Survivors accuse California Insurance Commissioner of siding with insurers over homeowners

Wildfire survivors are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to push for the resignation of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, accusing him of favoring insurance companies over homeowners. Speaking at a press conference in Altadena, survivors cited a New York Times investigation alleging that insurers exploited loopholes in Lara’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, gaining regulatory relief without expanding coverage in high-risk wildfire zones. Consumer groups say the result is increasing enrollment in the state’s FAIR Plan. The California Department of Insurance defended its record, noting that more than $20 billion in wildfire claims have been paid and 92% of claims are at least partially settled.