. And the other thing about the affluent thing is she said there's the Tahitian Terrace, there's the bull. So that was like almost a thousand affordable housing. She said there's also was a thousand actual affordable housing, like apartments. She said there was, you know, the list of all these people that aren't going to be able to come back. You know, so we were all living the Dr. You guys, what a professional. Look at this. The hold for planes.

[D]

Maybe that's Biden coming in for another one of his talks.

[A]

Well, speaking of that update, we found out, which we always knew something was fishy with Air Force One, and we're still waiting on that. But now we know for a fact that because of Biden going and visiting Hunter, there wasn't a single LAPD motorcycle cop available to help in any way on January 7th. And that is in the LAPD After Action report. So they know the policies is burning down and they don't go park him in a secure building or drive him back and say, hey, we need all these motorcycle cops to be helping with evacuations. And that is something that you lived. We had Maven Zach talk about that, but I feel like your level is even crazier because you had like, the kids.

[C]

And I, I remember coming down the Highlands, like I was in town at a Pilates class and I saw the smoke. Mason called me Maeve. I actually, I only remember Maeve texted me because I have a screenshot of her text. I was like, I gotta get home, this is bad. And I started driving and I saw the fireball and I called you guys at home. And two of my kids were still home winter break. So I said, get the suitcases out. We have a housekeeper. I was like, get Janet to get the suitcases out. I was home five minutes. I packed what I could, forgot my own bag, and I was at the bottom of the Highlands. I know because I took one picture at 11:30. The fire started at 10:30, so I had gone home, packed, and at the bottom, and it was stopped, stopped. There was no one. And I'm sitting with my 15 year old in the car. Our 17 year old at the time stayed with him because he didn't think he'd ever leave and he wanted to make sure our dogs got out. So I had the 15 year old, all the luggage, and I get to like, almost around Calvary Christian School and it's just stopped. Nothing. Not a firefighter, not a cop, nothing. And I look to my left and I just see fire roaring down the mountain. And I. Then I look to my right and I see fire roaring down the mountain. I look up, the palm trees are on fire. Not a person in sight to help move anybody.

[D]

So everybody, they had held people. They were holding people well.

[C]

So I got out of the car and started walking and I was like, on the news, people are sending me texts. I just took my, like, what I thought was my purse, but I had nothing in it, and walked to the corner. I saw people with babies. I saw nannies with babies. I saw old people with their caretakers. No one I saw my neighbors. I saw. And I'm like, no one's coming. No one's coming. And then it hit me. No one's coming. So I told my son, I'm going to run back to the car. And I got to get my important papers. Which again, once I opened that box, there was nothing important in it. And. And I have a truck. So I. My truck has a cover on the back of the thing. And I just remember the car in front of me was on fire at this point and somebody was screaming, it's gonna blow, it's gonna blow. Don't get it. And my Neighbor Steve Guttenberg happened to catch me having a full panic attack to help me get two luggages out. My 15 year old wouldn't walk with me back to the car. I met him at the corner and I literally ran for my life to Gladstone's along with everyone else down there. Phone didn't work. Mike is up. They stopped people from coming down the Highlands because now the whole.

[D]

They wouldn't let me leave.

[C]

The whole thing was on fire.

[D]

They told us to shut.

[C]

They didn't let people down. So all the people in the Highlands got stuck at the top. And Sunset's not moving. Zach and Maeve were on Sunset, I think where the Highlands comes out, but nothing was moving. I even saw my housekeeper. She was ahead of me. She inched and inched. She didn't get out. But, but I, she, she like turned as I was running. And I sat down there and I remember thinking of paradise, how all the people burned in their cars. And I had a thought. I had to keep calm for my 15 year old. And I. And I had a thought, like, I'm not burning in my fucking car. Like, I'm not going to. I'm not burning. Like I have to get out. And then when I got to the water, all I could think of was Lahaina, which was our only place we ever vacationed. And I was like, well, the water's there, I guess I'm jumping in. And I waited there, I think like three hours. There was. That's where they staged a lot of the firefighters and they were not helping anybody. They were just sitting there in fire trucks. It's the weirdest thing. People were going up to them, giving them water bottles. And I'm sitting there like, I can't breathe. I have no mask, I can't see, I have no goggles. My hair was turning to like Armageddon gray. I am watching Tramonto, I'm watching flames. And I'm just like, what is happening?

[D]

Finally, at that point, you could not see the sky.

[C]

No, it was black out.

[D]

The sky was blacked out. And that's when I decided at home with my 17 year old and the dogs, I looked, I look up and I thought to myself, you know what? This is probably the time I should go.

[C]

Were they police escorting you down?

[D]

They didn't, they didn't police, they didn't let anybody down. They had police at the top saying, the canyon's on fire. We're not letting anybody go. Stay in place, shelter in place. And we were kind of stuck, but they weren't police.

[B]

Right. They were just volunteers.

[A]

Like, city actually had one.

[D]

There was one.

[C]

Well, that was the one we got.

[D]

There was one police car.

[A]

Yeah, no, that was a motorcycle. Cops that weren't allowed to leave.

[D]

It was one police car that was. Happened to be in. I feel like he was in the area anyway. And so they would not let anybody come down. And then they started escorting maybe 10 cars at a time behind this one car. And they were, you know, letting us follow the. The. The one car.

[A]

Why didn't they use the back?

[C]

It was on fire.

[D]

It was on fire. So they didn't open that gate. They closed that gate.

[A]

I would have smashed through that.

[C]

No, no, it was on fire.

[A]

I watched some video. Somebody drove through the whole thing.

[D]

That's very close to where the fire actually popped off.

[C]

Like, it all connects up there.

[D]

It's. It's. It was right above that road, that little road that goes through to be in Venita or like the top of Lockman.

[A]

You would have thought they would have had that fire road with such fire breaks that it actually wasn't like the emergency.

[D]

That road is skinnier than this lot. It's way smaller than this.

[A]

That's the emergency to get out of there.

[D]

And it's only one car one way. There's no two cars can pass each other. It's one car one way, one car the other way.

[C]

And then all I could think of was getting to my kid that was at school in Santa Monica, and how am I going to get to him? And school's going to let out and he's not going to know. And.

[D]

And so we sent my parents to go get him.

[C]

And then, like those. Then.

[D]

So here's a kid who went to school in the morning, came out to his grandparents to have lost everything that he's ever known.

[C]

Well, technically. Now I'm gonna get upset. Technically, our house was still there at that time.

[D]

It was still there.

[C]

Our house didn't burn till Wednesday night at 6:45pm Correct. Because Chuck Hart sent us the video that when he drove by.

[D]

Correct. Shout out to Hartbill Construction.

[A]

So that's what sue was saying on the thing. The biggest investigation that one's talking about is the January 8th fire. Because that's a different fire than the January 7th.

[D]

Yeah, for sure it was.

[C]

We had. We had.

[D]

We watched our business burn on the news first on the seventh. That evening we saw our business burning on channel.

[C]

I knew your house. Mike maybe talked to you or saw something you posted. I knew Lindsay's house on Enchanted. I knew my Other friend Sarah, on Los Leones. And I'm like thinking, how to get from the Highlands to Chautauqua. How did. How is my store on fire? Right.

