Pacific Palisades, California — Wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles County, a disaster that has sparked a backlash from both state and local leaders. Some residents told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the fires were just the latest frustration with Democratic Party management of the state.
Evacuation orders began Tuesday in the Southern California coastal town of Pacific Palisades, but by the evening other fires were burning elsewhere and threatening more areas of the county. By Wednesday morning, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom cancel He traveled to Washington, D.C., the same day and Thursday to visit some of the sites of destruction in the Pacific Palisades.
But despite the governor's attempts to dismiss criticism of President-elect Trump's leadership as a way to “politicize” the situation, residents affected by the Pacific Palisades and Altadena say the fires are said it was just another example of leadership failure.
A local Palisades security guard spoke to DCNF on condition of anonymity about his disappointment with Newsom and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, pointing out how the pair had “failed” to lead during the crisis. did.
“They need to really think about what they're telling the public and what they're actually doing,” he told DCNF.
Frustration is growing among Los Angeles residents. grew up The fire marks a turning point as the city's rising crime and homelessness crisis have become major concerns in recent years.
A Palisades security guard told DCNF that city leadership not only failed to respond to the fire, but also “failed” to fund homeless assistance. He questioned where the money went, given that the issue remains unresolved.
“You know, it's funny how they raise all this money and then it fails. Project Roomkey, what happened to the project? [Homekey]?These are homeless shelter projects,'' the local security guard continued. “You've got all these projects. How many are in existence now? You've spent all that fucking money. [and] There was a surplus. where did the money go? ”
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Downtown LA: Skid Row looks like an ash-filled dystopian zombieland. Just to be clear, the county has spent billions of dollars fighting homelessness, and it seems like everyone on the streets is comfortable at this point.#Los Angeles | #California pic.twitter.com/hVxTPL1A1l
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) January 9, 2025
California has been called out repeatedly. expenditure Billions of dollars will be spent on issues like homelessness and other social justice programs. According to a report conducted by Los Angeles City Commissioner Kenneth Mejia, officials say nearly half of the city's $1.3 billion homelessness budget will go unspent during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, resulting in a $512 trillion budget. It was found that $690.81 billion of taxpayers' money remained unmarked.
Over the past week, Mr. Bass and Mr. Newsom have come under fire from the media and local residents over their response to the fires, and one emotional Pacific Palisades mother has confronted the governor. She was seen pleading with the Democratic governor about how he plans to help Southern Californians left with nothing. (Related: 'My hometown feels like Armageddon': Los Angeles-area towns reduced to ashes, leaving many with only 'the clothes on their backs')
Despite the woman's complaint, the governor claimed he was on the phone with President Joe Biden to discuss the situation, and shortly thereafter said he called her “five times” but could not reach her.
A writer and local Altadena resident who goes by the name Peachie Keenan online expressed similar opinions about Newsom's leadership in the state, which he managed during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. emphasized how she believes that the error of the has been revealed.
“Newsom was a huge failure from the beginning. Obviously, with COVID-19, he behaved very badly and was a hypocrite who followed strict rules. [Then] There was a recall, but of course he survived because COVID-19 was very political at the time,” Keenan told DCNF.
“But I really feel that way about everything he's ever done, [with] There are taxes, but California is really kind of this basket case,” Keenan added. “He keeps blaming it on Trump, he keeps blaming it on far-right misinformation. He keeps blaming it on misinformation, as he still does today. I have never taken responsibility.”
Keenan went on to tell DCNF that the silver lining from the crisis is that residents are shifting their allegiance to the Democratic Party, noting that for many who support lawmakers like Newsom, this is “the last…” He said that there is a possibility that it will be “a straw.”
“I always thought the only way to get rid of these people was [Democrats] That's when a big earthquake occurs, everything is destroyed, people are starving, without water, dying and hurting, and no one comes to help. That’s the only way to get rid of Gavin Newsom,” Keenan said. “But guess what? As if this was a big thing, we had a big one. Compared to a major earthquake, the death toll is low. But more destruction awaits.”
“The economic loss is greater than in an earthquake. I can't even believe what's happening here in Altadena,” Keenan added. “So many friends lost their homes…I mean, it's crazy that everyone I know has been affected to such an extent that I know who the villain is here… And guess what? It's not the first time, right? People have found someone to blame, and it's the people you voted for.
On Wednesday, authorities reported fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades and Altadena were shut off or had low water pressure. confirm A scene during a press conference.
On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump called out the Democratic governor and described how the governor had tried to warn him about the state's water mismanagement. In response to President Trump's criticism, Newsom said said CNN reported Wednesday that the president-elect was trying to “politicize” the situation, especially while standing outside a burning home.
Video footage obtained by DCNF shows one of the many residential areas in Pacific Palisades almost completely destroyed. Some houses were left with rubble and bricks, while others had minor damage to their buildings.
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Palisades Fire: Homes destroyed near Bel Air Bay Club, one on fire, people living in the area trying to assess the damage to their place I could see it. It was like a scene from a horror movie. @DailyCaller #palisadesfire | #Californiawildfires pic.twitter.com/zCLbl8wwHk
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) January 10, 2025
Several local residents were seen hiking through the streets to check out their homes and what was left. Some people emerged from the burnt ruins and walked along the coastal promenade, dragging suitcases and other belongings.
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Palisades Fire: Homes destroyed near Bel Air Bay Club, one on fire, people living in the area trying to assess the damage to their place I could see it. It was like a scene from a horror movie. @DailyCaller #palisadesfire | #Californiawildfires pic.twitter.com/zCLbl8wwHk
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) January 10, 2025
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) January 10, 2025
Altadena locals, who are still under evacuation orders from their homes, criticized the state of California's lack of leadership and resources, pointing out to the DCNF that they had been aware of the state's notorious Santa Ana winds for weeks. .
“Well, I think our leadership in California is terrible. I don't think they pay any attention to our needs or anything like that,” the Altadena resident said. “We've known for over a week that this wind was coming. They were talking about the wind that was coming. Every time a wind like this blows, there's always a disaster and there's nothing they can do. They didn't even check to see if we had water at the hydrants.”
The local resident went on to describe how he was concerned about reports of looting, then added his surprise that voters continue to elect people like Newsom and Bass as president.
“I don't know how they keep electing people like this. And Bass, you know, the mayor of L.A., what an idiot she is,” the Altadena resident told DCNF.
“You know we tried to get [Gascon] People kept voting for him, not once, not twice,” added the Altadena resident. “I don't understand why people in California continue to vote for people like this. So I've lost a lot of trust in the people who are voting.”
A 76-year-old Pasadena resident who was evacuated from his home due to the Eaton Canyon fire also called on state leaders, saying without the city's guidance “this would have been a disaster.” ”
“It was good to have leadership in the city of Pasadena, because if for some reason I had to make demands or depend on busy state and national leaders to come here, it would be very embarrassing. Because it will be.” a Pasadena resident told DCNF.
“I won't vote for him [Gavin Newsom] “If he was the last person on earth,” she continued. “But don't worry, he was fine for the photo op with Biden.”
When asked about Buss' response to Los Angeles residents, the 76-year-old told DCNF locals that they needed to “kick that woman to the curb.”
Mr. Bass has been attracting particular attention since taking office in 2022. cut The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)'s budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 will increase by $17.6 million. However, she insisted in a press conference responding to the outrage that none of the cuts “had any impact on the situation we have been dealing with over the last few days.”
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