Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed sending at least another $2.5 billion to Los Angeles to deal with the ongoing wildfire emergency response and recovery efforts.
The proposed funding — which would support recovery and cleanup efforts, additional wildfire preparedness and the reopening of schools, according to the governor’s office on Monday, Jan. 13 — marks an expansion of the special legislative session that Newsom first called in November after it became clear that former President Donald Trump would return to the White House.
The governor called for the “Trump-proofing session” at the time to discuss additional funding for the state’s Department of Justice to cover potential lawsuits that California politicians expect they’ll be taking on to defend against perceived “unlawful actions” by the incoming Trump administration.
But Republicans have heavily criticized Democrat leaders, particularly in recent days, for asking legislators to focus on setting aside money for these potential fights with the incoming Trump administration at the same time that Southern California is facing so much — and ongoing — destruction.
Newsom said Monday that he is asking the legislature to extend the special session and consider an extra $2.5 billion in disaster response. That’s on top of the $50 million deal Democratic legislators touted on Monday as a deal to address the Trump portion of the special session.
“California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger — including billions in new and accelerated state funding so we can move faster to deliver for the thousands who’ve lost their homes and livelihoods in these firestorms,” Newsom said. “To the people of Los Angeles: We have your back.”
The additional dollars proposed for L.A. include $1 billion to augment the state’s emergency response funding to pay for emergency response, cleanup and recovery related to the Southern California wildfires. The funding should be eligible for federal reimbursement.
Another $1.5 billion would speed up the availability of funding for preparedness against future firestorms, windstorms or other natural disasters.
In addition, Newsom is seeking funding to provide local school districts with technical assistance to rebuild and repair campuses.
As for the rest of the special legislative session, state Democrats announced Monday a $50 million agreement as part of its efforts to “Trump-proof” California.
Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, unveiled plans to provide $25 million in state funding to support legal aid services that work on behalf of immigrants facing deportation and other risks. Another $25 million would go to the California Department of Justice.
“The new administration has already promised to launch an all-out assault against LGBTQ+ people and attempt to deport our immigrant neighbors, who even now are helping to contain the LA wildfires and mitigate the property damage,” Wiener said. “This agreement by the Senate Democrats, along with our colleagues in the Assembly and Gov. Newsom, will allow California to continue to serve as a bulwark against threats to everyday Californians.”
Earlier Monday, before the governor’s announcement, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, joined by more than a dozen other GOP legislators, said there should be a special legislative session focused on wildfire prevention instead.
Gallagher outlined several topics that he said legislators should be focused on, including streamlining wildfire prevention projects, fully funding prevention projects, bringing more transparency to the insurance market, supporting efforts to harden homes to reduce their chances of catching fire, and increasing penalties for arsonists.
“There is so much that is before us right now — big issues that require our attention. And we should not be distracted by a special session to pay more government lawyers to sue Donald Trump. That’s not the right direction,” Gallagher said.
In recent days, elected officials in California, including Newsom and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, a Republican, as well as L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, have invited the president-elect to visit Southern California to see for himself the devastation caused by the wildfires.
Trump will be sworn into office on Monday, Jan. 20.