Tag: los angeles

What Did $750,000 a Year Deliver for Los Angeles?

The firestorm is still in progress in Los Angeles, priorities first and foremost are saving of lives and property.  The calamity in Los Angeles is still early in the situation, ongoing, and not yet under control, but some basic facts can be established at this point in time.

  • Janisse Quiñones PE (She/Her) is the CEO and Chief Engineer at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
  • Janisse Quiñones was hired with a $750,000 Salary, nearly twice that of her predecessor.
  • LADWP operates ten major active reservoirs and over 107 smaller storage facilities, all of which create operational flexibility to balance water supplies and customer demands.
  • A key reservoir in the Pacific Palisades fire was inoperable.
  • Multiple locations of the service area that Quinones oversees are a raging inferno and short on water for firefighters.

Water for the LADWP Service Area comes from the following sources:

  • 73% is purchased water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) which is both an aqueduct to State Water Projects in upper California and the Colorado River Aqueduct.
  • 15% is water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct which is fed from water close to the Nevada Border.
  • 10% is local groundwater.
  • 2% is recycled water.

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DESPICABLE: Democrats Including Elizabeth Warren Allegedly Caught Raising Money to Boost Scandal-Plagued Dem Fundraising Platform Under Guise of Helping California Fire Victims

Democrats never fail to let a crisis go to waste, even if it means the victims potentially getting shortchanged.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, a massive 3,000-acre wildfire raged out of control and engulfed homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday afternoon. Shocking and heartbreaking footage has emerged showing people abandoning their cars and running for their lives.

Tragically, several individuals have lost their homes, entire livelihoods, and even their lives over the past several days as fires have spread all across Southern California and show no signs of abating. Meanwhile, firefighters are having issues with water pressure thanks to politicians.

On Friday evening, the leftist Democrat hosts for the podcast Pod Save America announced on X they were hosting California Governor Gavin Newsom to let him continue to blame everyone but himself for the catastrophic wildfires destroying Southern California. Shortly afterward that post, they posted another one where their followers could supposedly ‘help’ the victims of the wildfires.

The post reads, “If you want to help those impacted by the California wildfires, please donate at http://votesaveamerica.com/relief. ”

During their show with Newsom, they also encouraged donors to pony up to help the victims as well.

Not to be outdone, Democratic politicians, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), joined the fray.

While this sounds like a nice gesture at first glance, it turns out to be a mirage once one clicks on the donation link. Viewers are sent to a Democratic political action committee/fundraising platform’s website called ActBlue.

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L.A. Fire Chief: Diversity Push Hasn’t Hurt Our Ability to Respond, First Priority Is Taking Care of Community

During an interview with “CBS Evening News” that took place on Thursday and was released on Friday, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley denied that diversity initiatives have harmed the department’s ability to respond to emergencies like the recent fires and stated, “my number one priority is making sure that we can take care of the community that we took an oath to take care of, and with that is our ability to respond to emergencies.”

Crowley stated, “My top three priorities since day one [have] been this, I want to clearly articulate that: The number one priority from day one is ensuring that the LAFD has the capability to respond to our emergency calls, that we’re able to provide services to the citizens every single day, every single hour. That’s my number one priority.”

She continued, “The number two priority has been and will continue to be focusing on our firefighters’ safety, health, and well-being. My third priority is encouraging a positive work environment, and that has not changed since day one.”

Host Norah O’Donnell then asked, “And has that effort at diversity been over your efforts in order to fight these fires? Because that’s been the criticism. You know it’s out there.”

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Who Is Gloria Lynn Mandich? The Accused Arsonist Behind California’s Freddy Fire

California continues to battle devastating wildfires, with over 130,000 residents displaced and numerous state parks closed. Amid this ongoing crisis, law enforcement has arrested 60-year-old Gloria Lynn Mandich for felony arson. She is accused of starting the Freddy Fire, a brush fire near Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) close to the Ventura County line.

The Freddy Fire broke out on January 8 near Leo Carrillo State Beach, a popular coastal destination. The fire ignited around 12:40 p.m., burning approximately three acres before being brought under control. Firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties collaborated to extinguish the blaze, preventing further spread. Initially, the Freddy Fire was believed to be a spot fire caused by embers from the much larger Palisades Fire. However, investigators soon linked it to Mandich, leading to her arrest by California State Parks officers.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Mandich faces two serious felony charges filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office: arson during a state of emergency and recklessly causing a forest fire. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment and is currently held in Ventura County’s Todd Road Jail with bail set at $20,000. If released, she will be subject to strict conditions, including a ban on possessing matches, lighters, or cigarettes, and compliance with searches for these items. Her next court appearance is scheduled for January 22.

California’s Wildfire Challenges

Mandich’s arrest is the second related to arson during the current wildfire season. The Palisades Fire, a massive blaze consuming nearly 20,000 acres, has forced widespread evacuations and prompted the closure of key state parks, including Topanga State Park and Malibu Creek State Park. Both the Freddy Fire and the Palisades Fire erupted during a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service. The warning signaled extreme fire danger due to dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds. While the winds have since subsided, officials remain cautious, noting that small fires can escalate rapidly under current conditions.

