California Governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of underfunding the state’s crucial fire prevention programs while pouring billions into what critics describe as misguided Green New Deal projects.
Newsom’s new budget cuts $101 million from California’s firefighting efforts, leaving just $2.6 billion for fire prevention—this, just seven months before catastrophic wildfires caused widespread damage in Los Angeles.
Despite this, Newsom has pushed forward with a staggering $14.7 billion initiative to transition the state to zero-emission vehicles and other clean energy projects. Reports also indicate he is planning to spend $100 billion in the coming years on additional climate policies deemed politically motivated.
Critics, including some environmentalists, have heavily criticized both Newsom and Los Angeles leaders for their handling of fire prevention. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reduced the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $17.6 million, a cut Chief Kristin Crowley warned would severely hinder the department’s ability to respond to fires. Crowley has also faced criticism for prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over fire prevention since taking office in 2022.
“Even with the funding, many projects get delayed or stalled because of [the California Environmental Quality Act], lawsuits, and bureaucracy,” fumed California Republican Assembly leader James Gallagher on X last week.
He highlighted the example of Berry Creek, a town in Northern California that attempted to remove dead trees and other wildfire fuel, only to be stopped by environmental laws. That same town was nearly destroyed by a wildfire in 2020.
Gallagher also took aim at Newsom’s remarks regarding the 2020 wildfires, which included the North Complex fire, one of the deadliest in the state’s history. Despite officials attributing the fire to lightning, Newsom blamed the blazes on climate change, implying that nature’s role in these fires was a new development.
Current wildfires in the Los Angeles area are expected to cause between $250 billion and $275 billion in damages, according to AccuWeather, making it the most expensive disaster in U.S. history.
“MYTH: California has bad fires because of ‘droughts’ caused by ‘climate change,’” conservative commentator Vince Dao tweeted on Sunday.
“FACT: California saw RECORD rainfall in 2023. They currently lack water because they refused to STORE it.
It’s not climate change. It’s bad leadership by @GavinNewsom.”
Some critics argue that Newsom’s pandering to left-wing policies, seeking political favor, makes him an ineffective leader when it comes to fire prevention.
In an attempt to address the growing criticism, Newsom has pointed to improvements in fire management, stating that the state’s firefighting budget has nearly doubled since he took office, the number of fire personnel has increased, and investments in forest management have surged.
However, State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones remains unconvinced, noting Newsom’s past history of overstating progress on wildfire prevention.
“Just a few years ago, he overstated California’s wildfire prevention treatment by a staggering 690%,” Jones told The Post, referencing a 2021 investigation by CapRadio and NPR.
“I’ve always said Newsom’s budget priorities are completely out of touch. Instead of addressing urgent needs like wildfire prevention, he has focused on policies that burden Californians with higher costs, like raising gas prices in the name of climate change,” Jones added.
Other critics pointed out that while the overall budget for fire management has increased since Newsom’s tenure, the amount allocated for this year has still been cut by tens of millions of dollars compared to last year.
“This is not a time to be nickel and diming the people of California around climate investments. The cost of not investing is far, far greater than investing in climate preparedness today,” Ryan Schleeter, spokesperson for environmental think tank The Climate Center, told The Post.
For Schleeter, this means strengthening fire protection and other preparations for severe weather.
The governor also faced scrutiny over fire preparedness at the local level. A key reservoir in Los Angeles County ran dry when fires broke out last week, as it had been undergoing repairs since February. Newsom dismissed the issue, stating it was the responsibility of the county, not the state.
Furthermore, Newsom has claimed that his $1 billion-plus plan to transition to 100% emissions-free vehicles by 2030 will be funded by pollution fines.
Critics argue that these costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The 2035 ban on the sale of gas-powered cars could also cost California taxpayers up to $20 billion, according to a University of California, Berkeley study in April.
Researchers warned that the state’s power infrastructure will need significant upgrades to accommodate the increased demand for electric vehicle chargers.
{Matzav.com}