What Can We Do?

Now is the time to bring the "right noise."

It was posed to me yesterday, maybe it is time to “get a post out there which is a little more explicit with instructions to people about what can be done.”

It was also joked that “we know you like to put up posts so get on it.”

Yes, I am enjoying the discussion, and yes, the last thing you want to do is ask me about the “rebuild” because I can go on, and on, and on. My wife just walks away when someone asks, knowing it is going to be “that conversation.”

Still, as readers know, we continue to have the “big Mo” as they say in sports. You pour it on when you have it. Our Assemblyman did it getting AB 797 through the Appropriations Committee, which is essentially “where bills go to die.” That was a big moment. He did what he needed to, showing how important these measures are to him. He deserves huge a huge “atta boy” from the constituency. It was a big step. A freshman got a wonky bill through the biggest filter in Sacramento. Now it is your turn Senator Perez.

We are also getting interest in Washington about the Opportunity Zone solution.

Crucially, Opportunity Zones are bipartisan, which means Democrats and Republicans can support it. Republicans will pass the Budget Bill themselves, so Democrats are a “side car” but also need to support it.

Why are Opportunity Zones helpful? We need the support to get additional sources of funds besides the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) into our area to rebuild quickly. It gives us another lever to “pull” when the time comes for mixing up the financial stack.

We need to get our economic engine going. Opportunity Zones allow us multiple avenues to get there. We can buy real estate, but most important, we can buy and invest in businesses, and workforce is something the original authors want to see the Program used to expand much more than it has in the past. Alongside CRA, the two can be very valuable to rebuild and further develop our community in ways only imagined but never executed.

So what can our residents do? I will bullet the “noise” so you can quickly find what needs to be done. We are at that point.

• Call and email the Speaker’s Office in the Assembly (Robert Rivas) and let them know we need AB 797 to get through the Assembly ASAP.

• Call and email Senator Perez and Senator Allen’s office and let them know that we have a path to get to funding to our communities. Let’s get behind AB 797 as it is on the verge of getting what we need.

• Call Congresswoman Chu and Congressman Sherman’s office along with Senator’s Padilla and Schiff to work with the Republicans (I know), to get alternate sources of funding in to Altadena. Opportunity Zones are a great way to get there. The current Budget Bill is in the Senate and can include Opportunity Zones with the language we laid out in this post. The language is key. It shows an understanding of the landscape and how we can get the bill through without affecting other “asks” in the budget.

We can talk about philanthropy later, right now, it is about getting these two pieces moving. I still want to get philanthropy into the Opportunity Zone conversation as it could be a huge move for our community to unlock further funds from them and potentially put our County and State on a stronger footing considering the budget situation in Washington these day, but let’s get these two pieces going now.

The time has come for the “right asks.”

These are not “aspirational.”

They are real. They are tangible. They do not cost anyone anything, but the effects are huge for our community and beyond. The asks give a clear direction and clear result. The rebuild will not be “easy,” but it could be very effective if we get these pieces in place.

Yes, there are other agendas people are working on.

But, we need the money, plain and simple. These are the path to get the funds unlike anything else being proposed.

It is not going to be “granted” to us. Let’s hear what people are saying. Let’s listen to their words. Let’s process and not deny what is the reality on the ground.

If you need more proof, just look in the media. The Administration is denying additional payments to other, friendlier, swing states, so the conclusion of the operation in July with the Army Corps is a very real risk to California. We got a great start under Biden. The current Administration kept it going. Do not look the gift horse in the mouth.

Let’s look over the horizon and set ourselves up for the next stage. Now is the moment in DC with the big budget bill. The Federal bill will pass by July 4th, so the time is now. Sacramento is moving. We need to also pressure them to get the bill through the remaining stages of the process.

Yes, two paths. Yes the hill to climb is ambitious. Sacramento and Washington at the same time. Most people would say, “you are crazy.” Crazy like a fox.

It is doable folks. Nobody said it was going to be easy. This is how it works. Get on the phone. Write letters. Make those asks. Let people know you care. The table is set and the door is open. We got it there. Now it is your turn. Let’s keep it coming.

I am including sample letters for you to e-mail the offices (you can cut and paste the letters for distribution), but the phone calls are crucial. They get the attention. You cannot just file a phone call, you have to actually physically have that conversation.

There are more battles to come, but here is something we can do now to get us set up for the future.

Sample letters:

Senator Perez or Senator Allen:

I am writing you today to express my (or our group’s) support for AB 797, the Community Stabilization Act, and its potential to help stabilize our community. The fires of January 7 have been devastating to Altadena, [Palisades] and we need to find alternate solutions to ensure those most vulnerable are given opportunities to sell their property at fair market prices. AB 797 gives us those options.

We understand there are challenging budgetary situations in Sacramento right now, so the path envisioned in AB 797 allows for an alternate funding source to get us where we need to be while giving the community the say it needs.

Please help us by working to move AB 797 through the California Senate as soon as possible so we can get the tools we need here on the ground.

Very Truly Yours,

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Dear Congreswoman Chu/Congressman Sherman/Senator Padilla/Senator Schiff:

I (we) am (are) writing in support of including Opportunity Zones in the newest budget bill HR 1, aka the Big Beautiful Bill. The inclusion of disaster areas temporarily to Opportunity Zones unlocks a critical source of funding to assist our community in rebuilding and prospering in the wake of these devastating fires.

The language below should allow for Opportunity Zone funds to come to our community and not affect the overall Budget Resolution.

Investments in qualifying tracts shall be afforded the benefits of permanent Opportunity Zones except as defined below.

a. For those census tracts included because of the Stafford Act declaration, there is no reduction in deferred gains invested in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds, but the tax shall be deferred to:

i. When a gain is realized in the Opportunity Zone investment; or

ii. 7 years after the original investment is made; or no later than

iii. December 31, 2033.

b. Treatment of investments shall be in accordance with the current Opportunity Zone Fund gain realizations.

We understand there will be multiple sources of funds to rebuild our city, but the above is a simple change to the current program and renewal, a change which has bipartisan effects and potentially a transformative option for Altadena [Palisades] and beyond.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Very Truly Yours,

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