[D]

I tried to go back after the store burned that night. The very next morning, I attempted every. I'm born and raised in the Palisades. I know every vein to get in, to get out, to sneak around. Any way that you possibly could was completely blocked off. And they were threatening arrest if you tried to break any of the.

[C]

But wait, how crazy is this? One of our neighbors did sneak in. He went to the, I think the Pastor Calvary, and the Calvary pastor drove him up to where we lived. And they went in our gates. And I have a video at 3pm on Wednesday of my next door neighbor's house burning, but my house is there, and then the house behind me burning. So we all. There's like 80 homes in our community. We all started calling 911 because there's a man who lived behind me whose house burned. That I think I told you this doesn't leave his house. He's an older man. And so we were like, he's in his house. There's a person in their house. Their house is on fire. And we were all told there's no one.

[D]

We had checked into a hotel in Santa Monica, which eventually, long story short, had got evacuated. They called our hotel room after about an hour and 40 minutes and said, we are now deciding to evacuate this hotel. The fire is, you know, approaching Santa Monica. So we were like, we're out of here. We went down south where my sister lives. So that's a whole nother dispatch. When you call 91 1, you get into a different dispatch. People were calling 911 from LA, from Santa Monica, Palisades, wherever. They were being put on hold. They were not getting through. So because I called 911 from another dispatcher, they got me through the Cal fire right away, LA fire. So at that point, I was able to give them my address, tell them my house is just starting to smolder. Can you please send.

[C]

No, we said the guy was in his house. The guy is in his house.

[D]

From myself, separately to say, I understand.

[C]

But the point is they're supposed to be saving lives. I understand they let the structures go. I understand that, like, mentality. And that's just what it is, life or death. But this was a life or death. And they still had nobody available, no resources. 3:00pm on the Wednesday, no wind.

[A]

So I've been trying to get the 911 calls when I called 911 because we couldn't reach my dad on January 7th at like 5 o' clock when there was so much action. You could have easily. And there's to get to his street. There's like five ways into it. You know, it's like, it's not like one way. And I call 911 and they said, what's the address? And they're like, oh, no one is going into that area. I'm like, no, my dad isn't picking up. He could have hit his head. He could have died. You need to send an emergency like you're 911. I didn't just call policy's patrol, like go in there. Like no one is going. And I was like, oh my God, this is so crazy. And then here's the best part. He finally. His phone was dead and he gets out of there and I'm like, well, was it hard to get out? He's like, no, just driving on us workmore. Totally.

[B]

He did say there everything was on fire. Yeah. Blowing up next to him as he's driving.

[A]

As in he's 70 something years old and could drive away. He didn't need some, you know. Yeah. Some type of special emergency vehicle.

[C]

But where were they?

[B]

But that's the same thing like you're saying on the 8th, which is so unbelievable. It's like, well, why didn't they at least try with some of the water, with some, some of the resources on the 8th they could have saved half.

[C]

The town by then. They could have had a water truck.

[D]

And I think Spencer's posted this, the weather report. The wind was down the next day.

[A]

There's tons of videos. I have videos on the 8th of like moms walking by Methodist preschool, walking in front of palaces. Like, you see the bushes? There's no wind. They're just like, you think it's over. And then two hours later, Methodist is burned down. Palisades Elementary's burned down. But like I have so much video evidence of there's not a single fire truck on the street. So. And again, I always go back to like. Because people all day long send me these stories about, you know, their, their actual situations with firefighters. And I always say they work. It's a command structure. So obviously they got the orders to literally do nothing. So you can't really be mad at the, the, the guy. Like their job is to listen to the battalion chiefs and the battalion chiefs listen to who's ever in the emergency. So there was clearly the order, do not try to save a Single house, don't bring water in. And that's like what I'm so excited about, the congressional investigation, because I think it's the only way we're going to find out why they didn't try to put out any. Like, I get the seventh. It got overwhelmed. It happened too fast.

[D]

I can't wait to see people squirm in their chairs to answer some of these questions. That, that, that, that will be enough satisfaction for me almost.

[C]

No.

[A]

See them little teeny bit.

[B]

I just don't think they care. I don't think they squirm. I don't think they care. I think they know that they have zero accountability, that they're not going to have anything happen to them. They fully got away with this. This is like a conspiracy. It's like, no, you guys are all responsible. You should all be in jail. And this is unbelievable.

[D]

They should all. They should not be trying to prosecute some Uber drivers.

[B]

Right.

[D]

They should be being prosecuted.

[A]

It's the biggest scapegoat thing in history. From history days earlier.

[D]

You can't tell me you can find a criminal.

[C]

Day one, you knew it was.

[D]

You can find a criminal hiding in a crawl space with a thermal imaging of a helicopter all night long every.

[A]

Day on the Fox News.

[D]

But you can't drive over the burn scar and see you thermally.

[A]

That there's heat you don't even need to. You. These hikers were sending videos. They were just smoldering.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

So, you know, that's just mind boggling. And what's so infuriating is we as taxpayers have created a situation where what people don't get. My older sister did not get this and she went to a, like, like a birthday or something. And when the text messages all came out, everyone was like, oh, this is it. Like, somebody's gonna have accountability. And now I told my older sister, like, no, the LAFD has full immunity. They can literally let your town burn down. You can die and they're immune. And my older sister was like, that's not true. I'm like, it is true. Trust me. The only time they cannot have immunity is if you die, like in their ambulance or so. Like, the only way we could ever have accountability is if the ambulance guys. We're all responsible for the town. But that's the most mind boggling thing that I keep going back to, like, what do we pay taxes for if they, these people that are supposed to give us the, you know, these protections and the water. And then they say, oh, that water was for drinking it was never.

[C]

Who drinks from that water? What are you talking about? Drinking? What drinking water does this even provide us?

[A]

It's 116 million. That's enough to drink and then put the fire out. If that was.

[C]

You know what was so crazy to me about the, the Santa Ines water thing is everyone's like, oh, it's been under repair for a year. I'm like, what the fuck are you talking about? We have lived there. Looking at it. It has been empty for years. Decades. So then I went on Google Maps and you could see it. There's a picture of it since 2011. It's been empty. Maybe not all the way empty, but definitely not full since 2011. It was not anything they were working. It was. They abandoned that a long time ago. They put the fill station in when there was the fire November 13th at the reservoir. They were bringing helicopters from somewhere else.

[A]

No, they were using tenders.

[D]

They were using the fill station, but.

[A]

They were filling it with the tenders. They were driving trucks of water next to the empty reservoir. So they'd know a year ago how important water up there.

[C]

So I don't even know if, if the government is like a business, everyone would be fired. I don't understand. This is the biggest business that we fund with our taxpayer dollars. That's where their money comes from. And they literally did nothing. I. I'm gonna break out my list.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

GWP gets paid from their fees that they charge for our services. They don't. They're not. They're not.

[A]

Which is already this weird China tax thing. Cuz the government makes us use LA dwp.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

So it's not like. So it's a private company that's forced onto us as if it was like.

[C]

They'Re like the, like, like a city. There's like the waste management mafia.

[A]

Okay. If they're not the government, then I want a different water supply. But oh, it has to be come through them.

[B]

I think as shocking as that is the amount of people who still stand behind them and can't say they were wrong or did a bad job.

[C]

You know what?

[B]

It's shocking.

[C]

It's like, I don't want to get political, but I think such hate. It's shocking our president that they do not want to speak against any democr.

