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As stars in one of California’s wealthiest areas protest against toxic waste disposal following devastating fires, the mass destruction of LA’s poorer communities highlights the inherent elitism of environmental discourse.
Los Angeles is still recovering from some of the most devastating fires in its history, which burnt through the Pacific Palisades community at the beginning of January and continued for a number of weeks.
By the time the fires were contained, over 10,000 structures had been decimated, leaving thousands of residents homeless, more than 35,000 acres of land destroyed and unfathomable personal, cultural, and economic losses.
Fingers of blame have been pointed at the Los Angeles fire department and local government in the aftermath, with many questioning how prepared local authorities were for the disaster. News outlets have reported that just under a year ago in May 2024, the LAFD’s budget saw a $17.5 million budget cut.
Department chief Kirstin Crowley has also faced criticism after documents revealed she’d decided not to keep some 1,000 firefighters on extra duty as their shift ended hours before the fires broke out.
The culmination of this hostility has been a swathe of heated debates about how best to move forward in repairing the damage to LA communities, both physically and emotionally.
Reports have shown that the fires have disproportionately impacted Latino and other underserved LA communities, where around 17% of residents work in outdoor occupations like construction, and are therefore more vulnerable to respiratory illness from smoke inhalation, and income loss due to work disruption.
And yet one of the biggest talking points amongst LA’s rich and famous has been the disposal of wildfire debris during clean-up efforts. As it stands, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved an income of daily dumping limits at three landfills, including one site in Calabasas – one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the county.
The debris includes ash, soil, and the remnants of destroyed homes, and is expected to be dumped in the Calabasas landfill in order to aid in the expansive clean-up efforts within Palisades and Eaton Fire burn zones.
But Calabasas residents have been protesting the plans, which they believe poses a threat to the health and safety of their children and local wildlife. Said residents are largely made up by celebrities who reside in the affluent neighbourhood, and are using their social media platforms to push back against local government.
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‘We’re here to make it known we’re not okay with this. Toxic chemicals and ash do not belong here in a community where there’s kids and families – and people work here,’ said Kourtney Kardashian, who has been vocal about the issue on Instagram.
Dressed in sweatpants, Kardashian had joined fellow Calabasas residents to voice concerns over potential health risks associated with the landfill’s expanded use. She shared photos to social media displaying signs that read ‘Protect Calabasas, no toxic fire waste!’, with a lengthy caption detailing the environmental efforts within the community and concerns over the health threats any debris may pose to locals.
