Gavin Newsom is doing a victory lap over $2.5 billion dollars. That’s how much that the California legislature allocated for the cleanup and aftermath of the destructive LA fires. The devil, however, is in the details. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $2.5 billion disaster aid package on Thursday, Jan. 23, to help Southern Californians recover from the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County.

The funding, approved by the legislature earlier in the day, will help pay for services ranging from shelters for those who have lost their homes and debris removal to expediting the rebuilding of residential homes and damaged schools.

Supposedly this also includes speeding up the permitting process to allow people to rebuilt more quickly. What boggles my mind is that you need a permit (which can take months or more) to CLEAN UP your destroyed home before figuring out the rebuilding process. 

Needless to say, Gavin strove for a victory lap after signing the bill.

Oh, but there’s more to this than just throwing $2.5 billion into the air for the recovery, cleanup, and rebuild process. It’s a “conversation” you see.

The bills are part of “a much larger conversation that we’re going to need to have about recovery and rebuilding in these devastated communities, and also about how we protect communities across the state of California,” said Jesse Gabriel, chair of the Assembly’s budget committee and one of a few lawmakers who live in neighborhoods that were under evacuated. “This is the first of many steps that we will take on a long journey as we progress through this conversation.” 

The two fires — the largest in the recent spate in Southern California, totaling nearly 40,000 acres — killed 27 people, destroyed 12,000 structures and displaced tens of thousands of people. The early estimate of the total damage is more than $250 billion, according to AccuWeather.  

You know what was supposed to be part of that conversation? Wildfire MITIGATION. Do you know why common sense wildfire mitigation is not in the bill that was just passed?

https://twitter.com/billessayli/status/1882487176522510812

Yes, they voted AGAINST putting strong wildfire mitigation measure in place for numerous asinine reasons. What Democrats were more concerned about was moving money (that California doesn’t have) into their litigation fund so they can work on law fare against President Trump. Yes, really. 

Their priorities are so out of whack. Especially given the scope of the wildfires and the sheer number of homes that have been turned into ash. And now, with the Hughes Fire that went from 500 acres to 10,000 acres in less than ten hours, they vote for relief, but turn down any funding for wildfire mitigation. I tell you what, those people have lost their ever loving minds. 

Meanwhile, as Gavin Newsom attempts a victory lap over the wildfire recovery funding, don’t forget that he VETOED a major mitigation bill in 2020 because REASONS of urban sprawl or something, and probably Trump. In other words, adding more “supposedly” affordable housing in California was more important that protecting EXISTING communities from wildfires. 

https://twitter.com/houmanhemmati/status/1881914506785460587

You know what else I don’t see in this bill that Gavin is taking a victory lap on? Water and reservoirs.

This reservoir was built to save Pacific Palisades. It was empty when the flames came https://t.co/UcB0zT3mZo

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 22, 2025

But let’s make sure the EPA is available to ensure your cleanup is handled the right way.

Water and full reservoirs along with wildfire mitigation? Not part of the conversation. That’s ok! All sorts of other roadblocks have been shifted around!

California is providing $2.5B+ in immediate support for our firestorm response and recovery efforts in Southern California.

We’re eliminating roadblocks to rebuilding and directing millions to help local governments expedite new building approvals. pic.twitter.com/ffgWSljSWY

— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 24, 2025

The problem is, California governments from the local (Hi Karen!) to the state level LOVE road blocks, along with willfully and blatantly ignoring the very real problems that the LACK of wildfire mitigation and empty reservoirs has caused.

I’m on the Board of the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council for the City of Los Angeles. We are in the public comment period of this month’s meeting.

Every single speaker is begging our LA City Councilmembers @CD5LosAngeles and @nithyavraman and LA County Supervisor…

— Elizabeth Barcohana (@E_Barcohana) January 23, 2025

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if those roadblocks Gavin assures us have been eliminated, were just lurking under the surface. 

Gavin’s victory lap is very premature. For a multitude of reasons stated above. Also for the fact that he is constantly lying about the funding for wildfire protection and mitigation. And for the fact that he vetoed a bill just a few months ago that would’ve kept thousands of firefighters employed and TRAINED! The proof is in the details and the results. If the onerous regulations aren’t rolled back or abandoned altogether, a great many people will leave. California can’t afford that, but it looks like no one is listening.

Feature Photo Credit: Original artwork by Victory Girls Darleen Click