California lawmakers approved a pair of bills Thursday providing $2.5 billion in state aid in response to the wildfires that have decimated neighborhoods, destroyed schools and damaged public infrastructure across Los Angeles County.
The legislation, which received bipartisan support, directs the money to begin the monumental emergency response and recovery effort, including evacuations, shelter, hazardous waste removal, flash flooding, debris removal, traffic control and environmental testing.
“Tens of thousands of our neighbors, our families and friends, they need help,” said Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) during the floor debate in the upper house.
“This means that we need to be able to move with urgency, put aside our differences, and be laser focused on delivering the financial resources, delivering the boots on the ground, that are needed and the policy relief that is needed to get neighborhoods…
