LOS ANGELES — The politics of the Palisades fire rebuild sharpened this week as U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler joined former reality star Spencer Pratt to accuse California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of standing between fire victims and reconstruction, Fox News Digital reports.
Loeffler said homeowners and businesses have been unable to rebuild because of red tape imposed by California bureaucrats, despite $3.2 billion in federal aid distributed by the SBA alone. Only 475 rebuild permits have been issued by the city of Los Angeles and 313 by Los Angeles County, according to the most recent data cited at the event. 'The only thing standing in the way now are the same failed state and local leaders who only deliver lip service instead of relief,' Loeffler said in a press release, urging officials to clear the permit backlog.
Pratt, who lost his home in the fire, sued the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power in January along with about 20 other property owners, blaming the city and the utility for the damage. Loeffler thanked him for encouraging other residents to speak out.
Newsom's office pushed back hard, calling the visit a 'photo op' and arguing that if the administration wanted to help it could speed up loan approvals and fight for congressional funding. Bass's office did not return a request for comment, according to the report. For Palisades residents, the exchange changes little on the ground: the permit counts both sides are arguing over remain, by any measure, a small fraction of the homes destroyed.
