Gov. Gavin Newsom urged to ease environmental regulations for all Californians by Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal suggested that Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, should relax environmental regulations for all Californians, not just those affected by the fires in Los Angeles.

The editorial board of the paper advised that Newsom should apply the same reasoning used to waive environmental regulations to facilitate the reconstruction of Los Angeles, thereby improving life for all Californians.

On Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom waived the state's environmental regulations in areas affected by fires to speed up the rebuilding process, according to an article published Tuesday by the editorial board.

The Journal posed a question: If the rules are a hindrance to development, why not ease regulations for all projects?

Before issuing a building permit, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) mandates a review of any potential environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the California Coastal Act concentrates on coastal development and its role in safeguarding "sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity."

On Sunday, the two laws were suspended by Newsom after he signed an executive order to halt the environmental review process for those who lost their homes.

The Journal stated that California's environmental laws increase the costs of public works projects by delaying their completion and, in some cases, even killing them.

Why doesn't Mr. Newsom attempt to reform the state's environmental laws if he agrees they are a problem, the editorial board questioned.

"The reason for the ease in permitting for L.A.'s affluent to rebuild is likely due to Governor Newsom's concern that they may leave if the process takes too long or costs too much. This could negatively impact his potential presidential run in 2028, as well as the city's appearance during the upcoming Olympics in the same year."

A fire that began on Jan. 7 destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California.

The environmental regulations in California have been criticized during the crisis, with some arguing that they may have contributed to the spread of wildfires.

Planet Chronicle' Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.