This is the most important city and essential city anywhere in the world,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom emphatically at a press conference today to discuss his L.A. Rises initiative, which he officially announced earlier in the day.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a private sector effort entitled “LA Rises” to rebuild Los Angeles communities on Tuesday after days of devastation caused by wildfires. Newsom selected Los Angeles Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter,

Recent wildfires not only brought lose and heartache to the residents of the Los Angeles area, they also scorched state, city and county politics. While the initial voting in the races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor is more than a year away memories of how politicians dealt with the fires and its aftermath will linger.