LOS ANGELES – Nithya Raman argued wildfire rules should account for local context when state officials proposed restrictions that could affect trees and landscaping in her district. But when the discussion turned to backyard barbecues during Red Flag warnings, her office pushed for enforceable restrictions.
The City Council on May 13 advanced a Red Flag preparedness motion from Raman and Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, a wildfire proposal born out of January’s firestorms and aimed at tightening the city’s response before the next disaster.
But one section of the motion quickly became the focus of the debate…