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California Governor Gavin Newsom said that the devastating fires in Los Angeles, which have leveled Pacific Palisades and Altadena, require a rebuilding response he’s characterizing as a “Marshall Plan” for the region.
In an interview with Meet the Press with NBC News’ Jacob Soboroff, Newsom also agreed that the fires will end up being the worst natural disaster in U.S. history “in terms of the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope.”
The governor said that when it comes to rebuilding, he has a team “looking at reimagining L.A. 2.0.” “We’re just starting to lay out. I mean, we’re still fighting these fires, so we’re already talking to city leaders. We’re already talking to civic leaders. We’re already talking to business leaders, with nonprofits. We’re talking to labor leaders.”
Newsom suggested that the rebuilding efforts also would be tied to the Olympics, which Los Angeles will host in 2028.
The Olympics and other sporting events “only reinforces the imperative in moving quickly, doing it in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. President of the United States, Donald Trump, to his credit, was helpful in getting the Olympics to the United States of America, to get it down here in L.A. We thank him for that. This is an opportunity for him to shine, for this country to shine, for California and this community to shine, the opportunity with all of that and all that opportunity and that pride and spirit that comes from not just hosting those three iconic games and venues, but also the opportunity, I think, to rebuild at the same time.”
Trump has blamed the fires on Newsom, who has pushed back on the claim and has invited the president-elect to survey the damage. Trump has claimed that the state reservoirs were not filled because of environmental concerns of the Delta smelt.
“I don’t know what he’s referring to when he talks about the Delta smelt in reservoirs. The reservoirs are completely full, the state reservoirs here in Southern California,” Newsom said. “That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us. Responding to Donald Trump’s insults, we would spend another month. I’m very familiar with them. Every elected official that he disagrees with is very familiar with them.”
But the Los Angeles Times has reported that a reservoir that serves the Palisades was not full.
“That was not a state system reservoir, which the president-elect was referring to as it relates to the Delta and somehow connecting the Delta smelt to this fire, which is inexcusable because it’s inaccurate,” Newsom said. “Also, incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state.”
