Living in California is a bit like being the star of a big-budget disaster movie. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, another fire or crisis swoops in to steal the show. Recently, California was in the spotlight again, as wildfires ripped through areas where the real estate prices might give even Elon Musk a mild heart attack. And while some folks might sit on their yachts sipping fancy drinks thinking about the loss of their beachfront properties, there’s a huge contingent of people in California who are feeling the heat—literally and figuratively.

When fires break out, unfortunately, it’s often the folks with the least to lose that lose the most. Families without the means to rebuild are left homeless, stuck in a never-ending cycle of dealing with disaster from a state that seems to have unlimited tax dollars, but zero common sense. In a state with a staggering tax revenue of over $221 billion (yes, billion with a ‘b’), you’d think there’d be a solid plan in place for disaster recovery. But alas, watching politicians bumble around makes for more entertaining television than any reality show could ever offer.

One of the big topics of conversation during this chaotic time is how to properly house everyone who lost something amidst the flames. Sure, some seem to think that turning glittery resorts into emergency housing is a winning idea, but anyone who’s been to a California resort knows they tend to be a bit more “relaxation vibes” than “emergency shelter” vibes. Shouldn’t there be a plan in place that goes beyond throwing people into some five-star hotel and calling it a day? Meanwhile, your average Californian is scanning the skies not for sunsets but for someone, anyone, who can promise they’ll get their life back on track.

But here’s the kicker: many of the very same residents now calling for action and relief are the ones who voted these officials into power in the first place. Isn’t it funny how that works? One minute you’re voting in leaders hailed as the solutions to all your state’s problems, and the next you’re at a town hall meeting wondering what happened to all that sweet, sweet tax money. It’s like being stuck in a hamster wheel—round and round we go—but someone forgot to give the hamster a water bottle.

Then there’s the hot-button topic of labor and who’s doing the rebuilding. If you listen closely to the chatter, it’s almost as if someone’s convinced that without the help of a certain group of people, California might just slip into oblivion. And sure, that group has worked incredibly hard to keep things afloat in the past, and perhaps they deserve a bit of credit and respect. But what’s key here is realizing that the foundation of true recovery lies in empowering local communities—not just hoping that the right people show up with their hammers and hard hats.

At the end of the day, one thing remains clear: Californians deserve better. They should demand more from their elected officials than just band-aid solutions, and they should hold the feet of leaders to the fire (pun intended) the same way they’ve been expected to hold their houses together post-disaster. Because if there’s anything we’ve learned from this never-ending saga, it’s that when it comes to crises, some folks should probably start writing their scripts a little differently if they want to avoid future firestorms. The curtain’s been raised on leadership accountability—it’s time to see if anyone’s brave enough to step into the spotlight.