President-elect Donald Trump's victory was fateful in many ways, but its significance is underscored by the continuing fires in California. If anyone can rebuild the fire-ravaged areas of our state, it's Donald Trump.
National and local government officials, who were supposed to prevent disasters and protect us, have completely lost the public's trust. Plus, they don't know how to build anything.
In six years in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom has not built new reservoirs or cleared forests. He promised to build 3.5 million new homes, but only 1.1 million have been approved since taking office in 2019, many of which have yet to be built.
President Joe Biden happened to be in town when the fire broke out. He flew a helicopter over the damage and left. His “Cut Inflation Act” allocated $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations. He built about eight.
Mayor Karen Bass has three years to prepare LA to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, but the city isn't ready yet. Still, she decided it would be a good idea to travel to Africa before extreme winds hit.
The only official who appears to know what he's up to is Nate Hochman, a former Republican and new district attorney, who says he'll arrest anyone who tries to loot. He immediately warned that he would be punished.
Los Angeles County has already seen improvements in law enforcement since Mr. Hochman took office, thanks to the overwhelming passage of Proposition 36 (which Mr. Newsom and his party opposed), which reinstated stiffer penalties for theft. There is.
But LA needs builders who know how to cut through the red tape and get things done. That's Donald Trump, and while he has focused so far on Newsom's terrible performance, California needs him to focus on the challenges ahead.
Mr. Trump will need to take over the rebuilding process in Los Angeles and the general redesign of California policy until the bitter state and local elections two years away can bring about much-needed change here.
Current elected leaders cannot help. they're just a nuisance.
President Trump needs to appoint a team on the ground that he trusts and that Californians know they can trust to make the right decisions for us.
The most likely candidate would be Rick Caruso, the businessman and developer who hired a private fire department to save Palisades Village Mall.
While all other commercial and residential buildings in the heart of Pacific Palisades were completely destroyed, the Palisades Village Mall appeared to be not only unharmed but only suffered minor damage.
Mr. Caruso ran against Mr. Bass in 2022, receiving a majority of votes in Pacific Palisades, but lost. The mall's survival is now a symbol of hope, and the core around which the Palisades will be rebuilt. But its survival is also a clear rebuke for the failure of politicians to protect everything around Sunset Boulevard.
The powers of state governments are critical to our constitutional system. However, when state governments are unable to function, as in many natural disasters, the federal government has the power to intervene.
The Los Angeles fires are not just a natural disaster, they are a national security risk. The aftermath could cause the economy of our country's second largest city to collapse. As looters and vagrants move into the burnt ruins, the streets can become chaotic.
President Trump needs to step in and appoint a “California Emperor.” We need to first address the ongoing crisis and then force states to reshape their policies.
Everything has to change. Increased water storage, aggressive brush removal, more careful planning, new emergency management, revised building codes, removal of homeless encampments, and the list goes on.
Good news. A builder is about to take the oath of office. This is President Trump's time and his mission.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
