TODAY 10a: Joy takes on utility lobbyists in Sacramento
May 12, 2026
Dear friends,
It's Reina filling in this week while Joy is in Sacramento, where she has been invited to testify before three major legislative committees on the SB 254 study — the state's first formal response to last year's fires.
This is one of the most important weeks since the fires. The hearings are lawmakers' first formal response to the California Earthquake Authority report mandated by SB 254. That report avoids placing blame on utilities that have repeatedly caused destructive fires, and proposes to cap survivors' compensation rights. Joy will argue that this doubles down on the bailout, shifting more costs onto the ratepayers and survivors who are already paying the price with our homes, our savings, and our lives.
The backdrop is stark. In the same year Edison's negligence killed 19 people and displaced thousands of families who are now going homeless, backroom deals handed Edison's out-of-state shareholders over $1 billion in dividends and tripled the company's profits to $4.5 billion.
Joy will present survivor-grounded solutions: independent audits of the billions collected for wildfire mitigation that Edison failed to spend, rejection of proposals that strip survivors' legal rights, and urgent housing relief for the families Edison displaced and has refused to help.
She will be sitting in the room with the utility executives and lobbyists, bringing survivor voices into a conversation that has too often happened without us. The agenda has quite the lineup. Joy will share the panel with utility executives from PG&E and LADWP, and state agency officials. See the full agenda→
Tune in and watch her go.
BACKGROUND:
In January, Joy's letter to the SB 254 Study Committee was covered on the front page of the LA Times. The letter argues that full compensation for survivors is not radical. It is the baseline that allows markets to function and risk to be priced accurately, and that continuing to protect utility shareholders from the consequences of their own negligence has one predictable outcome: more catastrophic fires.
LA Times article:
Joy's full letter to the SB 254 committee:
EFSN, Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, and more than 250 Southern California nonprofits called on Edison to advance urgent housing relief, to prevent mass housing instability and homelessness among Eaton Fire survivors. Edison has refused. Coalition proposal: edisonrelief.org
Yay! You're all caught up!
Today — Tuesday, May 12
Watch Joy testify: Senate Energy Committee
Hearing begins at 9:00 AM. Joy expected on the panel after 10:00 AM. Joy will testify on Edison's $4.5B profits, the displacement of thousands of families, and what survivors actually need, not another bailout for utility shareholders.
The agenda has quite the lineup — Joy will be sharing the panel with utility executives from PG&E and LADWP, and state agency officials. Survivor voices at the same table as the industry. That's exactly where we need to be. Rumor has it that Senator Sasha Renee Perez may make an unannounced appearance to speak her mind right after Joy! See the committee's official agenda.
Please note: the livestream link will go live at 10:00 AM.
Wednesday, May 13 · 1:30 PM
Watch Joy testify: Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy
Joy returns to testify before the Assembly energy committee. Another chance to watch and share.
Please note: the livestream link will go live at 1:30 PM.
Thursday, May 14 · 7–8 PM
Get every property tax break you deserve
LA County Assessor Jeff Prang joins us to walk Eaton and Palisades fire survivors through every relief option available to you:
How to file Misfortune & Calamity claims to lower your property taxes
What the 4-year tax deferral means for you
What happens if you move, rebuild bigger, or have already paid
Live Q&A — bring your questions
Free and open to all Eaton and Palisades fire survivors. Seats 1,000.
Fire Resilient Materials on BuildNotes
I wanted to share an update from Build Notes LA. If you remember from our Virtual Rebuilding last fall, David Lee shared about how to reduce costs in your rebuild. BuildNotes helps homeowners rebuild together by sharing trusted vendors and coordinating group purchases. Survivors unlock better pricing on the products and services they need. The more homeowners who use it, the more affordable rebuilding becomes for everyone.
They have added a new feature that helps survivors build back more resiliently while saving money. Check out the feature here: https://www.buildnotes.la/notebooks/a98bca05-c508-4f06-ab11-3b0049d12185
For full details on Joy's testimony and the hearing schedule, read our media advisory.
We are so proud of Joy for showing up this week on behalf of all of us. Watch the hearings, share with your neighbors, and together, let's make sure Sacramento knows that our recovery cannot wait.
Hugs,
Reina (and Joy, from Sacramento)
The Every Fire Survivor's Network (EFSN) connects 10,000+ fire survivors and allies across Eaton, Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga. Together, we remove barriers and help families get home. Join us: efsurvivors.net
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