[B]

And they're separate things and it's not the same. It's like you need to hold them accountable for this circumstance, for this situation. Who cares about anything else? We're not talking about America. And which political side are you on. We're talking about the negligence and the responsibility that we have as California tax paying citizens in our town entitled to.

[D]

For what we give for those services.

[B]

Exactly.

[D]

It's so simple.

[B]

Any person making it bigger than it.

[D]

Is piggy bank for so long.

[A]

Well, here's the crazy.

[D]

Had one police car that drives through our community.

[C]

We share it with Brentwood.

[D]

30 years that we've shared with Brentwood. I mean it's, it's, it's just while.

[A]

Everyone'S getting home invasions and.

[B]

Right.

[D]

We're getting home invasions jacked.

[C]

I mean squatters.

[D]

Squatters.

[A]

Breaking news, Breaking news. Breaking news. We have just been informed this is factual in the Pacific Palisades. There is for sure one confirmed right now.

[C]

Squatters on a lot. Not even in a house, just on an empty. Just like this. Somebody just set themselves up and will not leave. And I can't say who it is and we need to protect the privacy.

[A]

But it's for sure, 100%.

[B]

And what did the cops say?

[D]

She doesn't do anything because you have.

[C]

To do a formal eviction.

[D]

Like these people. They can come up with paperwork that says that they're allowed to be there whether it's fake paperwork or not. So if, if, if something is provided, they have to go through the proper channels to get them removed, which is totally insanity.

[B]

It's really.

[D]

I'm just saying it's squat on my property.

[A]

I would love for you to come.

[D]

And squat on my property.

[B]

They're just trying to make it so hard to live in California, which is so shocking because maybe they're trying to make the whole country this. I don't know the agenda, but it's really hard to live here and to stay here. And it's like I want to fight the fight and I want to be here. And I love California and I always had the California dream of. But it's like, it's ridiculous. It's literally crazy town.

[A]

Your dad loves California and love Colorado so much, he would argue that Colorado is now becoming California. So you can't think. That's what I learned going to DC and just talking to people. You know, you can't assume like, oh, I'm gonna leave if what's happening here can easily go to other places. So what you got to do is stop it. And that's why I'm so excited that I'm actually now working on a new project besides the fire documentary. I'm now involved on a documentary to expose the homeless industrial complex because it connects with the fire industrial complex.

[C]

Affordable housing and all the money.

[D]

140 million from ULA.

[A]

Yeah, that's just you. But for sure, this is the number that just made me, like, no matter who you are, if you have a brain, that newsome has taken 25 billion and then made increased homeless. 25 billion.

[C]

Well, the whole Palisade is homeless now.

[A]

No, but, like, think about 25 billion. Like this guy was telling me, like, that's. Some of the biggest companies in the world are valued at 25 billion, and you can't. So it's just a crazy.

[D]

So relate to the people that have that hatred to Donald Trump, you know, like, they will just. No matter what, no matter what, they will speak against Donald Trump because they hate him. I. I can relate because I feel that way about Gavin Newsome. This guy has taken such liberties and advantages. I mean, it's. It's.

[C]

Please tell me you didn't get crazy.

[A]

To pull out the album.

[B]

Oh, no, that's all God's.

[A]

One thing. I really wish when I was hiking up here to first see our burnout lot and I was walking up here with a paparazzi, and this paparazzi was trying to give me, like, mental health, you know, try to prep me. I wish they had just told me about Rula, because I feel like online therapy should be way easier to access. I shouldn't have to be talking my heart out to a paparazzi. I should be able to just like, hey, I'm gonna go use Rula.

[B]

I mean, it's amazing because there's no wait list. It really eliminates, like, a lot of frustration. It makes it easy to find mental health physicians and providers who are accepting new patients. Plus, it sticks with you through your journey to check in and make sure that your care is great. Well, it's also like $15. About. Yeah. Per average. Yeah. So it's very affordable, too accessible.

[A]

When your house burns down or any natural disaster, some, like Brula should be offered. I mean, to this day, I have to vent on TikTok, and I should be able to just spend $15. And they have what, like 15,000?

[B]

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[A]

The difference is like, I'll post something that's like so factual about our houses burning down and somebody will be like, shut up, idiot. And I'll like click in to block him. And it's just like all anti Trump stuff. It's like, so I don't, if I don't go past the stuff that actually affects me so this person won't even hear something. And now because Newsom's talking smack about Trump. But they didn't like newsome 4 months ago before he started running for president. It's just now that he's the, the Trump publicist, the anti. So they're like, oh, I'm with him.

[D]

These, these trolls just jump on. On the next like flow that they really, that they can, you know, sad.

[C]

It's not about the issue anymore. It's just about the hatred for the other person.

[B]

It's misinformation. It's like a switch and bait. They're totally not taking accountability and responsibility for how much they've messed up and how horrific and awful and disgusting and disturbing they are and what they're doing. And they're like, oh, just look at Trump. It has nothing to do with Trump. Republican, Democrat. It has to do with how Irresponsible and awful. They are at their jobs.

[D]

That's it.

[B]

That's it. That's it.

[D]

An entity. If you don't do your job.

[B]

That's right.

[D]

You get fired.

[B]

Right.

[D]

Like reprimanded or, or, or something.

[B]

And blackballed in this case from the industry.

[D]

Just get to roll over and do whatever they want.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And there's no consequence.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They blame it on climate change.

[C]

They blame it on each other.

[A]

Exactly. All that's the other.

[C]

Like the fire department.

[D]

Just one big giant deflection after the next.

[A]

Yeah. The problem is rich people fund these people. And so and these unions, like with this Prop 50. Yes. Scam, whatever. Like, bottom line is that was all just money. They put like people like, how did this pass? I'm like, because they had commercials during the World Series baseball. That's like, stop Trump.

[C]

Besides being in a curse, I think truly like the bit. My biggest like takeaway from this whole experience is that we're on our own. No one cares about us. Yeah. Oh, like I never.

[A]

You actually.

[C]

People hate us. But, but I never understood like in Malibu, like, everyone's like, we don't leave. Or like Keegan did the brigade and like all that. I'm like, we are on our own. Not only are we on our own, we are fighting for each and every step. We are fighting to clean our lots. We are fighting to not have nine story buildings.

[D]

Fighting to rebuild right next door.

[C]

We are fighting with our insurance almost.

[D]

Eight months to get.

[C]

We're 10 months. We have all of our plans, we have all of our permits and we don't have the money that our insurance.

[D]

After fighting to get the plans to even rebuild and solidify a contractor when there's. They're so busy, they're like, if you're not ready to build, we're gonna move on to the next person. Our insurance company, State Farm has not been like a good neighbor and has still withheld the money that we require to rebuild. If we don't. If we don't get the policy limit, which is what we paid for, we can't afford it.

[B]

Do you have a lawyer?

[A]

And by law, I found out they don't actually even have to give you the policy.

[C]

Well, don't tell me that you should.

[A]

Give them that lawyer that right now. I think they. We think we have. That's what I mean.

[D]

I would insurance like to not do that. I would hope that they would be like their commercial and be like a good neighbor. They're not just do what they're supposed to do. But I will have to take legal action, which again will cost us money.

[C]

So we fight the insurance. We fight.

