Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2025
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS HAHN, BARGER, HORVATH, SOLIS AND DUTRA
Response to Eaton & Pacific Palisades Wildfires
On the evening of Tuesday January 7, 2025 wildfires, propelled by hurricane-force winds, low humidity and dry brush, burned through multiple communities in Los Angeles County. At its peak, six blazes were simultaneously threatening America's most populous county. The Palisades fire, which had started that morning, would go on to burn through more than 23,000 acres, reducing much of a vibrant community to ash, and killing at least eight people. The Eaton fire that tore through Altadena has now ravaged more than 14,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and left at least seventeen dead.
Metro's role in ensuring its customers have access to transportation options during this crisis is critical. For individuals and families displaced by the wildfires, access to free or subsidized transit may prove vital in connecting them to shelters, medical care, workplaces, schools, and other essential services. Expanding Metro's subsidized fare programs, such as the Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) program to include survivors of the recent wildfire disasters for a temporary period may help address these immediate transportation needs while reinforcing Metro's mission of equity and accessibility for all.
At least 19 Metro employees have lost their homes in the wildfires and at least 46 employees have been displaced and will need significant support to rebuild their homes and lives. This includes financial assistance and access to resources as they recover. As the backbone of Metro's operations, assisting our employees during this incredibly difficult time is also an investment in maintaining a resilient workforce capable of sustaining critical transit operations during and after recovery.
Additionally, and with an understanding of the compounding effect this tragedy will have on the existing...
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