(DC Pundit) – California Governor Gavin Newsom has managed to promise streamlined rebuilding for fire victims while also laying down the law on climate-conscious construction. It’s almost as if he’s trying to have his cake and eat it too, but in this case, the cake is made of ashes and the frosting is green regulation.
Last month, comedian Adam Carolla, known for his razor-sharp wit and uncanny ability to predict bureaucratic nightmares, went viral with a message that painted a bleak picture for California fire victims. Carolla, in his characteristic no-holds-barred style, said: “So here’s what’s going to happen. All these people who are deep blue Democrats are now going to have to pull a permit to rebuild, and they’re going to get the 28 year old bitch from the Coastal Commission telling them to go fuck off and then they’re going to vote for Trump or whoever’s Trumpian next. When they start getting the regulation, they’re going to go nuts. And when they start running into the bureaucracy and the red tape, they’re going to start going nuts and they’re going to vote for Rick Caruso next time.”
Carolla’s prediction was as subtle as a California wildfire, suggesting that the frustration of dealing with rebuilding regulations might just turn some blue voters a shade of Republican red.
In response, Governor Newsom, ever the political firefighter, rushed to assure Californians that red tape would be cut faster than ribbon at a grand opening, and building permits would flow freely.
However, Newsom recently appeared on CNN with a message that seems to contradict his earlier assurances. The governor declared that people “can’t rebuild the same.” He suggested that there’s a new reality due to the ‘science’ and climate change, and that all of that has to be taken into account as people rebuild.
Gov. @GavinNewsom admits he won't let Pacific Palisades property owners to rebuild as before: "You can't rebuild the same. We have to rebuild with science. We have to build with climate reality in mind." pic.twitter.com/C6bIcd6iUr
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 6, 2025
In other words, Adam Carolla’s crystal ball seems to be working just fine. While Newsom and other California authorities may be handing out building permits like candy at Halloween, it’s becoming clear that there will still be a maze of green tape for fire victims to navigate.
Newsom’s stance puts him in a precarious position. On one hand, he needs to provide quick relief and support to fire victims. On the other, he’s championing California’s role as a leader in climate change mitigation.
As Californians watch this political drama unfold, will Carolla’s prediction about voting patterns come true? Will frustrated homeowners, tangled in a web of regulations, start leaning towards candidates promising less red (or green) tape?
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