Newsom Fined Over Wildfire-Fund Disclosures for Fire Survivors

California’s political watchdog fined Governor Newsom for failing to timely disclose $5.5 million in payments he and his staff directed to nonprofits, most of it for LA wildfire recovery. Although there is no finding that the money was misused, survivors deserve answers: Which organizations received it, how was it spent, how much remains, and how much directly benefited Eaton and Palisades survivors rather than covering administrative costs. Funds raised in survivors’ name require a full public accounting and timely disclosure of the corporations and foundations providing them. The violations are especially troubling alongside recent reporting on the $2.5 billion state relief package Newsom announced after the fires. NBC4 Investigates reported that, 16 months later, only about $605 million had been spent, relatively little had reached survivors directly, and approximately $14 million funded law-enforcement deployments unrelated to wildfire recovery. As survivors face displacement, insurance shortfalls, contamination, rebuilding costs, and expiring assistance, who is ensuring that relief funds reach the people and communities they were promised to help?
LA Times