Additional Coverage:
- O’Leary on wildfire aid: ‘Not a dime’ for Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass until they’re removed from office (foxbusiness.com)
Kevin O’Leary, a businessman and television personality, believes California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass should resign over their handling of wildfires. He suggests tying wildfire aid to the removal of these officials.
O’Leary criticizes their “incompetence” and believes they should be “whacked from their jobs immediately.” He claims their decisions have led to the current crisis and that they are poor managers.
Currently, four active fires burn in the Los Angeles area, fueled by strong winds that hamper firefighting efforts. The National Weather Service warns that these winds could spread existing fires and ignite new ones.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has proposed linking a debt limit increase to wildfire aid for California, but some GOP lawmakers have expressed reservations.
Newsom has also faced criticism from within his state, with the Senate minority leader condemning him for combining wildfire relief with a special session on suing former President Trump.
O’Leary believes that under current leadership, Southern California will not regain its former glory in the near or distant future. He cites damaged infrastructure and the vulnerability of older homes to wildfires as obstacles to rebuilding.