Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn Appointed to the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery
Heal the Bay is committed to rebuilding greater L.A. to be more resilient to climate extremes after the devastating 2025 wildfires. As a valued environmental partner for nearly 40 years, Heal the Bay will have a key seat at the table as decision-makers formulate plans on how to rebuild the areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recently appointed Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn as one of the leaders on the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery.
“Los Angeles County cannot afford to simply rebuild what was lost—we must build for the future,” said Supervisor Horvath. “This is our opportunity to rethink how we design communities, fortify infrastructure, and protect lives from the growing threats of the climate crisis. The Blue Ribbon Commission will ensure that we lead the way in creating fire-safe, climate-resilient communities that will stand for generations. Our communities are invited into this process led by Los Angeles’ leading experts across academia, urban design and sustainability, environmental justice, housing, and finance.”
Quinn’s appointment ensures that Heal the Bay can provide guidance on how to rebuild devastated communities in a way that balances the needs of residents, ecosystems and coastal waters. She is one of only two people on the commission representing ocean, coastline and watershed interests. You can see the full list of commission members here.
The Commission will provide expert-driven recommendations focused on:
• Fire-safe reconstruction: Implementing fire-resistant materials, defensible space strategies, and climate-smart building standards.
• Resilient infrastructure: Undergrounding utilities, expanding water storage and conveyance, and hardening power grids.
• Faster rebuilding: Identifying resilient home designs and systems that could be pre-approved to expedite reconstruction and financial incentives to support rebuilding.
• Equitable recovery: Reducing the risk of displacement, ensuring affordable insurance, and prioritizing support for vulnerable communities.
The Commission will hold its kick-off meetings Friday, February 28, 2025, and Saturday, March 1, 2025, and release its first set of recommendations within three months, outlining proposed steps for fire-safe reconstruction and long-term climate adaptation strategies. The Commission meetings will engage community voices to help shape the resilient rebuilding and recovery recommendations.
“By working together with local decision-makers, environmental leaders, and the communities of Los Angeles, I believe we can recover from this terrible climate event and begin to heal L.A., coming back even stronger,” said Quinn. Heal the Bay is committed to working tirelessly to renew the region with resilience.”
More Information
Fact sheet on Blue Ribbon Commission | Blue Ribbon Commission Website – UCLA