The results are in, and they are clear: President Donald Trump accelerated the rebuilding effort after the LA fires by issuing an executive order taking over the permitting process in January.
As The California Post reported at the time, Trump signed the order in the Oval Office because he wanted to see LA succeed — and he was tired of watching state and local officials dither.
Gavin Newsom did almost nothing except to ask for money and complain on social media. LA mayor Karen Bass tried exaggerating progress as she sought to fend off angry residents.
It was a dysfunctional situation — until Trump stepped in.
The fire destroyed 16,000 structures in Los Angeles. AP There weren’t any votes in it for him. Like Harry Truman, he simply decided that “the buck stops here.” So he signed the order.
Critics admitted that permits had been slow, but said that permitting wasn’t the main obstacle.
Regardless, the fact that the president intervened forced local officials to get their act together.
Trump also appointed one of his most capable Cabinet members, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, to lead the permitting effort.
Zeldin and the EPA had cleared hazardous waste from the Palisades and Eaton fires in record time.
Together with Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Zeldin got to work again — immediately.
As The California Post reported exclusively on Tuesday, nearly 2,000 permits have been approved since Trump’s executive order in January — a 72% increase in LA County and a 58% increase in the city of Los Angeles.
President Trump signed the executive order in the Oval Office in January. Tamara Beckwith / NY Post That’s what true leadership can achieve.
And residents have noticed, telling The California Post that the bureaucracy has finally begun to move.
So, too, have the insurance companies, after Trump warned them to stop delaying payments.
Trump could have chosen to ignore the fire victims. He is not running for re-election, and even if he were, he would not win California.
There are midterm elections ahead — but none of the fire-affected areas is in a competitive congressional district.
Trump took charge simply because he cared. And as a builder, he could not stand to see the suffering of homeowners who want to rebuild, but who cannot, through no fault of their own.
There is much more to do. The Trump administration still has to approve a funding request for rebuilding in California — hopefully, with a special master who can prevent fraud and waste.
But thank you, Mr. President. You have given LA hope.
