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California is obviously still reeling from the deadly aftermath of wildfires that have devastated communities, destroyed thousands of homes, and taken countless lives.
Though the state will need to undergo a long multi-year recovery process, questions about governance, planning, and equity are front-and-center. Amid the discussions of rebuilding approaches and timelines, the intersection of policy choices, infrastructure dilemmas, and socio-economic inequities presents a complicated portrait of California’s path to recovery. And yep… the “15-minute cities” are now being discussed with respect to L.A.’s future.
A Crisis Beyond Measure
The extent of the devastation is staggering. Thousands of people have lost their homes, entire communities have been uprooted, and the financial cost has reached into the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Recovery is likely to take years and involve billions in federal aid, state funding, and private investment. In the face of devastation, political leaders, such as Governor Gavin Newsom, are boldly talking about rebuilding stronger, safer, and more resilient communities. But not all Californians are reassured. And their tingling “Spidey Senses” are spot on. They should be nervous as the bad guys have a plan.
Questions of Any Real Governance
Newsom has drawn criticism for political leadership during other disasters like earthquakes and floods. Governor Newsom’s actions pas actions should be called out. Specifically, his proposing alignment behind international agendas such as “Agenda 2030” and his globalist approach for sustainable development. Emergency proclamations made before the wildfires have also come under scrutiny for easing zoning changes and land acquisitions, worrying some about gentrification and displacement.
Governor Newsom’s idea to turn Los Angeles into a fireproof smart city, which he called “LA 2.0,” is being met with some pushback. Some view his initiative as a prescient answer to the latest disaster, while others question his rhetoric and whether he serves the needs of working-class Californians or corporate and elitist interests behind the scenes.
The Role of California’s Fascist Infrastructure
Further, the wildfires have exposed systemic failures in California’s infrastructure. Utility companies have been scrutinized for their role in the disaster, as faulty power lines that sparked and malfunctioned smart meters contributed to the spread of the fires. Moreover, dry fire hydrants and limited emergency response capacity have highlighted the shortcomings in the Newson’s preparedness.
To compound matters, Southern California Edison is now facing a class-action lawsuit, and multiple eyewitnesses have claimed utility failures directly caused some of the fires. After the most recent earthquake, urban planning was also determined to reconstruct this severely-hit area but ignored the urgent improvement of infrastructure as part of the reconstruction.
Insurance Nightmares for Survivors
The financial fallout is one of the biggest worries for those who have survived the wildfire. Many homeowners and renters are underinsured or completely excluded from coverage because of loopholes in the policies.
Renters, particularly, have an uphill battle since wildfire damage typically isn’t covered under a standard policy for contents. The result being countless families who are unable to restore their lives. All this adds to how the socio-economic divide in California perpetuates the polarity.
A Pathetic Path Forward?
As political leaders in California champion the prospect of rebuilding as a chance to reinvigorate cities into safer, greener bastions of social equity, wiser heads maintain that such plans serve those with wealth to gain and corporate interests. The truth is that working-class families living at the center of Los Angeles have a far less certain future, with few resources and insufficient disaster relief.
California’s ongoing wildfire crisis is also a timely warning to California’s policymakers that existing laws and policies need a major overhaul if the state is to be better prepared for future disasters. The challenge in moving forward will be balancing new ideas and solutions with the urgent needs of the state’s more vulnerable working-class communities. The sad truth is that the globalist “build back better” 15-minute city of LA 2.0 will be paid for by taxpayers across the country.
