Shocking figures on Karen Bass’ failures since Palisades wildfires revealed: Newt Gingrich

Less than 0.2% of the houses destroyed in the Palisades wildfires have been rebuilt under Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ mismanagement, according to bombshell figures shared by former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

In the 14 months since flames obliterated 6,571 houses in unincorporated Los Angeles County, only 13 properties have been rebuilt, a report from the Maryland-based nonprofit Unleash Prosperity revealed.

The LA City portion of the Palisades had a similar number of homes destroyed, and the rebuilding figures are feared to be similar.

Approximately 13,000 homes were destroyed across the Palisades and surrounding areas when fires burned for 25 days, scorching an area of more than 23,000 acres and leading to $25 billion of property damage.

While more than 1,000 rebuilding permits have been issued, and roughly 340 to 900 projects are under construction or in progress, only a fraction have been completed.

“This is insane. A country that can’t rebuild houses in a year is a country that can’t possibly keep up with communist China and its focus on engineering and achievement over lawyers, bureaucracy and politics,” Newt Gingrich said in a post on X sharing the Unleash Prosperity figures.

Bureaucracy, including severe insurance delays and sky-high construction costs, has been blamed for the agonizingly slow rebuilding progress.

Homeowners must navigate complex regulations and get approvals from over a dozen city departments, with average wait times extending for months.

“Governor Newsom should be asked about this disaster everywhere he goes. Both the House and the Senate should be holding hearings on this absurdity,” the former Georgia Rep. said.

“The Department of Housing and Urban Affairs should have a formal investigation and a proposal to radically streamline home building in America,” Gingrich added. “This is nuts!”

Now, more than a year on, the once-desireable neighborhood home to Hollywood royalty including Tom Hanks and Ben Affleck, still looks like a war zone.

Both Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass kept a low profile in January around the one-year anniversary of the wildfires.

Neither attended any of the public vigils and other ceremonies held to commemorate the 31 people killed in the blazes, with both Democrats facing intense criticism of their handling of the crisis.

Furious protestors attending the “They Let Us Burn” march chanted “fire them all” as they denounced Mayor Bass and city bureaucracy for failing them every step of the way.

“I remain committed to continuing to use the full-force of my mayoral power to restore the Palisades community and return families home as quickly and safely as possible,” Mayor Bass said in a statement in January after she led a flag lowering ceremony at City Hall.

The pair met privately with survivors and civic leaders.

Mayor Bass’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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