[D]

At which point if. If we. They take too big of a percentage of the money, we won't be able to rebuild.

[A]

We had to pay a lawyer to get our California fairplan limit that can't even put in enough to put the beams in the ground that we now have to be up to code that weren't here before. So that lawyer then, because it's his job and he did a great job and got the money they were trying to fight and even give us, he then took his percentage. So not like, again, that's exactly where we are. It's like you're breaking off the money that you need to even get.

[C]

And for what? What's gonna be here? Like, we were just talking about this, like, who's come. Like at first it was like, okay, all the people that are like 75 and older, they're not gonna wait for it. They're not gonna wait for it to come back. That makes sense. They need to go. They only have however many years left. Then I was like, wait a minute. All my older kids, friends like that have now the kids are gone to college and they're like empty nest sisters. They don't want their four bedroom, five bedroom house anymore. They're gonna go get an apartment in Century City, go travel. Like they're done. Okay, fine. Then I'm like, wait a minute. Everybody with kids in school now. We moved all these kids to these new schools from Manhattan beach to. A lot of them don't want wherever you go. Like they make a new life now.

[D]

Made new friends and, and a new life.

[B]

Well, that's what I keep saying to Spencer and I'm like, if you could live. And I asked him on the way here, I'm like, if you could live anywhere, where, where would you live? And he's like, I want to live here. And then I'm thinking like, yeah, but what about our kids now? What about our kids who are starting a new life and a new school and we're going to uproot them again in a few years to come back here to. To what?

[C]

You know, and then what, what is going to be the people who like are taking advantage, not taking advantage. It's their opportunity to get into the Palisades for a million dollar opportunists that.

[D]

That can get in. You know, that they've always wanted to get in. And this might be their opportunity. But bottom line is, is the Palisades will change from what we.

[C]

Because we can't because of fort like, we were already scraping by to just be here.

[A]

So I just had a meeting with a big developer because they kind of wanted to, like, gauge, like, if I was going to be against development of, like, building houses in the Palaces. So I took the meeting to hear what they were saying because I was like, you know, I'd be down if you put, you know, figure out a way to add underinsured and senior citizens in. And I was like, waddle. I don't see how that's happening. He's like, the palaces is over. Like, what you guys know, the palace is gone. Like, you need to start thinking about the new policies and get something built. So, like, from a developer standpoint, they're just like, he's right. Yeah. He's like. He's like, you're in la la land if you think, yeah. He's like, that's not happening.

[D]

Is changing forever. No matter what.

[A]

We.

[B]

There was a culture in the Palisades. There was a community. There was a spirit, There was an essence. There was a oneness. You know, there was a camaraderie. There are people who.

[C]

It was regular people. We were. There were, of course, the richer people that, you know, had come in, bought their 10, 12, $20 million home, and they went to Gelson's like the rest of us. But I think our community was like.

[D]

It's not to say that regular people won't be coming here. It just won't be the community that grew here.

[A]

I mean, I'll tell you. I'll tell you, they're not coming because the developer, the one that I was talking to, all the houses that they're planning on building are into the 6 to 8 million dollar range, correct? So they're buying these dirt lots that are undervalued, and they're going to put six to eight. So what regular person is buying a six to $8 million house and then ready for the best part? You know how much it would cost to insure a 6 to 8 million dollars house now in the Palaces? What regular person could do that? So that's.

[C]

So the insurance you have is like child. Regular person, California fair plan, even literally.

[A]

Plans about to go fully bankrupt. So who knows if that's going to be around in a year.

[C]

Well, that's not a. That's an unfair.

[D]

There are rumors that they are trying to work with the insurance companies to have them come back here, but it'll just be money.

[C]

The worst about the insurance money, the Worst is that the insurance companies that dropped everybody. We were being dropped by State Farm on January 20th.

[D]

We literally buy the hair in our chini. I was signing even have insurance at all.

[C]

We were signing our California fair plan on January 7th. And I said, I'm not going to. I don't want to put my credit card number on the email. She goes, wait and see if your house burns down. Literally, that was my conversation. So State Farm had to keep us, but we were dropped. We were all dropped. Because somebody went to a drone. No, to the. The guy, the insurance commissioner, and said, we know the insurance companies went to the insurance company.

[A]

Yeah. But they didn't even come into the town. They used a drone and they just flew over and they're like, oh, GPS coordinates all these houses.

[C]

Right. But they knew. They knew a fire was coming. They knew Newsom didn't take care of the state parks. They knew this catastrophic event was going to happen and they wanted to raise rates. I will be really honest. When we first bought the house that we were living in that burned down, it was in 2020.

[B]

Our.

[C]

Our. We had a brand new house, by the way. My. My final inspection was scheduled for January 9th.

[D]

Lived in it for 18 months.

[A]

The while it was like, still.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You were like, so the.

[D]

I was still. Yeah, just finished.

[C]

Nightmare.

[A]

Just got your grill.

[C]

Literally. Our. Our contractor bailed us, we moved, moved in. It was a nightmare, but whatever. My first year of insuring that property was $14,000 for the year. The second year, which would have been 2022 or 2023, it went up to 21, 000. The next year it went up to 28, 000 and something I'm like, I don't think I can afford. Then we have to live here.

[D]

Then we moved insurance.

[C]

So then they changed me to State Farm. State Farm. I. I don't know how much it was way less than the 14. It wasn't like State Farm wanted to raise it a crazy amount, by the way. Like, the insurance commissioner didn't let the insurance companies who knew this was going to happen raise our insurance. In hindsight, $20,000 a year for insurance compared to the millions that I just lost. That we just lost. We had all of our money in that house and it literally burned to the ground. And I have insurance for it for the full amount to rebuild it. And they don't give it to my. My money just burned. And it could have so easily been, okay, we're going to pay more for insurance. Okay. The insurance companies aren't going to go bankrupt. But our insurance commission said no. Said no. You can't raise the rent. You can't raise the.

[D]

So, so rich.

[B]

But the state would just bail them out anyways.

[C]

They're going to get bailed out. And guess who pays for that? Our tax money. Guess what? When we sue them, our tax money is paid. Everything.

[A]

It's just a bad Ponzi scheme.

[D]

It's a bad Ponzi scheme. That's exactly right.

[A]

Like, just right there. Here's how crazy it is. So we asked the congressional investigation, we asked the city council to turn over some documents. They have 500 attorneys that we already pay with our tax money. And instead they go to a private law firm and spend $900,000 to. To then deal with the congressional investigation to send those documents that they should just have. It's like, those are public records.

[C]

What about the deleting?

[A]

Oh, Karen Bass is deleting her messages.

[C]

Karen Bass. The fire people don't. Didn't they delete their. Like, everybody just wasn't us. Wasn't us. No comment. That. And that's what kills me too. Those. The LA Times article. It's like, oh, when we called. No comment. Oh, we just let everybody fucking lose everything. I lost. We lost everything that we knew. We were just. I just saw Heidi for the first time and I. So I cry when I see the people for the first time after the fire. Like, I can't help it. But like, we lost not just our home, not just our belongings, not just our sentimental things, not just our schools, not just our income, our store. We lost our market, we lost our doctors, my dentist, my orthodontist, the hair, ev. Everything we know. And these people have no comment. No comment. Oh, we just let it smolder. Oops. No comment.

