WASHINGTON — President Trump officially asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to serve as his new permitting czar for Los Angeles on Thursday — days after Trump signed an executive order to take over local zoning in fire-ravaged areas. “You need the city and state [permits]. And I hear you have great powers over them,” Trump told Zeldin. Help the mayor and help the governor get that permitting done.”Zeldin recalled a trip last year that he made to Los Angeles. And there, you’re talking about a year,” Zeldin said, contradicting California Democratic Gov.