Petition for Urgent Recall of LA Mayor Karen Bass Surpasses 77,000 Signatures Amid Wildfire Crisis

 

Los Angeles residents are rallying for a change in leadership as Southern California grapples with one of the worst wildfire crises in its history. A petition to recall Mayor Karen Bass has gained significant traction, amassing over 77,000 signatures. The petition cites Bass’s perceived failures in leadership, emergency preparedness, and resource allocation during the unfolding disaster.

Mayor’s Absence During Crisis

Mayor Bass was reportedly on vacation in Ghana when the first major brushfire erupted in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday morning. By the time she returned, fires had already ravaged Pacific Palisades, while another blaze in Pasadena-Altadena had scorched over 4,000 acres. As of this report, nearly a dozen fires have burned through an area twice the size of Manhattan, displacing thousands and destroying over 4,000 structures.

Petition Demands

The petition calls for Mayor Bass’s immediate resignation, citing inadequate leadership during the crisis. It outlines several failures, including:

• Strained water supplies leaving hydrants dry in key areas.
• Billions of taxpayer dollars reportedly mismanaged or unaccounted for.
• Lives lost and livelihoods shattered due to insufficient wildfire preparedness.

The petition also demands a comprehensive investigation into the city’s disaster response, an audit of taxpayer funds for emergency services, and a clear plan to address future emergencies.

“The people of Los Angeles deserve a leader who is present, accountable, and actively working to protect our community,” the petition states.

Budget Cuts to Fire Services

Criticism of Mayor Bass’s leadership extends beyond the current crisis. Documents reveal that she proposed slashing the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) budget by $17.6 million for the fiscal year 2024/25. A memo obtained by the Daily Mail showed plans for an additional $49 million in cuts, which would have closed 16 fire stations citywide. The memo, dated just one day before the Pacific Palisades fire, highlights significant concerns about the city’s wildfire preparedness.

Infrastructure Challenges

Experts have pointed to systemic issues in the city’s infrastructure as a contributing factor to the crisis. Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, stated, “The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community.”

A Call for Accountability

As wildfires continue to devastate the region, affecting 54 square miles and forcing over 130,000 evacuations, public anger is mounting. The petition serves as a rallying cry for Angelenos demanding accountability and decisive leadership during these unprecedented times.

Mayor Bass’s office has yet to respond to the growing calls for her recall. In the meantime, the petition underscores the urgency of addressing Los Angeles’s systemic shortcomings to prevent future disasters.

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Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.