Calamity in California: Newsom’s Idiocy Drives Builders Out of LA as Fires Rage

In the smoldering aftermath of what has been dubbed one of the most catastrophic wildfire seasons in Los Angeles history, a new crisis emerges, not from the flames themselves, but from the policies of a governor whose leadership seems as dry as the tinder fueling these fires. Governor Gavin Newsom, with his trademark blend of incompetence and overreach, has managed to exacerbate a housing crisis by driving away the very builders needed for recovery and growth.

The article from American Greatness, published on January 13, 2025, titled “Gov. Newsom’s Solution to the Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster: More Government,” sheds light on a troubling trend: builders are abandoning Los Angeles. This is not merely a flight from natural disaster but a retreat from a political landscape that has become increasingly hostile to business and development under Newsom’s watch.

According to posts on X (formerly Twitter), the departure of builders was predicted and warned against. One user noted, “They bailed before the fire. They warned Newsom that this disaster was going to happen, he’s still put a cap on what they could charge for insurance. So they bailed.” This sentiment captures a broader frustration with policies perceived as anti-business, particularly in the realm of insurance and regulatory burdens.

The wildfires have indeed highlighted a pre-existing issue of developers and builders feeling squeezed by Newsom’s administration. The insurance cap, aimed ostensibly at protecting consumers, has had the unintended consequence of making it financially untenable for builders to operate in high-risk areas like Los Angeles, where the threat of fire is now a perennial concern.

Theories Behind the Exodus:

Insurance Rate Caps: Newsom’s decision to regulate insurance rates has been criticized for not accounting for the escalating risks associated with climate change and urban expansion into fire-prone areas. This has resulted in insurers pulling back, and in turn, builders finding it impossible to secure affordable coverage to protect their investments.

Bureaucratic Overload: The state’s complex and often contradictory regulations have long been a source of contention. The cost and time associated with navigating this labyrinthine system have pushed many builders to look for greener pastures, or at least, less red-taped ones.

Political Climate: The general political environment under Newsom’s leadership has been described as antagonistic to business interests. With initiatives like the recent executive orders to suspend certain environmental reviews to speed up rebuilding after fires, there’s an underlying tone of mistrust and unpredictability that scares off long-term investment in the region.

The departure of builders does not only mean less new housing; it impacts recovery efforts post-disaster. The infrastructure to rebuild homes, businesses, and community spaces is undermined when those who would undertake such projects see no viable future in the area. This has led to a feedback loop where high demand for housing meets a shrinking supply, driving up costs and leaving many residents, particularly those affected by the fires, in limbo.

Rather than addressing these core issues, Newsom’s approach, as per the American Greatness article, seems to be doubling down on government intervention. Instead of deregulation or incentives to attract builders back, there’s an expansion of government oversight, which critics argue is the last thing needed.

The governor’s response to the crisis has been to call for more federal aid and to emphasize government-led recovery efforts, but without addressing the root causes of the builders’ exodus, these measures seem like bandages on a gaping wound. His administration’s failure to foresee, or perhaps even acknowledge, the potential of these policies to drive away essential workforce is seen by many as a testament to his lack of foresight or, more bluntly, his political retardation.

As Los Angeles continues to smolder, both literally from the fires and metaphorically from policy missteps, the narrative painted by detractors is clear: Gavin Newsom’s governance is a significant part of the problem. While fires are an act of nature, the economic and developmental fallout in their wake is increasingly seen as an act of political folly. The builders leaving Los Angeles are not just fleeing from flames but from a leadership that seems out of touch with the realities of business and recovery in a modern state.

The question now looms large: Can California recover from this double disaster, or will Governor Newsom’s tenure be remembered as the time when the state’s potential was extinguished by its own leadership?