State and Federal Officials Must Cooperate to Speed California’s Recovery

Collaboration between state and federal lawmakers is always critical for developing lasting, practical solutions to the nation’s ongoing challenges. But such collaboration can become tricky when officials on opposite ends of the political spectrum must put their political differences aside during a crisis. As Southern California begins recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires, it will be critical for local and state officials in California to partner with the incoming Trump administration – arguably their biggest political antagonist – to aid Californians affected by this tragedy.  

Rebuilding our communities requires leadership that puts recovery and livelihoods first. Both federal and state decisionmakers must not use this tragedy as an opportunity to advance their political agendas at the expense of Californians. It is imperative that our elected officials work together to address the systemic vulnerabilities exposed by the wildfires while minimizing the financial burdens of those affected by the crisis.

The series of swift-moving wildfires that ravaged urban areas of Los Angeles displaced an estimated 200,000 residents and destroyed entire neighborhoods. Financial and insurance firms have estimated that the cost of damages could reach $50 billion, eclipsing the previous $12.5 billion record by the 2018 Camp Fire.

The failure to deliver water to firefighters battling the blazes across Southern California is rooted in chronic underinvestment by state and local policymakers in our water infrastructure. Nationally, estimates suggest that as much as $744 billion will be needed over the next two decades to complete much-needed upgrades and fixes to the United States’ water infrastructure. In California, nearly 400 of our water systems serving hundreds of thousands of residents fail to meet the state’s own safety and quality requirements. Our leaders should have properly implemented policies to fix this glaring challenge and build resilience in the state’s water infrastructure before disaster struck.

The Southern California wildfires also highlight how climate change continues to drive extreme weather events that strain our state’s resources, expose policy gaps, and negatively impact our community. It should be a wakeup call for the California State Legislature to take thoughtful, decisive, and transparent action to address issues underlying the crisis, starting with the state’s crumbling water infrastructure.

As California rebuilds, we urge policymakers across the country to seize this opportunity to chart a new path forward characterized by collaboration and practical policy decisions. Together, we can build solutions that help affected communities recover from the wildfires while preparing others for future challenges with smart, sustainable solutions that put people first. Californians – and all Americans – deserve nothing less.

– Signed by Edwin Lombard, Executive Director of Californians for Smarter Sustainability