Jan. 29, 2026 6 AM PT
To the editor: President Trump’s govt order trying to override Los Angeles and California authority over rebuilding permits after the January 2025 wildfires is an unprecedented and harmful federal overreach (“Trump signs executive order to ‘preempt’ permitting process for fire-destroyed homes in L.A.,” Jan. 27).
Allowing and land-use regulation have at all times belonged to cities and counties, protected underneath the tenth Modification. The Federal Emergency Administration Company shouldn’t be geared up to exchange native constructing departments, and permitting builders to “self-certify” compliance dangers unsafe rebuilding and added confusion for Palisades and Altadena households making an attempt to get well.
If Washington really desires to assist survivors, it ought to ship long-delayed catastrophe funding, guarantee insurers pay claims pretty and assist the native programs already transferring restoration ahead.
This order shouldn’t be about dashing rebuilding — it’s about political management. Los Angeles wants partnership and assets, not a federal allowing takeover.
Steven Kern, Los Angeles
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To the editor: I haven’t cheered Trump for a really very long time, however I actually did when he signed the chief order in an effort to assist fireplace victims rebuild sooner.
I solely remorse that this order was top-down reasonably than bottom-up. We should always all be difficult the allowing necessities proper right here. Property homeowners ought to have the proper to maneuver ahead with rebuilding proper now. In any case, they pay taxes, together with property taxes, and their tax cash shouldn’t be used towards them in guidelines and rules.
Plus, these extreme allowing necessities have clearly discouraged constructing and due to this fact, I consider, been a consider homelessness.
Constructing allow necessities should go. The chief order is hopefully a begin. The actual purpose native and state officers are upset is as a result of the order is a risk to their energy and their potential to fill authorities coffers.
Alice Lillie, Pomona
