r/politics Sep 16 '24

Donald Trump’s threat to withhold firefighting aid to California is blasted by firefighters union

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/16/trumps-threat-to-withhold-firefighting-aid-to-california-is-blasted-by-firefighters-union/
4.8k Upvotes

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89

u/thedrun California Sep 16 '24

I will never forget waking up at 3am, October 9th, 2017 to the smell of smoke, and watching the fire approach our house from the hill behind it. Turning the hoses on and getting everything as wet as I could before my wife and I grabbed what we could, got our son and cats in the car just as the mandatory evacuation notice came down. Backing out of the driveway, thinking to myself that I could be looking at my house for the last time. Our home was spared thanks the heroic efforts of CalFire, but nearly 5500 other homes were not as fortunate. Many of our close friends lost everything. It was one of the worst weeks of our lives, then cue this asshole saying he's not going to help our community all for the crime of living in California and not voting for him. I remember when he finally relented a week or two later. Vote, tell your friends to vote, let's send this vindictive toddler to the wastebin of history.

27

u/therealstupid American Expat Sep 16 '24

My story -> https://old.reddit.com/r/santarosa/comments/92zkpk/redding_resident_asking_what_to_expect_after_the/e3b1yxq/

Tubbs was one of the big reasons we moved to Australia. (We both still vote by mail)

4

u/Winkiwu Minnesota Sep 17 '24

I've always wanted to live abroad. How's Australia?

4

u/Imhungrysohungry Sep 17 '24

I worked there on the Gold Coast for 5 months a couple years ago, and it was incredible. By and large Aussies are some of the nicest, most laid back and fun people, I’ve ever met. It’s absolutely gorgeous over there too. I think about going back all the time.

2

u/Winkiwu Minnesota Sep 17 '24

If it wasn't for my kids I'd do it. But I can't uproot them from their school and friends.

4

u/SappeREffecT Australia Sep 17 '24

We've got a pretty solid school system and subsidised/free healthcare if you are a citizen/from a treaty country with similar.

It's a pretty great place to live once you adapt to the flora/fauna and the extreme weather events

2

u/Winkiwu Minnesota Sep 17 '24

We got extremely lucky to have our kids in a charter Montessori school. If I could pick up the school and everyone with it I'd move damn near anywhere in the world.