Mayor Karen Bass appointed Steve Soboroff to serve as the Chief Recovery Officer for the City of Los Angeles and kick off the city’s large-scale rebuild and recovery effort. Soboroff is charged with recommending a comprehensive city strategy for rebuilding and expediting the safe return of residents, workers, businesses, schools, nonprofits, libraries and parks in areas devastated by the fires that started Jan. 7.

“Our absolute priority is to return Angelenos to their homes and rebuild,” said Bass. “Steve knows our communities, he knows how to activate City Hall, he knows how to engage the public, business, nonprofit and philanthropic resources needed for this massive effort. There is no one better equipped to create our rebuilding plan.”

Soboroff said, “This work is about Angelenos’ collective hope for the future. For every resident, it may be the hope to return to a community they love as soon as possible. For others, it’s how to survive until they get to return to work in this 103-year-old community.  Our mission is to start building a clear, practical and doable path to the Palisades and everywhere help is needed in LA. That work starts now, and we ask for everyone’s positive participation.”