Michael Rapaport has called for California Governor Gavin Newsom to resign, citing alleged mismanagement of funds intended for fire prevention. Rapaport made his statement on Instagram on January 14.
“We’ll do better next time. We need to learn from our mistakes,” Rapaport said. “(Newson) was talking about ‘Trump-proofing’ California instead of ‘fire-proofing’ the state. There’s no more mistakes for you, you’re done!”
According to Fox News, the actor and comedian believes that Newsom mishandled the wildfires, leading to a disaster for the state. While Rapaport has previously criticized former President Donald Trump, he also said that Vice President Kamala Harris lost his vote in November.
The Hill reports that instead of addressing imminent natural disasters in Los Angeles, California government officials focused resources on “Trump-proofing” the state. They allegedly ignored warnings from wildfire professionals and failed to adequately prepare for fires, diverting funds to unrelated programs.
A recall effort against Newsom is currently underway. Additionally, more than 165,000 signatures have been collected in a petition calling for the resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as of January 27. Criticism over Democratic leaders’ preparedness intensified when fire hydrants ran dry during a firestorm in Pacific Palisades. The Eaton Fire in Alta Dena raised questions about forest management policies. Bass faced backlash for being in Ghana when the fires broke out despite her previous commitment not to travel internationally as mayor.
Cal Fire reports that as of January 27, the Palisades and Eaton Fires are 95% and 99% contained respectively. The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres, destroyed 6,837 structures, damaged 1,017 others, and resulted in 12 fatalities and three injuries. The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres, destroyed 9,418 structures, damaged 1,073 others, and caused 17 fatalities. Santa Ana winds and drought conditions worsened by heavy brush contributed to the fires’ severity. Investigations into their causes are ongoing.
Michael Rapaport is an American actor known for roles in films such as “True Romance,” “Deep Blue Sea,” and “Higher Learning,” as well as TV shows like “The War at Home” and “Atypical.” He hosts a podcast titled “I Am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast.”
