Let your imagination run riot . . . how much do you think LA’s “water chief” is paid?

The firefighter's union was complaining that they were underfunded, at least since May. Around 80 fire engines and trucks (engines pump water, trucks carry ladders and other things) were out of commission as the city couldn't afford repairs. People complain about "big government," then complain when the government isn't big enough to do what they want. As has been widely reported, funding for the fire department was shifted to the police, because people are more worried about crime than fires.

Should they have hired this lady at that salary? She's a C-suite executive, so they probably had to pay her a competitive rate. I think we can assume she didn't close the reservoir just for fun; it probably does need repairs that the city can't afford if they can't afford mechanics to keep their equipment running. The LA fire department responds to half a million emergencies of various types annually. They have fewer employees than they did 15 years ago, while demand has gone up 50%. At some point, "doing more with less" isn't possible.

Meanwhile, millionaires build houses on hillsides that have burned regularly since human beings first inhabited this area. Controlled burns are one way to manage this, but people don't like them when they're right next to where they live. The only solution might be private industry. If people can't get insurance (which we're seeing in Florida), they won't be able to build in those areas. As for the federal government stepping in, some shitbag Republican Congressman has proposed halting funding for California until they end Democratic policies. Sounds great! And the next time a hurricane ravages Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, or Florida, I say no funding until they legalize abortion.