The devastation to our city and community is unthinkable. The colossal efforts of our Los Angeles Fire Department cannot be overstated, and lives, homes, and businesses have been saved thanks to their unwavering commitment to fighting a good fight. But this fight is far from over. Due to budget deficits in the Los Angeles Fire Department, which left them under-resourced, the inconceivable has become reality.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Crowley and her team of firefighters and paramedics are desperately in need of funding. Today, Tina and I pledge $5 million to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, to be used at its discretion, so that Chief Crowley and her team can continue their heroic work across the City and the greater Los Angeles area. I am calling on all of those who are blessed with the means to give back at any level and respectfully ask you to join in reaching the goal of $20 million in donations for the Foundation.
This funding will ensure essential equipment reaches our emergency responders, including structure fire helmets, personal protective equipment, bulldozers, and multi-functional fast response vehicles that are utilized in both firefighting and medical triage. Together, we can send critical support to the front lines and protect our community from further catastrophe and hopefully prevent another one in the future.
The outpouring of support the city has seen over the past week gives me hope that when we stand together, we win. My family and I are so grateful for all this city has given us and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Angelenos.
Let’s stay diligent, steadfast, and committed to saving and rebuilding. Please visit supportlafd.kindful.com to donate.
God bless our great city,
Rick
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LA Can’t Afford to Wait - The Private Sector Must Lead the Rebuild
Los Angeles is my home. I raised my family here and I’ve spent my life building here, creating spaces where people come together. And now, in the wake of the Palisades and Eaton Fires, I’m watching entire communities fight to survive. This is the single biggest disaster LA has ever faced—entire neighborhoods erased, over 40,000 acres reduced to ash, and more than 11,000 homes lost. The economic toll is staggering—more than $250 billion—and it won’t stop at LA’s borders. LA is one of the largest economies in the world, and when this city takes a hit, the entire country feels it. (1/8)
And let’s be honest: government moves too slowly. We’ve seen it before—bureaucratic gridlock, outdated processes, and endless delays hurting people who need help now. The reality is, our existing systems weren’t built to handle a catastrophe of this scale. Families can’t afford to wait months, let alone years, for solutions. Business owners can’t put their lives on hold. We need speed, innovation, and most importantly, transparency and accountability—to ensure that every step of this process is clear, efficient, and in the best interest of the community. (2/8)
That’s why I launched Steadfast LA—to bring together the best minds, the strongest resources, and the boldest solutions to rebuild our city. The crisis response playbook we’ve been relying on was written decades ago: in a world before AI, real-time data analytics, and advanced building technology. But we have those tools now, and we must use them. The private sector thrives on cutting through inefficiency and getting things done. That’s exactly what LA needs right now. Our coalition is leveraging the resources of major companies in design, financing, technology, and real estate development to do what government simply can’t do fast enough—like burying power lines to reduce future fire risks and streamlining rebuilding with AI. We need leaders who specialize in execution, working alongside the government but not waiting on it, to tackle these challenges head-on. (3/8)