How the Left Turned California Into a Paradise Lost

Gavin Newsom promised to ‘Trump-proof’ the Golden State. If only he’d fireproofed it instead

By Allysia Finley. 

"The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in 2019 sought to widen a fire-access road and replace old wooden utility poles in the Topanga Canyon abutting the Palisades with steel ones to make power lines fire- and wind-resistant. In the process, crews removed an estimated 182 Braunton’s milkvetch plants, an endangered species."

"The utility halted the project as state officials investigated the plant destruction. More than a year later, the California Coastal Commission issued a cease-and-desist order, fined the utility $2 million, and required “mitigation” for the project’s impact on the species. This involved replacing “nonnative” vegetation with plants native to the state."

"Since the milkvetch requires wildfires to propagate, the only way to boost its numbers is to let the land burn"

"Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley complains the city cut her budget by $17 million last spring, which she says reduced overtime compensation and interfered with wildfire preparation."

"the fire budget didn’t shrink since city leaders last autumn approved a new union contract that boosted pay and benefits by $76 million—about $20,000 per firefighter. Even before this raise, firefighters on average earned about $200,000, plus $90,000 in benefits. Many can retire at 55 with pensions equaling 90% of their final salaries."

"Los Angeles spent $350 million this year on firefighter pensions and benefits. Much of that would have been better spent on fire prevention, which made up only 5% of the department’s budget. Ms. Crowley calls “diversity, inclusion, and equity” a top priority, and the Fire Department boasted nine DEI positions."

"Smelt protections restrict the amount of water that flows from the state’s north to the south. This has led to billions of gallons of water being flushed out to the Pacific Ocean each year"

"Mr. Newsom opposed Mr. Trump’s first-term efforts to ease the fish protections."

"State regulators until recently even suppressed insurance rates for high-priced homes by barring insurers from fully pricing in wildfire risk and reinsurance costs." 

"Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday prohibited insurers from dropping homeowners in areas affected by the fires. People who lose their homes deserve sympathy. But if insurers aren’t allowed to limit their liabilities or adjust premiums based on risk, they will instead raise rates on everyone."