California's devastating wildfires are not merely natural disasters but a result of failed governance under Gov. Gavin Newsom, argues Tiana Lowe Doescher in a Washington Examiner op-ed. From mismanaged controlled burns to water shortages, she says policy missteps have fueled the crisis. -Over 80,000 Californians have been evacuated, with at least two deaths and 4,000 acres destroyed in Southern California. Controlled burns fell far short of promises: just 32,000 acres in 2020 despite a target of 1 million acres annually. The state’s failure to construct new reservoirs since 1979 has left fire hydrants in key areas without water.-California’s raging wildfires, which have claimed lives and displaced tens of thousands, are not just acts of nature but the consequence of long-standing policy failures, according to Tiana Lowe Doescher in the Washington Examiner. Lowe Doescher points to Gov. Gavin Newsom as central to the state’s inability to prevent or adequately respond to the fires. Despite California's dry climate and history of wildfires, Newsom has failed to prioritize necessary controlled burns to manage debris. "Newsom promised in 2020 to increase controlled burns to 1 million acres per year, but California only managed to burn 10% as much in 2022," Lowe Doescher writes, noting that Newsom also exaggerated prior efforts by inflating the numbers by 690%.As Californians face yet another wildfire disaster, Lowe Doescher's critique underscores a grim reality: the crisis is not just environmental—it’s deeply political. Read more here - https://mxmnews.com/article/dc606427-089b-42a9-be63-66d5c6c40bb5
