XPost: alt.wildland.firefighting, alt.los-angeles, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
XPost: talk.politics.guns, sac.politics

https://www.foxnews.com/us/californians-angry-devastating-wildfires- asking-where-high-tax-dollars-went-local-researcher

Kristian Fors, a Los Angeles County resident and research fellow at the California-based Independent Institute, says locals are wondering what
their tax dollars are going toward as officials struggle to contain
devastating wildfires fanned by strong winds.

The wildfires have destroyed more than 12,300 homes around LA over five consecutive days, leaving at least 11 people dead and thousands displaced.
As of Saturday morning, the Palisades Fire was 11% contained, the Eaton
Fire 15% contained, the Kenneth Fire 80% contained, and the Hurst Fire 76% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"I think at its core level, we, the citizens of the United States and of
Los Angeles, we expect certain provisions from our government. And when
people see that our basic needs are not being met, they're angry," Fors
told Fox News Digital.

"I think the people of California � they were willing to pay high taxes.
They were willing to support things that maybe they don't necessarily
agree with because there was a basic assumption that underlies it all,
that our government is here to take care of us," he continued. "But now in
a situation like this, when there's total mismanagement, when people are scared, when there's 0% containment, people are asking themselves a
question, what did all those tax dollars go for?"

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Fors, whose research focuses on government waste and inefficiencies in California, evacuated his home in La Ca�ada Flintridge, which neighbors
the now-smoldering city of Altadena, with his grandfather after their
next-door neighbor knocked on their door at 6 a.m. and said, "You need to leave."

The research fellow pointed to multiple issues he believes could have been addressed to mitigate wildfires, including more favorable insurance
policies that would encourage "a lot of productive sorts of construction"
built to withstand wildfires and other natural disasters; putting fire- resistant power lines underground; turning power off when strong winds
blow through certain areas; and more controlled burns.

POWER GRID FAULTS SURGED RIGHT BEFORE LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES BEGAN: EXPERT

Fors also noted that California has been struggling to address its housing crisis for years, and displaced residents are struggling to find places to
go after evacuating from their homes.

"At a statewide level, I'm not sure if the necessary efforts are being
taken."

� Kristian Fors
"[California Gov.] Gavin Newsom back in 2020 came up to a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service, and they agreed that they were going to clear � 500,000 acres of forest land per year," Fors explained.
"And that means doing controlled burns, because part of the issue with
living in a place like California is we're surrounded by wild lands. These
wild lands accumulate brush, and that brush is incredibly dangerous. � So
they came to this memorandum of understanding they were going to clear
500,000 acres, but they've only cleared about 100,000 per year."

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WILDFIRES

LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone told reporters on Saturday that
his department is prepared for the strong Santa Ana winds that could fan
the flames through Wednesday.

"These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high," Marrone said.

ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN
HELP THEM

The Eaton Fire has burned 14,117 acres and is now 15% contained, with over 7,000 structures damaged or destroyed. Marrone said 2,832 emergency
personnel are deployed to fight the fire.

Todd Hopkins, battalion chief for Cal Fire, said the Palisades Fire is now
at 21,596 acres and is 11% contained. A total of 5,316 structures have
been destroyed in the fire, including 426 homes. More than 150,000
residents have been evacuated, he added.

Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.


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November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
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