OPINION:
“They’d like to start tonight, and they’ll clean their site. They’ll do everything. They just want to start. And they were very concerned with the 18 months,” President Trump told Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at a roundtable on Jan. 24, describing the devastation of the California wildfires and how local residents were eager to rebuild.
“So, I’m sure you can get it down to, I would say, not even 18 days. They are ready, Mayor,” the president said.
“No. That will not be the case,” Ms. Bass assured Mr. Trump, indicating it wouldn’t take 18 months to restart the process.
“OK. I just hope that that —” the president said before Ms. Bass cut him off with: “You can hold me to it.”
It has been six months since wildfires destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, resulting in the evacuations of 200,000 residents, at least 30 fatalities and an estimated $275 billion in damages and economic losses in the region.
After visiting the state in January, the president waived all federal permits to expedite the rebuild and asked local California authorities to do the same. Mr. Trump, frustrated with estimates that it would take the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency 12 to 18 months to clean up debris, pushed the agencies to do it in six months.
“Career staff at EPA and FEMA groused in private to administration officials that a six-month pace was so ambitious ‘its bananas,’” Real Clear Politics reported.
Given direct oversight by the president and working with state and local authorities, FEMA, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers hauled more than 2.5 million tons of debris, about double the amount removed from ground zero after 9/11, and cleared more than 13,000 properties in five months, according to Real Clear Politics.
Now, it’s up to Ms. Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to start the rebuild, but because of their bureaucratic red tape, it’s going painstakingly slow. To date, only 113 building permits have been issued, and the average time to process a permit is 56 business days.
“The permit is only the beginning — it’s just the green light to get started,” Brock Harris, a Los Angeles real estate agent who is working with developers on rebuilding efforts, told Realtor.com.
Applications go through regional planning, building and safety, often involving the fire department and public works. Most of the time, they have to be issued by both the city and the county. Additional permits are needed for electrical systems and swimming pools.
Government officials bog down the process with code compliance, zoning reviews and staffing shortages.
“Thanks, LA County for making it as frustrating and impossible to rebuild after the fires as possible,” actress Mandy Moore wrote on Instagram. “Shouldn’t be surprised but it’s mind-boggling the red tape and hoops they’re putting us all through.”
Although timelines vary, Realtor.com estimates it will take California residents 12 to 36 months to rebuild, on average.
Ms. Bass held a press conference in June to herald progress on the rebuild, using Walter Lopes’ Pacific Palisades home as an example of how “quickly” L.A. residents are getting back onto their feet. The only problem? Mr. Lopes’ home was the only one rebuilt on his block, and he could do it only after shelling out millions of dollars and promising to build his home exactly as it was constructed a few years ago.
“I don’t agree that there are a lot of homes popping up,” Mr. Lopes told the New York Post. “We’ve had to push back. We’ve had to fight. My construction isn’t happening just because the city is expediting things. Every single step of the way, we were there. We’re in meetings. We’re asking questions. We’re pushing back on things.”
Approvals have been fast-tracked for only “like-for-like” rebuilds, yet that language remains fuzzy. For example, if a homeowner wants to expand their basement or a room in a rebuild, does that count as a “like-for-like,” or does it violate the city’s new house size limit?
“It’s confusing,” Mr. Lopes told the Post. “There’s a good percentage of homeowners who have not started because those rules have not been finalized. They ask, ‘Do I pull the trigger and rebuild right now? Or do I wait a month because the rules might change? Or do I wait six months because the rules might change again?’”
After being criticized for the slow recovery, Mr. Newsom released a statement praising his state’s debris removal, a feat accomplished by the federal government and Mr. Trump, as an accomplishment of his own.
“Local, state, and federal governments are delivering the fastest wildfire cleanup in U.S. history. Nearly 10,000 homes cleared — months ahead of schedule — because recovery can’t wait,” Mr. Newsom said in a statement on July 7. “Now we turn the page to rebuilding, and we’re doing it with a clear plan, strong partnerships, and the urgency this moment demands.”
Mr. Newsom also signed an executive order fast-tracking the rebuilding of utility and telecommunication infrastructure, something he arguably could have done six months ago.
Still, serving California residents doesn’t seem to be either Ms. Bass’ or Mr. Newsom’s top priority.
Mr. Newsom has largely been out of the state, touring South Carolina last week and appearing with conservative podcasters to launch his 2028 presidential run. Ms. Bass announced a “cash assistance” program to immigrant families affected by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, using philanthropist money to hand out cash debit cards this week.
“The permitting process is moving at a snail’s pace,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told RealClearPolitics, “and while communities struggle to rebuild, Newsom fled the state to kick off his presidential campaign after pathetically trying to claim credit for President Trump’s success.
“Newsom is a failed leader who cares more about his own political ambitions than delivering for Californians,” Ms. Jackson added.
Perhaps it’s time for another presidential visit to California to ensure Ms. Bass’ and Mr. Newsom’s promises to California residents become a reality and not just empty words.
• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.
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