Jamie Paige

Los Angeles

Founder at Westside Current

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Articles

The Woolsey Fire Was the Warning, but Failure to Act on Lessons Learned Made Palisades Pay the Price

1 week ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

A firefighter signals for water while a house is engulfed in flames during the 2018 Woolsey Fire. The blaze overwhelmed first responders and revealed deep flaws in Los Angeles County’s emergency preparedness. When the Woolsey Fire ignited on November 8, 2018, it quickly became an “epic” wildfire that overwhelmed the region’s emergency response institutions. In its first critical hours, the fight was hampered by communication breakdowns and a scarcity of air support, equipment and firefighters.
Venice Beach Tapped to Host Olympic Triathlon for LA28

1 week ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

VENICE — It’s official: Venice Beach is going Olympic. In a major shift announced Tuesday, LA28 organizers confirmed that the iconic beachfront neighborhood will serve as the new home of the Triathlon during the 2028 Summer Olympics — relocating the event from Long Beach. The confirmation comes as part of LA28’s most expansive venue update yet, approved last week by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.
Alley-Oop to Recovery: Redick, Caruso, and Bass Team Up for Pali Rec Rebuild

1 week ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

PACIFIC PALISADES — JJ Redick didn’t grow up in Pacific Palisades. He didn’t raise his children here. But on Thursday morning, as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers — and a newly minted Palisadian — he stood before a crowd at the remains of the Palisades Recreation Center to unveil an ambitious plan to rebuild it. In that moment, one thing was clear: he is now one of them.
At L.A.'s Homeless Housing Sites, 911 Calls Reflect a Crisis Within a Crisis

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

As state-funded homeless housing sites expand across Los Angeles, a review of 911 calls, internal records, and community accounts reveals rising violence, untreated mental health crises, and a system struggling to deliver on its promises. LOS ANGELES — The elevator doors at 5050 West Pico Boulevard open onto a hallway scrawled with graffiti. Down the corridor, someone shouts incoherently. A man stumbles past, barefoot and muttering.
Housing for Los Angeles’ Homeless Veterans in Hands of Ninth Circuit Court

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

PASADENA - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments in a high-profile appeal over a federal judge’s sweeping order requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to build nearly 1,800 additional units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused veterans on or near its sprawling West Los Angeles campus. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge David O.
Fixed Incomes, Rising Costs: LA’s Homelessness Tax Draws Fire

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

LOS ANGELES — At 68, Robert Martinez, a retired electrician in Ladera Heights, tracks every dollar of his fixed income with care. His budget covers the essentials — utilities, medications and groceries — with little left to spare. But a recent sales tax increase under Measure A has him worried that life in one of the most heavily taxed cities in the nation may soon become unaffordable. “Life is already tough,” Martinez said.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Storing Asbestos in Temescal Gateway Park Amid Fire Cleanup

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

The material, a known carcinogen, is being removed from homes destroyed in the recent fires. The park—once a frequented spot for hikers and home to local wildlife—is currently closed to the public. Temescal Gateway Park is managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The site serves as an access point to Topanga State Park.
Growing Petition Seeks Relief From Rebuild Fees in Pacific Palisades

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

PACIFIC PALISADES — A growing grassroots campaign is calling on Los Angeles city and county leaders to waive building permit fees for homeowners devastated by the January wildfires. Launched on Change.org, the petition titled “Waive the Rebuild Permit Fees Now!” has gained steady traction. Residents argue that the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LABSD) is imposing “prohibitive and punishing” fees at a time when many are already facing significant financial and emotional hardship.
Heal the Bay Sounds Alarm on Coastal Pollution and Delayed Debris Removal

3 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

MALIBU — A new report by Heal the Bay highlights the urgent need to remove fire-related debris along the Pacific Coast Highway after recent wildfires left behind elevated levels of toxic metals and nutrients in Santa Monica Bay, posing a significant threat to marine life and raising concerns about long-term public health risks.
New Homeless Tax Begins in L.A. as Judge Exposes Two Decades of Spending Waste

3 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

LOS ANGELES — A new quarter-cent sales tax to fund homelessness programs in Los Angeles County takes effect Tuesday — raising the county’s base sales tax from 9.5% to 9.75% — just days after a federal judge publicly questioned how previous funds for homelessness were handled.