The Pacific Palisades, a wealthy Los Angeles community, suffered massive damage during recent wildfires, with over 6,800 structures destroyed. Its affluent residents, averaging a household income of $375,000, have significant political connections, enabling them to influence recovery efforts. Research suggests wealthier communities rebound more effectively post-disaster, and this may lead to an even more exclusive and expensive Palisades as it rebuilds. Sociologist Max Besbris noted that these residents' power allows them to dictate recovery terms, reflecting broader issues of economic and social inequality in disaster response.
I suspect that because these are pretty wealthy households with a lot of economic and also political power, they're going to be able to dictate the terms of their own recovery, Dr. Besbris said.
The sheer concentration of affluence coupled with the frustration that the government's response to one of the biggest American catastrophes in recent history has been inadequate could greatly shape the future of the Palisades.
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