Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, is once again caught in a challenging situation. His newest controversy involves an interaction with actor and Pacific Palisades resident, Spencer Pratt, who recently lost his home in the wildfires. Pratt, one of many residents filing lawsuits against the city, county, and state due to perceived negligence before and during the fires, has demanded accountability from the governor. Pratt’s inquiries have apparently struck a nerve with Newsom.
There’s a certain amount to unpack here.
Central to this controversy is a legislative proposal, SB 549, recently passed by the California Senate. The proposal outlines a plan to utilize public funds to purchase lots damaged by the fires for the development of public housing and transit systems.
The bill proposes a funding strategy, stating that the RRA for the Los Angeles wildfires would have the authority to “issue, receive, and manage funds, including tax-increment financing, along with federal and state loans and grants, as well as philanthropic contributions, to aid in the recovery efforts.”
The RRA would then be able to use taxpayer funds to oversee most of the construction process, and would be granted the power to “purchase critical construction materials in bulk,” “manage and coordinate rebuilding and related logistics,” “enhance financing options,” and “support the reconstruction workforce by partnering with trades, facilitating training and workforce development, and creating temporary workforce housing.”
Mr. Pratt objected and took to his X account to make his objections known. Every citizen has the right to do this. The LA Times then entered, stage left:
“I don’t even think this is political,” Pratt said. “This is a common sense post.”
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), has since withdrawn the bill. So, Spencer Pratt seems to have won the round…
C list celebrity booooom pic.twitter.com/cLQLIpXfLi
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) July 17, 2025
… but Governor Newsom, not being one to take the L and leave it alone, had to make it personal, replying to Pratt’s question-asking with gaslighting and, incredibly, blaming Pratt.
But that pain doesn’t give you license to mislead your neighbors with completely fabricated conspiracy theories.
You’ve been spreading false information that’s scaring people and actively hurting the very community you claim to speak for.
And now — thanks to your videos — a proposal to help fire victims rebuild is dead. Well done.
Calling a concerned resident who lost his home to the Palisades Fire ‘C-list’ for demanding answers? That’s not leadership. That’s shameful. Newsom, you let the state park burn down and it burned down my home, my parents’ home and my whole community. I’ll continue to speak up for… pic.twitter.com/5A0xIlDBmp
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) July 17, 2025
Mr. Pratt’s post continues:
This isn’t about whether Mr. Pratt was correct or not in what SB 549 would have or wouldn’t have done, if passed. It was withdrawn, and that in itself is an indication that the sponsor may have felt some of Mr. Pratt’s criticisms were hitting a little too close to the mark, and indeed Mr. Pratt has been very vocal about the failures surrounding the Pacific Palisades fire – like an utter failure to clear dry brush, to establish fire lanes, and so on.
Spencer Pratt perceived SB 549 as a proposal that would be typical of the political left, to take advantage of a disaster and turn it to suit their own agenda. He spoke out on the matter. In return, the Governor of the State of California used his official Press Office to try to browbeat a citizen into shutting up.
