SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom has redirected his attention from potential legal confrontations with the incoming Republican administration to effectively manage the state’s response to the severe wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area.
This scenario is not wholly unfamiliar for the Democratic governor. Following the catastrophic wildfire in Paradise that became the deadliest in California’s history in 2018, Newsom, who was freshly elected at the time, found himself touring the disaster zone with then-President Trump.
As Trump prepares to reclaim the presidency, he has publicly criticized Newsom’s management of the wildfires that have wreaked havoc, destroying thousands of homes and resulting in over two dozen fatalities, while also propagating rumors surrounding the state’s water policies. In response, Newsom has defended his approach but also extended an invitation to Trump to visit California to witness the devastation firsthand.
“In the spirit of unity, we should not politicize a human tragedy or propagate disinformation,” Newsom stated in a letter directed to Trump last week. “There are hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their homes and are anxious about what lies ahead; they deserve to see us collaborating for their quick recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
The ongoing fires have complicated Newsom’s and the Democratic-controlled Legislature’s plans to hold a special session aimed at quickly allocating millions toward defending California’s immigration and environmental regulations against anticipated federal challenges. The Legislature had earmarked $50 million—split between the attorney general’s office and local legal service support.
However, following the outbreak of wildfires in the Los Angeles vicinity, Newsom broadened the scope of the special session to include funding for wildfire relief after pressure from Republican lawmakers who argued that focusing solely on Trump’s matters was misguided amidst a state emergency. He introduced a plan requesting $1 billion for immediate emergency response and cleanup, in addition to another $1.5 billion for preparing for future natural disasters.
While some Democrats considered merging proposals for litigation funding and wildfire aid, Republicans criticized this idea. Ultimately, legislative leaders agreed to tackle the issues separately and postponed the budget hearings related to the legal defenses, meaning discussions on these proposals would not commence prior to Inauguration Day.
“They recognized that pursuing plans to insulate California from Trump while ignoring the immediate disaster at hand seemed illogical,” remarked Republican state Senator Roger Niello, who co-chairs the budget committee for the special session.
Democratic lawmakers have echoed that commitment to prioritize wildfire recovery.
“We must focus on rebuilding and preventing similar occurrences in the future,” emphasized Democratic Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez. “Our policies have to support both objectives.”
Rodriguez represents an area in the San Fernando Valley, where a fire consumed a section of land, leaving residents without electricity and forcing one mother to visit her office for resources to charge her phone and warm food for her infant.
“When discussing significant funding, it’s important to highlight the personal stories involved,” she added.
Meanwhile, in Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin’s district, where the largest fire surged through Pacific Palisades, claiming ten lives, she acknowledged Newsom’s dedication to enhancing fire relief finances but suggested a careful assessment of how to allocate those resources.
Immediate resident needs must take precedence, including assistance with housing, access to federal resources, and cleanup from hazardous materials, she argued. Furthermore, the Legislature should work towards facilitating quicker rebuilding by streamlining permit procedures, she added.
“We cannot afford to proceed with business as usual,” she stated.
Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who also represents a part of the San Fernando Valley and leads the special session budget committee, expressed his appreciation for Newsom’s proposal, stating that lawmakers will act promptly to approve relief aid for those impacted by the wildfires.
Gabriel shared that he rented a vehicle to transport fellow Democrat Assemblymember John Harabedian from Sacramento to Southern California due to difficulties securing flights. His family had to evacuate their residence in Encino, neighboring the devastated area.
In a recent trip through Pacific Palisades, Gabriel witnessed the dramatic destruction firsthand.
“It appears akin to a post-apocalyptic scene—vehicles and homes reduced to mere ashes, with only chimneys remaining,” he described.
The Legislature is set to convene for special session hearings next week.
Rodriguez emphasized that both recovery from the wildfires and safeguarding the state against potential unfavorable federal policies are imperative. This is particularly relevant for her district, where undocumented immigrants face challenges from impending changes in immigration policy under the new presidential administration, further complicating their recovery from the fires.
“In districts like mine, addressing disaster recovery and anticipating evolving immigration policies from the federal government cannot be viewed in isolation,” she concluded.
