Hahn transfers $5 million from her office to help Rancho Palos Verdes residents amid landslide woes
Responding to landslide issues that have left dozens of homeowners without power and gas, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn transferred $5 million in funds from her office to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes on Friday evening..
"I am urging the city to cut red tape, take the funding I am providing, and get it directly to the residents who need it as soon as possible," Hahn saidin a letter to Mayor John Cruikshank, City Manager Ara Mihranian and members of the City Council. "I am talking to people every day who are not only losing their homes but their entire life savings. This is a crisis, and we need to meet this moment.
"I talk to people every day who are at the end of their rope," Hahn added. "We still need to fight for more state and federal resources. But in the meantime, our residents are getting more desperate every day, and they need this help now."
The $5 million is from her office's discretionary fund, Hahn spokesperson Liz Odendahl said in a Friday evening text message.
In the past, Hahn has estimated that upward of $1 billion in government funding might eventually be needed to address the situation.
The supervisor said she and county leaders would help put together a process that "expedites this assistance" and urged that the dollars not get "caught in any red tape."
"This is a crisis," she wrote, "and we need to meet this moment."
For weeks, Hahn has urged federal and state officials to find ways to help the communities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and encouraged Gov. Gavin Newsom to come see the growing problem for himself. Cruikshank, who could not be reached for comment on Friday evening, has been critical of the state's response, urging Newsom to tour the landslide area.
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the Portuguese Bend area. On Friday, when asked if Newsom plans to visit the landslide area, Daniel Villasenor, a deputy press secretary for the governor, didn't rule it out.
"We'll keep you posted on the governor's travel plans," he said, "but our focus remains on helping the residents there."
Land movement is not new in the region, but the problem deepened after the fierce rains of the past two winters. On Labor Day weekend, more than one hundred homes lost access to gas and electricity amid fears from utility companies that they could not assure their safe delivery on the sifting ground.
Hahn's announcement came hours after the community stood in the national spotlight as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump vowed to help the city. Trump also said the land movement has not affected Trump National Golf Club, his sprawling resort in the city.
"Regarding the slide," Trump said late into the press conference, "we're going to help."
He offered no specifics during the media event.
A dozen Rancho Palos Verdes residents lined up outside Trump's event, carrying signs and donning shirts that bore such slogans as "SOS," "Save Our Homes" and "Slip Sliding Away."
"The problem is bigger than the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, and so it's important that we get the attention and the help of the people of California and of the federal government, so I'm here to thank Trump for having me here today," said Cruikshank, who met with Trump before his press conference at the former president's golf resort in the city.
Rancho Palos Verdes is the largest of four Peninsula cities and closest to the coast. It is home to the 680-acre Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, which has suffered after the two-year rainy season reactivated a deep-seated slide plane — with land moving at a clip of up to 12 inches per week.
Recently, Rancho Palos Verdes residents saw around 200 homes have their natural gas turned off and around 250 lost their power as well.
The city also saw the national historic landmark Wayfarers Chapel dismantled, closed popular hiking trails and has spent $1 million per year on perpetual pavement work on Palos Verdes Drive South.
the impacts of land movement, though, has also seemed to expand to other Peninsula cities recently.
This week, officials announced that natural gas service would be shut off to 35 Rolling Hills homes on Monday as well. SoCalGas, on its website, said "natural gas service will be discontinued to those homes indefinitely," effective around 3 p.m. Monday.
Rancho Palos Verdes officials, meanwhile, said Friday they are advising homeowners in danger from continued land movement on the best ways to stabilize and level their houses.
"Temporary solutions include placing homes on cargo structures and other leveling systems, such as I-beams, installing alternative foundation systems, and using temporary modular housing and storage while repairs are made," according to a city statement. "Permit applications for these projects are now available on the City website at rpvca.gov/building. Fees are being waived during the emergency."
The Ladera Linda Community Center, 32201 Forrestal Drive, is open for extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents affected by the situation can use the facility's resources, including and Wi-Fi.
Updated information on land movement in the area can be found at rpvca.gov/1707/Land-Movement-Updates. Residents can also call 800-250-7339 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for updated information.
City News Service contributed to this report
