A couple more: decades of fire suppression policy in an environment where regular fires are part of the ecosystem. Also housing construction in wilderness boundaries where fires are likely to happen-especially in those canyons where Santa Anas whip up hot, dry hurricane force winds. This sort of event is inevitable in SoCal-literally happens every year.
Thank you for writing this, Qasim! Climate change is so real that many can’t see it! Corporate greed is one of the culprits. We can and must do better. The alternative is no planet that we can live on.
"Today, those same corporations continue to prioritize drilling and extraction over sustainable solutions, making billions while the planet burns. Southern California is on fire, and the fossil fuel industry isn’t just complicit—they’re responsible." Oil conglomerates had better have rocketships to escape with (to...), because otherwise, they're going down right alongside us, and no amount of filthy lucre can protect them.
I should have reread! But oh my, once I did, it’s unbelievable stuff. I don’t quite understand how the Monterey deal could have been conducted like that. Outrageous how many deals occur right under our noses and often with the blessing of our elected officials.
I'm sorry, but your second point is an outright lie that has been debunked several times already. The LAFD's budget *did* increase last year, it was just done in a separate bill from the budget because they were still negotiating when the rest of the budget was passed, while the LAPD's negotiations had already concluded
Wow. This info is not turning up anywhere in the corporate media. Trump is free to blame whomever he wants for these wildfires, including his stupid claim that there's a giant water spigot in Canada that Gavin "Newscum" and Joe Biden control but they won't turn it on. I guess it's not those guys but nobody wants to know who is controlling California's water supply.
Trumps "dream" of a giant spigot of water in Canada that he can turn on is like most of his ranting pure hokum, Yes Canada has abundant surface water left over from the ice ages. BUT, a great deal of that is already shared by the unholy USofA along the borders between the nations. The US is already benefiting from the use of that water and sharing in the economic benefits of the water transport into the continent's heartland.
As for reversing the flow of that water to the parched western US, the central and northeastern border states, a very substantial entity, are extremely dubious about the ravaging of this precious resource.
The desertification of the western parts of the Americas' continent are the result of its ancient geological formation, AND the lethal meddling of human greed that has altered our climate, destroying the vital mountain snow packs and glaciers feeding the west's rivers. Drought has always been a feature of the west. Plants and animals adapted to its cycles. Early human settlements were abandoned because of drought. Through the millennia life in the west persisted despite drought until humans destroyed the life giving aquifers under the pressure of unrestrained human growth, mal-adaptation, and greed.
The saga of the west is not the glorious search for freedom, it is the wanton destruction of a fragile ecosystem much harder to restore than it would have been to cherish.
Excellent article, thank you for this. Yes, we need to do more than just pray for victims. We must hold all who are accountable for bad policy decisions, and an unwillingness to invest in prevention and a labor force with reasonable wages to respond to emergencies when they do happen. All you mentioned in the article is shocking and horrific. I was especially struck by section #3 on slave prison labor in CA being used to fight the fires. Sharing this article and will share some of the donation links in your Google doc.
Excellent insights. It also speaks to why Trump won. It’s hard to tell who are the good guys, so people just want to blow it up. Dems better decide whose side they are really on. Biden actually fought for policies to address climate change but as soon as oil spikes, which was manipulated they all hide from confronting an existential threat to everyone. Dems repeat after me, climate change is real and the price we pay today is less than tomorrow. If need be call it a crisis in need of drastic action including nationalization of all oil and water. Play hardball. Be Trumpian, but smarter. When the GOP pushback call them out as bought and paid for. Use extreme examples of how their disregard and disinformation is ruining peoples lives. Make climate what immigration has been to the GOP. And yes call out unabashed greed. In America we can all strive for success, but that doesn’t mean the rich get a free ride.
The blame emphasis has been on LA city officials. LA COUNTY officials and their responsibility for the devastation are being overlooked. Pacific Palisades is in LA County, as is Altadena. Most of CA government is corrupted, with a large portion of public corruption on the side. Regulatory agencies, like Department of Insurance, are corrupt. LA County Public Works, with which people will have to negotiate their rebuildd, is corrupt. The Contractors State License Board is corrupt.
So many people had their home insurance cancelled that they will likely be unable to rebuild. Insurance cancellations have been going on for some time and Lara has done nothing to help the people with the issue. Newsom is also derelict in supporting residents needs for insurance and better management of the environment. Selling off our water to billionaires is unconscionable, but the used-car salesman governor did it with aplomb.
Your ongoing coverage of the horrible truths behind many of the tragedies we face today is a tremendous public service. Thank you. I'll continue to support your work and hope you can get a wider audience
The state is all democrats. The biggest lobby in the state is the Western Petroleum Association, may as well be West Asia. The second biggest is the Building Trades Association. They out number Environmental lobbyists 5000/1 in Sacramento. So instead of building dense walkable housing, opposed by racists, in transit accessible downturns, all the lobbyists, including real estate, have the fastest growing neighborhoods… in the expanding very high fire zones. They even held up Calfire’s map of the expanding zones.
Thank you for the straight talk.
A couple more: decades of fire suppression policy in an environment where regular fires are part of the ecosystem. Also housing construction in wilderness boundaries where fires are likely to happen-especially in those canyons where Santa Anas whip up hot, dry hurricane force winds. This sort of event is inevitable in SoCal-literally happens every year.
Thank you for writing this, Qasim! Climate change is so real that many can’t see it! Corporate greed is one of the culprits. We can and must do better. The alternative is no planet that we can live on.
