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California Gov. Gavin Newsom was called out after he blamed “mis- and disinformation” for criticism over empty water reservoirs.

The Democrat leader tried to shift the blame for the state’s dismal handling of the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County, playing semantics when responding to criticism of water management and the reports of reservoirs being empty.

“The reservoirs are completely full — the state reservoirs here in Southern California. That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us,” Newsom told NBC News reporter Jacob Soboroff in a pre-taped “Meet the Press” interview.

Newsom claimed reports that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which is run by the state, was devoid of water prompted him to launch an investigation.

“That’s exactly what triggered my desire to get the investigation to understand what was happening with that local reservoir,” he said in the interview that aired Sunday.

He bristled at criticism from President-elect Donald Trump who has called out his leadership and the state government’s handling of fire management and the current crisis in particular.

“That was not a state system reservoir, which the president-elect was referring to as it relates to the delta smelt … which is inexcusable because it’s inaccurate,” the governor said. “Also, incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state.”

Trump accused Newsom of impeding “millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning.” The former and future president referred to Newsom’s desire to save the smelt fish as the reasoning behind the move, something the governor has denied.

“I called for him to come out, take a look for himself,” Newsom noted about the letter he sent to Trump last week. “We want to do it in the spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist.”

The Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Pacific Palisades holds 117 million gallons of water but was completely dry when the fires began last week. It had been closed for repairs, the Los Angeles Times first reported.

“The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and to the community,” Newsom wrote in ordering a probe. “We need answers to how that happened.”

Social media users ripped into Newsom for his claims about the state reservoirs.

Frieda Powers
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