16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 13-19, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Under Fire Politicians rise or fall on disaster response. The Los Angeles fires are Gavin Newsom’s big test. By Alexei Koseff FORUM Gov. Gavin Newsom has become a familiar sight around Los Angeles since the firestorm that swept through the region in January. In the first days of the disaster, he toured the wreckage. In the weeks after, he launched a recovery initiative with celebrity friends and greeted President Donald Trump on the tarmac at LAX. Local officials have taken notice. “I want to thank our governor, who has been here from day one. I’ve seen you more in the last month than I think…well, I won’t even go there,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a press conference in February in Altadena, as Newsom chuckled and nodded behind her. Facing what is expected to be one of the costliest natural disasters in the country’s history—the type of crisis that not only tests a politician, but can redefine one— Newsom has leaned all the way in, effectively becoming the governor of Los Angeles. He lived and worked from the city almost nonstop for the first three weeks after the fires broke out in January, while executive orders and announcements managing the response have continued since he returned to Sacramento. And the governor, who was once poised to lead the renewed Democratic resistance to Trump, has essentially disengaged from the outrage as he lobbies for federal disaster aid for Los Angeles. Newsom’s deep involvement is sensible, and perhaps necessary, for a situation as complex, expensive and politically fraught as this one. But the fervor with which he has taken ownership over the response to a regional disaster also suggests a politician aware of how this is a crucial moment in his gubernatorial legacy—and his next step. This may be the biggest spotlight left for Newsom, who has been floated as a leading contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary despite a steadily declining job approval rating among Californians, before he terms out of office in less than two years. Bob Salladay, Newsom’s senior advisor for communications, insists that Newsom and his staff are not contemplating his legacy as they navigate the response to the fires. “He’s doing his job,” Salladay says. The job took a turn on Jan. 7, when hurricane-force winds ignited a series of fires, killing at least 29 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures. Newsom remained in LA for 15 of the next 25 days, living out of a hotel and working from a satellite governor’s office. “I don’t like lazy, and this governor has shown that he’s not lazy,” says Barger, a Republican. Barger is most complimentary of the governor for setting aside partisan politics to work with Trump on securing disaster aid: “He showed that he’s truly a statesman.” Newsom has kept his public focus almost exclusively on the Los Angeles fires, with a web page titled, “Here are all the actions Governor Newsom has taken in response to the Los Angeles fires.” The message is not subtle. Alexei Koseff covers the governor, Legislature and California government from Sacramento for CalMatters, where this story first appeared. OPINION “I don’t like lazy, and this governor is not lazy.” UPSEASIDE.COM 1760 FREMONT BLVD, SEASIDE For leasing opportunities call (415) 730-3917 UNIVERSITY PLAZA SEASIDE’S LIFESTYLE SHOPPING CENTER Order Online at HarumiSeaside.Menu11.com • (831) 899-9988 OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH & DINNER ONLY THE FINEST ANDTHE FRESHEST RESTAURANT ’23 VOTED Best Thai Food 6 Times! Enjoy Fresh and Flavorful Cuisine Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-2:30pm Dinner: Mon-Thu 4:30-8pm Fri 4:30-8:30pm, Sat 12-9pm Last seating 15 mins before closing 1760 Fremont Blvd #F1 • Seaside • University Plaza • 394-2996 • BaanThaiSeaside.com Beer Garden • LeaGues • TournamenTs LynnsArcAde.com 1760 Fremont BLvd. ste d1, seAside Monthly MeMbership - $100 Daily pinball pass - $20 (aDult) $15 (chilD/stuDent/Military hourly pinball - $10 private parties - $10 tuesDay
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