Mayor Bass Faces Backlash Over Wildfire Budget Cuts

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing intense criticism for her handling of the recent wildfires in the city, partly due to a $17.6 million budget cut to the Fire Department redirected to address homelessness but largely unspent. The criticism intensified after a leaked memo revealed a proposed additional $49 million cut threatening to close 16 fire stations, compounding concerns about emergency response capabilities. Bass was in Ghana during the initial outbreak, heightening scrutiny over her absence. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley had warned that budget cuts severely impacted response capacities. Despite Bass's justification that the cuts were fiscally necessary, her absence and slow response have led to calls for accountability. Questions remain over city fund allocation and disaster preparedness under her leadership.