Following the devastating wildfires in Southern California, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has requested a city assessment of its preparedness to handle similar disasters. Mahan cited concerns from residents about wildfire prevention and response, particularly in the city's wildland-urban interface. The mayor asked for an analysis of current efforts, potential future investments, and strategies for securing funding to mitigate wildfire risks.
FILE – The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. has prompted San Jose ’s mayor to call on the city to provide an assessment of what steps it is taking to safeguard residents from a similarly harrowing ordeal.
“There’s a lot we still don’t know about what, if anything, the city could’ve done differently, but it certainly has prompted me to want to review everything we’re doing, particularly for emergency response,” Mahan told The Mercury News. Local and state responses to the fire also have led to fierce political backlash — including threats of withholding federal aid — against Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over perceived missteps, including questions about brush management and reductions in funding for equipment and personnel.
“As a retired fire captain, I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough,” Doan said. “It’s not if, but when this will happen to our surrounding neighbors. If it’s predictable, it’s preventable and it’s our responsibility to make sure that this doesn’t happen.” Along with receiving more information about those efforts, he said the City Council and community would benefit from learning about the city’s water availability, brush abatement efforts, and what steps private property owners can take to reduce risks.PG&E gets record $15 billion loan in one of President Biden’s final acts
WILDFIRES DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY SAFETY SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
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