[B]

It's crazy.

[D]

Some of this stuff just drives me so insane. Well, cuz what they're concentrating on, nobody moved on to.

[C]

But nobody cares about Eltadena either. So it's like they don't care about the Palisades because we're rich, supposedly. Which we obviously know we're not. But like, I'll never forget when, like Hurricane Katrina came and I had a friend who said, they've left New Orleans, it's because this or that. So then we all thought, oh, that could never happen here because we're Palisades, right? They don't care. They don't care if you're rich, they don't care if you're poor. They don't care if you're a black. They don't care if you're white. They don't care anything. They just care about their pockets is.

[B]

What it feels like and their agenda. And also here's the craziest part that happened. The number one priority should be making sure we have water in this town and in the towns again, forever again. There's no water. Nobody's still putting water or prioritizing filling them up. Look at our streets. We can't even drive up our street. What is going on with the streets?

[C]

You can't called the army corps of engineers.

[B]

Well they should pay to come and put cement. It's insane. There's all this stupid construction going on in houses.

[A]

How does this city billion dollar million per homeless person instead of. Yeah, they have. It was like a million dollars a person.

[D]

Army corps did us a favor. The army Corps. I mean I don't even want to get into to the army corps and, and, and the things that scam but.

[B]

They need to fix our streets. They need to fix our water.

[D]

That was overpaid, you know, overcharged for lots to be cleared. Took money from insurance companies when they said it was going to be free. I mean they did so much damage in the Alphabet streets to the street to the curbs and the streets.

[C]

Have you seen Baylor and Sunset from.

[D]

The fig machine machinery that they use to clear the lots. No one's coming to fix that. There's no one coming to fit.

[B]

And they're saying one thing and they're doing the other and that's what's so infuriating. You're lying. Just saying whatever you want to appease everybody, to look good, to sound good and you're doing nothing. How is there no accountability for what's going on?

[C]

It's been almost a year, right?

[B]

It looks the same.

[A]

The army corps, they're so great and look what they held. How did they help us? Look what they did. And I mean in their defense if they didn't show up, no, there would be all debris. So like there's.

[B]

They did a good job.

[A]

If we're going off a newome and bass we'd be sitting in debris. So you know, technically I can't.

[D]

It all depends on what sub you got, right?

[A]

Yeah, we got a guy, we got.

[B]

A really good guy.

[D]

Postmates, you know, the, the, the email would go out and the next sub in line would take the address and show up to the address and do.

[B]

The job we did.

[D]

Some people got lucky and they will praise there.

[A]

This guy text me last night checking in. He's like our archon the guy who, like, did this. Oh, he's like, so. And he, like, he's like the crystal I took from the dirt I look at every night. He's. He was taking photos of the hummingbird. So it's like our experience.

[D]

And some people had their footings, but buried under.

[A]

Yeah. Like, you know, it's like, like, so then. Then they had to pay for it.

[D]

I actually rode around with. With Colonel Swenson, who was in charge in the beginning there, you know, and I asked him flat out, because in our, in our community, we own the streets and we own the curbs. It's a gated community, and so things that get damaged come out of our homeowners association budget. And he was like, I, I, I can, you know, drive around and kind of show face and, and, and, and, you know, introduce myself, but I don't know what subs are on what lots at what times. It was totally at random.

[A]

Oh, I mean, that's what I learned. Project.

[C]

But what you're. But what he's saying. Without them, they're.

[D]

We.

[C]

It would have been even worse.

[D]

But, but, but why would we. Why did we have to, like, let it to chance? Like, you might get a good one, you might get a bad one, I think.

[C]

Why are we even here?

[B]

Oh, no.

[C]

That's all God's time.

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Shopping is hard.

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I don't even know my size.

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[A]

Clorox Clean Feels good. Yeah, that's why I keep wanting to come back to here. Because. And I always said to Heidi, she's like, why do you want to do a lot? I'm like, because if we don't keep doing this, people think Heidi's song was blew up and they're fine, you're rich, I'll do it. She's a pop star. Because everyone's playing, playing it on Tick Tock. You know, it's like, oh, no. If we were rich pop stars, you would see some pilings going in here right now. And so I just want to forever and because I don't see any. I'll be here. So they never can just make this go away because that's what they've done by the no comments if they can always do. No. That's the thing. I'm talking to NBC Nightly News and I'm like, why aren't you calling this battalion chief and asking him if all these firefighters are saying. They said, don't do that. Why don't you ask him why, dude? He's like, oh, we did. They said there's no comments, pending investigations. Like, they only made this investigation because of the LA Times thing. There was no investigation.

[C]

And that was only because of you. Yeah, but honestly, you didn't do what you're doing. Honestly, I don't think a lot this would have just been buried. Nobody would have done. Honest. Honest to God, I don't think. I think you are the sole reason that LA Times article came out that they are doing.

[A]

Oh, because I literally fight with, like, community people that'll, like, call me, message me, and then be like, I think you're being a little too hard on Karen Bass. And I go, excuse me. Like, have you ever heard, like, you don't get lemons from lemonade? Like, dumb old. I'm like. I'm like, lose my number, you stupid idiot. She doesn't care about you. You are wearing dirt lots. You think all of a sudden now, if I'm going to be nicer, we're going to come rebuild our house.

[D]

Thing happens to me. Don't say anything bad about the Army Corps. Don't say anything about this entity. Don't say anything bad about that entity.

[C]

I think we're all entitled to our.

[A]

Oh, my God. But it's like, people. That's. People are scared. Oh, if you tell the truth, they're gonna not do some. What are they not gonna do? They're not gonna burn your house down again.

[C]

Her face. Stupid idiot Plane from Ghana. Her face.

[A]

I will never thank God for that British journalist who's like, don't you have anything to say? And she's just, like, frozen.

[B]

It sucks.

[C]

I mean, people are scared to speak. People are scared about their career. People are scared for their future. But, like, they took mine. They took ev. I feel. I feel like my whole life just got taken, you know, like, give a comment, take accountability, even just say sorry. Like, anything.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, no instead.

[C]

And then go to jail.

[A]

They don't say. They say, we're all healing everyone.

[D]

If they say sorry, that implies some liability.

[A]

They.

[D]

They apologize for something that.

[A]

But they have immunity. So they could. Like, lafd should be. Since they have immunity, they should just be like, the main. Every one of these top people should be, like, writing out what they did wrong.

[C]

I feel so bad. I feel so bad.

[D]

You know how many DMs, some individual firefighters that were giving apologies? They were. Some of them were j.

[A]

People on the foot. I'm talking the higher command. They're not.

[D]

Command is not. No, because they don't.

[A]

I had one on the phone, and he was just like. He was like, it was. It was out. And I go. I just bit my tongue in my head. I'm like, are you the dumbest idiot on planet Earth? Obviously, like, hello, I'm. It wasn't out, buddy. But he was arguing me on the phone.

[C]

I was like, oh, I have people DMing me. Like, those firefighters should have stopped working out at jetty and been up there and taken it on their own. But, like, the fire department is like a military kind of. Like, if they start doing whatever they want, there's no order to things, so that blows up their whole entire structure. You can't do that. Do I wish two of them maybe would have, like, been like, oh, let me go up there with a hose. But they're. But they can't use. They can't use state paid for or city paid for.

[A]

They can't take the engine up there.

