California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, has faced criticism for a perceived ‘shimmying’ motion during a discussion about the land devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires in a recent interview.
Governor Newsom appeared on FOX 11 in Los Angeles earlier this week while visiting the county to evaluate the destruction left by the most severe wildfires on record in LA, which have ravaged tens of thousands of acres and numerous neighborhoods.
“We’re dealing with a myriad of issues, I was just talking to Josh Green, the governor of [pauses as he collects his thoughts]… down in Hawaii,” Newsom stated in his conversation with the TV station, before he seemingly did a shoulder dance.
While moving his shoulders from side to side, he added: “Who had some ideas about some land use concerns he has around speculators coming in, buying up properties, and the like.”
“So, we’re already working with our legal teams to move those things forward and we’ll be presenting those in a matter of days, not just weeks.”
His on-air appearance drew negative reactions on Twitter, with viewers debating if he was nervous or excited.
One user commented: “I wasn’t really concerned about developers buying up all of the property devastated by the California wildfires until Gavin did his weird shoulder shimmy dance while talking about developers buying up all the property devastated by the California wildfires.”
“Yeah, when he starts moving around he’s up to no good. He’s about to make mucho money off this tragedy,” another individual remarked.
A third person noted: “He’s dancing and shimmying knowing he just accepted millions under the table by developers while others are trying to figure out where to even begin to rebuild.”
UNILAD has reached out to Governor Newsom for his comments on the matter.
Since January 7, the Los Angeles area has been battling massive wildfires, with four major blazes still consuming vast stretches of land.
Initially sparked by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires on the first day, these fires have grown significantly. The Palisades Fire has engulfed 23,713 acres and is only 19 percent contained, stretching from Malibu to Santa Monica.
The Eaton Fire has burned through 14,117 acres with 45 percent containment. The Hurst Fire has affected 799 acres, with 97 percent containment, while the more recent Auto Fire has covered 61 acres with 47 percent containment.
A long list of celebrities and thousands of residents have lost their homes to the flames, as strong winds have exacerbated the fires, destroying entire communities.
The US National Weather Service issued a warning about the potential for strong Santa Ana winds and extreme fire conditions five days before the first wildfire emerged.
Subsequently, a Fire Weather Watch warning was announced, accompanied by alerts from state and local officials regarding the Los Angeles area.
The Palisades Fire’s ignition prompted an emergency alert advising LA residents nearby to prepare for a potential evacuation.
Later that same day, Santa Monica’s City issued an Evacuation Order for all areas north of San Vicente, stating: “Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW.”
Only hours after the first fire began, the second fire, the Eaton Fire, started in the Altadena region of LA.
Following this, the Hurst Fire ignited in LA’s Sylmar area, with the National Weather Service reporting gusts up to 99mph. New evacuation orders were issued as the fires rapidly expanded, destroying thousands of acres containing homes and businesses.
Hundreds of inmates were deployed to aid in combating the wildfires, with 939 prisoners on the frontlines, according to the BBC.
This practice is not unusual in California, one of 14 US states that utilize inmate labor to fight fires. Participation is voluntary, with inmates earning between $5.80 and $10.24 daily.
Inmates with specific convictions—such as arson and sexual offenses—are ineligible to volunteer.
Three days after the fires began, the LAPD apprehended a suspect following reports from locals of a man on a bicycle attempting to ignite trash bins and old Christmas trees with a blow torch.
Authorities suspect the Kenneth Fire was intentionally set, and the accused individual is in custody.
Southern California Edison, an energy company under Edison International, acknowledged a short circuit problem with its grid on January 7, coinciding with the onset of the fires.
“On January 10, Southern California Edison (SCE) filed an Electric Safety Incident Report (ESIR) related to the Hurst Fire once SCE learned fire agencies are investigating whether SCE equipment was involved in the ignition, which is a triggering event for reporting,” Edison International announced in a press release.
“SCE noted that the fire was reported at approximately 10:10 pm on January 7, and preliminary information reflects the Eagle Rock – Sylmar 220 kV circuit experienced a relay at 10:11 pm. A downed powerline was discovered at a tower associated with the Eagle Rock – Sylmar 220 kV circuit. SCE does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire.”
Numerous celebrities have had to evacuate their residences, many of which have been destroyed. This includes figures such as Paris Hilton, Miles Teller, Anna Faris, Billy Crystal, and Eugene Levy.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton, Palisades, Kenneth and Hurst fires have collectively burned over 40,000 acres.
Among the 12,000 structures that have been lost are homes and businesses.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Monday evening intended to ‘expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities’ devastated by the wildfires.
As of January 15, the fires have claimed the lives of 25 individuals.