California's raging wildfires have ignited more than acres of land – they've sparked a fiery debate over Gov. Gavin Newsom's priorities. Critics claim the embattled governor is slashing essential fire-prevention budgets while funneling billions into ambitious green initiatives, leaving communities vulnerable to disaster.
According to a report by Newsweek, Newsom cut $101 million from the state's firefighting budget in June 2024, reducing it to $2.6 billion. This move was made just months before devastating wildfires began in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the governor has committed a staggering $14.7 billion toward transitioning California to zero-emission vehicles, with a jaw-dropping $100 billion price tag for future climate projects.
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State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones didn't mince words, saying in a statement, "Newsom's budget priorities are completely out of touch. Instead of addressing urgent needs like wildfire prevention, he focuses on policies that burden Californians."
But Newsom's team says those numbers don't tell the whole story. According to the California Governor’s Office, the state’s investments in wildfire response have increased by 47% since 2018, with funding rising from approximately $2 billion to $2.94 billion.
This investment has expanded CAL FIRE’s staffing from 5,829 positions to 10,741 during the same period. The state has also committed $2.5 billion to implement the Governor's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, aiming to boost forest health and reduce wildfire risks.
Environmentalists are split on whether this is enough. Ryan Schleeter from The Climate Center told The New York Post, "The cost of not investing is far, far greater than investing in climate preparedness today."
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But not everyone agrees. Conservative commentator Vince Dao fired back on social media, posting, "California saw record rainfall in 2023. It's not climate change. It's bad leadership."
Local officials haven't escaped criticism, either. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass slashed $17.6 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year – a move that Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned could hinder the department's ability to combat fires.
The stakes couldn't be higher. According to AccuWeather, wildfires in the Los Angeles area are on track to cause between $250 billion and $275 billion in damages. That would make this disaster the costliest in U.S. history.
Newsom, however, attributes the growing intensity of wildfires to climate change. He's also betting big on clean energy. California's 2035 ban on the sale of gas-powered cars is part of his plan to make the state a leader in emissions reduction, as reported by Earth.
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