[C]

They can't just like, they.

[D]

They can't buy any gas.

[B]

I think if I were a firefighter and I saw that happening, I would take my own mask and I would go with a hose to every house and just try myself. I really do. If I had that equipment, I would just try.

[A]

So there's an argument that because I.

[D]

Went to lunch with my equipment, I'm buying my pumps. I'm never evacuating again. I don't care if the cops show up and try to pull me away. I will never evacuate.

[A]

I mean, you should.

[B]

Spencer was already saying that before with the Malibu fire. He's like, we got to get our own hose. We got to get our own truck, we got to get our own equipment.

[C]

Keegan, come and, like, do a whole assessment.

[D]

I'm going to install.

[C]

I didn't do it because it was so much money. I was like, oh my God, we're out of money.

[D]

You can, you can, you can have these barrels on the side of your house. It lasts for a year. It'll last for a year if there's no water. Water's its enemy. So if you spray it six, you know, in the hotter summer months, it will last through as long as, you know, we don't get a lot of rain here in California, but they. I saw some insane videos of them spraying it on carpet and half the carpet burning and the other half does not ignite. So there's a lot of things now popping up. It looks like milk.

[A]

No matter what. Even with all that. Unless our state starts doing fire breaks.

[C]

Which they used to.

[A]

So if they don't start doing that, if we don't have a real governor come in, get rid of these car people and go after the coastal Commission, all these environmental people, and just literally, you know, be like, no, that is over. It's. We care more about people burning alive than milk velch or a lizard, a green lizard or whatever, which they all die and they all burn.

[D]

So I just had to do a biological report as part of the permit.

[C]

To see, like, what, Like, I don't know, mushrooms aren't coming back.

[D]

Flies and worms and literally things that might be affected by our bill.

[C]

Another two thousand dollars just for.

[D]

It was a two thousand dollar biological report for organisms around the property.

[B]

This is insanity.

[C]

Our architects had never heard of. It's like, I've never heard of it.

[D]

This I've never heard. The first time we've ever heard of anything like it. $2,000.

[C]

What I don't really get.

[D]

We, we, by the way, had a hard time finding someone that even does that report.

[C]

What I don't get is, like, what. What is the goal here? Like, burn us off. Like, what is the goal is to have. Is it for the builders to make money? Is it like, why.

[D]

I think it's all the above.

[C]

Housing.

[D]

California has a housing shortage.

[C]

No, it doesn't. I talked to your dude on the phone. That one guy that you made me.

[A]

Oh, they say, they say that.

[D]

They say there's a shortage.

[C]

There's not.

[D]

And developers want to develop. Developers pay fees and taxes and kickbacks to be approved.

[A]

Keyword.

[C]

So it's just money. Follow the money.

[D]

They need to be approved for these projects and cities have to approve these projects. And so that's what this is about.

[A]

Well, like look at. In Santa Monica, I went to high school with this kid Jesse Zwick, and he was part of the community city council there. And he pushed through this housing stuff. Whatever. Ends up, they find out he was getting paid by one of these lobbyist groups, like over 100k out, you know, whatever.

[C]

That's what it is.

[A]

So then push this into the city council. So now everyone. And it's already through. And then they find out and everyone's all mad. But it's like that Scott Wiener that just pushed SB79 and let's watch how many of these developers bankroll his running for Congress in the Pelosi seat. So it's just like everyone's just getting money and pushing. It's all just like mafia cartel. Yeah.

[B]

Also the international community, they're coming in and buying up our state, our country, everything. It's like the Chinese are coming in and buying it up. Like, like these are enemy territories, quote unquote, that we are, that are coming in and buying up our assets.

[C]

It's scary.

[B]

It is scary.

[C]

Like, where are we going though?

[B]

Right?

[D]

Like, and our city officials are down for all this.

[B]

Oh right.

[D]

Because they, they know that that money is going to trickle to them in the way of developments and city approvals and permits and taxes.

[C]

And they're like, but here's the thing. You guys look at paradise and look at Lahaina. Those the only two that I can compare this to. They're not rebuilt right at all. So who made the money there? Honestly, ask yourself, like paradise more Lahaina.

[A]

Will be, you know, you got, it's like 20 years from.

[D]

It's like really restrictive on what they're allowing, which is how it should be.

[A]

No, I've heard different. That it's like you can't even see what's going on in there. And it's like they took out everyone's land. You know, I got so many people messaging me about that. I like you deal with that, but I think it's more of a long term thing. You know, I don't know about paradise because that isn't like prime thing, but I. Anything on water in Hawaii? Yeah, it's way. It's a bigger picture. Same with palaces. These guys are, they're talking the developer I met with, you know, in a positive thing. They're talking eight years from now. So like right now it Looks like nothing. But it's like, like eight years from now in, you know, it's going to be cook cracking off like.

[C]

So who's coming here for eight million dollar houses?

[A]

The people.

[C]

No, the people.

[B]

Chinese. The. The Russians. Yeah.

[A]

Just to plant, is to plant your money. It's going to be like. And I said, well, how do they make their money? He's like, as long as the lot, they buy whatever. They go buy these lots right now in the books. And they say as long as in three years that lot went up 20%. That is the business model works for them. So on a scale big.

[D]

And right now they have to park money. Yeah, they have enough. They have so much money that they need to park money so that their governments don't take it from them. And that's all written off, the write offs on their books.

[C]

Nobody talks about Malibu. Do you know what I realized a couple days ago? Ago, woolsey burned like 1400 structures. Seven years ago, only 400 homes in Malibu burned in Woolsey. I think only like half of them are rebuilt right now. 700 homes in Malibu burned in the Palisades fire. Something like that. I could have my numbers a little bit off. The Palisades fire impacted Malibu. Double what Woolsey did. And they have I think like four permits.

[A]

I think less even.

[D]

Right.

[A]

Wasn't it. I thought it was like three.

[D]

No, there's, that's.

[C]

Yeah, Malibu.

[A]

And one of them's like a connected person too. I read like a conspiracy to like one of the permits is like tight with that one person. Yeah, like I don't know that one's. So one of them's like.

[D]

But that stuff happens all the. I mean even building in safety here in la, the, the connected contractors get their permits through faster. I mean I've.

[C]

I don't think our. Honestly, I don't think our permit took that long compared to our permit before.

[D]

Two weeks is what they were saying. Two weeks.

[C]

Yeah, it was months, but it wasn't like awful. Now the problem is getting, getting the money.

[B]

So where do you guys go from here? Like where is your store now? Where can people come.

[D]

Our store now support you. Some friends of mine, high school friend of mine who, whose parents lost their home in the Lachin area, also happened to own a commercial building in Santa Monica. They saw what had happened to us and reached out, had their managers reach out and said, we have a space that we think you could use.

[C]

So we've made like a private office as a temporary situation with the host.

[D]

We took a space with Them. My friend's sister and parents both lost their homes in the Lockman area. So we. We took this space from them.

[C]

But the hope was that we come back to the Palisades.

[D]

Yeah, we ultimately want to get back to the Palisades. We just don't know what that looks like or when that will be, but that is our goal. Like, you guys have put your kids in another school. We put our kids in another school system. So we're not sure if we want to uproot them right away and come back. We might open our business and still live where we're living now. We're not sure if we're going to live back in our house even after we rebuild it. You know, we may sell it if.

