The state of California is a paradise. The entire state is beautiful, from the Bay Area to the south. In 2002, I drove from San Diego to Tehachapi, California for dinner. The route took me through fragrant strawberry fields and strikingly beautiful green hills.

On January 7, 2025 a fire started in the Pacific Palisades area west of Los Angeles. It burned for 24 days, destroying over 23,000 acres. Twelve people died in the fire.

The damage was significant. Over 6,800 homes were burned to the ground. Almost 1000 more were damaged. The politicians promised that permitting and rebuilding would be swift. Of course this was a lie. A colossal lie. As of May 2026, only 28 homes have been rebuilt. Twenty eight in fifteen months.

The Empire State Building was built in 410 days. It is 102 floors with over 2.8 million square feet. The building came in on time and under budget. Perhaps the feckless politicians in California could learn something from this example.

Anything is possible when you have the right people running the show. Look no further than the Empire State Building…