California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned the country’s leaders that the entire United States will soon mirror the raging wildfires that are working their way through thousands of acres of the state’s land.
“California, folks, is America fast-forward,” Newsom said. “What we are experiencing right here is coming to a community all across the United States of America unless we get our act together on climate change — unless we disabuse ourselves of all the BS that’s being spewed by a very small group of people that have an ideological reason to advance the cause of a 19th-century framework and solution. We’re not going back to the 19th century.”
California is experiencing the worst wildfire season it’s had in modern history, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. This year, over 3 million acres have already been burned, and the August Complex Fire in Northern California became the largest fire the state’s ever recorded.
Newsom vowed to accelerate climate and clean energy initiatives his administration has pushed for throughout his leadership.
The Democratic governor told voters to reject politicians who don’t believe in climate change. He noted he spoke to President Trump earlier in September, who “reinforced his commitment” to fighting the wildfires but added the state has dealt with several lawsuits filed “against an administration that doesn’t see eye to eye with us” on environmental protections.
“If people are still in denial, and they’re leading the charge of keeping you protected and keeping you healthy and safe, they’re not truly, I think, positioned to be the kind of leaders we need,” Newsom said.
Newsom also signed a law on Friday that will allow some inmates who volunteer as firefighters to have their records expunged to help them better transition into professional firefighters following their release.
While thousands of inmates have helped fight fires every year, criminal records have prevented them from seeking full-time employment after they are released. The new law will help make it easier for them to enter the field.
