If Californians Don’t Fire Newsom, He’ll Burn What’s Left Of Their Home To The Ground

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As I flew above the terrain I called home for 20 years, tears streamed down my face. Covered in grey smoke, the west side was unrecognizable, as were the devastated territories of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and parts of Topanga Canyon. I left Los Angeles a little over a year ago, but most of my friends remain there. My heart is still there.

The area that is currently burning to the ground has been my playground, as well as my therapist, for most of my adult life. The trees, trails, and beaches, a constant companion. At my lowest points, the mountains and the oceans were always there to save me. A hike to reduce my anxiety. A swim to wash away my cares. The cold salt water and sand soothed my sore, aching body from one too many workouts. I always slept like a baby after an ocean dip.

Less than 24 hours before the spark that would change everything, I treaded up and down the Santa Monica stairs, a staple for fitness fanatics and weekend warriors alike. From there I walked to the beach and made my way to the sand at the bottom of the Pacific Palisades. I played in the ocean and frolicked in the sand, so grateful for this place and all it has taught me. I prayed, “God if it is your will, bring me back here.”

The fires haven’t changed that sentiment. If anything, they have reinforced my love for this state. For all the complaints about California (and there are plenty), it is my home. Despite the high cost of living and complete mismanagement of the state, the heart cares nothing for economics.

For much of my life in Los Angeles, I was blissfully unaware of politics. People could afford to be. There is a reason there are so many homeless people here. It’s a lot easier to be “unhoused” when it’s 75 degrees and sunny almost every day of the year. Life never seemed hard here in La La Land. Admittedly, I’ve complained about the soft people that kind of lifestyle produces, particularly men. But California living, even at its worst, used to be pretty darn sweet. You didn’t need to be a millionaire to live in SoCal. It was nice if you were, but it wasn’t a prerequisite when I moved here in 1998. Many people, like me, sacrificed a lot for the outdoor, healthy, hippy lifestyle.

Then Covid hit. All of a sudden, I became un-blissfully aware that the bad policies of an egomaniacal tyrant have serious, devastating consequences. California had become unsustainable both financially and politically.

Blame Gov. Newsom

Officials here had some help during Covid. They had the backing of Dr. Anthony Fauci and many other “experts” who, for their own personal gain, insisted that the virus was something it wasn’t. However, the blame for the tragedy currently destroying the lives of thousands of people lies at the feet of one person only — Gov. Gavin Newsom.

This man has single-handedly destroyed the state with his Green New Deal policies and emphasis on “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG), diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and any other acronym initiative you can think of. He has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on useless, ineffective projects — from a train that no one wants to alphabet soup education — instead of doing what he should have to ensure this fire didn’t inflict the damage it did.

Lacking Preparation

For those unfamiliar with the territory, the mountains that surround the greater Los Angeles area — primarily the Santa Monica and San Gabriel ranges — make it extremely vulnerable to wildfires. Particularly during times when what’s known as the Santa Ana winds — dry, rapid, and often warm air that whips in from Nevada and Utah to Southern California at up to 100 mph — start to blow. That, combined with low rainfall and extremely dry conditions, makes it a ripe target for rapidly spreading fires.

What happened a week into 2025 is not unique. What is unique is the leadership of the state. Newsom has failed to manage the conditions properly. Brush should have been consistently cleared. Controlled burns should have been initiated to clear floor areas. For crying out loud, a sufficient supply of water should have been available in fire hydrants! Everyone who lives here knows this. Many constituents voted for this. In 2014, Californians approved the Proposition 1 Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP), which allocated $2.7 billion for water storage projects. Those projects have largely gone unrealized, and the abundance of rain the state received over the past two years that could have been stored with larger reserves was wasted.

Yet Newsom, along with the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, failed to listen. Rather, L.A.’s fire chief was focused on inclusivity and making the fire department “more diverse.”

Fires care nothing for sexual preferences or diversity. They destroy everything in their path — the homes of the wealthy and the homes of the poor. Small businesses and bougie boutiques. Nothing is sacred to fire. Only those well-qualified and equipped to fight fire should be doing so.

While many are no doubt perplexed by why anyone would want to stay in L.A., much less move there (again), ironically, the events of the past week have only made me more intent on returning to California. As the saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. I was starting to understand that during my time away, but now it’s clear. I have been trying on a new life for a year now, and it’s an ill fit. 

It’s time to remove Newsom for all of those who love California. If we don’t stop him, we won’t have to wait for untenable economics to drive citizens out of the state — he will continue to burn what’s left of it to the ground.