L.A. Wildfires Turn Political: Karen Bass, Gavin Newsom Draw Heat Over Response

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Amidst the ongoing catastrophic wildfire that has marked a grim milestone in Los Angeles’ history, two political figures have found themselves under scrutiny due to accusations of resource mismanagement prior to the calamity. Remarks from high-profile celebrities on social media platforms further intensify the criticism.

130,000 Los Angeles residents were forced to leave their homes due to a fierce blaze that broke out on January 6th. Mayor Karen Bass faced swift criticism as she departed for Ghana, Africa the day before the fire started, as part of a delegation sent by President Biden for the inauguration of the new president. Although her trip was planned prior to the fire, meteorologists had been warning for days about the high and dangerous winds that could potentially trigger a fire. As the disaster unfolded, Bass faced criticism for not returning until Wednesday afternoon. This critique mirrors the backlash experienced by Senator Ted Cruz when he left Texas during a statewide freeze and power outage crisis in 2021 to vacation in Cancun.

On Wednesday, I found myself facing more criticism after deliberately dodging Sky News questions about the disaster for two minutes. The question posed was, “Is there absolutely nothing you can say to the citizens today?” During a later press conference, I defended my actions by explaining that I had taken the quickest route back, which involved traveling on a military plane. In what some perceived as a self-serving comment, I also added, “We must resist any attempt to divide us.” (As a fan, I find myself admiring your resilience in the face of adversity and your determination to keep our city united.)

2022’s newly-elected official is facing criticism for allegedly reducing the city’s fire department budget by a significant amount ($17.6 million) at the same time as increasing the city’s spending on homelessness initiatives.

Sara Foster resigned on Instagram, criticizing what she sees as negligence in California, where taxes are high but basic services like maintaining fire hydrants and clearing vegetation seem to be overlooked. She also mentioned issues with reservoirs being emptied for fish conservation, reduced budget for the fire department, and expressed relief that drug addicts are receiving aid.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the L.A. Times, also pointed a finger at Mayor Bass, stating on X: “The fires in LA aren’t unexpected, but the Mayor reduced the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $23 million. Reports of unused fire hydrants are concerning and call into question competence.

While Elon Musk slammed Bass as “utterly incompetent.”

On Thursday morning, President-elect Donald Trump criticized Governor Gavin Newsom and Congresswoman Karen Bass via Truth Social, saying: “For three days now, fires have been spreading rapidly without any containment. This level of failure has never been seen before! The incompetence displayed by Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass is appalling…. And it appears that Biden’s FEMA lacks the funds – all spent on the Green New Deal farce! Los Angeles is facing a catastrophic disaster!!!

As a fervent supporter, I’ve found myself quite disheartened by recent criticisms directed at Governor Gavin Newsom. This all started when former President Trump lashed out on Wednesday. He stated, “It’s truly unfortunate because I’ve been urging Gavin Newsom to let water flow – you’d be amazed by the abundance of water up there, it’s sent from the Pacific – as they are trying to safeguard a small fish.” In essence, he claimed, “For the sake of this minuscule fish, there’s no water… This is a mistake on the part of Governor Newsom and his administration… Let this incident symbolize the ineptitude and mismanagement under the Biden-Newsom pairing.

In a bit, let’s delve into the accuracy of Trump’s statement. Meanwhile, various responses to the ineptitude regarding the wildfires burning across five locations in L.A. County have emerged. For instance, The Millionaire Matchmaker star Patti Stanger posted on Instagram, “I wouldn’t have expected this, but Governor Gavin Newsom, it’s your fault.

Brody Jenner, who is known from his roles in Special Forces and The Hills, posted on Instagram saying, “Newsom and Bass should step down” – a comment that mirrors Donald Trump’s nickname for Newsom.

Newsom’s team responded to Trump on social media, stating that his criticisms were off the mark.

Essentially, it’s important to clarify that there isn’t any water shortage in Southern California at present, contradicting Trump’s statements about opening a non-existent water source. The statement is backed by multiple officials, who explain that Trump is confusing two distinct matters: the transportation of water to Southern California and the local supply from storage facilities.

Regarding hydrants running low on water, Mayor Newsom stated that LADWP reported the issue was due to the excessive water usage causing insufficient pressure at pump stations located at lower elevations. This, in turn, prevented the tanks at higher elevations from being refilled. Furthermore, the ongoing wildfire made it difficult for crews to reach the pumps. As a workaround, they employed water tenders to provide water, a standard practice in wildland firefighting.

(As for the whole smelt fish criticism, here’s a detailed explainer on that.)

Meanwhile, Hacks star Jean Smart advocated for a change in approach regarding award shows on social media. She suggested that television networks should skip airing awards ceremonies and instead use the funds generated towards assisting fire victims. “During the period when Hollywood usually celebrates, I hope any of the networks broadcasting upcoming awards will give this some serious thought: not to televise them, but rather donate the earnings they would have received to aid those affected by fires and our brave firefighters,” she said, showing respect.

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2025-01-09 18:57