In Malibu, the fire is over but the math has just begun

The Palisades Fire didn’t just destroy Malibu homes.It is quietly changing who will own Malibu for generations to come.Drive Pacific Coast Highway today and the devastation remains impossible to miss.

Charred foundations.Empty lots.

Construction sites surrounded by reminders of what was lost.Most people assume the problem is government moving too slowly.That’s only part of the story.

The real story is arithmetic.The California Post’s reporting makes that clear.One homeowner faces a $7 million rebuilding bill.

Others have concluded rebuilding isn’t financially possible.They aren’t walking away because they stopped loving Malibu.

They’re walking away because the numbers no longer work.Government has plenty to answer for.Every unnecessary permit.Every avoidable delay.

Every bureaucratic hurdle imposed on wildfire victims should be eliminated.People who have already watched their homes burn shouldn’t spend years fighting agencies before they can rebuild or move on with their lives.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story The slowdown matters because delay is not merely inconvenient.

It is expensive.Homeowners keep paying taxes, carrying vacant lots, hiring specialists and making living arrangements while construction prices move against them.

Every delay also adds uncertainty.No homeowner knows whether the final price tag will be another $500,000 or another $2 million.

For many, that’s reason enough to sell.Along the beach, rebuilding may require structural, civil, septic and geotechnical engineers, plus decisions about seawalls, utilities and access from Pacific Coast Highway.

The Post found only 61 homes being rebuilt out of more than 1,000 permits involving damage, repairs, debris removal and structures.Every month gives another...