As wildfires continue in Los Angeles, President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized the state’s water management policies, saying it is a mistake to prioritize environmental concerns over human needs.
Mr Trump said: condemned The delta smelt, a small fish considered to be endangered in the region, is being sent across the ocean to the Pacific Ocean to protect it while local communities suffer. President Trump said California is not suffering from a true drought, but rather from a misallocation of resources.
“It’s very sad because I’ve been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come in. There’s going to be a ton of water sitting there. They’re sending it to the Pacific Ocean… Because we were trying to protect a tiny little fish called a smelt. And there’s no water for the smelt. There was no water at the fire hydrants in Los Angeles today,” President Trump said.
The president-elect also said he received federal approval for a water management plan, which he said Democratic California Gov. Newsom has refused to enact.
“It was terrible, and we’re going to get through it. It’s finally done. I got consent from the federal side, and they didn’t want to sign it, but something like this will never happen again.” said President Trump. “There’s no reason. Can you imagine having farmers in California without water? They have plenty of water. They don’t have droughts. They sent it to the Pacific Ocean, and it’s crazy. So what’s happening in California is a true tragedy.”
President Trump pointed to the potential economic impact in California, particularly in wealthy areas like Beverly Hills.
“So, effectively, Beverly Hills and the surrounding area is being destroyed. Some of the biggest homes in the world, some of the most valuable homes, have just been destroyed. I don’t even know. You know, the tax base. We’re talking about California losing half of its tax base if these people leave,” Trump added. “It’s the governor’s mistake. And I would say the administration as well. They don’t have water. There was no water in the fire hydrants.” (Related: ‘What’s he talking about about polls’: Brit Hume slams claim Biden could have won re-election)
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) employees receive large paychecks from taxpayers, yet the city is unable to install enough fire hydrants, according to an analysis by government transparency group Open the Books. They say they don’t have a budget. The Los Angeles Times reported that numerous LADWP hydrants ran dry as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze that destroyed hundreds of buildings.
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