Newsom's order aims to help Angelenos, but is rebuilding in the same areas a good idea?

[LauraInLA]

People who lost their homes in the wildfires that swept through L.A. County last week won’t have to comply with some of the state’s strongest (and most time-consuming) environmental laws, according to a new executive order issued Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The order makes it easier for people whose homes burned down to rebuild as quickly as possible in exactly the same places, by allowing them to bypass the California Environmental Quality Act (known as CEQA) and the California Coastal Act’s permitting processes.

But some environmental advocates say CEQA is one of the few tools they have to challenge problematic construction projects.

Others note that residents looking to rebuild fire-damaged houses likely wouldn't need CEQA permits anyway. The bigger issue, they say, is whether Newsom's order encourages risky development in high fire-risk areas.


https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/gavin-newsom-wildfire-executive-order?utm_campaign=20250117_20250117+LA+Report+AM&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc_&utm_content=&utm_term=4596750

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Considering that they rebuild

after every hurricane, why shouldn't they rebuild there?

For what it's worth, I'm in New Mexico, and the main topic of conversation these days is how many Californians will come here.

Personally, I doubt it will be that many, but I could certainly be wrong.

[LogDog75]

5. I don't think many Californians will go to New Mexico

I was stationed at Cannon AFB, next to the town of Clovis, in Eastern New Mexico from 1979 - 1984 and I lived in Portales. I like Albuquerque and the back country near Cloudcroft in the Lincoln National Forest but other than that, there's not much I could recommend to people as to why they would want to live there. In California, especially the major cities, there is a wealth of things to do, places to go, and things to do. No offense to you or the people of New Mexico, when I was stationed at Cannon AFB people would drive 110 miles to Amarillo or Lubbock, Texas for entertainment and cultural events. Things have changed after 40 years but I don't think enough to entice me or any other Californian who lives along the coast to pack up and move to New Mexico.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Well, you were in Clovis. Cannon Air Force Base.

The back of the beyond for New Mexico. You really should have gone to ABQ on occasion.

I'm in Santa Fe -- moved here in 2008 from Kansas after my divorce. Best climate ever. Housing is relatively affordable, especially compared to California, the parts that are burning.

And frankly we don't want a lot of Californians moving here, driving housing prices up, and so on. Please stay and rebuild, all of you.

[LogDog75]

14. I did visit Albuquerque a couple of times

Albuquerque was one of the cities on my retirement list if I wasn't able to retire where I am now. It's a long drive from Clovis to Albuquerque going through Fort Sumner and Santa Rosa. I've also been to Roswell, Carlsbad, Alamogordo, Ruidoso, and Las Crues.

BTW, back when I was at Cannon AFB, Albuquerque was a whole lot better than Amarillo or Lubbock.

[LauraInLA]

7. Poor NM, so far from God, so close to....

I’m from the Las Cruces area but have been in LA for 30 years (! I just realized). It seems like Las Cruces has grown quite a bit since 2000, I’m guessing partly with AZ and COVID refugees. How’s your part of the state doing?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. My part of the state is just fine, thank you.

The bitter cold much of the rest of the country is getting just isn't that cold here. We might have a bit of snow in a day or two. When we do get snow here, it's almost always gone within 24 hours, usually much sooner. Low humidity. Clear skies. Really clear skies.

[LauraInLA]

11. Just what I remember ;). I went to high school in Montezuma.

[LogDog75]

2. It's a good idea but only if

There are changes to building requirements. Rebuilt and new housing/apartment construction in the wildfire prone areas should require stricter construction standards. Materials need to be fire resistant or fire proof roofs and sidings, vents must be the type that self-close or prevent embers from entering a home during a wildfire. In housing developments, water pipes for fire hydrants must be large enough to able to handle simultaneous use along the pipeline.

After the earthquakes in California in the 80s and 90s, California strengthened its building requirements for buildings to survive a 7.0 earthquake. In addition, older buildings, particularly commercial building, had to be retro-fitted to meet the new standards. Theses standards also apply to bridges, tunnels, overpasses, etc..

California is a large state but people live in an area near their work. Between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains there is only so much room to house people and businesses. Much of the land is already built upon leaving only a small amount of land available. So the most likely place to build is the areas destroyed by the fires but with higher building standards and materials.

[Lovie777]

3. Other states keep building in areas that are constantly being ravage by hurricanes .............

tornadoes, tropical storms, etc.

We have earthquakes, fires and mud slides. This fire had 99-100 mph winds. Climate change, global warming, Mother Nature.

I can admit to one thing thou, we are effing the environment.

[LogDog75]

15. There has to be changes made for building in fire prone area

Increased building standards requiring buildings to be fire proof/resistant, landscaping with plants that don't easily burn, and mandate homeowners take the actions necessary to provide provide a defensible area. In San Diego County, where I live, homeowners in fire prone areas must clear brush and other plants that pose a fire hazard.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Then where else are the 10s of thousands of people will go? A lot of them lived their whole lives in that neighborhood,

and i say that they have the right to do as they pls., although I suspect that a lot of them won't be able to afford rebuilding exactly what they had before, Inflation being a kick in the guts and I suspect too, that their legislative leaders/city leaders/or insurance companies might require some add'l features added into the rebuilt homes to migrate possible fire hazards in the future, although I wonder just exactly what can one do individually against a firestorm as this one was. This firestorm was literally 'run for your lives!'. God, I feel so bad for them, they have a long, long way ahead of them.

[LauraInLA]

8. I am really guessing that a far number of people may leave the area. Homeowners can sell

their lot, which will still probably be worth quite a packet, and buy or build in a lower-cost area. Condo and apartment dwellers will have an exceptionally hard time if they don’t leave. I’m not even sure how condo owners recoup any money.

[SWBTATTReg]

12. A shame, really. Although some may suffer from post stress shock syndrome, losing their homes, their

neighborhood, their neighbors, everything. On top of the fires themselves too.

[Johonny]

6. The answer is no

Certainly not at the same density and likely not at all. But that is unpopular and after the 1993 fires, they rebuilt. They will again.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

13. I think it is; no fuel left. By the time there is, robots can keep it cleared. nt

[Renew Deal]

16. Almost every coastal location in Florida that gets rebuilt is more risky than almost any home in LA.

Hurricanes are an almost annual event. It's just a matter of which neighborhood is going to be destroyed any given year. The California situation was a combination of unusual factors. Will it happen again? Probably but it's not as likely as getting wrecked by a hurricane on the FL coast.

[LiberalFighter]

17. They need less congestion in the area.

Fewer swimming pools.

........