Not a Fan, Never Been One
Let me start with this statement: Support anyone who is aiding and supporting the victims of the fires in and around Los Angeles.
To the he Republicans in Congress, the Apartheid Era Emerald Heir Pedo Guy™, Trump and his minions who are trying to politicize this, EAT A BAG OF DICKS pig felching jerks.
As to why you should not support Newsome for President.
The first, and most important reason for this is because IT’S TOO SOON.
The election is 3⅚ years away. Please, just let us all have a few months more of peace/grieving.
Please!
Second, remember when Andrew “Rat-Faced Andy” Cuomo was all politically sexy and everything at the height of the Covid outbreak?
Wait and see how it all plays out.
Look deeply into his record. (I have, and I am not a stan)
For example, it appears that he’s already done something with regard to fire recovery that looks like a sellout to real estate developers.
This is one of my personal “Tells” as to whether or not you can depend on a politician.
As a child of a somewhat prominent City Planner, I saw my father repeatedly (albeit metaphorically) beaten up by politicians doing the bidding of real estate developers.
Gavin Newsom just did that, when he announced that he would suspend state environmental regulations to speed rebuilding. (He could also be grandstanding, but my money is on the first explanation given his record)
It sounds reasonable, but it’s really a stealth give away to developers, who are significant contributors to the current fire problem by (successfully) lobbying against fire safe building codes, prescribed burns, and reasonable land use restrictions.
So here are the first two paragraphs of the story:
Landmark California environmental laws will be suspended for wildfire victims seeking to rebuild their homes and businesses, according to an executive order signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Requirements for building permits and reviews in the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act — often considered onerous by developers — will be eased for victims of the fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other communities, according to the order.
This sounds eminently reasonable, but it turns out that there is no need for such a waiver, and there never has been:
………
The California Coastal Commission, which is tasked with coordinating with local officials in enforcing the Coastal Act, noted last week that the state law already clearly lays out that reconstruction of homes, businesses and most other structures destroyed by a disaster are exempt from typical coastal development permits — as long as the new building is sited in the same location and not more than 10% larger or taller than the destroyed structure.
So what is going on is that he is waiving regulations to allow 1500 sq foot houses being rebuilt as 4500 square foot mega mansions, and 20 unit apartments being rebuilt as 80 unit apartments. (I would actually support the larger apartments, but that is irrelevant to this discussion)
That is why Dan Dunmoyer, California Building Industry Association CEO, has enthusiastically endorsed this announcement, which is a huge tell. These guys make the Chamber of Commerce look like angels.
Guess which home was not of wood frame construction
In terms of rebuilding, what is really needed is funding at the local level for things like building inspectors, review of building plans, and maybe some (A LOT) more money for more fire safe architecture.
Relaxing rules, and not providing resources on the ground to prevent developer and builder shenanigans is Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine in action, so it is important to see how the rebuilding goes down.
I will say that his executive order banning the property vultures moving in on the burned areas, which was condemned by Reason Magazine, which is a pretty good indication that he is doing the right thing there.
BTW, if you do not follow Hizonner closely, here are some of his other actions that I find problematic: (This does not address his tenure as Mayor of San Francisco)
He’s Governor of California, but he is term-limited, and extremely likely to run for President the next time around. (Assuming that there IS a next time around)
Look before you leap. That’s all I’m saying.
