Renowned author blames ‘juvenile left’ officials for catastrophic wildfire failures

In a tweet political commentator and best-selling author Michael Shellenberger strongly criticised California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and the Democratic Party for what he described as preventable leadership failures contributing to the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires.

Shellenberger accused Newsom and Bass of neglecting key fire prevention measures and cutting critical funding, alleging that their focus on “radical Left” priorities left the state vulnerable to disaster.

“Over the next few weeks, you’re going to hear Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass, and the Democratic Party tell you that there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent the fires from destroying Los Angeles,” Shellenberger wrote, calling such claims “lies.”

He pointed to specific examples of budget cuts, highlighting that Newsom reduced funding for water infrastructure projects and failed to build sufficient water reservoirs to support firefighting efforts. He also said that Bass “cut $17.5 million in funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department and then went to Ghana even though she knew of the risk of catastrophic fires.”

Shellenberger criticised the leadership’s broader priorities, writing, “They were focused on other things. Making the fire department more racially diverse. Climate change. Homelessness.”

He argued that this mismanagement distracted officials from crucial issues, stating, “Year after year, they do nothing while focusing on things like trans and Trump and climate and ignoring the things that really matter to the people of California.”

In his tweet Shellenberger also accused California Democrats of subscribing to a “radical” ideology influenced by works like City of Quartz by Marxist author Mike Davis, which he said promotes the idea that too much money is spent protecting affluent neighbourhoods from fires. He linked this mindset to lax law enforcement and inadequate police funding, stating that homelessness-related arson is a significant contributor to wildfires in Los Angeles and Oakland.

“Over half of the fires in places like Los Angeles and Oakland are caused by the homeless committing arson, often out of some petty revenge,” Shellenberger claimed.

He further addressed the political climate, asserting that former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso’s loss to Karen Bass was influenced by “racist white guilt,” arguing that white liberal voters prioritised race over qualifications in the 2022 election.

“The Latino men and women in separate focus groups were much less racist. They wanted to know about their policies,” he stated, contrasting their approach with that of white liberal voters.

Concluding his post, Shellenberger called for significant political change in California.

“It’s time for Californians to demand new leaders — ones who aren’t beholden to the radicals who control the Democratic Party,” he urged, describing the current leadership as incapable of effective governance. He said that it is not only incompetence but also apathy that has led to what he sees as the state’s decline.

“It’s time for California to grow up and move beyond the juvenile Leftism that has destroyed the state and destroyed Los Angeles. We can’t trust our leaders to run anything. It’s not just incompetence. It’s that they really don’t care.”

Over the next few weeks you’re going to hear Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass, and the Democratic Party tell you that there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent the fires from destroying Los Angeles.

Those will be lies. They could have prevented them. Governor… pic.twitter.com/zmVuZXAl3W

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) January 9, 2025

🚨 #BREAKING: A desperate mother and fire victim just DESTROYED Gavin Newsom to his face

“Why was there no water in the hydrants, Governor??!”

“That was my daughter’s school!”

Californians are FED UP with @GavinNewsom! pic.twitter.com/YZHSuQywII

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 9, 2025