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Mountain View News Saturday, February 17, 2024 


STORM-RELATED TAX RELIEF 
AVAILABLE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS

FILING A MISFORTUNE & CALAMITY 
CLAIM JUMPSTARTS THE PROCESS

LOS ANGELES, CA - Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang is reminding property 
owners that property tax relief is available for those suffering damage from the 
recent torrent of storms.

For property owners who have experienced damage or destruction from these 
storms, they can apply to have the assessed value of their property – the value upon 
which their property taxes are based – reduced to reflect the damage. This property 
tax relief program is called the Misfortune & Calamity (M&C) program. 

“It’s understandable that those affected by these storms would not be thinking about 
their property taxes at this difficult time," Assessor Prang said. "However, I did want 
to remind them there is property tax relief available in the event of damage to their 
property resulting from these types of natural disasters."

By filing a claim for M&C relief within one year of the incident, properties that have 
sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damage of current market value may be eligible 
for a refund of taxes already paid as well as lower annual tax bills until the property 
is repaired or rebuilt. Assessor Prang's office is working proactively to identify the 
properties affected and move the process forward.

This property tax relief is available to owners of homes, business equipment and 
fixtures, orchards or other agricultural groves, and to owners of aircraft, boats, and 
certain manufactured homes. It is not available to property that is not assessable, 
such as state licensed manufactured homes or household furnishings.

If granted, the assessed value of the property will be reduced, effective the date the 
damage occurred, until the damaged structures are rebuilt or repaired, the property 
undergoes a change in ownership, or a base year value transfer is recorded. 

“My dedicated team is ready to offer assistance at a moment's notice,” Assessor Prang 
said. “We will be available to guide property owners through the claim process.”

These types of reassessments have led to millions of dollars in property tax relief 
during significant events including the massive Woolsey Fire a few years back as 
well as victims of the Rolling Hills Estates landslides where homes were red-tagged 
as uninhabitable when the ground collapsed underneath their foundations, reducing 
homes to rubble.

 

The M&C claim forms - known as the Application for Reassessment: Property 
Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity - can be obtained online at 
https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief or by phone at (213) 974-8658.

SPINKS CANYON PILE BURN FEBRUARY 19 
AND 20 

On February 19 and 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department 
(LACoFD) Forestry Division will be performing a pile burn in Spinks Canyon. A pile burn is a 
type of prescribed fire where firefighters pile and burn forest debris to reduce an area’s wildfire 
risk. Spinks Canyon is located in the Bradbury foothills, east of Monrovia. As such, smoke may 
be visible this Monday and Tuesday, but at no harm to you.

Did you know:

• Prescribed fires are an efficient, safe, and cost-effective way to reduce fuels (e.g. dry, fallen 
leaves that further “fuel” a wildfire) contributing to wildfire risk.

• Piles are only ignited on “burn days” established by the local air pollution control district 
and under specific conditions.

• Proper fire tools, water, and personnel are always on site during a prescribed fire.

• Bare mineral soil is cleared with a 10-foot minimum radius from each pile before burning.

If you have any questions regarding the burn, please contact fire-forestrypublicinfo@fire.lacounty.
gov. 


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LOW LILY TRIO TO PUT ITS TWIST ON ROOTS 
MUSIC, AT CALTECH MARCH 2

PASADENA – The Vermont-based trio Low Lily will perform roots-
steeped music with a distinctive pop sparkle on Saturday evening, March 
2, in Pasadena. 

Low Lily’s concerts and recordings since 2015 have stoked a reputation 
for tight arrangements, fine songwriting, string-instrument mastery and 
enthralling three-part harmonies. The trio blends the drive of bluegrass 
traditions with the thoughtfulness of contemporary folk. Co-founders 
Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen are joined by prize-winning fiddler Natalie 
Portman. 

Their newest album includes songs written by each of them. A reviewer 
said the songs “sound as if they are ancient traditionals, but they are all 
new compositions. It is the modern arrangements that have made Angels 
in the Wreckage a very beautiful contemporary folk record.”

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in Caltech’s Beckman Institute 
Auditorium, 400 South Wilson Ave., in the Beckman Institute building just 
west of the larger, round Beckman Auditorium. Free parking is available 
in lots on both sides of Michigan Avenue just south of Del Mar Boulevard 
and in two parking structures along Wilson Avenue just south of Del Mar 
Boulevard. 

The event is presented by the Pasadena Folk Music Society. Tickets are 
available from the Caltech Ticket Office (626-395-4652) for $25, with $10 
tickets available for Caltech students and anyone age 16 or younger. For 
more information, see https://pasadenafolkmusicsociety.org.

 Publicity Contact: Guy Webster, 626-798-8457 or guy.weyman.
webster@gmail.com

Here’s What’s Going On Around Town in February!
Brought to you by Sue Cook 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com