"Today, those same corporations continue to prioritize drilling and extraction over sustainable solutions, making billions while the planet burns. Southern California is on fire, and the fossil fuel industry isn’t just complicit—they’re responsible." Oil conglomerates had better have rocketships to escape with (to...), because otherwise, they're going down right alongside us, and no amount of filthy lucre can protect them.
Here’s how everyone can get involved in litigation: https://www.joboneforhumanity.org/what_to_do_after_climate_chan?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2vMQrYisoDlR8fNcbYMDG0JoI-M0-zsNFu9kLrpnYfzjF0p0soVuLQGUI_aem_jHbGtUbGmw6X5CXrWiP4Fw
Can you write more about millionaires owning water rights and about the politicians who continue this practice? I was not aware of this.
See the article linked in the article, written by More Perfect Union. They've done an excellent job addressing this question.
I should have reread! But oh my, once I did, it’s unbelievable stuff. I don’t quite understand how the Monterey deal could have been conducted like that. Outrageous how many deals occur right under our noses and often with the blessing of our elected officials.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEn5hklMTNX/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA== this woman is well educated on the water topic and misinformation being shared
I'm sorry, but your second point is an outright lie that has been debunked several times already. The LAFD's budget *did* increase last year, it was just done in a separate bill from the budget because they were still negotiating when the rest of the budget was passed, while the LAPD's negotiations had already concluded
It is not a lie. It is factual. And here's the LAFD Fire Chief attesting to the reduced budget. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEqmCl1ScLY/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D
Qasim, the amount inmates are paid is double what you say and they can get jobs with CAL FIRE after. Please correct
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/conservation-camps/faq-conservation-fire-camp-program
CAL Fire is one org. There are dozens of states that still prevent felons from working in public service.
Wow. This info is not turning up anywhere in the corporate media. Trump is free to blame whomever he wants for these wildfires, including his stupid claim that there's a giant water spigot in Canada that Gavin "Newscum" and Joe Biden control but they won't turn it on. I guess it's not those guys but nobody wants to know who is controlling California's water supply.
Trumps "dream" of a giant spigot of water in Canada that he can turn on is like most of his ranting pure hokum, Yes Canada has abundant surface water left over from the ice ages. BUT, a great deal of that is already shared by the unholy USofA along the borders between the nations. The US is already benefiting from the use of that water and sharing in the economic benefits of the water transport into the continent's heartland.
As for reversing the flow of that water to the parched western US, the central and northeastern border states, a very substantial entity, are extremely dubious about the ravaging of this precious resource.
The desertification of the western parts of the Americas' continent are the result of its ancient geological formation, AND the lethal meddling of human greed that has altered our climate, destroying the vital mountain snow packs and glaciers feeding the west's rivers. Drought has always been a feature of the west. Plants and animals adapted to its cycles. Early human settlements were abandoned because of drought. Through the millennia life in the west persisted despite drought until humans destroyed the life giving aquifers under the pressure of unrestrained human growth, mal-adaptation, and greed.
The saga of the west is not the glorious search for freedom, it is the wanton destruction of a fragile ecosystem much harder to restore than it would have been to cherish.
Excellent article, thank you for this. Yes, we need to do more than just pray for victims. We must hold all who are accountable for bad policy decisions, and an unwillingness to invest in prevention and a labor force with reasonable wages to respond to emergencies when they do happen. All you mentioned in the article is shocking and horrific. I was especially struck by section #3 on slave prison labor in CA being used to fight the fires. Sharing this article and will share some of the donation links in your Google doc.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Excellent insights. It also speaks to why Trump won. It’s hard to tell who are the good guys, so people just want to blow it up. Dems better decide whose side they are really on. Biden actually fought for policies to address climate change but as soon as oil spikes, which was manipulated they all hide from confronting an existential threat to everyone. Dems repeat after me, climate change is real and the price we pay today is less than tomorrow. If need be call it a crisis in need of drastic action including nationalization of all oil and water. Play hardball. Be Trumpian, but smarter. When the GOP pushback call them out as bought and paid for. Use extreme examples of how their disregard and disinformation is ruining peoples lives. Make climate what immigration has been to the GOP. And yes call out unabashed greed. In America we can all strive for success, but that doesn’t mean the rich get a free ride.
The blame emphasis has been on LA city officials. LA COUNTY officials and their responsibility for the devastation are being overlooked. Pacific Palisades is in LA County, as is Altadena. Most of CA government is corrupted, with a large portion of public corruption on the side. Regulatory agencies, like Department of Insurance, are corrupt. LA County Public Works, with which people will have to negotiate their rebuildd, is corrupt. The Contractors State License Board is corrupt.
So many people had their home insurance cancelled that they will likely be unable to rebuild. Insurance cancellations have been going on for some time and Lara has done nothing to help the people with the issue. Newsom is also derelict in supporting residents needs for insurance and better management of the environment. Selling off our water to billionaires is unconscionable, but the used-car salesman governor did it with aplomb.
What has happened in CA really is a crying shame.
Give me a link to something credible showing Newsom "sold off" California's water.
Look up the Resnicks who own the Wonderful company.
Your ongoing coverage of the horrible truths behind many of the tragedies we face today is a tremendous public service. Thank you. I'll continue to support your work and hope you can get a wider audience
Grateful for your support and trust, Ted. Thank you.
The state is all democrats. The biggest lobby in the state is the Western Petroleum Association, may as well be West Asia. The second biggest is the Building Trades Association. They out number Environmental lobbyists 5000/1 in Sacramento. So instead of building dense walkable housing, opposed by racists, in transit accessible downturns, all the lobbyists, including real estate, have the fastest growing neighborhoods… in the expanding very high fire zones. They even held up Calfire’s map of the expanding zones.
Reminds me I haven't visited endtheexception.com in a while, there's an action prompt there.