Wild Fires In LA

[Carnivore]

I have not read all the post. I heard on the news that a large amount of money has been raised to help those people out because of the fires and some thing happened and the money is gone and none of the people d got any of it?

 

[Carnivore]

WOW here it is below. AI is awsome
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You're not imagining things, Andrew — this one's stirred up a storm of outrage and scrutiny.


The FireAid Controversy
In January 2025, a star-studded benefit concert called FireAid raised $100 million to support victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The event featured artists like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Stevie Wonder, and was promoted as a direct relief effort for displaced residents.


But here’s the twist:

• None of the money went directly to fire victims.
  Instead, it was funneled through over 120 nonprofit organizations, many of which had little or no direct connection to wildfire recovery.
• Victims report receiving nothing.
  Investigative journalist Sue Pascoe — who lost her own home — found that residents couldn’t even figure out how to apply for aid. Some nonprofits listed as recipients hadn’t heard of FireAid or received any funds.
• Transparency is lacking.
  The Annenberg Foundation, which helped manage the funds, has been criticized for vague responses and poor communication. Some of the nonprofits reportedly received six-figure grants for things like podcast production or preschool bathroom cleaning — not exactly frontline fire relief.
• Federal investigation requested.
  Congressman Kevin Kiley has asked the DOJ to investigate whether donor intent was violated and whether any laws were broken.

So while the money didn’t “vanish” in the literal sense, it’s been redirected in ways that many see as misleading or even exploitative. The optics are brutal — especially when victims are still homeless and wondering where the promised help went.


Want to dig into how these nonprofits were selected or how this compares to other disaster relief efforts? I’ve got receipts.

 

[Sadie]

I have not read all the post. I heard on the news that a large amount of money has been raised to help those people out because of the fires and some thing happened and the money is gone and none of the people d got any of it?

I would google it and read about it from a reliable source. Not that the AF isn't totally legit, unbiased and reliable. Basically the $$ was never supposed to go directly into individuals pocket but to charities, but people are complaining because they heven't received their share. As in cash in hand. But check it out yourself, it would be unheard of to have money go wandering after something like this.

 

[Sadie]

Your comments remind me of a regional meeting in Rialto, CA, I attended circa 2000 when I was involved in emergency managment. The speaker indicated that the Big Earthquake that was a certainty was more than a decade past-due, and WHEN [not If] it hits, an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 residents of Los Angeles County would die. And that was 25 years ago! Tell you what: when I get an assignment in LA City, I'm in n out the neighborhood quick as a flash--although I shudder in general about the quality of life that people experience, although $600K++ property values for ****ty SFR's in the crime-ridden ghetto presumably have allowed residents a lifestyle far above & beyond what they overwise could have experienced in their lives--but what will happen on a macroeconomic level when this madness ceases and property values decline by 75%????

The problem with earthquake predictions is that geologic time is not like real time. Soon in geologic time could be tomorrow or 500 years from now or anytime in between. But hey I would rather live with a maybe there will be an earthquake than tornados multiple times a year, every year.

 

[Sadie]

WOW here it is below. AI is awsome
-------------------------------------------

You're not imagining things, Andrew — this one's stirred up a storm of outrage and scrutiny.


The FireAid Controversy
In January 2025, a star-studded benefit concert called FireAid raised $100 million to support victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The event featured artists like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Stevie Wonder, and was promoted as a direct relief effort for displaced residents.


But here’s the twist:

• None of the money went directly to fire victims.
  Instead, it was funneled through over 120 nonprofit organizations, many of which had little or no direct connection to wildfire recovery.
• Victims report receiving nothing.
  Investigative journalist Sue Pascoe — who lost her own home — found that residents couldn’t even figure out how to apply for aid. Some nonprofits listed as recipients hadn’t heard of FireAid or received any funds.
• Transparency is lacking.
  The Annenberg Foundation, which helped manage the funds, has been criticized for vague responses and poor communication. Some of the nonprofits reportedly received six-figure grants for things like podcast production or preschool bathroom cleaning — not exactly frontline fire relief.
• Federal investigation requested.
  Congressman Kevin Kiley has asked the DOJ to investigate whether donor intent was violated and whether any laws were broken.

So while the money didn’t “vanish” in the literal sense, it’s been redirected in ways that many see as misleading or even exploitative. The optics are brutal — especially when victims are still homeless and wondering where the promised help went.


Want to dig into how these nonprofits were selected or how this compares to other disaster relief efforts? I’ve got receipts.

I would have been surprised if some of the funds didn't go to weird self dealing type things. Maybe the pod cast looked good on paper, but I don't know anything about that, Remember though the money raised was less than 0.01% of what is estimated to be needed to rebuild. Its an eye poppng amount of money.

 

[Sadie]

WOW here it is below. AI is awsome
-------------------------------------------

You're not imagining things, Andrew — this one's stirred up a storm of outrage and scrutiny.


The FireAid Controversy
In January 2025, a star-studded benefit concert called FireAid raised $100 million to support victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The event featured artists like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Stevie Wonder, and was promoted as a direct relief effort for displaced residents.


But here’s the twist:

• None of the money went directly to fire victims.
  Instead, it was funneled through over 120 nonprofit organizations, many of which had little or no direct connection to wildfire recovery.
• Victims report receiving nothing.
  Investigative journalist Sue Pascoe — who lost her own home — found that residents couldn’t even figure out how to apply for aid. Some nonprofits listed as recipients hadn’t heard of FireAid or received any funds.
• Transparency is lacking.
  The Annenberg Foundation, which helped manage the funds, has been criticized for vague responses and poor communication. Some of the nonprofits reportedly received six-figure grants for things like podcast production or preschool bathroom cleaning — not exactly frontline fire relief.
• Federal investigation requested.
  Congressman Kevin Kiley has asked the DOJ to investigate whether donor intent was violated and whether any laws were broken.

So while the money didn’t “vanish” in the literal sense, it’s been redirected in ways that many see as misleading or even exploitative. The optics are brutal — especially when victims are still homeless and wondering where the promised help went.


Want to dig into how these nonprofits were selected or how this compares to other disaster relief efforts? I’ve got receipts.

Here is FIreAids response to the negative publicity.

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/fireaid-statement-funds-distribution-1236031282/

I think you see $100 million and think wow that will go a long way toward helping people, when the reality is that there is so much need that the aid might just fo unnoticed.

 

[Carnivore]

Oh, I agree ,,,If you spread that out over a number of non-profits, but I didn't make that up, but it seems to me there would be better accounting.

My other thought was the source I looked at seems to be in conflict with your source

 

[Sadie]

Oh, I agree ,,,If you spread that out over a number of non-profits, but I didn't make that up, but it seems to me there would be better accounting.

My other thought was the source I looked at seems to be in conflict with your source

There didn't seem to be a whole lot of analysis of how the funds were spent. Just one side saying some (or most) was misspent and another side saying no it wasn't. There is an LA Times article that quotes people as being upset because they don't see anything happening to help. But money went to food banks, rent assistance, debris removal. Stuff like that.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-07-23/where-did-the-fireaid-money-go

 

[glenn walker]

Someone is just trying to stir the pot. The $100 million was never supposed to go directly to individuals.

The money's gone..repeating gone.

 

[glenn walker]

not all of the damage was in high end areas. And some of those people have lived there for a long time and bought their homes for quite a bit less than they are now worth. Insurance doesn't cover everything. You sure are dismissive of others mis fortune.

Sadie get informed the average 10,000 Square foot lot in those community's is $800,000 plus. The value was in the land not the 1950 built 1,400 Sq.Ft. home. Geez I almost can't take it.