L.A.’s Permit Department Hears You Knocking, But You Can’t Come In

The ineptness of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom

Living in the area, I can say that after Helene, it looked like a war zone. We lost our car, and 38 others who live in our condo alone also lost theirs. The water damage to homes near the coast was catastrophic. As people began removing appliances, furniture, and other items from their houses, the roadways were lined with large piles of debris. Sand from the beaches was everywhere. It covered the roadways and, in some locations, temporarily closed them. Fortunately, no one that we know was injured or killed.

During this time, many people had lost their homes and had nowhere to go. Others were without electricity, and in some locations, even running water. During these miserable times, the last thing you need is hassles with insurance companies or red tape with the local government regarding permits or other issues. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be some snags in the system, but the idea is to minimize them.

In the nine months since Milton made landfall, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, the counties that encompass Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding area, have issued 44,100 building permits. Not everyone has been serviced, but with ongoing inspections, cleanup, and demolitions still underway, the area has performed well considering the extent of the damage.

Weigh those results against what is taking place in Democrat run Los Angeles. In early January, the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires started. At that time, Adam Carolla, one of the many celebrities who were displaced by the fires, did a video broadcast from the hotel room where he was staying.

Carolla, who identifies as a Libertarian, Republican, and Democrat, and who is aware of the ineptness of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, predicted that the state's politics would shift to the right. He reasoned that the government was so sandbagged with liberal politics that the people who lived in those predominantly blue areas would go crazy trying to rebuild.

At that time, in a post on X, Carolla wasn’t taking any prisoners.

“You guys all voted for Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles. You all voted for Gavin Newsom, and now you # get what you get, now that your house is on fire.

So, here’s what’s going to happen. All these people who are deep blue Democrats are now going to have to pull a permit to rebuild, and they’re going to get the 28-year-old bxxxh from the Coastal Commission telling them to go # off and then they’re going to vote for Trump or whoever’s Trumpian next.

When they start getting the regulations, they’re going to go nuts. And when they start running into the bureaucracy and the red tape, they’re going to start going nuts, and they’re going to vote for Rick Caruso next time.

They’re going to find out they’re going to get bit by their own snake. They’re going to convert. I am telling you, these are the bluest people on the planet and they’re going to be # rip sxxt pissed when the City and the Coastal Commission tell them to fxxk off.”

So, was he right?

As of May 19, 2025, 54 permits have been issued for 40 addresses related to rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, according to the City of Los Angeles. However, this number represents only a small portion of the total rebuilding applications received, and the process is still ongoing. In the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County impacted by the Eaton fire, only nine permits have been issued, as reported by SFGATE. For properties affected by the Palisades fire, the city of Los Angeles has received 360 rebuilding applications, with 70 permits granted, according to NBC Los Angeles.

This isn’t bad, this is pathetic. Newsom is too busy hating on President Trump and making sure that men can compete in women’s sports, even though the Supreme Court ruled otherwise. Meanwhile, Bass is fighting ICE tooth and nail instead of doing what’s right for the city.

KTLA reported: 

“It’s been six months since wildfires devastated Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and other parts of Southern California, and a prominent local figure has called out political leaders for what he sees as a lack of action.

“Developer Rick Caruso took to social media on Monday to criticize local government officials for “endless red tape,” which he claims is hindering progress in rebuilding after the fires. Caruso challenged Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for that position in 2022.\

“Thousands of homes were destroyed, and yet fewer than 100 building permits have been issued after six months,” he wrote alongside a video promoting his nonprofit Steadfast LA. “Does anyone believe this is rapid rebuilding?”

“Caruso does cite some progress — power lines will be rebuilt underground, for instance — though he also criticizes officials for focusing on “lofty rhetoric” instead of providing answers for fire victims and taking tangible action on the ground.”

With this type of response, the exodus from California is sure to continue. The rebuilding process has been so slow that many people in the area have chosen to sell their damaged homes rather than attempt to rebuild. That will shrink the already badly depleted tax base and hopefully the support for the agenda-driven liberal Democrats and their delusional style of government.