FEMA rejects meeting with Newsom during low-profile push for L.A. fire funding

[ad_1] WASHINGTON — Gov. Gavin Newsom saved a low profile as he swung via the nation’s capital this week, holding conferences with a handful of lawmakers Friday on Capitol Hill as he renewed requires billions in federal restoration help following the Los Angeles fires.

For a governor who has spent current weeks within the highlight — trailed by cameras on the U.N. local weather summit in Brazil final month and featured on the New York Occasions’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday — the muted Washington cease stood out. As he moved between places of work on Friday, the halls have been quiet, with many lawmakers already en route house for the weekend.

The governor’s workplace disclosed little earlier than his journey about Newsom’s schedule in Washington, saying afterward that he met with 5 lawmakers, together with three who serve on the Senate and Home committees on Appropriations, in addition to Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks).

Newsom informed The Occasions that the Federal Emergency Administration Company denied his request for a gathering, a setback that underscored the political friction with the Trump administration surrounding California’s $33.9-billion enchantment for long-term catastrophe funding practically a 12 months after the devastating Los Angeles fires ignited.

The governor mentioned his go to was meant to make “the common case for assist for restoration,” not only for California, however for different states that have been hit with disasters, similar to Texas and North Carolina.

“We’re attending to the purpose the place we have to see motion, and in order that’s why we’re stepping up our efforts,” Newsom mentioned as he left a gathering with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), a tenured member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Newsom famous that the funding is significant for hearth victims.

“They shouldn't be revictimized via politics, or by politics or politicians,” Newsom mentioned. “There’s nothing extra American than being there for folks in want. That’s foundational.”

Newsom didn't say whether or not he tried to request a gathering with the White Home when requested by a reporter. The White Home didn't reply to a request looking for remark.

When requested if he thought his discussions with lawmakers had been profitable, Newsom mentioned he was glad to have been capable of meet with “people on the opposite aspect of the aisle,” and he characterised the conferences for instance of “outstanding graciousness.”

Newsom’s workplace mentioned the governor additionally met with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-New York).

Catastrophe reduction at stake Newsom is urging the Trump administration to ship Congress a proper request for $33.9 billion in restoration help wanted to rebuild houses, faculties, utilities and different important infrastructure destroyed or broken when the fires tore via neighborhoods starting Jan. 7.

The governor mentioned there's bipartisan assist in Congress for long-term help. However, he mentioned, the Trump administration has not superior any restoration proposal since his preliminary request was filed in February. That request was for practically $40 billion, however has since been decreased by what has already been paid out, in response to a letter Newsom despatched to Congressional leaders Wednesday.

“Again in January, the President appeared me within the eye on the tarmac at LAX and promised me, and the folks of LA, that he’d ‘deal with it’ as we rebuild and get better,” Newsom mentioned in a press release Thursday. “That dedication isn’t being met, and as a substitute he’s leaving survivors behind. It’s time for Trump to get up and do his job.”

The fires burned 1000's of buildings throughout Los Angeles, displacing households and uprooting companies.

Within the first six months after the fires, California acquired reimbursement for direct response prices and greater than $3 billion in particular person help and small-business loans.

The governor’s go to to Washington comes as Republicans within the Home and Senate have launched two congressional inquiries into California officers’ response to the Palisades hearth and the way organizations have distributed catastrophe reduction funds to victims. As a part of the congressional inquiries, lawmakers have requested a trove of data from dozens of companies on the native, state and federal stage.

Newsom has welcomed the congressional scrutiny, saying his administration has “embraced transparency as a result of Californians deserve nothing else.”

Williamson indictment on highlight Newsom has saved a low profile since information broke that his former chief of employees Dana Williamson was arrested on federal corruption fees. Newsom has not spoken publicly concerning the indictment, apart from an interview with the Sacramento Bee, the place he described his response to the indictment as “actual shock and shock.”

The governor informed the Bee how Williamson was positioned on depart final November when she knowledgeable his workplace of the federal investigation. He mentioned he “wasn’t aware of the small print” and that his hope was that “it will be labored out.”

Requested by The Occasions on Friday throughout a three-minute interview whether or not he knew something concerning the ongoing investigation, Newsom mentioned, “I actually don’t.” Newsom additionally mentioned he has not been interviewed by the Division of Justice concerning the investigation.

Newsom has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Williamson’s lawyer McGregor Scott, a former U.S. lawyer in Sacramento, informed The Occasions in November that federal authorities had approached Williamson greater than a 12 months in the past looking for assist with some type of investigation of the governor himself.

Newsom was a featured speaker Wednesday on the New York Occasions’ DealBook Summit, the place he dodged questions on whether or not he'll run for president in 2028, however was not requested concerning the indictment that has reverberated via Sacramento political circles.

Requested in the course of the DealBook occasion about the place the Democrats went mistaken within the final presidential election, Newsom reiterated harsh criticism of his celebration.

“The celebration’s knitting itself again collectively,” Newsom mentioned on the occasion. “We received shellacked within the final election, and there’s been quite a lot of forensic evaluation, maybe not sufficient, about what occurred. Donald Trump crushed us within the final election.”

Newsom added that the problems with the Democratic celebration transcend what went mistaken with the passing of the baton between Biden and Kamala Harris.

“We've got to be extra culturally regular,” Newsom mentioned. “We've got to be rather less judgmental. We've got a celebration that, I feel, must design and develop a compelling financial imaginative and prescient for the longer term the place folks really feel included, to reconcile the truth that if we don’t democratize our financial system, we’re not going to save lots of democracy.”