Left-handed California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pumping tens of billions of dollars into “Don Quixote” Green New Deal benefits while undercutting the state's critical fire prevention programs, some environmentalists and others say. critics point out.
Governor's new budget in trouble reduced state firefighting efforts; In June, it increased by $101 million to just $2.6 billion. It was just seven months before devastating wildfires began wreaking havoc in Los Angeles.
But Newsom still set a mind-boggling $14.7 billion and more over the next few years to move the state toward zero-emission-only vehicles and other clean energy initiatives. However, he did not stop charging as much as $100 billion. It is reportedly a purely political approach to climate change.
“Even with funding, many projects are delayed or stalled due to: [the California Environmental Quality Act]litigation, and bureaucracy. ” California Republican Congressional Leader James Gallagher Last week at X.
He noted that the Town of Berry Creek was attempting to remove dead trees and other fuel to prevent forest fires when environmental laws prevented them. Then the Northern California town was nearly destroyed by wildfires in 2020.
Meanwhile, Gallagher blamed 2020's deadly wildfires, including the North Complex fire, one of the most widespread and deadliest in California history, for “Gavin Newsom's I blamed it,” he said.
Officials said the fire was caused by lightning, but Newsom said said such an event Mother Nature has been causing fires in dry, windy California since before settlement, but now she's only responding to climate change.
Wildfires currently raging in the Los Angeles area Things are going well AccuWeather said the disaster was the costliest in U.S. history, with damages ranging from $250 billion to $275 billion.
“Myth: California's severe fires are caused by “drought'' caused by “climate change,'''' conservative commentator Vince Dao said. tweeted on Sunday.
“Fact: California had record rainfall in 2023. The reason we are running out of water now is because we refused to store it.
“It's not climate change. It's bad leadership by @GavinNewsom.”
Some critics say Mr. Newsom's pandering to the left for political influence for himself and his fellow Democrats makes him a useless “Don Quixote” when it comes to effective fire protection. It is claimed that
Newsom tries to explain alarming contradiction between fire prevention and 'environmental protection' new website He created it solely to address the snowballing criticism of his wildfire policies.
The site notes that the state's fire department budget has nearly doubled since Newsom took office in 2019. The number of state fire personnel has also doubled and investment in forest management projects has increased tenfold, said the site, which is paid for by the governor's campaign committee.
Newsom's office declined to comment when contacted by the Post.
State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones was unconvinced, pointing out that Newsom has a history of embellishing his resume.
“Just a few years ago, he exaggerated California's wildfire prevention measures by an astonishing 690%,” Jones told the Post, referring to the 2021 report. investigation By CapRadio and NPR.
“I've always said that Mr. Newsom's budget priorities are completely off the mark. Instead of addressing urgent needs like wildfire prevention, he's doing things like raising gas prices in the name of climate change. , has focused on policies that impose higher costs on Californians.”
other critics Featured this week While the overall budget may have increased since Newsom took office, he said it still cut tens of millions of dollars from last year to this year.
“Now is not the time to belittle and disrespect Californians when it comes to investing in climate change. The cost of not investing is far greater than investing in climate preparedness today.” Ryan Schrieter, a spokesperson for the Climate Center think tank, told the Post.
For Schrieter, that means beefing up fire protection and other measures against severe weather.
The governor tried to play the facts loose in a separate row over state and local officials' fire preparedness.
Los Angeles County's main reservoir was completely dry when the fire broke out last week, having been undergoing repair work since February.
Newsom dismissed the criticism, saying the reservoir is in the county, not the state, and declined to accept any responsibility as California's leader on the issue.
The state government also insists its multibillion-dollar commitment to make 100% of new cars in the state emissions-free by 2030 will be funded by pollution fines.
But critics say such costs are too high. You'll just be cornered Regarding consumers.
A ban on gasoline-powered vehicles in 2035 could cost California taxpayers up to $20 billion. According to research Published by the University of California, Berkeley in April.
Researchers say increased demand for EV chargers will require major upgrades to the state's power system.
