Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman issued a blistering critique of California’s leadership on Thursday, calling for state and local officials to resign over their handling of the ongoing wildfires devastating Southern California.

During an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Bateman accused the political class of failing to meet basic responsibilities and labeled them a liability to the residents of the state.

“If you are going to run a city or run a state, you have to take care of the basics,” Bateman told Watters.

“And that’s make sure that your fire and your police department are well-funded. Make sure that you have, not only plans if there are emergencies in your area, you’ve rehearsed them, but also plans to mitigate the problems that you know are going to happen in that area.”

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Highlighting California’s unique vulnerabilities to natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and mudslides, Bateman criticized officials for failing to prepare adequately.

“If you’re not doing everything you can to take care of those problems if they arise, then GET OUT [of office]. You are useless to us!”

Bateman singled out California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of incompetence and negligence.

“You didn’t do what you were hired for, you didn’t do what we pay you for, and you should resign out of shame and responsibility for the people whose lives you destroyed right now,” she said.

The actress went on to say that many elected officials lack the self-awareness to recognize their own incompetence, further compounding the state’s problems.

Bateman urged voters to prioritize competence over party affiliation, emphasizing the importance of electing officials based on their ability to perform their duties effectively.

“If someone has shown their competence and they have a ‘D’ next to their name, then fine, vote for them,” she said.

“If they have an ‘R’ next to their name, who cares, like vote for them! Vote for somebody you think can do this job.”

Drawing an analogy to everyday services, Bateman added, “No one checks whether their plumber or car mechanic has an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to their name, but will instead hire them based on their customer satisfaction ratings and competence levels.”

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Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman issued a blistering critique of California’s leadership on Thursday, calling for state and local officials to resign over their handling of the ongoing wildfires… pic.twitter.com/2Tw3CMZZBy

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Bateman’s critique is part of her ongoing opposition to what she describes as reflexive leftism in California’s political system.

In October, she referred to Governor Newsom as the “worst” governor the state has ever had.

While she has not publicly endorsed Donald Trump or any other candidate, Bateman has previously stated that Trump’s presidency lifted a “suffocating cloud” on free speech.

The devastating wildfires in Southern California have reignited debates about the state’s preparedness and leadership.

Bateman’s comments reflect broader frustrations among residents over how elected officials are handling these crises.

As the fires continue to wreak havoc, calls for accountability and effective governance are growing louder.

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