100 Million in LA wildfire relief funds funneled to uninvolved NGOs

[putnam6]

When a political family has 64 funded NGOs, it defeats the purpose of labeling them Non-Governmental Organizations; they should be called Politically Organized/Owned/Operated Organizations, or POOOO for short

As in the Pritzker family, take 64 POOOs on the American taxpayers' dime because they are connected and have perfected the NGOAID scam.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

I'll double check, pretty sure I got the wrong figure, wouldn't want to be the only factually incorrect post on DI.

but where's Tahoe Neveda?

to correct the OP, Im seeing $250,000 for Santa Monica Community College for not catching fire, which was the most ironic part to me,  not just the dollar amount. So how does the SMC Corsairs divy up that paltry 250,000 grand

and the 100 million is correct.


and rewatched  the video at the link it was discussing the 75 million in questionable grants that's where the graphic mentioning Santa Monica College popped up in an honest multitasking mistake

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...-49-29.jpg]

The weird part is that I don't hate California; I've been there twice, and I loved it back in the 2010s. We stayed across from the Staples Center for work and had to drive hours everywhere else, but it was still a blast.

If I were uber-rich, I'd live in Cali part-time like Adam Schiff



Everybody hates us? Really

Cali craps on the fly over the states and the south all the time.

Hell, I love my home state, but I hope people hate it and never want to come here

This is a legitimate topic, even if my post contains some factual inaccuracies and a few embellishments.

But the foundation at SMCC that got the $250,000 (i figured 75 million was an honest mistake) is literally a foundation set up for fire relief donations. It can go with the 1.6 they raised themselves.

The LA fires displaced 150,000 people, and its like burning down the entire city of Torrence.  So what is 100 million, $666 a piece divided equally among victims? 

But these charities do way more than that.  Like SMCC is giving away up to 10,000 per recipient. Which are mostly their own students and faculty who are of the 150k total displaced.  So while SMCC didn't get touched by fire, neither did most of Santa Monica, it takes 1 or 2 degrees of separation to find someone affected. 

Im sure there are charities based all over LA, far from fire damage that also received part of the 75 million given out so far.  And I'm sure that list of charities is a united colors of inclusiveness and diversity. 

I just dont get the knee-jerk reaction listening to Kevin Riley of CA03. What could Lake Tahoe, and their Celebrity reverse-snowbird population have to complain about? All their Ski lodges survived. 

The Fire Aid organizers fucked up by using "direct relief" as a marketing tactic. If they said "and we will divide your money out to our selected charities" it is isn't as enticing, but doesn't give every salivating pundit hoping to criticize California a chance to open their mouths again. 

Did the average heartless conservative pundits actually give a shit in January? I didnt notice actual concern. I noticed they were holding back the schadenfreude laughter that wanted to say, "haha, thats what you get for your liberal DEI lesbian FD leadership?"

This seems very much a continuation of that.

The kneejerk response to that is: 

"Well Fuck you then. Take your wonderbread family to Florida on vacation instead. Go to Orlando and get bit by mosquitos. And we'll be sure that the next time 150k Floridians are displaced by consecutive Hurricanes, we'll say you should have had more storm surge protection, criticize your disaster relief, and say Florida's inbred hillbilly leadership doomed them." 

Cali-hate = Are you sure this isn't another opportunity for conservative America to sanctimoniously shit on California anyway possible?  Maybe distract a little? Wagging the dog some more to go with the two wars in Albania?

[UltraBudgie]

hmm not sure where it was implied this was a california-only issue.. seem to recall the same thing happening around pretty much all other disaster-relief charity drives, the system seems to have in-built opportunity for grift, whether it's 9/11, katrina, floods, wildfires, whatever. the point i was sarcasming as "oh gee shocking" was that somehow americans expect it to be different? when every apple in the bushel can get a little bit rotten you've got to start to suspect it's the bushel and not the apples, or where they are in the barrel.

although californians are a little hypersensative haha just kidding!

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

Yes, that is totally true, it is the same everywhere, but doesn't get reported that way. The outlet that sent 23 employees to the Trump administration says differently.

