Karen Bass faces a political firestorm as fires burn across Los Angeles

While Bass maintains that no budget cuts have impacted firefighting efforts, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley directly contradicted this, stating that the cuts have had a negative impact on firefighting efforts.
The mayor’s office claims that all necessary resources are being used to combat the wildfires and all associated costs are being covered.
Bass has also come under fire for being out of the country when the fires began, having left on a diplomatic trip to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing political pressure from across the city and beyond as the catastrophic fires continue into a fourth day.

The fires have killed at least 10 people and burned nearly 25,000 acres in the Los Angeles area as of Friday, although not all of the fires fall under Bass’ jurisdiction. Among the largest: the Palisades Fire, which broke out Tuesday and quickly destroyed thousands of homes as residents fled for their lives. As of Friday afternoon, it had burned more than 20,000 hectares of land and has caused devastating damage since igniting.

Bass has faced criticism over two main issues: a cut in funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department in the fire-prone region and the timing of a diplomatic trip to Ghana as dangerous fire conditions loomed.

“She knew we were in for a major wind event that had the potential for a wildfire,” said Tom Doran, who fled the Palisades Fire that destroyed his home early Wednesday morning. “She’s in another country and at taxpayer expense when she should have been here… She’s the CEO of Los Angeles. Yes, she delegates, but when you delegate, you are the one in charge.”

Bass sidestepped at a news conference Thursday and did not directly address the Ghana trip and other criticisms – including from President-elect Trump – saying the focus was on fighting the fires.

“Rest assured that when this is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will definitely do an assessment to see what worked and what didn’t and to make corrections or take responsibility.” “Everyone, department, individual, etc.,” Bass said. “But my focus right now is on life and houses.”

Fire department budget cuts burn Bass as fires burn

Budget documents obtained by USA TODAY show the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget was cut from $837 million in fiscal year 2024 to $819 million in fiscal year 2025 as part of broader cuts for the year.

“The LAFD’s operating budget was reduced by $17.6 million – part of that reduction included the elimination of a total of 61 (civilian officer) positions,” the city’s comptroller’s office said in comments attached to the documents sent to USA TODAY.

A fire department report sent to the mayor and city council in December said, “These budget cuts have negatively impacted the fire department’s ability to maintain core operations.”

The fire department’s report said a $7 million cut in overtime funding “further exacerbated operational challenges across key agencies,” including those involved in wildfire management and aviation operations.

Bass said in Thursday’s press conference that “there have been no cuts in recent days that have impacted the situation.”

California Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman said on CNN Thursday that the cuts target education funding to be spent in 2025.

“I think these cuts will and should be reversed, and they may have been ill-advised,” Sherman said. “But they’re not the reason the Palisades suffered — that was money to train people in 2025.”

The December report states: “The LAFD’s ability to respond to major emergencies such as wildfires, earthquakes and hazardous materials incidents is significantly limited, increasing risks to both public safety and firefighter safety.”

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley criticized the $17 million budget cut on CNN Friday, saying she had warned the city for three years that the department was underfunded and under-resourced.

“The $17 million budget cut and the elimination of our civilian positions, as well as our mechanics, have had, have and will significantly impact our ability to repair our equipment. This means we have over 100 devices out of service. We have that equipment and the corresponding equipment.” “A lot of mechanics would have helped,” Crowely said. “So it absolutely had a negative impact on (the firefight).”

Bass’ defenders point out that the city was in contract negotiations with the fire department when the budget was prepared, which resulted in the city transferring funds for fire department compensation to the general fund.

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City Manager: Critical fire operations are fully funded

The controller’s office noted that nearly $105 million was allocated in the city’s general fund for salary changes, but said a fraction of the money went to the fire department. “We do not see any funds that were transferred for the fire department’s fundraising expenses,” said the control office.

When asked about the inspector’s statements, the mayor’s office referred USA TODAY to City Manager Matt Szabo, who said critical firefighting operations have been fully funded.

“The fire department has full authority to deploy whatever resources are necessary to fight the wildfires, and those costs will be fully covered,” Szabo said in an interview with USA TODAY on Friday.

Szabo said he plans to recommend the City Council transfer funds for a salary increase “in the coming weeks.”

Left-wing activists in the city said Bass prioritized the Los Angeles Police Department over the fire department in the city’s budget.

City Council member Traci Park took aim at Bass in an interview with Fox 11 on Thursday, pointing to the underfunding of infrastructure in the city. “These circumstances are not unforeseeable. It was just a matter of time before it happened in the Pacific Palisades,” Park said.

Tina Knowles, whose daughter is Beyoncé, was among those who defended Bass, writing on Instagram: “This mayor has always worked diligently for the well-being of Los Angeles and all communities. Another opportunity to attack a black woman in power.”

Ghana trip provokes anger

Bass was out of the country when the Palisades caught fire. He had embarked on a diplomatic trip to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday.

The National Weather Service was already forecasting fire weather for the week on Friday and predicted “a life-threatening, destructive, widespread storm” for Monday.

According to the city’s website, the mayor is the head of the city’s emergency response organization.

When asked by Sky News on Wednesday after her return to the city, Bass declined to answer whether she owed Los Angeles residents an apology for her absence. Bass said in a news conference Wednesday that she was in “constant contact” during the fires and chose the “quickest route back.”

Liberal podcast host Tommy Vietor said in a post on X that Bass made an “inexplicable decision not to come back sooner.” Conservative billionaire and former mayoral opponent Rick Caruso said in an interview with Fox 11 on Wednesday: “We have a mayor who is out of the country and we have a city that is burning.”

Karen Bass faces a political firestorm as fires burn across Los Angeles

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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