Southern California DAs urge Newsom to expand price gouging protections

In a coordinated initiative, district attorneys from four Southern California counties petitioned Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday to extend wildfire-related emergency price gouging protections beyond the current jurisdictional scope of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

District Attorneys representing Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara counties wrote in a joint petition that enforcement of California Penal Code Section 396's anti-price gouging provisions was needed to respond to housing market impacts from the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.

"Extending the declaration of the emergency to our counties would allow us to aggressively prosecute those who seek to profit from victims who have lost everything in these unprecedented fires. Together, we will be able to rise out of the ashes stronger," the DA's wrote.

Newsom's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The petition's signatories are Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson and Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch.

The DA's argued that displacement of residents from the primary disaster zone in Los Angeles and Ventura counties has created substantial housing demand in adjacent jurisdictions, where current law provides no protection against price escalation. This regulatory gap, they argue, leaves displaced residents vulnerable to exploitation in regions where many have sought temporary refuge.