Breaking: Fire at home of California's Political Power Couple and AB5 Author deemed 'arson'
A suspicious pre-dawn fire in early January that damaged the home of two powerful California Democrats, former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales-Fletcher and her husband, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, has been deemed arson, according to authorities.
NBC San Diego reports:
Investigators from San Diego Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) are asking the public for help with the case involving an early morning fire at the City Heights home of San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher and his wife, longtime local politician Lorena Gonzalez.
Whether the arsonist was targeting Nathan Fletcher, his wife, or both is unknown.
Both are considered long-time political operatives in the State of California and, as such, likely have a long list of critics.
After his service in the Marines, Nathan Fletcher was elected to the California Assembly as a Republican in 2008. However, in 2012, he switched to the Democratic Party after losing a Mayoral race in San Diego.
Over the last two hears, during his tenure on the Board of Supervisors, Fletcher and the rest of the Board have had heated meetings with citizens who are upset with the County Board’s handling of the COVID-19
In 2020, KUSI reported that Fletcher’s critics “believe Fletcher is the one causing them to be closed, despite his claim that he is working to avoid that from happening.”
During KUSI’s 2020 livestream report, KUSI’s livestream was flooded with comments critics expressing their anger at Fletcher.
Fletcher’s wife, Lorena Gonzales-Fletcher is also a well-known name in California, perhaps even more so than her husband.
As a former union-organizer-turned-California Assemblywoman, Gonzales-Fletcher is most widely known as the author of California’s controversial Assembly Bill 5 (or AB5) legislation.
AB5, the bill that required companies to use a three-pronged test to prove workers are independent contractors, not employees, was very controversial from the outset.
It’s critics labeled AB5 a “job-killer” and with some merit.
Many who lost their jobs are justifiably infuriated that lawmakers, who believe they know better than workers themselves what’s right for them, have effectively robbed them of their income.
“Your response to the fallout from this legislation is among the cruelest I’ve ever seen from an elected official,” one freelancer tweeted to Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, AB5’s chief architect. [Emphasis added.]
Following passage of AB5, Gonzales-Fletcher was repeatedly dogged by protests populated by “gig workers” whose jobs were threatened by AB5.
On January 3rd, Gonzeles-Fletcher announced her resignation from the California State Assembly and acceptance of the job of Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation.
With the Fletchers’ home fire now being officially labeled an arson, investigators may have their hands full identifying a suspect.
Related:
Crime Stoppers Issues Reward After ‘Arson' at Fletcher and Gonzalez Home
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher shames San Diegans for opposing government shutdowns
Assembly Bill 5 is already destroying jobs and opportunities
UFCW Workers Applaud Announcement of Lorena Gonzalez As New Leader of California Labor Federation