California earmarks $2.5 billion for Los Angeles wildfire aid
With President Donald Trump bound for Los Angeles today and once again threatening to withhold wildfire aid to California unless the state abides by his water policies, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Thursday to provide $2.5 billion in state funding for wildfire response and preparedness State and local agencies can use the money for a variety of recovery efforts, such as providing shelters, removing hazardous waste, and testing air quality.
Funding Details
The relief package funds will be drawn from the state’s reserve fund specifically earmarked for economic uncertainties, which had about $8.3 billion as of Jan. 10, according to a California Department of Finance spokesperson. State officials say the $2.5 billion should be reimbursable by the federal government.
Legislature Response
The wildfires that broke out earlier this month have killed at least 27 people and displaced tens of thousands of others. New fires continue to ignite in Southern California this week, including the 10,000-acre Hughes Fire in L.A. County that began Wednesday.
Trump's Visit
Also Thursday, Newsom’s office was left trying to discern the details of Trump’s planned visit to the fire zone — and the White House seemed just fine to leave the governor hanging. It’s unclear whether the two, whose relationship is frosty at best, will appear together as presidents and governors normally do at disasters scenes.
Wildfire Relief Efforts
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Current Situation
The relief package funds will be drawn from the state’s reserve fund specifically earmarked for economic uncertainties, which had about $8.3 billion as of Jan. 10, according to a California Department of Finance spokesperson. State officials say the $2.5 billion should be reimbursable by the federal government.
Trump's Offshore Wind Ban
At his inauguration Monday, Trump reiterated his pledge to end the U.S. offshore wind industry, and quickly followed up with an executive order banning new offshore wind leases. The ban could threaten existing plans for large wind farms off California's coast. Industry officials and environmentalists argue that this decree is a setback for the state’s goal to go carbon neutral by 2045. Local concerns have also been raised in Morro Bay, where one major wind farm project is planned. Read more here.
OpenAI Investigation
OpenAI’s intentions to go from a nonprofit organization to a for-profit corporation have raised concerns. The California Attorney General’s office has opened an investigation into the possible business restructuring. Critics argue that this could set a dangerous precedent that allows startups to reap the tax benefits of nonprofits while intending to become highly lucrative businesses. Read more here.
Election Gains
Compared to 2020, Trump made small gains in the November election not only among California’s general voting population but voters ages 18 to 29 as well. Find out why.
