Joel Pollak Profile picture
Jan 9, 2025 8 tweets 3 min read Read on X
Just got back from a visit to the #PalisadesFire, a little over 24 hrs after evacuating. It is NOT safe & there are active fires as well as live power lines. This is what I was able to see & record. (Note: I will be doing a Space here at 8:00 pm PT to describe more fully.) (1/15)
Much of Pacific Palisades is completely destroyed. The Alphabet Streets; the University Streets; much of Marquez Knolls; some homes in the Huntington; much of the Village (with a few exceptions); the El Medio Bluffs; many public buildings. I could not get to the Highlands. (2/15) Image
This is what is left of Tahitian Terrace. The burned car reminded me of damage I saw in Israel after October 7 (though the context is different, and no one died in the Palisades). Fires were still smoldering on the ground and the higher reaches of the road looked dangerous (3/15)
This is my neighborhood, Marquez Knolls. Almost every home is destroyed, with few exceptions. People have lost everything. There are bizarre exceptions: one neighbor’s house is totally gone but his cars outside were untouched. To my neighbors: I am so sorry. No other words (4/15)
This is my house. It is one of the only ones left standing. The ficus trees partly shielded it from the wind. But here’s the incredible thing: my fence melted. I found the garden hose fully extended. Some anonymous neighbor or firefighter fought the fire. That’s Palisades. (5/15) Image
More devastation: Marquez Charter School is apparently destroyed (it was too dangerous for me to get closer). The Presbyterian Church; a house on Las Casas; a home across Palisades Drive off Paseo Miramar. All destroyed. Just a few snapshots of the disaster, still ongoing. (6/15) Image
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Note: due to weak connection the upload was interrupted. The rest of this thread is posted separately @joelpollak.

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More from @joelpollak

Nov 12, 2025
My report from Gaza. We went to an @IDF outpost inside the “Yellow Line,” under Israeli control during the ceasefire. The outpost is surrounded by the neighborhood of Shejaiya, totally destroyed by war. In the distance, Gaza City is largely intact, spared by the ceasefire. (1/7) Image
Before entering Gaza, IDF spokesman @LTC_Shoshani briefed journalists on the situation, noting that Hamas continues to violate the ceasefire, even using supposed searches for hostages’ bodies to plant weapons and explosives. He showed us (censored) maps of tunnels and IEDs. (2/7)
We entered in an IDF truck and with escort vehicles. The situation is still dangerous and we were given instructions about what to do in case of an ambush. Entering Gaza felt like entering a kind of hell, a place some no doubt call home but from which so much evil emanated. (3/7)
Read 7 tweets
Nov 5, 2025
The @LAPDHQ after-action report on the #PalisadesFire has been released. Here are several key points.

TL;DR: Officers diverted to President Biden's visit were unavailable to direct evacuation; there was poor communication/coordination with LAFD.



(1/10)documentcloud.org/documents/2621…
The report confirms what I reported exclusively at the time: that President Biden's presence diverted key LAPD resources, e.g. there were no motorcycle officers available to direct the evacuation: "Unfortunately, the POTUS CP was unable to release the motorcycle officers." (2/10)
The report notes that a decision to create a separate radio frequency for the fire created confusion, as did relocating the command post from Fire Station 23 (which caught fire) to Will Rogers beach. All of these responses, moreover, took place long after the fire started. (3/10)
Read 11 tweets
Jun 11, 2025
.@GavinNewsom told at least two giant lies in his aurally-challenged speech: 1. He claimed the riot started Saturday night after Trump mobilized the National Guard. It started Friday. 2. He claimed the Army parade is for Trump‘s birthday. It’s for the 250th birthday of the Army.
Read 4 tweets
Feb 5, 2025
A brief, politically incorrect thread on why Trump’s proposal for Gaza makes sense. It’s a provocative way to push the Arab world to take responsibility for the Palestinians, rather than the failed approach of placing the entire burden on Israel and the U.S. to compromise. (1/4)
In the early hours after the October 7 attack, many Israelis and supporters of Israel said bellicose things aimed at restoring a sense that there was some kind of deterrent against the genocidal aims of Hamas, when the military deterrent had (for a moment) clearly faltered. (2/4)
In every existential conflict, only mutually assured destruction deters each side from aggression and encourages compromise. Israel’s threat to Hamas — thanks to Biden, and global pressure, and the hostages — was not seen as credible, even as Israel crushed Hamas in battle. (3/4)
Read 4 tweets
Jan 28, 2025
A quick thread on California's water supply issues and the L.A. fires. There is a great deal of confusion on this topic. The 2 concepts are related, but not necessarily in a direct manner. L.A. was not generally short of water; it mismanaged the water supply it already had. (1/9)
Dry, densely-populated Southern California obtains much of its water from wet, sparsely-populated Northern California. It does so through a system of federal & state reservoirs and aqueducts. It also gets water from the Colorado River and, to a lesser extent, desalination. (2/9)
Farmers and municipal water users (household and industry) share the same water sources. In recent decades, the flow has been restricted due to low rainfall and also due to concerns about the delta smelt, the endangered (but easily cultivated) species that Trump talks about (3/9)
Read 9 tweets
Jan 27, 2025
How to return to the Pacific Palisades today, after @POTUS @realDonaldTrump pushed @MayorOfLA @KarenBassLA to let residents back in to see their lots, collect the pieces of their lives, grieve, & start the process of rebuilding. (Thank you, President Trump.) #PalisadesFire (1/10)
1. Enter Lot #3, southbound on PCH in #SantaMonica. (2/10) Image
2. Show your driver's license with your Palisades address. Wait in line. Enjoy the view. (3/10) Image
Read 10 tweets

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