No one person is to blame for the fires ravaging Los Angeles—and that’s precisely the problem. Effective governments ensure clear lines of authority and accountability, allowing credit or blame to be assigned fairly. This fosters institutional learning: who to promote, dismiss, or entrust with responsibility.
In California and Los Angeles, this principle is inverted. The state’s fractured management spreads blame so widely that no one bears it. Much like looters relying on numbers, California’s bureaucracies obscure accountability, excelling only at dodging responsibility.
While no one could control the dry weather or strong winds that fueled the fires—genuine acts of God—the failures of prevention and containment were man-made. For example, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power took the 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir offline during wildfire season for maintenance, leaving it empty when it was most needed. Meanwhile, sparks from downed power lines, a leading cause of many California fires, are now suspected in this disaster. Southern California Edison faces lawsuits alleging negligence, such as failing to clear brush or de-energize equipment near the blaze’s origin.
Fuel for these fires could have been mitigated with controlled burns, a proven forestry practice hindered by California’s strict environmental laws. Legal challenges by groups like the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity have made it nearly impossible to conduct these burns. Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent suspension of permitting rules for rebuilding highlights the impracticality of the state’s environmental bureaucracy—a system that has long created crises, from homelessness to wildfire mismanagement.
Despite abundant blame, Newsom deflects criticism as “misinformation,” spinning the fires as an “opportunity” to rebuild under his leadership. His anti-“price gouging” measures are likely to worsen material shortages, compounding the tragedy.
California’s progressive governance and red tape have fueled this disaster. The solution lies in restoring clear authority, accountability, and merit in government. As the leader at the top, Newsom should set an example—and resign.
