Palisades restaurant worker who lost his job due to fires seeks tenant protection

David Marquez has been working for the past six years at the Porta Via restaurant in Pacific Palisades. Last year, he started another part-time job in a restaurant across the street called Pearl Dragon. Despite the long drive from his home town of Downey to the Palisades, Marquez enjoyed his jobs. He could make ends meet at home, where he lives with his partner and 93-year-old grandfather, and send money to support his two children in Mexico. 

On the morning of January 7, while he was driving, he received a message from his co-workers' group chat saying there was a fire nearby. He didn’t pay much attention until later, when the manager sent another message saying those working the evening shift didn’t have to show up because the fire was getting closer and the restaurant would close.

“At first I just thought [it was a] night off for me and I’ll be back to work tomorrow,” said Marquez.

However, as the hours passed, and the employees kept monitoring the situation, they realized this was not an ordinary fire. By Wednesday morning, Marquez saw the flames were out of control.

Porta Via Palisades and Pearl Dragon are located in the Palisades Village, a shopping center owned by developer and former Los Angeles mayor candidate Rick Caruso. While he was able to save the plaza because he hired private firefighters, businesses are not likely to  reopen anytime soon because hundreds of burned-out structures surround the plaza.

Marquez said the owner of Porta Via told the employees they were looking for a new location to move to. 

“I have no idea how many homes were burned, but I know they were a lot,” said Marquez.

As of February 5,Cal Fire report showed the Palisades fire burned 23,448 acres, destroyed 6,831 structures and killed 12 people.  

While Marquez is safe at home, he worries about his future. He has been trying to get another job, but despite submitting several applications, he hasn’t received a callback. 

“I know it’s very difficult to get a job because a lot of people lost their jobs and are also looking,” said Marquez.

With his recent income tax return, he was able to pay rent for the month of February, send money to his children and pay important bills, but now he has no clear plan for the future.  

In support of tenant protections

Keep LA Housed, a coalition of tenant advocacy groups, is asking Los Angeles elected officials to protect renters from the physical and economic damage that has occurred. 

A report from the Rent Brigade showed that a few days after the fires occurred, rent prices near the burned areas skyrocketed up to 80% from their original listings before January 7. Since then, new listings have been priced at 315% of Fair Market Rent, nearly double the legal limit. 

On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council Housing and Homeless Committee approved a set of additional protections for tenants affected by the wildfires. These include banning evictions through January 2026 for non-payment of rent and suspending rent increases for additional occupants in a unit. The protections do not include a rent freeze and are not a rent moratorium.

The committee also approved developing a rental assistance program for small landlords and requesting a report on a formula to determine who is a small landlord based on taxes. It also directs the City Attorney and City of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to make a list of acceptable documentation for proof of impact to ensure only those in need receive the help. 

Shane Henson, attorney with Inner City Law Center and member of Keep LA Housed, said the motion, sponsored by Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunises Hernandez, still has to go for a full vote with the Los Angeles City Council. They hope it happens within the next week. 

While these protections are only for tenants who live in the City of Los Angeles, Henson said they are also trying to get the L.A. County supervisors to approve similar measures. 

“This isn't just a crisis affecting where the fires occurred,” he said. “Folks are trying to move all over L.A. County to find housing. So this affects the entire county, affects the city, and moreover, people who worked in these areas.”