Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under intense fire—both figuratively and literally—as criticism of her leadership during the city’s devastating wildfires continues to mount. Bass, who was abroad in Ghana celebrating a presidential inauguration as the infernos erupted, faced pointed questions from reporters upon her return. Her evasive responses have done little to quell public outrage, particularly in light of accusations that budget cuts under her administration severely hampered the city’s preparedness.
The wildfires, which have scorched more than 30,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes, have left LA County residents scrambling for answers. A CBS reporter recounted a scene of chaos at the outbreak of the Palisades Fire, where bystanders—rather than officials—took charge of traffic and attempted to maintain order.
When asked why the city was so unprepared, Bass sidestepped the question, saying, “We have to protect lives, we have to save lives, and we have to save homes.” She repeated that any evaluation of failures would come after the immediate crisis had passed.
One glaring issue has been the dry hydrants that firefighters encountered while battling the flames. When pressed about water shortages, Bass downplayed the problem, suggesting that hydrants weren’t designed to handle such large-scale devastation.
She also attributed the city’s firefighting difficulties to high winds that grounded air support. However, critics have pointed to clear warnings in the days leading up to the fires, which should have prompted proactive measures, not reactive excuses.
The scrutiny has intensified over Bass’s decision to slash the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget in the 2024-25 fiscal year. While she claimed that the cuts didn’t affect the city’s response to the fires, internal memos tell a different story.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned Bass weeks before the disaster that the budget reductions—especially to overtime funding—had significantly hampered the department’s ability to prepare for large-scale emergencies. These warnings now serve as a damning indictment of the city’s lack of readiness.
Bass’s public appearances since returning to LA have done little to restore confidence. At a press conference, she stumbled over prepared remarks, infamously directing residents to “URL” instead of providing a proper website for emergency resources. Her performance drew comparisons to President Biden’s verbal gaffes, with critics mocking her inability to project competence during a time of crisis.
Perhaps most damaging is the perception that Bass prioritized a foreign trip over her responsibilities at home. Her decision to attend a high-profile event in Ghana, despite warnings of extreme fire risk, has led many to accuse her of neglecting her duty. Bass’s claim that the budget cuts were unavoidable due to “tough budgetary times” rings hollow for those watching their homes and livelihoods go up in flames.
