Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire as deadly wildfires devastate the city, county and greater Los Angeles and Southern California area. Prominent figures in Los Angeles are criticizing her response to the crisis, highlighting her initial absence while she was returning from a trip to Ghana.

Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong expressed frustration over Bass’ decisions regarding the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Soon-Shiong pointed to budget cuts as a critical factor in the city’s unpreparedness.

“Fires in LA are sadly no surprise, yet the Mayor cut LA Fire Department’s budget by $23 million,” Soon-Shiong wrote. “And reports of empty fire hydrants raise serious questions. Competence matters.”

According to Politico, the Los Angeles Fire Department previously operated with a budget of approximately $800 million, which has now been reduced by $17 million.

Critics Question Ghana Trip Timing

Rick Caruso, a Democratic real estate mogul who ran against Bass in the 2022 mayoral race, also criticized her trip to Ghana. Speaking to Politico, Caruso questioned why Bass chose to travel after reports warned of a dangerous windstorm.

“This is a window into a systemic problem of the city — not only of mismanagement, but our infrastructure is old,” Caruso told the Los Angeles Times. He also claimed that water tanks in Pacific Palisades were left unfilled. However, officials clarified that the three tanks, each holding 1 million gallons of water, were emptied by Wednesday morning due to heavy usage.

“We ran out of water in the first tank by about 4:45 p.m. yesterday, the second tank by 8:30 p.m., and the third by 3 a.m.,” Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told Politico.

Karen Bass Addresses Wildfire Damage Upon Return

Bass faced further backlash from former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor, who criticized her for not returning to Los Angeles sooner.

“Inexplicable decision to not come back earlier,” Vietor wrote on X, per Politico.

As the fires continue to wreak havoc, officials report that the Palisades and Eaton fires have destroyed at least 1,000 buildings, including homes and businesses. Additionally, at least two people have died near Pasadena, and approximately 6,000 acres have burned across Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Sylmar, and the Sepulveda Basin, Politico reported.

On Wednesday, Bass shared a post on X, announcing her return to Los Angeles and detailing efforts to address the crisis. She thanked President Joe Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Senator Alex Padilla for their support.

“The impact of these fires and winds are devastating,” she wrote. “I just got off the phone with @POTUS and discussed an urgent path forward towards recovery for the thousands of families impacted. Thank you @CAgovernor and Senator @AlexPadilla4CA for your continued support for our city.”

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