Climate Justice Moves to States With California’s Fire Probe

The Trump administration has retreated from enforcing environmental justice, making California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement of a civil rights investigation into Los Angeles County’s emergency response to the 2025 Eaton Fire a possible new blueprint for state leaders.

Bonta’s office said last week that it is investigating whether county delays in notifying and evacuating the historically Black community of West Altadena violated state anti-discrimination and disability rights laws. Eighteen of the 19 people who died in the fire lived in West Altadena, and residents say the sheriff’s department and fire personnel failed to provide enough timely, in-person support for ...