After the Wildfires: Why We Should Care About What Happens Next in Los Angeles

Climate change has raised the stakes for city and state governments in meeting their duty to protect people from danger. The tragedy of the LA wildfires was born from two parents: climate change and failed governance. In this report, we analyze Los Angeles’s response to the wildfires to explore these challenges, as well as dissect the challenges to rebuilding and where to go from here. This crisis has the potential to serve as a catalyst for significant growth in Los Angeles and California. If the recovery dollars are spent well, this could be a remarkable Keynesian event with long-term productivity benefits if a climate resilient infrastructure investment plan supports healthy growth into the future.