LA fires bring scrutiny to worker safety, private firefighting
CALmatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media (publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, Mountain View Voice, Pleasanton Weekly and The Almanac in Menlo Park and their websites.)
Here are the most recent stories reported by CALmatters' team of journalists:
Gavin Newsom has grown California’s government to a record size. Now he, too, is selling ‘efficiency’
Gavin Newsom is echoing the incoming Trump administration as he touts government efficiency. But the governor has expanded the size and scope of California’s government to an all-time high.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 5:35 am
‘It all ended in a second’: Thousands of low-income and immigrant workers lost jobs in LA fires
Gardeners, housekeepers and car wash workers living paycheck to paycheck are out of work in Los Angeles County as fires damaged homes and businesses. Their income losses may be permanent.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 5:34 am
Wealth will dictate LA fire recovery unless California learns from mistakes of past disasters
The Los Angeles-area fires reveal a harsh truth: Recovery isn’t the same for everyone. Wealthier communities will turn to private resources, while working-class neighborhoods in Altadena will face immense barriers to rebuilding and recovery.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 5:30 am
As workers tackle the dangerous job of cleaning up after the LA fires, can the state keep them safe?
The LA fires have left domestic workers and day laborers jobless. They may soon be hired for wildfire cleanup work, where they can be exposed to ash and other toxins.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 5:30 am
Private firefighters are increasingly popular with insurers. But do they pose a risk?
Private firefighters are a growing part of insurance companies’ strategy to head off wildfire-related damages. But Cal Fire says they can sometimes pose a safety risk.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 5:30 am
As LA fires destroy homes, California’s housing crisis is about to get worse
Housing construction permits were already trending downward. Now the wildfires have taken away at least 10,000 occupied homes.
Fri, Jan 17, 2025 12:01 am
Ongoing LA blazes raise wildfire recovery questions
Fires in Southern California continue to burn as people in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties remain under red flag warnings. Dry conditions are expected to last through today, according to Cal Fire, but this weekend is expected to bring “calmer and more humid weather.” To date, the death toll has climbed to at […]
Thu, Jan 16, 2025 6:00 am
Why California keeps putting homes where fires burn
LA fires expose California’s difficult road to navigate between disaster risk and solving the state’s housing crisis.
Thu, Jan 16, 2025 5:33 am
¿Por qué California sigue construyendo casas donde suelen arder los incendios forestales?
Los incendios de Los Ángeles exponen el difícil camino que debe recorrer California para pasar del riesgo de desastre a la solución de la crisis de vivienda del estado.
Thu, Jan 16, 2025 5:33 amStay informed.
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