California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) declared a “state of emergency” this past Saturday to expedite brush clearance in preparation for the peak fire season, though this action came far too late to assist the Los Angeles communities already ravaged by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
In his announcement, Newsom didn’t attempt to conceal that his declaration followed the damage caused by the recent fires in Los Angeles:
“In the wake of the Los Angeles firestorms’ devastation and with the threat of wildfires growing across the state, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a state of emergency to expedite crucial projects aimed at safeguarding communities from wildfire risks ahead of the peak fire season.”
The emergency declaration aims to remove bureaucratic obstacles by suspending certain regulations, including those set by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act, which have been hindering vital forest management efforts. The full text of the proclamation is available here.
To defend his track record, Newsom’s statement highlighted the following points:
“This action builds on years of efforts to improve forest management and bolster wildfire resilience in California. It also follows last month’s executive order, which seeks to enhance community fortification and wildfire mitigation strategies, thereby improving the resilience of neighborhoods throughout the state.”
Governor Newsom had previously taken similar steps in March 2019 to expedite forest management initiatives in anticipation of particularly difficult fire seasons in 2019 and 2020.
Later in his statement, Newsom referred to the actions he took in 2019 as an example of “early action” against the growing wildfire threat.
However, Capital Public Radio, a Sacramento-based public radio news outlet, reported in 2021 that Newsom had significantly exaggerated the effectiveness of his wildfire prevention programs, which had made minimal progress in clearing brush.
The governor’s new policy will relax environmental restrictions, enabling private companies to participate in brush clearing efforts. Additionally, it supports controlled burns, referred to as “beneficial fire,” to reduce fuel that can contribute to wildfire intensity.
President Donald Trump has long argued that Newsom needed to take stronger action to clear brush to prevent wildfires. In response, Newsom and other Democrats have ridiculed or rejected Trump’s suggestions. Now, however, Newsom is belatedly implementing these very measures.
{Matzav.com}