(Oscar Godselll’s post from the SKY NEWS AUS on 12 January 2025.)
The incoming head of the US Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk has blamed California’s “bad governance” for the Pacific Palisades’ wildfires after officials prioritised DEI policies and donated surplus equipment to Ukraine.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has come under heavy
criticism over the perceived lack of preparation to combat the catastrophic
California fires. Wildfires have consumed Southern California with more than
150,000 locals ordered to evacuate, at least 10,000 structures destroyed and at
least 11 confirmed deaths.
Posting to his 212 million followers on X, Musk has shared a series of remarks attributing the massive wildfire to what he called “bad governance”. He has downplayed the role of climate change, which experts have linked to the disaster, and focused instead on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Musk made his views clear in a series of posts,
stating, “They prioritised DEI over saving lives and homes. DEI means people
DIE.” His comments have echoed widespread concerns about the impact of
diversity hiring policies on public safety in high-risk professions like
firefighting.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Openly-Lesbian Kristin
Crowley recently highlighted efforts to hire as many LGBT women as possible. She
said “there is never going to be enough” sexual diversity in firefighting
during an interview with NBC4 Los Angeles.
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| LAFD Leadership Team of three lesbians? |
In his posts, Musk also reposted other instances where he felt similar DEI policies could have a detrimental effect. “The problem of DEI in firefighting isn't limited to LA, and should be called out everywhere before disaster strikes,” one shared post said. The post argued such policies would only make the firefighting profession less effective, especially when dealing with disasters of this scale.
It referenced a proposed bill in Connecticut that
aimed to increase diversity in fire departments by lowering physical
requirements for women. LAFD Lesbian firefighters right now are not required to
carry a dying man out of a burning house.
In a video defending the department’s DEI hiring
practices, Deputy Chief Kristine Larson — who heads the Equity and Human
Resources Bureau (DEI Bureau) — addressed accusations that female firefighters
aren’t strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building. Her response:
“He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire.”
“Competence matters,” Musk also said in a post criticising California Governor Gavin Newsom. He has further accused California officials of preventing essential fire management practices like creating fire breaks and clearing brush due to overregulation. Musk also placed the blame for the shortage of water on what he termed “bad governance” at the state and local levels.
The billionaire also provided a more specific
explanation for the scale of the fire damage in which he blamed “bad
governance” rather than “climate change”. He pointed to the “Nonsensical
overregulation that prevented creating fire breaks and doing brush clearing”.
US Forest Service directed employees in California
to stop controlled burning of federal lands in October 2024. Energy and climate
expert at Stanford University told KQED at the time, “The reality is, if there
are mistakes on prescribed fires, people are likely to face consequences”.
Musk also blamed “Bad governance at the state and local level” after Los Angeles County Fire Department donated “surplus” equipment to Ukraine in 2022. “Boots, hoses, nozzles, body armour and medication were among the items packed and shipped out,” according to LA broadcaster KTLA.
The growing debate over how government policies
have shaped emergency preparedness have led to calls for California’s Governor
to resign. US President-elect Donald Trump has said Mr Newsom was to blame for
the tragic fires and Musk added “New government is needed for California” in a
post to X.
There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen.