[C]

We can rebuild it.

[D]

If we can rebuild it. Or we might sell it or we might rent it. You know, we're just. We need to put that investment that we made back. We need that back. And this is the only way to do that, is to rebuild it. To get. If you don't rebuild the insurance companies, you can imagine it's even more difficult to get all the money out of that. We paid for extra endorsements for things like building codes that would change over time or expenses that would go up over time. In order to get all those endorsements in this policy, we have to rebuild. We have to go through the motions to rebuild. Whether we move back or not, we're not sure.

[C]

So many people like us are in limbo right now because it's like the beginning happened and we were all in shock and we were all like. I think there was two ways. It was like, we got to get back or we're out forever. And that we got to get back, people. Well, now we're a year in and there isn't much momentum.

[D]

We weren't able to just jump back. We've now taken some time, and reality is starting to set in after, you know, almost nine months. What. What do we do? What do we do? Well, where do we go?

[A]

He was saying seven years. Seven years. The goal was like, 80 back. So, like I keep telling Heidi, like right now, if I had the money, I would want to put a brand new house here, get my hummingbirds back. Caruso is reopening the Village, which I loved, going to Angelini and Hanks and there's a movie theater. So my world, like my selfish.

[C]

I just need Gelson. Spencer, we need Gelson. Then we can.

[A]

I don't see that happening too soon without.

[D]

No, but you're right, you know, like, I'M fine.

[A]

I could be very happy with my hummingbirds. My house is apocalyptic for you guys.

[D]

You know, your kids are younger. Not saying one situation is better than the other, but your kids are younger, they adapt much, I think a little bit easier. You know, I keep saying young kids are really selfish. Not that, that, not, not that I'm meaning that they're bad or they're selfish, but they're kind of in their own little worlds.

[B]

Right.

[D]

You give him a couple video games and some toys and they can, they can adapt really easy. Our kids are older. You know, I feel like, no, I.

[C]

Think it's more about the relationships. I think it's about to make all these new friends.

[D]

But I think if you ultimately said, heidi, I want to go back, let's go back, let's bring our kids back, I think they would adapt easier.

[A]

Oh, they asked to go back all the time last night. The three year old's asking, honey, when can we go back to my home?

[D]

Yes.

[B]

Doesn't want to go back. Like, he wasn't happy in school here and it was not good for him and he was having meltdowns ago.

[A]

When are we going home?

[D]

Our son says, I never want to go back to the Palisades.

[A]

It's like it changes. But I would be fine. Like kids not included.

[D]

I would be fine too.

[A]

I would be very happy to be back here.

[D]

I would be too.

[A]

And I get.

[C]

They're getting an apartment together.

[A]

No, no. I mean, but what is that like?

[C]

Bye.

[D]

Like, I guess for us being such a community based business that burned down, you know, what does that look like for us? How do we. Where's our community? Where is our, where is our support group that we had that was helping support our business?

[A]

Thankfully, the more wealthier people's houses didn't burn down. So I think you would have Riviera Palisades customers. Well, that's Huntington.

[C]

We were just, you know why?

[A]

Because they had private fire, those private.

[C]

Firefighters and made a line on Amalfi. They did they. And they, they, they had water.

[A]

I heard somebody called and it was 8 gram. They got in all over. I was like, why didn't I get on Google at 10:30 in the morning when I saw flames and just be.

[C]

Like, well, now we know.

[A]

Oh, I know.

[D]

But our business was not all the wealthy people. It was the community. It was people from the churches.

[A]

Rebrand.

[D]

The rebrand. Okay.

[A]

We're talking about, yes, I could have.

[C]

A store here with a million dollar home buyers. It's not my, it's like I was just saying to you, it's like that's not my.

[D]

It changes not your life. Yeah, we. We would be changed. And how does that look? And how would we go about doing that rebrand? You know, Spencer, you're good at the rebrand.

[A]

Oh, I'm just not there. 30 more pounds, but no more burritos.

[D]

We are in a mistake in limbo. We're not sure. We are not sure.

[C]

And it's sad because at the beginning, like all the people that were so die hard, like you two to come home are all kind of like, well, we're good. Firstly, there's a lot that are like, I'm just going to let my lot sit and see what happens. So the people that could bring back a lot of my friends, they. They had enough money to just like Huntington people to just go buy another house in the meantime. A little like, whatever. Better than paying rent anyways. They're just like waiting and seeing. So while they're waiting and seeing, that lot's sitting empty. Or there's people that are like, well, like us. They have to rebuild and then they have to wait and see after too because maybe they've invested in this life in Manhattan beach or Malibu or whatever. And I think a lot of people are in this limbo if they don't know. Yeah, it's.

[B]

It's hard. It's a hard time.

[A]

I would love to be back in the.

[D]

The Palisades and you know, like Spencer said, Pearl Dragon back and moku sushi and let's get it on never Moku sushi.

[C]

Sorry.

[D]

But it's.

[A]

It's.

[D]

It's. It's more complicated than we think.

[C]

But we just were at the Garden Cafe waiting like I was hungry. It worked out the timing and we ran into 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 people we knew. And I just left and I started bawling because as much as like, that's what this. I can try to go make a new life. There is nobody that will share like the bond that we have too, after going through this. Like, even if you get the money, even if you build back now, what is this?

[A]

They got a movie theater at the Village. I would be. Well, I also. I don't like people anymore. So part of me is like, have you ever. Well, I really don't. Let's just be cool. So like, oh, nobody's coming back. Well, I'm gonna.

[B]

It's your kids you gotta think about.

[C]

I just want our Cafe palace, guys. Cafe Palace.

[A]

Oh, that's when we knew Sideways. Once the Chinese Spotlight and Pharmaca. That was the sign that was the writing was on the wall.

[C]

I think Mortz was the real A.

[A]

Long Time Ago video 2010 was a real sign playing Street Fighter in the back of video.

[C]

Do you remember they would make those like fresh croissants every morning. Did you know you guys next to more.

[D]

I mean I ate at Greg's Grill.

[A]

Dog there way back Jacopo's. That's why people come on I remember like oh it's like no the house.

[C]

Is and the people that lived in Alphabet streets for like two bedroom two bathroom houses. Not like 7,000 square foot house on a 5,000 square foot long.

[A]

Now that's all it's going to be.

[C]

That's all it's going to be.

[B]

And here's the drastic park and then there's going to be nine building skyscrapers with affordable housing. Have to it's crazy.

[C]

They have to exempt they have to exempt fire prone areas from SB79 just like they did of they did so.

[A]

Where we're living right now in Santa Barbara. And I felt so good when I read the article because I at least fought SB79 so hard. So I read it and I was like yep, this is what I tried to fight developer right now is trying to put a 200 foot building for affordable housing in an area with the biggest building right now is like and it's not even a building. It's just like a clock is 50ft and that's getting pushed through. And the city council people are saying.

[C]

And Santa Barbara had those horrible fires and mudslides that's there.

