Southern California Leaders Push for Insurance Support After Palisades Fire

Los Angeles officials advocate in Sacramento for more aid for fire victims struggling with insurance claims.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles and Councilwoman Traci Park traveled to the state capitol in Sacramento to meet with representatives from the Department of Insurance and the Governor's Office, advocating for more support and assistance for residents impacted by the deadly Palisades fire that occurred last year. Bass stated that the biggest challenge facing the community is dealing with insurance companies that are reluctant to fully cover the losses sustained by homeowners and renters who had paid into their policies for years.

Why it matters

The Palisades fire caused significant damage and disruption to the local community, and residents are now facing difficulties in getting their insurance claims processed and paid out. This advocacy effort in Sacramento aims to put pressure on the insurance industry to fulfill their obligations to policyholders and ensure the recovery process does not become worse than the disaster itself.

The details

Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Park met with state officials to discuss the rebuilding efforts and the challenges residents are facing with their insurance providers. Bass stated that homeowners and renters expect their insurance companies to pay out on the policies they have been paying into for years, but many are encountering resistance from the insurers. Park emphasized that the recovery process should not be more difficult than the original disaster.

  • The Palisades fire occurred last year.
  • The advocacy efforts in Sacramento took place on Monday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who is advocating for more support and assistance for Palisades fire victims.

Traci Park

A Los Angeles city councilwoman who is also advocating for Palisades fire victims and ensuring the recovery process is not worse than the disaster.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California whose office is being met with by the Southern California leaders.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just want the industry to do what the industry is supposed to do, which is if you've had a policy for years and years and you've paid into that policy when you need it, you expect for that company to pay. And I think that's the challenges that the homeowners, the renters are facing. We want the insurance companies to do what they are set up to do.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (kcra.com)

“The recovery shouldn't be worse than the disaster itself.”

— Traci Park, Los Angeles City Councilwoman (kcra.com)

What’s next

The group plans to continue advocating in Sacramento for more support and assistance from the state government and insurance industry to help Palisades fire victims with their recovery efforts.

The takeaway

This advocacy effort highlights the ongoing challenges faced by communities impacted by natural disasters, particularly when it comes to navigating the complexities of insurance claims and coverage. The leaders are pushing for the insurance industry to fulfill its obligations to policyholders and ensure the recovery process is fair and equitable for all affected residents.