SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In recent days, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a key opponent of President-elect Donald Trump, has redirected his attention from anticipating legal confrontations with the upcoming Republican administration to addressing the catastrophic wildfires affecting the area around Los Angeles.
This isn’t the first time the Democratic governor has had to manage such a difficult balancing act. Following the 2018 wildfire that ravaged Paradise, killing numerous people and destroying vast amounts of property, Newsom and then-President Trump convened to assess the destruction shortly after Newsom assumed office.
Currently, as Trump prepares to resume his role as President, he has criticized Newsom’s management of the fires, which have led to the loss of thousands of homes and over two dozen lives. Trump’s assertions have also contributed to the spread of misinformation regarding California’s water management policies. In response, Newsom has asserted his position but also invited Trump to visit California for a firsthand look at the fire damage.
In a letter to Trump, Newsom emphasized the importance of uniting during a time of crisis rather than politicizing the tragedy or propagating falsehoods. “We should focus on the needs of those affected, who desire to see collaboration aimed at a swift recovery and reconstruction,” he wrote.
The wildfires have complicated legislative strategies for Newsom and California’s Democrat-majority Legislature, which had intended to conduct a special session to swiftly authorize significant funding for Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. This funding would aid in defending the state against anticipated federal legal challenges concerning immigration, reproductive rights, environmental issues, and more. Ultimately, the Legislature allocated $50 million — split evenly between the attorney general’s office and local legal services.
However, after the fires erupted near Los Angeles, Newsom decided to broaden the special session’s focus to include wildfire relief under pressure from Republican legislators. They argued that concentrating on Trump’s actions was misplaced while the state dealt with the ongoing disaster. He outlined a plan proposing $1 billion for emergency response and cleanup, along with an additional $1.5 billion aimed at preparing for future disasters, such as fire and windstorms.
Some Democrats contemplated combining wildfire aid with funds for legal battles against Trump’s administration, prompting further disapproval from Republicans. Ultimately, legislative leaders opted to treat the issues separately, postponing hearings related to budget proposals meant to combat Trump’s policies, thus ensuring they would not reach a vote before Inauguration Day.
“I think it became clear that advancing the so-called Trump-proofing measures while ignoring the fire crisis down south didn’t add up,” commented Republican state Senator Roger Niello, who serves as vice chair of the special session budget committee.
Many Democratic lawmakers have echoed the urgency of addressing wildfire recovery efforts as well. “Our focus must be on rebuilding and safeguarding against future disasters,” stated Democratic Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, an area affected by the fires that left numerous residents without power and some without basic needs.
Rodriguez emphasized the importance of integrating individual stories into the budget discussion, highlighting the real-time struggles faced by constituents in her district. Meanwhile, further south in the Pacific Palisades, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin reported ten fatalities from the largest blaze and reiterated the need for thoughtful allocation of fire relief funds.
Irwin stressed that immediate support for housing and cleanup, as well as a streamlined permitting process for swift recovery, should be prioritized to empower communities devastated by the fires. “We can’t afford business as usual in government,” she insisted.
Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who holds the chair on the chamber’s special session budget committee, expressed gratitude towards Newsom’s proposed funding and assured that lawmakers would act swiftly to secure relief for those impacted by the fires. Gabriel shared his experiences evacuating from his Encino home as his family navigated the challenges posed by the wildfire.
Following a drive to view the destruction in Pacific Palisades, Gabriel described the scene as “a post-apocalyptic war zone,” with remnants of homes and vehicles reduced to rubble.
Next week, the Legislature is set to conduct special session hearings to address these pressing issues. Rodriguez emphasized that supporting wildfire recovery and preparing California for Trump’s impending policies are both crucial goals, especially in her district with a significant population of undocumented residents whose security is further jeopardized by Trump’s anticipated immigration policies.
“The intersection of recovery efforts and the realities of potential federal immigration actions cannot be ignored,” she concluded.
