It’s Time To Hold LA Mayor Karen Bass Accountable for Letting Los Angeles Burn

The aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfire has left a trail of devastation impacting thousands of families. Amidst the urgent need to focus on rebuilding the affected areas like Palisades and Altadena and providing support to the displaced residents, Mayor Karen Bass has chosen to divert attention by making the controversial decision to demote LAFD Fire Chief Kristine Crowley. This unexpected move has stirred up political discussions and raised concerns about the city's priorities during this critical time of recovery.

It was frankly inappropriate and lacking in decorum for Crowley to engage in discussions with various media outlets and publicly criticize Bass for the decision to cut $17 million from the budget of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"We are screaming to be properly funded to make sure that our firefighters can do their jobs" Kristine Crowley

The repercussions of sending 1000 firefighters’ home during a critical emergency situation are still under scrutiny and will be further evaluated in forthcoming after-action reports. It is evident that the demotion of Crowley was most probably a retaliatory measure, driven by political motives rather than professional considerations. One does not need a Political Science Degree to discern the potential political motivations for finding anyone but her to blame for the failures of the City of Los Angeles to protect its citizens.

Mayor Claims No Prior Warning

While Crowley may have made what in hindsight may not have been perfect decisions at least she was in Los Angeles to make decisions. Bass on the other hand was sipping cocktails in Ghana (the H is silent).

Bass firmly asserts that she was not provided with crucial details regarding the increasing fire hazards. "If I had all of the information that I needed to have, the last thing I would have done would have been to be out of town," she emphasized. Following this, it came to light that over a dozen Bass aides were recipients of an email on January 3. This email included National Weather Service forecasts that explicitly warned of "Critical fire conditions" .

"Obviously, I hated the fact that I was out of the city when the city needed me the most" — Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

Fresh revelations about Mayor Karen Bass's controversial Ghana trip have intensified scrutiny of her administration. Emergency Management Department records show Bass's aides received explicit warnings about impending fire dangers before her departure.

Karen Bass's comments appear to be more about political maneuvering to protect oneself rather than being driven by logical reasoning or genuine concern. The analogy drawn between a parent blaming a teacher for their child's academic struggles without being actively involved in their child's education effectively illustrates the disconnect between Bass's actions and the responsibilities she should have upheld.

It is intriguing to note that despite her impending trip to a remote location, Bass did not proactively seek guidance or information from key figures such as Crowley and LAPD Chief McConnell. One could draw a parallel between this lack of preparation and a parent who remains oblivious to their child's academic performance and then shifts blame onto the teacher for the child's failures.

In hindsight, it becomes evident that Bass should have initiated communication with her department heads before her departure to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the city's affairs. By convening a meeting with her top officials, she could have obtained a detailed briefing on ongoing matters and potential issues that might require her attention in her absence. However, it seems that this crucial step was overlooked, leading to a situation where Bass was enjoying a social gathering while critical incidents unfolded in Palisades and Altadena.

The scenario painted here underscores the importance of proactive leadership and effective communication within an organization. Bass's failure to engage with her team and assess the city's status before her trip highlights a significant oversight that ultimately had repercussions on the ground. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting one's responsibilities and failing to prioritize essential tasks in a leadership role.

Is La City Council President Marqueece Harris Dawson unfit to Lead the City

As acting mayor throughout Bass's Ghana trip, Harris-Dawson acknowledged the severity of the crisis, stating "Last night was one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that we've seen in any part of our city, at any part of our history". Yet, his subsequent actions raised questions about political allegiances rather than emergency management.

Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson's handling of former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley's appeal has sparked intense debate across City Hall. His attempt to fast-track Crowley's hearing through a 24-hour notice meeting in Van Nuys drew immediate criticism from council members and firefighter advocacy groups.

While Dawson was adamant about shifting blame from the he and Mayor Bass onto LAFD Crowley, it seems that Dawson ran the emergncy management with the same abandonment that he represents LA’s eight Distirt which includes neighborhoods like Baldwin Hills, Chesterfield Square, Crenshaw, Jefferson Park, and other communities of western South Los Angeles. Dawson’s failures in his own district has made LA’s 8th District one of the most unsafe in all of LA City county

As acting mayor throughout Bass's Ghana trip, Harris-Dawson acknowledged the severity of the crisis, emphasizing the impact of the recent events by stating, "Last night was one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that we've seen in any part of our city, at any part of our history". This declaration underscored the gravity of the situation that unfolded, resonating deeply with the residents of Los Angeles. It also shows that Dawson is disconnected with even his own district that has terrifying crime rates. However, despite his initial recognition of the crisis, Harris-Dawson's subsequent actions during this tumultuous period shifted the focus towards questions surrounding his political affiliations rather than his ability to effectively manage the emergency at hand.

Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson's handling of former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley's appeal became a subject of intense scrutiny and debate within the corridors of City Hall. His controversial decision to expedite Crowley's hearing through a hastily arranged 24-hour notice meeting in Van Nuys immediately drew sharp criticism from fellow council members and firefighter advocacy groups . This move not only raised eyebrows but also fueled speculation regarding the motives behind such a rushed process.

Memorial at Crenshaw High After Murder

Despite Dawson's efforts to deflect blame away from himself and Mayor Bass onto former Fire Chief Crowley, his management of the emergency situation mirrored the neglect that some neighborhoods in LA's eighth district, such as Baldwin Hills, Chesterfield Square, Crenshaw, and Jefferson Park, have experienced. This failure to address the safety concerns within his own district has unfortunately contributed to making LA's 8th District one of the most unsafe areas within the larger Los Angeles City county.

A recall campaign against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass filed paperwork with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission on Monday, officially beginning the long-awaited recall process against her.

The Recall Karen Bass Committee, headed by real estate agent and Republican donor Sahil Nandwani, says on their website that the primary reason the recall was started was because of Bass’ mismanagement of the wildfires, along with her slashing the LAFD budget before the fires. However, it wasn’t the only reason listed, with the recall group also saying that Bass brought about underfunded and overworked first responders, that small businesses are struggling and leaving LA under her watch, that she has failed to address homelessness with real solutions, that public transit is unsafe, and that there has been no real progress on government reform and accountability.

“The LAFD’s budget was slashed by more than $17 million, stripping critical resources from firefighters as Los Angeles faces escalating wildfire threats and emergency response challenges,” the Recall Karen Bass Committee says on the site. “At a time when rapid response is more crucial than ever, officials are underfunding the very department responsible for protecting lives and property.

The Mayor’s office responded swiftly to the news of a recall effort on denouncing the effort as an “extreme right-wing political stunt.”

“The recall committee’s filing is nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward,” said Bass political strategist Douglas Herman to the Los Angeles Times.

The group will need to collect the signatures of 15% of Los Angeles voters, or around 330,000, by early July in order for the recall to make it to a special election. However, when accounting for invalid ballots and other discrepancies, closer to 400,000 is likely needed.

While there have been recall efforts against other Los Angeles lawmakers in recent years, all have fallen short. Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Mike Bonin narrowly avoided recalls in 2023 and 2021 respectively. When it comes to the office of Mayor, only one previous Los Angeles Mayor has ever been recalled, with Frank Shaw voted out of office in 1938 amidst major corruption scandals.

Post-fires, Bass’s approval rating has plummeted to only 37%. And in the past week, scapegoating the LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley for poor fire response and firing her isn't making her any more popular with the Residents of Los Angeles. Thanks to the department being behind Crowley, evidence pointing to Bass being the decision-maker behind many of the issues, and many lawmakers siding with Crowley, the Crowley decision has blown up in her face, likely adding to the concrete foundation for recall movement against.

The specific criticisms leveled against Bass, including her handling of post-fire situations and the controversial decision to dismiss LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley, have further fueled discontent among constituents and lawmakers alike.

Bass will likely have major problems navigating the fallout from these decisions and the backlash from the public, the recall movement gains momentum, fueled by a combination of public dissatisfaction, media attention, and political dynamics. The intricate web of factors contributing to the potential recall of Bass underscores the complexities of governance and the delicate balance between public trust and political accountability.

“We have been waiting for this,” Andrea Callas, a Pacific Palisades resident whose home was damaged during the wildfires in January, told the Globe on Tuesday. “Everyone here wants Bass gone. Not as a blaming sort of thing, but because we all know that she made everything worse. She just did not care. You give that petition to any Palisades resident, they are going to sign it without question. She doesn’t deserve to be called an Angelino.”

More on the recall effort can be found at recallbassnow.com.

Conclusion

Los Angeles faces unprecedented challenges as multiple investigations into Mayor Karen Bass's administration will like begin to emerge in the coming months and years.

The Citizens of Los Angeles will demand accountability. Though Bass maintains her commitment to public safety, evidence suggests prior knowledge of fire dangers before her Ghana departure.

Los Angeles stands at a crossroads. Citizens deserve transparent leadership and effective emergency response systems. Therefore, as investigations continue and legal proceedings unfold, the coming months will determine whether Bass's administration can weather this storm or succumb to mounting pressure for change.