Photo: Getty Images
Altadena residents are declaring their property is "not for sale" as they recover from the wildfires that raged across Southern California.
On Sunday (February 16), several dozen residents protested against displacement at the intersection of Woodbury and Lincoln, declaring that "Altadena is not for sale," per NBC Los Angeles.
"We don’t need anyone to come in and buy our homes, we just want to rebuild and get back into our properties," resident Maria Sanchez said.
Altadena, a historically Black community, was one of several areas around Los Angeles County hit by the deadly wildfires last month. The Eaton Fire burned over 14,000 acres in Altadena and parts of Pasadena. Over 9,400 structures were destroyed and at least 17 people were killed.
Sunday's protest was led by “Altadena Not For Sale," a group aiming to help homeowners restore what was lost in the Eaton Fire and preserve the city's legacy.
"Altadenans have been here for generations, and they shared their generational wealth with each other. And the way to have wealth is with property, and we’re afraid that if they sell their land, they’re going to lose their wealth," Melissa Michelson, Altadena Not For Sale Organizer, said.
Residents said they're fighting against large developers seeking to come in and build large-scale residential projects unaligned with the city's character and history.
"We were getting phone calls almost right away, but we were advised by a lawyer to remind them that it is against the law," Sanchez said. "Do you know if you are going to rebuild, do you want to rebuild', and when I would answer they would be 'oh you don’t need to go through the hassle you can just sell and buy yourself a new home.'"
Altadena Not For Sale is currently trying to work with contractors will restore the historical architecture of the community and continue on its legacy.
"Don’t give up, you’re not alone and we’re not for sale," Sanchez said.
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