Early this summer, Southern California Edison wildfire science
expert Tom Rolinski was in the foothills of Mount Baldy. He could
sense summer setting in and with it, an early fire season.
Sadly, politically motivated violence is not new. It is part of
our national history, driven by a range of motives — and is
increasing. Here are some practical steps you can take to support
your safety and that of those around you.
Elected officials hold a unique and critical responsibility: to
guide their communities through times of peace and crisis alike.
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County and nearby
regions serve as a stark reminder of this task.
Even with the nation’s most effective gun laws, Californians
experienced a mass shooting every six days in 2023. “It is a sad
state of affairs for our country and our community that we’ve had
so many mass shootings that a set of best practices have
emerged,” said one expert.
Californians are struggling with skyrocketing fire insurance
premiums and canceled policies. And it’s not clear if regulatory
efforts to lower prices will have their intended effect. Fire
departments can play a key role in lowering rates both now and in
the future.
Mirroring public attitudes, California lawmakers have instituted
sweeping changes to the state’s cannabis laws. This has created
challenges for fire departments, which must balance their mission
of safety with the rights of their employees.
More city officials — particularly women — are facing threats and
harassment. Although every city has unique and varied safety
concerns, there are some common practices your city can adopt to
safeguard elected officials and staff before misfortune
strikes.
How public agencies collaborate and plan will be vital to how
they weather climate change crises. This may mean forgoing
traditional top-down emergency planning in favor of participative
scenario planning, which can include a wider range of
stakeholders.
In 2020, Marin County voters approved the state’s first JPA
dedicated solely to local wildfire protection. The agency has a
clear mission: Help Marin County co-exist with wildfire by
adopting fire-adapted strategies. This starts with a “House Out”
strategy that all cities can follow.
The combined cost of funding public safety agencies can occupy
over half of a city’s budget. Yet many fire departments’
emergency response systems are underutilized. As cities struggle
to meet greater social needs, the fire service can lean into some
of its strengths and fill some of those gaps.
Palmdale wanted to do something about the growing number of
fentanyl-related deaths. City officials knew they could not
enforce their way out of the crisis. Working with key
stakeholders, they launched an initiative aimed at reducing drug
overdose deaths through education and community engagement.
While federal lawmakers grappled with the challenges of electing
a new House speaker, council members and mayors — regardless of
their political affiliation — were tirelessly moving forward to
serve the public. Yet, an emerging challenge is making this
crucial work much tougher.
Even many well-funded cities are unprepared for large-scale
emergencies. This lack of preparedness can cost thousands of
lives and billions of dollars. These crises will only grow worse
and more frequent. The best way to mitigate this is to put time
and effort into community preparedness.
E-bikes became popular in Laguna Niguel during the pandemic,
especially with younger riders. This led to heightened concerns
about rider safety. But when the city began developing a safety
plan, it found few case studies and strategies to pull from.
In recent years, calls for police reform have mounted alongside
calls to reduce the rise in crime. By understanding and
addressing the root causes of crime, cities can address both
concerns and create communities where everyone can feel safe and
succeed. This requires a radical reshaping of how we understand
public safety.
A firefighter’s job is no longer about putting the wet stuff on
the red stuff. The demands of the modern fire service can often
have a negative impact on firefighters’ mental health. Peer
support teams like the one in Oxnard are one way that cities can
provide firefighters with the tools needed to bounce back from
traumatic events.
In many ways, wildfires spread just like viruses, but faster. So,
what can epidemiology teach us about making our communities safer
against wildfires? It is a question worth investigating given our
current fire conditions.
Over the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court dramatically reshaped the
nation’s firearms laws. This change has far-reaching implications
for state and local regulations — including California’s “good
cause” requirement for concealed firearms licenses.
Like many communities, Redondo Beach saw an increase in
homelessness in the years leading up to the pandemic. Thanks to a
new program that brings supportive services to residents and
dismisses nonviolent misdemeanors, the number of people
experiencing homeless has fallen far below pre-pandemic levels.
Everyone wants to feel safe where they live. And that feeling of
safety is the foundation for creating thriving communities where
residents, business leaders, and visitors alike feel a strong
sense of belonging and connectedness.