In the past year we've had CA, FL, and TX hit by natural disasters, and the two-tiered news media gives benefit of the doubt to red states they dont give to blue, by design, and its freaking annoying.  

They might briefly try to criticize Texas (Abbott or Cruz) but really their not about to report Texas or Florida failed as bad of California... EVER.  They won't focus on it the same way. It's very tiring. 

If California didn't have the ability to clear piles of debris on the beach in time, after saying we would, we would be thoroughly lambasted.  But Florida gets the benefit of doubt "because they couldn't," or "it was logistically impossible" to clear all that debris. 

That's fine, but where was our logistically impossible? Where is our benefit of the doubt for the 100 mph winds and a reservoir out of commission for scheduled repairs?

No, it's, "You really should have had enough water to stop this,"

And now people suddenly feel empathy for our displaced Altadenans and millionaire Palisades industry people, because it was our liberal leadership that really screwed them over. 

Gee, thanks! 

It comes off like Florida and Texas always do their best and criticisms are minimized, but California always fails because we're liberal and should have done better? And if there ARE problems in one of those redder place the typical move is to blame the democrats that are there. 

It easy to be hypersensitive with that... as we are the Bolshevik State of America. Gotta stop our woke and commie ideals from destroying the country and so on.

That is true root of the programmed piling on of California, IMO. Bias media, hatred of our policies, and engineered scapegoating to epitomize CA as everything to blame for whats wrong with America..

[putnam6]

But the foundation at SMCC that got the $250,000 (i figured 75 million was an honest mistake) is literally a foundation set up for fire relief donations. It can go with the 1.6 they raised themselves.

The LA fires displaced 150,000 people, and its like burning down the entire city of Torrence.  So what is 100 million, $666 a piece divided equally among victims? 

But these charities do way more than that.  Like SMCC is giving away up to 10,000 per recipient. Which are mostly their own students and faculty who are of the 150k total displaced.  So while SMCC didn't get touched by fire, neither did most of Santa Monica, it takes 1 degree of separation to find someone..

Im sure there are charities based all over LA, far from fire damage that also received part of the 75 million given out.. And im sure that list of charities is a united colors of inclusiveness and diversity. 

I just dont get the knee-jerk reaction listening to Kevin Riley of CA03. What could Lake Tahoe, and their Celebrity reverse-snowbird population have to complain about? All their Ski homes survived. 

The FireAid organizers fucked up by using "direct relief" as a marketing tactic. If they said "and we will divy your money out to our selected charities" it is isn't as enticing, but doesn't give every salivating pundit hoping to criticize California a chance to open their mouths again..

Did the average heartless Fox pundits actually give a shit? I didnt notice actual concern. Or were they holding back the schadenfreude laughter that wanted to say, "haha, thats what you get you liberal DEI lesbian FD leadership?"

The kneejerk response to that is...

"Well Fuck you then. Take your wonderbread family to Florida on vacation instead. Go to Orlando and get bit by mosquitos. And we'll be sure that the next 150k Floridians are displaced by Hurricanes, well say you should have had more storm surge protection and say Florida's inbred hillbilly leadership doomed them." 

Cali-hate = Are you sure this isn't another opportunity for conservative America to sanctimoniously shit on California anyway possible?  Maybe distract a little?

I rarely watch Fox or any network media.

LA Fireaid popped on my X.com feed and I watched and posted. It isn't big enough to bump any of the other headlines

Ive watched all of Leftist America scrutinize Georgia to have the MLB All-Star game moved because of politics... ONLY FOR it to be allowed in 2025, and nothing has changed except the media's zeal to chase the story,and the political impetus to do so. 

The media and political activists made hyper-awareness the new normal....with a shotgun approach, target every story, and see what sticks

NOW everybody cares what every state, county, and municipality does or doesn't do

How is a nondescript post on X deflecting when the story is in the LA Times?

