Newsom announces private-sector initiative to rebuild L.A. after fires

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the launch of LA Rises, a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts led by the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the State of California. 

Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, business leader and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president, will lead the philanthropic effort.

Walter, the Mark Walter Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation have provided an initial commitment of $100 million. 

LA Rises will provide major resources aimed at helping Los Angeles communities most affected by these catastrophic fires recover and rebuild.

“My focus will be Altadena,” Johnson said in the conference, who said people could get left behind. “I wanna make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Newsom reiterated that the Altadena community will also be assisted through the initiative. “Don’t forget about Altadena,” Newsom said, it is “one of the most vibrant communities …That community needs to be protected and come back.”

“Los Angeles will rise again — stronger, more united and more resilient than ever,” Newsom said. “Just as California came together to fight the fires, we’ll work together to rebuild. With Mark, Earvin and Casey’s proven leadership and deep commitment to Los Angeles, we’ll tap into the enormous creativity, experience and resources of the private sector, alongside local, state, and federal efforts, to deliver a recovery that benefits all Angelenos.”

The initiative will marshal the full resources of the private sector to rebuild Altadena, Pasadena, the Pacific Palisades, and all impacted communities. 

“The L.A. fires have wreaked havoc on L.A.’s neighborhoods,” Walter said. “It’s time for those with means to come forward and make a positive impact to build back better."

As part of the unified effort, city and county leaders are crafting recovery plans for their communities. The state is mobilizing its resources and scale, coordinating with the federal government, and removing red tape. LA Rises will galvanize the private sector to unlock additional capital and find new and innovative tools to help communities build back faster and stronger.  

“This is a time for bold action,” Johnson said. “We’re bringing together the best resources and biggest hearts across California to ensure that every Angeleno — no matter their race, socioeconomic status or neighborhood — has a chance to rebuild and thrive. This isn’t just about recovery; it’s about restoring communities while also making them more resilient and better than before.”