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Humvees, Machine Gun Hardware, Bayonets Stolen From Military Storage Warehouse Near Los Angeles

Suspects broke into a U.S. Army warehouse near Los Angeles this week and made off with Humvees, machine gun hardware, bayonets, and other gear, according to authorities.

The incident unfolded sometime before midnight on Wednesday in Tustin, a city in Orange County.

Suspects managed to gain entry to a warehouse at the Army Reserve Center and raid multiple storage lockers.

They also tried unsuccessfully to access a uniform storage area.

The suspects then cut through fencing and entered a parking lot before driving off in three Humvees, one of which was armored.

The Tustin Police Department (TPD) itemized additional stolen gear as follows:

  • 8 machine gun vehicle mounts
  • 7 free-standing machine gun tripods
  • 40 pairs of binoculars
  • 18 bayonets
  • Medical equipment

“The Army has informed us there is no known loss of weapons or ammunition other than what is listed in the above flyer,” TPD stated in a press release.

“If you see these vehicles, please contact Tustin PD dispatch immediately at 714-573-3225 or your local law enforcement agency.”

It is currently unclear if the brazen burglary is connected to lawlessness and chaos breaking out amid historic fires in the Los Angeles area.

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Can California Afford Its Luxury Beliefs After This? Let’s Look at the Books.

California is undergoing a crisis of competence. Surrounded by ashen heaps of what used to be thousands of homes and businesses, voters finally may realize that luxury beliefs sound nice at cocktail parties and the gym, but somebody should make sure there’s water in the reservoirs and fire hydrants. 

We learn that a crucial reservoir was down for maintenance during Santa Ana season, which left the fire hydrants dry. The latest reservoir was finished in 1979. Planning for the next one started in the 1950s and may break ground sometime allegedly in 2026. Gavin Newsom has taken down dams and patted himself on the back. 

The man Newsom styled his look after, former Lakers Coach Pat Reilly, used to say, “The main thing is the main thing.” The hairstyle stuck, but not the message. L.A. is spending other peoples’ money on stupid things while pretending to do the main thing. 

We’re now up to $150 billion in losses so far in the 36,000-acre blaze that started Tuesday. The multiple fires have flattened Pacific Palisades, houses along the PCH in Malibu, and lovely old homes in Pasadena. 

The LAFD Chief makes more than $439,000 per year for not checking the fire hydrants. A fire captain makes more than $800,000 a year because of overtime, double time, and aggregated time off. 

The person in charge of DEI at the L.A. Fire Department makes $399,000 per year. 

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Where’s the Outrage? Biden Gives SoCal a Blank Check While FEMA Leaves North Carolina Out In the Cold

The nation’s attention continues to be hyperfocused on Southern California as devastating wildfires continue to burn in and around Los Angeles. The fires have displaced thousands of people and destroyed entire towns. There is an overwhelming need for immediate aid, and the recovery from these disastrous fires will take years.

With less than two weeks left in office, President Joe Biden has informed California Governor Gavin Newsom that the federal government will be picking up the tab for California’s recovery for the next six months. Biden has told them to spare no expense.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the residents of Western North Carolina have been all but forgotten. Thousands remain displaced from flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Entire neighborhoods were washed away, and many of the buildings that survived the flooding are unlivable because of dangerous mold.

FEMA has been on the ground in North Carolina for months—not that you can tell. Many North Carolinians live in tents because assistance has been scarce, difficult to obtain, or unreachable.

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Biden Can’t Even Read a Phone Number From a Script in Front of Him During California Wildfire Briefing

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Thursday held a briefing on the California fires from the White House.

Tens of thousands of acres have burned, more than 10,000 structures have been reduced to ashes after several fires broke out in Los Angeles and the greater LA area this week.

Fire hydrants were bone dry and there weren’t enough firefighting resources because of Democrats like Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

Most of the destruction could have been prevented if fire authorities cleared the underbrush and hydrants actually had water in them.

On Thursday Joe Biden announced the federal government would pay California 100% of the disaster response for the next 6 months.

During the briefing, Biden couldn’t even read a phone number from a script in front of him.

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Newsom Orders “Independent Investigation” Into Lack of Water in Fire Hydrants After Los Angeles Burns

California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom ordered an independent investigation into the lack of water in fire hydrants after Los Angeles burned.

“I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” Newsom said.

“We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires,” he said.

Newsom’s letter was addressed to Janisse Quiñones, the overpaid bureaucrat who oversees fire hydrant maintenance.

Local news reporters captured shocking footage of firefighters encountering dry fire hydrants as structures burned in the LA fires.

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LAPD Claims ‘No Probable Cause’ for Arson as Suspect Caught with Blowtorch Attempting to Ignite Fires

A man apprehended near the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles will not face arson charges due to insufficient evidence, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was detained on Thursday after witnesses reported observing him attempting to ignite a fire on Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.

Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said during a press conference on Friday:

“They interviewed this suspect. After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson, and therefore this person was arrested on a felony probation violation.

This investigation is ongoing, however, and I’d like to thank those community members that were involved in this and helping us bring this person our attention, and so we can have an ongoing investigation.”

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