KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Several Santa Clarita officials have responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds for wildfire recovery.
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In a Twitter post Wednesday, Trump said California should “get their act together,” adding he directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to “send no more money.”
Santa Clarita leaders are concerned with this language, noting the valley is affected by fires every year.
“We are no stranger to fires here in Santa Clarita,” said Mayor Pro Tem Cameron Smyth. “He is threatening to withhold critical funding in the event of an emergency.”
Assemblywoman Christy Smith said the move is “gravely disappointing” considering 86 people died and thousands of homes were lost because of California wildfires.
“I can assure the President that as chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, California will undertake a thorough review of our response to these tragedies,” said Smith.
California should be able to count on federal support in this process and in the recovery, she added.
Senator Henry Stern, along with Smith and several others, sent out a joint statement responding to the threat to withhold FEMA funds.
“It is unacceptable to use victims of the fires in California as a bargaining chip in the negotiations to get the federal government working again,” said Stern. “FEMA has done critically important work providing assistance to families and businesses throughout our community— and we urge the federal government to double down on those efforts, not restrict them.”
On his first full day in office, Governor Newsom took a number of actions aimed at protecting Californians from increasingly frequent natural disasters, the joint statement added.
In September, the state legislature passed SB 901 to secure response and recovery efforts, as well as reduce the risk of wildfires statewide.
“Beyond today’s headlines, we must remain focused on the core issue: our global climate emergency,” said Stern. “As we move forward, we urge the federal government to recognize this crisis and work alongside our state as we fight for climate justice in California and across the nation.”
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First we are burned by wildfires and now we are abandoned and punished by our president.
Only those who voted for him are surprised. Did you fools really think he ever cared about you?
The people that were affected by the fires should not be penalized because this state’s politicians are idiots who have mismanaged and manipulated state tax revenue for purposes that are their own…ahem, I digress here… first off, I support Trump. With that said, he’s been backed into a corner on many issues. And here’s the reality, funds that SHOULD HAVE been used to keep the forests and highly wooded areas clear, have all been diverted for purposes that they were never intended for. So ya, he’s pissed and rightfully so, b/c California (my native and once beautiful State) has been decimated by blue state politics. Sad, but quite true.
Well-stated. It would be nice to see some accountability in Sacramento again. However with a new governor who is as bad as the old one was in managing money and focusing on priorities, I doubt much will change.
“California is managing its forests — but is the president managing its federal lands? Fifty-seven percent of California’s 33 million acres of forest are controlled by the federal government.Dec 2, 2018” How does this relate to what Trump is saying here?
The Charile Fire? Do you mean the Charlie Fire? Spellcheck folks, should be pretty basic stuff for a newspaper! Makes you look like amateur hour … no beuno.