[A]

Well this is this is what the argument the city council saying they're saying that they the fire department there doesn't have the water pressure to even hit 200ft and they don't even have the budget to put hook and ladder fire trucks. But that's these things that sb79 wiener and these people don't account when they force these things through where the doesn't give the same city council. And he say it's like there's a lot of factors also like like I was arguing when they were Talking about putting SB79 I'm like well what's the problem? And like okay density will if this is the real thing this New York Times Connor got argued and he's like well people should evacuate on foot. That's the whole point. Like in the movies everyone runs on foot. I was like okay let's I'll stop you there. I'm not even arguing he's like, well right now we knew there wasn't enough water to do the houses already. We're going to add more density when the water system can't already even, you know the.

[B]

And if all of a sudden we don't care about building permits and not having a say, then great, wipe all of our permits and let us all freaking build. And if you don't care and it's no problem and everyone should just be.

[D]

Able to build this excuse of. Of housing.

[B]

They're creating an elitism shortage for themselves is ridiculous.

[D]

Thank you guys for having us on and thank you Spencer for what you're doing.

[C]

We are so proud of you.

[A]

Yeah, we're just getting started too. I'm like getting mad.

[D]

I'm on the team. If you need me for anything, you know I'm here.

[A]

I know. So tomorrow morning you gotta wake up at seven for the congressional hearing to do the tour of the palaces.

[C]

Wait, why do I want to go?

[D]

I'll go. Where is it?

[A]

You tell me where to be my parents house. Cuz there's not a single house even. Oh no. All the way from Swarthmore Via all the way to.

[D]

I was born and raised here. One house. Of all the homes that I've lived in. I'm almost 50 years old. God damn.

[A]

Feel that.

[C]

I've lived in eight homes here. Two.

[D]

All of them are gone.

[C]

My grandma's.

[D]

My main childish home that was on Vida El Solas that I started Pali elementary in first grade and basically went all the way to almost Pali before we moved to the next home. Gone. Every house Jamie and I two are standing a condo. Every house that we ever bought together as a married couple. Gone. The saddest is the house that we just sold to a new married couple who had no kids. They wrote us this beautiful letter. Their parents helped them give them the money to buy the house. 18 months before the fire they just bought the house. Burned. All they had was a dog.

[C]

And they sold the lot.

[D]

And they already sold the lot. They're not coming back. They're not coming back.

[C]

They bought the house for $2.7 million.

[D]

And they sold the lot for 850 grand.

[A]

People are just getting.

[D]

It's a fire sale wiped out.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't know. I hope they had California fair plan at least and like Maybe they got $2 million.

[B]

They probably have to pay their parents back.

[D]

The insurance gives us any more of a hard time. We may have to straight audible.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Take the money. Sell the lot with plans and permits and break and at that point, it would be almost probably impossible for Jamie and I, after losing our business, to buy back in the Palisade.

[C]

You've got to get the lawyer.

[A]

The backup, if we have to, is Bentonville. We're gonna move to.

[C]

Where's that?

[A]

Arkansas.

[D]

I'm literally trying to get myself a ride home from school.

[C]

I'm gonna do half the year in Montana, half the year on Oahu. Because Montana, you only play car registration once in a life. Lifetime. They have good taxes there to pay the taxes in Montana and then winter in Hawaii.

[D]

No, I will take the money from the insurance company and I will.

[C]

That's what a lot of people are doing.

[A]

We may move to Reno also next to Tahoe, I guess that's like a great place. People are moving, like right on the border of Tahoe.

[D]

Is there a lot of trees and bush. Can that burn?

[A]

As long as these people in charge right now, everything can. Bur that's the thing we should end on. I had a call with the guy that's been doing before they ran out of budget, which is they stopped doing. He was a fire commissioner in Palisades that would come and put the notice if you need to, like, trim around your yard. He stopped doing Palisades because of budgets in 2022, because they don't have the funds for these guys to come around from the fire department. And so he said, I don't know why people keep talking about the Palisades. He goes, hollywood is going to burn down. Like, all. He's like, Hollywood's burning. He's like, bel Air, it's burning. He's like, these people have not learned anything from the palaces fire. And it's coming around the corner. Like, maybe next year, all of Hollywood Hills, everything just cooked. And people over in the Hollywood Hills like, oh, the Palisades all about burns. Like, you guys are going to get burned. They're like Bel Air. Like, you guys all putting money behind Newsom and these politicians. You're all gonna lose your Monets and Picassos.

[B]

Thank you guys for coming on. Thank you guys for being such advocates for the community. And I always think about the two of you as leaders of this community and the heart of this community. And really the essence of what made this place so special. And your kids and we absolutely love you. Make sure you guys check out Jamie Geller's jewelry online.

[D]

Also, WW Jam Geller jewelry dot com.

[B]

That's right there.

[A]

Black Friday coming up. And so if you want something special, if you have a ring, you want it sized and you don't want it rushed. You better.

[D]

You don't.

[A]

You better do it fast because it's coming right. Thank you guys.

[D]

Really. Thank you guys. We're so proud of you guys.

[C]

Heidi, so proud of you.

[D]

You are have killed it. We really. Spencer, you're an amazing advocate. Keep blowing the wind behind her sales.

[A]

I know. I got to get back to the music here.

[D]

Okay. Cuz it's really awesome. We are. We are fans. We are straight fans.

[B]

We love you guys. Thank you. And make sure that you stream all my music online please. And pre order Spencer's book the guy you loved past tense to hate. You can pre order it on Amazon on anywhere else that you'd like to pre order things. Thank you for your continual love support. Please give us great comments and reviews.

[A]

Get the merch and if you're watching this on X, thank you so much because X is the only reason we got our first ad. So hey, the podcast is only about a million dollars of debt. Jk. We don't have it. We would have bought pilings. But thank you. If you're here on X, you're very important. Who would have thought X is now like the spot extra special.

[D]

It's okay not to be perfect with finances. Experian is your big financial friend and here to help. Did you know you can get matched with credit cards on the app? Some cards are labeled no ding decline, which means if you're not approved, they won't hurt your credit scores. Download the Experian app for free today. Applying for no ding decline cards won't.

[A]

Hurt your credit scores.

[D]

If you aren't initially approved. Initial approval will result in a hard.

[A]

Inquiry which may impact your credit scores.

[C]

Experian Kay Jeweler's early Black Friday sale is happening now. Get up to 50% off Black Friday deals and up to 40% off everything else. Don't miss this sale. Start your season with savings. Only a K exclusions apply. Ck.com exclusions for details what if the.

[D]

Biggest stories of our time are the ones we're not supposed to hear? Hi there, I'm Ross Coulthardt. I'm an investigative journalist, News Nation special correspondent, and the host of Reality Check with Ross Coulthardt. Every week I take listeners inside the mysteries that mainstream media won't touch. From UAPs and hidden technologies to whistleblowers and secret programs. As a journalist, I take a fact based approach by bringing you exclusive interviews with former intelligence operatives and key witnesses. Get ready for stories focusing on government whistleblowers, UAP or UFOs, military secrecy, stigmatised scientific research, and everything in between. Tune in to Reality Check with Ross Coulthardt on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

Hey, this is Sarah.

[C]

Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m.

[B]

Right now and well, you're sweet and.

[C]

All, but I found something more fulfilling.

[B]

Even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure, you met some of my dietary needs, but they've just got it all, so farewell. Oatmeal so long, you strange soggy.

[A]

Break up with bland breakfast and taste. AMPM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with cage free eggs, smoked bacon, and.

[D]

Melty cheese on a buttery biscuit.

[A]

AMPM Too much good stuff.