California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to protect Los Angeles County victims of the ongoing wildfires from predatory land speculators offering unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.
In a statement from the governor’s office, the executive order is designed to allow the state to hold these predatory speculators accountable through stronger enforcement and prosecution. It also directs the Department of Real Estate and other state agencies to provide notice to the public of their rights under the law, resources for more information. California law makes it a misdemeanor to violate a Governor’s order during a state of emergency, which can be prosecuted by the Attorney General or local district attorneys.
Newsom’s office acknowledged the executive order is modeled on a similar order issued by Hawaii Governor Josh Green to preserve local communities and protect residents from exploitation after the Maui wildfires in August 2023. Earlier this week, Newsom waived the state’s environmental laws in areas impacted by the wildfires to expedite the rebuilding of damaged and destroyed properties.
“As families mourn, the last thing they need is greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain,” said Newsom. “I have heard first-hand from community members and victims who have received unsolicited and predatory offers from speculators offering cash far below market value — some while their homes were burning. We will not allow greedy developers to rip off these working-class communities at a time when they need more support than ever before.”
Photo by Gage Skidmore / Flickr Creative Commons
