How Newsom has responded to the LA fires

Within the days and weeks following the January Los Angeles County wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his workplace moved shortly to handle the response and start restoration efforts after the blazes had been contained. Since then, the governor has been singularly targeted on the area, describing his method as “an extended period of engagement” with L.A. throughout a press convention in Altadena final week.

As CalMatters’ Alexei Koseff explains, the wildfires are anticipated to be one of many costliest pure disasters within the nation’s historical past, they usually have the potential to outline — or redefine — one’s political profession.

When the fires first ignited, Newsom lived and labored from L.A. for 3 weeks, issuing govt orders and bulletins across the clock. Newsom additionally greeted President Donald Trump in L.A. in January to debate federal catastrophe helpeven because the state Legislature met for a particular session Newsom referred to as for late final 12 months to arrange the state for litigation in opposition to the Trump administration.

The governor additionally flew to Washington D.C. to foyer for help; recorded two episodes in regards to the fires for his podcast; and has barely issued a non-fire-related press launch for greater than a month.

Earlier than the fires, amid declining job approval scoresNewsom was warding off rumors of a presidential bid. Now with lower than two years earlier than the governor phrases out, all eyes could also be on Newsom as he navigates a politically and fiscally advanced scenario.

For Bob Salladay, nevertheless, Newsom’s senior advisor for communications, the governor and his workers aren’t eager about his legacy in response to the fires.

• Salay: “I guarantee he doesn’t think about that. He’s doing his job.”

Learn extra right here.

When the Eaton Fireplace broke out, Michelle Hollis, a caregiver with greater than 30 years of expertise, helped her affected person evacuate from her Pasadena house. The affected person was one of many roughly 2,500 nursing house residents who needed to evacuate in the course of the wildfires, in response to the county’s getting older and disabilities division.

As CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra explains, caregivers typically should assume the function of first responders when disasters strike and their sufferers are disabled or have restricted mobility. A 2019 state audit discovered that state and county emergency response companies have traditionally struggled to adequately help individuals with disabilities and restricted mobility.

The deaths of these age 65 and older killed within the L.A.-area fires underscore this shortcoming, prompting advocates and caregivers to push for extra assets and centralized planning for disasters in a letter to Gov. Newsom and state legislators.

Learn extra right here.

Let’s dive into some legislative information:

• Housing bond: Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland and Sen. Christopher Cabaldon of Napa, each Democrats, launched two companion payments Tuesday to position a $10 billion housing bond difficulty on the 2026 poll. The measure would allow the state to borrow cash to assist its inexpensive housing rental program, farmworker housing and homeownership help, amongst different issues. Wicks proposed the same measure in 2023, nevertheless it did not land on the poll the next 12 months.

• Excessive-speed rail challenge: After the president earlier this month referred to as California’s high-speed rail challenge “the worst managed project I think I’ve ever seen,” the state’s GOP lawmakers noticed a recent alternative to doubtlessly kill a challenge they’ve been making an attempt to smother for years, sending a letter to Trump urging his administration to research the challenge. A majority of Californians nonetheless assist the high-speed rail, in response to a brand new ballot.

• Dude, the place’s my meals?: Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahana San Ramon Democrat, goals to rein in meals supply corporations similar to DoorDash and Uber Eats with a invoice that may require them to refund prospects within the unique cost technique if their meals orders usually are not delivered or incorrect — as an alternative of partial credit for a future order.