​​​​​​If there's no juice to the story, it will die a quick death, especially since it's a conservative inquiry.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-07-23/where-did-the-fireaid-money-go


 

 
The MLB All-Star Game was moved from Atlanta in 2021 due to Georgia's passage of the Election Integrity Act of 2021 (S.B. 202). This law, signed by Governor Brian Kemp, introduced voting restrictions that critics, including civil rights groups and President Joe Biden, argued disproportionately disenfranchised people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic voters. Key provisions included stricter ID requirements for mail-in ballots, limits on ballot drop-boxes, and a ban on providing food or water to voters waiting in line, which was seen as targeting urban, Democratic-leaning communities.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, after discussions with players, the MLB Players Association, and The Players Alliance, decided to relocate the game and the 2021 MLB Draft from Truist Park in Atlanta to Coors Field in Denver. Manfred stated that the move was to "demonstrate our values as a sport," emphasizing MLB's support for voting rights and opposition to ballot restrictions. The decision was supported by figures like Biden, former President Barack Obama, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, though it faced backlash from Georgia Republicans, including Kemp, who called it a "knee-jerk" reaction and part of "cancel culture." The Atlanta Braves also expressed disappointment, noting economic losses for local businesses, estimated at $100 million by Cobb County's tourism arm.
The game returned to Atlanta in 2025, despite the voting law remaining largely intact, as MLB and Manfred shifted focus to the Braves' organizational merits and Truist Park's facilities, avoiding further political engagement.

[putnam6]

Yes, that is totally true, it is the same everywhere, but doesn't get reported that way. The outlet that sent 23 employees to the Trump administration says differently.

In the past year we've had CA, FL, and TX hit by natural disasters, and the two-tiered news media gives benefit of the doubt to red states they dont give to blue, by design, and its freaking annoying.  

They might briefly try to criticize Texas (Abbott or Cruz) but really their not about to report Texas or Florida failed as bad of California... EVER.  They won't focus on it the same way. It's very tiring. 

If California didn't have the ability to clear piles of debris on the beach in time, after saying we would, we would be thoroughly lambasted.  But Florida gets the benefit of doubt "because they couldn't," or "it was logistically impossible" to clear all that debris. 

That's fine, but where was our logistically impossible? Where is our benefit of the doubt for the 100 mph winds and a reservoir out of commission for scheduled repairs?

No, it's, "You really should have had enough water to stop this," and now people suddenly feel empathy for our displaced Armenians and industry people, because it was our liberal leadership that really screwed them over."

Gee, thanks! 

It comes off like Florida and Texas always do their best and criticisms are minimized, but California always fails because we're liberal and should have done better? And if there ARE problems in one of those redder place the typical move is to blame the democrats that are there. 

It easy to be hypersensitive with that... as we are the Bolshevik State of America. Gotta stop our woke and commie ideals from destroying the country and so on.

That is true root of the programmed piling on of California, IMO. Bias media, hatred of our policies, and engineered scapegoating to epitomize CA as everything to blame for whats wrong with America..

First of all, if Gavin Newsom is the DNC candidate for President, his disaster response, or lack thereof of is completely germane and of interest to the rest of the country

Florida caught shit from Hurricane Andrew and others and improved their statewide response years ago; they are uber prepared. Texas caught a huge amount of flak for the freeze and the floods in Houston, and even the recent floods, to a certain degree. 

It's human nature... and again, it's part of the hyper-aware and sensitized world

Cali buttercups needs to suck it up. If there's no malefeasance, what's the problem with an audit 

It's ironic when Cali talks money, they are the 6th largest economy in the world, and they don't need anybody

But on disaster response, where cash is king, they are like any other state

Much of the ire was from critical lapses, such as the Palisades reservoir sitting empty for no good reason, so there's already an air of skepticism from the general public.

How many homes and business lots have been cleared and approved for rebuilding?

Here's where they were 6 months in... the percentages are pitifully low
and yeah I know who Rick Caruso is


Rick J. Caruso

@RickCarusoLA

We deserve better! Mayor Bass has repeatedly emphasized the “rapid pace of rebuilding, including issuing permits.” Thousands of homes were destroyed, and yet fewer than 100 building permits have been issued after six months. Does anyone believe this is rapid rebuilding? While the Army Corps did an amazing job clearing the debris, the City has failed to create the expedited permit process it promised. Residents are stuck in endless red tape at City Hall.