Steve Soboroff to Lead LA Wildfire Rebuilding Effort

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that Steve Soboroff, a prominent real estate developer and former president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, will lead the city’s wildfire recovery efforts as chief recovery officer. The appointment comes 10 days after the catastrophic Palisades fire devastated Pacific Palisades, killing at least eight people and destroying more than 3,500 structures.

“Our absolute priority is to return Angelenos to their homes and rebuild,” Bass said during a press conference. “Steve knows our communities, he knows how to activate City Hall, and he knows how to engage the public, business, nonprofit, and philanthropic resources needed for this massive effort.”

Soboroff, a longtime civic leader, has a history of spearheading major projects in Los Angeles, including the development of Crypto.com Arena and the Playa Vista community. He also coordinated the complex move of the space shuttle Endeavour to the California Science Center. “Steve Soboroff’s name is attached to hope,” Bass added. “It is attached to energy, and it is attached to many, many accomplishments.”

The Palisades fire, which ignited on Jan. 7, 2025, has left thousands displaced and caused widespread destruction. Meanwhile, the Eaton fire continues to rage in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles, further straining resources and emergency response efforts.

“People in L.A. are hurting,” Soboroff said. “They are frustrated, like the mayor said. They’re confused. They want to know what they can do today. They can’t get back to their homes to find the pictures of their loved ones. A whole lot of people are out of work, as a community has been wiped off the face of the Earth.”

Soboroff emphasized the importance of hope and collaboration in the rebuilding process. “What we need is and what I hope people will start out with today is hope,” he said. “There is an A-to-Z for each one of us. And ‘A’ is today, and we’re going to get there step by step.”

Bass also announced plans to sign a series of executive orders next week aimed at expediting the recovery effort. “We are going to do everything we can to clear the way so people can get back home,” she said. Additionally, the city will conduct an internal and external review of its response to the disaster, addressing criticisms of fire department preparedness and water availability in the Palisades area.

For those critical of the city’s efforts, Soboroff had a direct message: “If people want to get on the bus with us, get on it. If they want to spend their time throwing embers right now and next Tuesday when it’s windy by spending time on that kind of stuff, just don’t get on our bus.”