Part 4/13:
The Four Families: The Brown family (governors like Jerry Brown), the Newsom/Newsome clan tied to the influential Gettys, the Pelosis with deep political and business ties, and the Hurst and other prominent entities.
Historical Legacies: From the influence of the four families to corporate ties with aerospace and defense industries, the state’s governance reflects a form of oligarchy that preserves status quo interests—often at the expense of effective disaster management.
This oligarchic dominance, combined with the state's long-standing one-party dominance, stifles reforms and fosters complacency, leading to massive inaction on issues like water infrastructure and fire prevention.