First our ‘competent’ mayor cuts the Budget of the fire department. $18 Mio less to prevent and fight fires. And all that she did right after the Franklin fires, which were already devastating as well. And now, during the worst time Los Angeles has experienced in a long time, she is vacationing in Africa.
Sorry to say, but this is an epic fail. And it is time for Mrs. Bass to step back. Let’s hope for new elections soon and have a competent candidate, like Rick Caruso take over. Let’s hope Rick Caruso still wants the job.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley alerted Mayor Karen Bass last month that nearly $18 million in budget cuts to the fire department would severely hinder its ability to respond to emergencies, including the deadly wildfires currently devastating the region.
In a December 4, 2024 memo obtained by NBC Los Angeles, Crowley warned that the budget reductions would limit the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale disasters like wildfires. The cuts, approved by Bass last year, primarily targeted administrative positions but also slashed approximately $7 million from the department’s overtime budget.
According to Crowley’s memo, presented to the Board of Fire Commissioners, the overtime funds were critical for FAA-mandated pilot training and helicopter coordination staffing, both essential for wildfire response. “Without this funding, pilot compliance and readiness are jeopardized, and aerial firefighting capabilities are diminished,” the memo stated. It also highlighted that the cuts would impact the department’s ability to meet automatic and mutual aid agreements, provide air ambulance services, and deploy water-dropping helicopters to combat woodland fires.
The budget reductions also threatened other vital programs, including the Disaster Response unit, which funds bulldozer teams for wildfire containment, and the Critical Incident Planning and Training Section, responsible for organizing disaster response plans.
Mayor Bass has faced intense criticism in recent days following revelations of the $17.6 million fire department budget cut, the second-largest reduction in her 2024-25 fiscal budget. The backlash intensified as wildfires ravaged the region, claiming five lives, destroying communities, and displacing thousands.
Bass, who was in Ghana during the initial outbreak of the fires, defended her decision to cut the budget, insisting she was “confident” the reductions did not hinder the LAFD’s response efforts. She also addressed her absence, stating she took the fastest route back to Los Angeles, including a military flight that allowed her to remain in communication. “I was able to be on the phone the entire time of the flight,” Bass said.
However, her return was met with scrutiny after footage surfaced of her refusing to answer questions from reporters at the airport. Sky News reporter David Blevins pressed her, asking, “Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning, and do you regret cutting the Fire Department budget by millions of dollars, Madame Mayor?” Bass remained silent as she walked away.
As firefighters continue to battle the blazes, the controversy surrounding the budget cuts and Bass’s handling of the crisis has sparked widespread debate about the city’s preparedness for large-scale disasters.
