LA Mayor Bass concedes Africa trip was ‘absolutely’ a mistake amid botched wildfire response
Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has admitted that her recent trip to Africa was a mistake, acknowledging that she needs to work on regaining the public’s trust after facing criticism for her handling of the wildfires in the city. In an interview with NBC Los Angeles, Bass stated, “Absolutely it is, and I think that I have to demonstrate that every day by showing what we’re doing, what is working, what are the challenges.”
The city of Los Angeles is currently facing rainstorms, which pose a risk of debris flows in areas affected by the recent fires. According to Fox Weather, there have already been mudslides in some of the scarred areas. The fires, which tore through the region in separate incidents, have left a trail of destruction in their wake.
Bass came under fire for being in Ghana for the swearing-in of its president when the fires broke out, despite the known high fire risk at the time. The Palisades Fire, which started on January 7, escalated rapidly, but the mayor did not return to the city until the following day. Upon her arrival in the United States, Bass did not respond to questions from a Sky News reporter, further fueling the backlash against her.
The mayor’s silence during the crisis led to widespread criticism, with over 170,000 people signing a petition calling for her resignation. Public figures, including former Democratic mayoral opponent Rick Caruso and talk show host Bill Maher, also condemned Bass for her actions. Maher referred to Bass as the “Nero of American politics” for her perceived indifference to the city’s plight.
Despite the backlash, Bass remains focused on the task at hand – ensuring that the city is able to recover and rebuild. She has shrugged off suggestions that Disney CEO Bob Iger should run for mayor in 2026, emphasizing her commitment to the residents affected by the fires.
The Palisades Fire, which burned nearly 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of buildings, damaged hundreds more, and tragically resulted in 12 deaths, according to state government data. The political fallout from the disaster continues, with criticism directed at Steve Soboroff, who was initially set to receive a $500,000 paycheck for his recovery efforts. In response to public scrutiny, Soboroff has opted to forgo payment for his role in the recovery process.
As Los Angeles works to recover from the devastating wildfires, Mayor Karen Bass is striving to rebuild public trust and address the challenges facing the city. The road to recovery may be long, but with continued efforts and transparency, the community can come together to overcome this crisis.
