Newsom rolls out major LA players to assure that LA Rises anew
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as Stan Kasten, Casey Wasserman, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom hugs Earvin “Magic” Johnson as Casey Wasserman looks on during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom hugs Casey Wasserman during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Casey Wasserman, and Stan Kasten pose for a photo after a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Casey Wasserman speaks as Gov. Gavin Newsom, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Stan Kasten listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Casey Wasserman speaks during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Casey Wasserman share a moment as Earvin “Magic” Johnson stands nearby during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as Stan Kasten, Casey Wasserman, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, and Casey Wasserman listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom hugs Earvin “Magic” Johnson as Stan Kasten , and Casey Wasserman, look on during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks as Stan Kasten ,Casey Wasserman, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Casey Wasserman speaks as Stan Kasten, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Gov. Gavin Newsom listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks as Stan Kasten, Casey Wasserman, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson listen during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, to announce the launching of a program called LA Rises. The new public-private initiative was created to support Los Angeles as it recovers and rebuilds from recent firestorms. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a program called LA Rises on Tuesday, aiming to provide financial support from the private sector to rebuild areas devastated by the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires. The governor enlisted some genuine L.A. heavyweights, including Magic Johnson and Casey Wasserman, to launch the effort.
LA Rises anticipates raising funds for resources mined at helping Los Angeles communities his hardest by the fires, such as Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, Sylmar, West Hills, Castaic and throughout Southern California.
The program will also work to bring spirit and pride back to communities as they begin recovery efforts, officials said.
“This effort is about spirit, pride, it’s about those intangibles, the things you can’t legislate,” Newsom said at a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Dodger Stadium. “We have to rebuild the sense of spirit and pride in the region and connect the dots between cities that have been impacted, communities that have been devastated and the larger L.A. County and region.”
LA Rises vows to tap via collaboration, access to capital and financial tools plus private-sector investments to drive a faster recovery. It will support broader recovery efforts by fundraising and expanding access to philanthropic and private capital, and formulating financing strategies to close gaps between available resources and the cost to rebuild, according to a press release.
“It’s around focusing on our sustainable pathway to recovery and rebirth, addressing certainly all the situational challenges that we continue to face as it relates to getting people back into their homes,” Newsom said, “getting that debris removed, getting those permits processed and getting those homes rebuilt.”
The unified recovery initiative combines relief efforts by the state and the city and county of L.A. Newsom enlisted Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, business leader and Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president, to lead the way and recruit other heavy hitters.
“L.A. and California are special places, and what makes them special is that they are built on the private sector and the public sector,” Wasserman said during the press conference. “It’s what makes this place unique. It’s what allows the things that happen here to continue to be world-breaking and extraordinary. That’s what this effort requires. The private sector has to come together, both operationally and philosophically, as part of the rebuild, and in many ways, the rebirth of L.A.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she welcomes the initiative and the support from state and private sources. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the support generated by LA Rises will play a vital role in the rebuilding efforts.
“I know for me this is something that I’ve never seen since I’ve been here over 45 years, but we can come together and make things better, not just for those areas but for the entire city,” Johnson said. “My focus will be on Altadena because those people may be left behind and I want to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”
The announcement of LA Rises is just the beginning, Newsom said. Determining how donations and resources are distributed will be up to what the communities determine are the biggest priorities, and the program will hold itself to a high level of transparency and accountability to communicate to lay out short-, medium-, and long-term commitments, he added.
In the coming weeks, LA Rises will be hosting community meetings to determine each area’s needs, Johnson said.
Donations for the program have already begun. The Mark Walter Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation have provided an initial commitment of up to $100 million, officials said.
“I’m urging all these businesses, companies and individuals who have money to do the same,” Johnson said. “Please help us to help others. Let’s reach back and give back and help so many people who have been affected by these fires.”
In addition to the financial commitment from the Mark Walter Family Foundation, and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, LA Rises will receive financial support from California Rises, a statewide recovery initiative founded by Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom after the 2018 Camp Fire.
“I know people feel helpless,” Newsom said. “The pain, trauma, anxiety, loss of community, loss of identity, self, place, traditions, lifestyles, all of that cannot give way to hopelessness. And what LA Rises is about is rising out of that and providing a mindset of optimism, that it is achievable, that it is possible, that we can come back more climate resilient, and come back stronger.”
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