California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his belief that the Los Angeles-area wildfires will go down as one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. He called for an independent investigation into the local water supply after firefighters reported that some fire hydrants ran dry during the initial stages of battling the flames. Newsom questioned whether the water shortage hindered firefighting efforts and also addressed President-elect Donald Trump’s comments blaming him and President Joe Biden for the lack of water in the hydrants.
Newsom defended his decisions regarding water management and criticized Trump for spreading misinformation about the wildfires. He expressed his faith in the community and leaders in rebuilding the city after the fires, mentioning the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Newsom highlighted plans for a ‘Marshall Plan’ to rebuild the city and involve various stakeholders in the recovery efforts.
Despite political tensions, Newsom expressed gratitude towards Biden for issuing a major disaster declaration and providing federal funds to support California. He also acknowledged Trump’s role in bringing the Olympics to the U.S. and emphasized the opportunity for the country, California, and the community to shine through the recovery efforts. Newsom discussed organizing a collective effort involving city leaders, civic leaders, business leaders, nonprofits, and labor leaders to ensure a comprehensive recovery plan is implemented for all those affected by the wildfires.
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