16,000+ Structures Still Await Rebuilding Six Months After Devastating California Wildfires, Governor Faces Intense Scrutiny

Alana Stewart, a prominent social media figure, has publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for what she describes as a lack of progress in rebuilding Pacific Palisades and Malibu, six months after devastating wildfires ravaged the areas. In a tweet posted on July 18, 2025, Stewart stated, > "Pacific Palisades and Malibu have burned down and after six months you’ve done absolutely nothing to help the rebuilding. It looks like you spend all your time tweeting about @realDonaldTrump instead of doing your job as governor. Californians are suffering! #TDS #GetALife" Her remarks highlight growing frustration among residents over the slow pace of recovery.

The criticism follows the catastrophic Southern California wildfires of January 2025, which saw the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire become two of the most destructive in the state's history. Fueled by severe Santa Ana winds and prolonged drought conditions, the Palisades Fire alone consumed 23,448 acres and destroyed 6,837 structures, while the Eaton Fire claimed 9,414 structures. Collectively, the blazes resulted in 30 fatalities and displaced over 180,000 people across the region.

Rebuilding efforts face immense challenges, with economic impact studies estimating property damages between $28 billion and $53.8 billion. The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) projected business disruptions could lead to $4.6 billion to $8.9 billion in lost economic output over the next five years, with full recovery potentially extending to 2034 under the slowest scenarios. Critical issues like water supply shortages, where fire hydrants ran dry and the Santa Ynez Reservoir was empty for repairs, further complicated initial firefighting and continue to pose long-term infrastructure hurdles.

Governor Newsom's administration has faced scrutiny since the outset of the disaster. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also drew criticism for her absence during the initial days of the fires and for prior budget adjustments to the fire department. Former President Donald Trump publicly engaged in political sparring with Newsom, falsely attributing water shortages to dam removals and criticizing the governor's environmental policies. Newsom, in turn, launched a website to counter what he termed "mis- and disinformation" surrounding the state's disaster response.

Six months on, the sentiment expressed by Alana Stewart underscores the significant gap between the scale of destruction and the visible progress of reconstruction. While federal aid and state initiatives like "LA Rises" have been launched, the sheer volume of destroyed homes and businesses, coupled with complex logistical and financial hurdles, means a full recovery remains a distant prospect for many affected Californians. The ongoing rebuilding process continues to be a focal point of public and political debate.