In his final week as the fire recovery czar for Los Angeles, Steve Soboroff has raised significant concerns regarding his exclusion from high-level planning related to the Palisades fire recovery efforts. Soboroff questioned the decision of Mayor Karen Bass in appointing him to such a pivotal position, particularly as rebuilding efforts remain in flux. The longtime civic leader, known for his forthright communication style, was initially hired for a three-month term with a $500,000 salary, later deciding to forgo compensation after backlash from residents.
Soboroff’s role, which was announced with notable enthusiasm in mid-January, was aimed at establishing a comprehensive strategy for the rebuilding process. However, his responsibilities were greatly diminished soon after his appointment.
“They haven’t asked me to do anything in a month and a half, nothing, zero,” Soboroff disclosed during a candid, 90-minute exit interview with The Times. Despite his diminished role, Soboroff maintained that he worked long hours to support the rebuilding efforts following a fire that tragically killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures. He acted as a facilitator, utilizing his extensive experience as a developer and a vast network of contacts to assist the community.
A striking indicator of his marginalization occurred within weeks of his appointment when Mayor Bass failed to inform him about the decision to reopen the Palisades to the public. When a reporter reached out for comment, Soboroff was caught off guard and openly criticized the decision. The following day, Bass reversed her decision amidst mounting criticism from City Councilmember Traci Park and other officials.
Bass commented on Soboroff’s contributions, stating at a public event in Pacific Palisades, “I have known Steve for years and years, and he’s not going to be that far away, so he knows I will stay in contact.” She asserted that Soboroff had laid a “great foundation” in his role, even though he was notably absent from the event.
When questioned about his exclusion from the city’s recovery planning, Soboroff suggested that he may have been deemed “too aggressive” by the mayor’s office. Despite his diminishing responsibilities, he expressed interest in extending his contract beyond the initial 90 days.
Soboroff declared, “I wasn’t invited to press conferences either,” adding that he was too focused on the work at hand to care about who received credit. He emphasized that he was dedicated to ensuring necessary work was completed, regardless of recognition.
Soboroff indicated he had undertaken significant coordination efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Army Corps of Engineers, introduced mental health specialists to the community, and resolved logistical issues, such as facilitating a temporary relocation for Palisades Charter High School to a former Sears building in Santa Monica.
On Thursday evening, a representative for Mayor Bass, Zach Seidl, acknowledged that Soboroff had sent “confusing messages to residents” but noted gratitude for his service. He emphasized Bass’s commitment to achieving the fastest disaster cleanup in California’s history.
Soboroff, who has deep ties to the Pacific Palisades, previously ran for mayor in 2001 and was a vocal supporter of Bass during her successful 2022 campaign. His extensive experience in Los Angeles includes instrumental roles in key developments such as Crypto.com Arena and Playa Vista, along with service on the Police Commission and other city boards.
In reflecting on his appointment and subsequent treatment, Soboroff speculated whether Bass’s decision to select someone of his demographic—an older white developer with established connections in affluent circles—was a strategic move to garner political support in the Palisades, a wealthy area that had favored Bass’s opponent, Rick Caruso, in the last election.
Following backlash over his $500,000 salary, Soboroff expressed frustration at a private gathering at Harvard-Westlake School, suggesting he had been misled. After audio of his comments was leaked, he retracted his statements and later received a link to a Times article discussing his remarks from the mayor, which included a simple “wow” and a shrug emoji.
In the exit interview with The Times, Soboroff refrained from directly criticizing Bass but praised her staff. However, he raised concerns about Hagerty Consulting, an Illinois-based firm the mayor had engaged to lead the fire recovery efforts. The firm was contracted for up to $10 million to assist with infrastructure restoration and environmental mitigation over a year-long period.
Soboroff expressed that he felt the city should have hired the global engineering firm AECOM instead, arguing that Hagerty representatives struggled to clarify their scope of work during community stakeholder meetings.
“I said to them, ‘You’ve been asked twice by two different people what you’re doing, and you didn’t give an answer. I think your contract’s for millions of dollars a month. But you didn’t give an answer. So I just would recommend that you guys communicate a little better,’” Soboroff recounted. Two attendees of the meeting, who requested anonymity to speak freely, corroborated his account.
When questioned about the implications of his lack of knowledge regarding the city’s primary recovery consultant, Soboroff candidly responded, “F— A.” He affirmed that he was underscoring a significant issue.
Soboroff described AECOM’s presentation as “one of the best presentations ever done in the world about anything,” contrasting it with what he deemed as “among the worst presentations ever done in the history of the world” from Hagerty.
As his tenure comes to an end, community feedback sits on a spectrum, highlighting mixed opinions regarding Soboroff’s performance. Joseph Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and a fire survivor himself, commended Soboroff’s ability to unify stakeholders and navigate challenges effectively. He acknowledged that Soboroff could be verbose but affirmed that his focus was on achieving results.
In contrast, Maryam Zar, chair emeritus of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, suggested that if Soboroff felt excluded, it may have been due to his failure to meet community expectations adequately. Zar noted that Soboroff often struggled to provide the information residents sought and lacked engagement with city officials.
As he prepares to step down on Friday, Soboroff voiced concerns that city officials repeatedly assured him that operations were “under control” without offering specific details. He highlighted a pressing issue regarding the thousands of gas and electric meters needed as homes are rebuilt—pointing out potential delays if orders had not yet been placed. Soboroff argued for the city to expedite the permitting and inspection process specifically for the Pacific Palisades area.
Additionally, he mentioned that the technology firm Palantir had developed a comprehensive informational app for recovery efforts, now “three-quarters built,” for which the company was willing to operate for free for five years—potentially saving the city around $5 million annually. However, Soboroff criticized city officials for stalling on the necessary paperwork.
Bass’s office did not respond when approached about Soboroff’s concerns. At the public gathering in the Palisades, Bass indicated that the city is currently in the process of appointing a new chief recovery officer.
Soboroff expressed surprise that city officials did not consult him regarding his successor but acknowledged he learned about the headhunting efforts of firm Korn Ferry shortly after their initial outreach. He remarked, “This is my town. You don’t think people are going to call me?”
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-11/steve-soboroff-bows-out-as-fire-recovery-czar
