LA Mayor Karen Bass Under Fire For Slashing Fire Department Budget As City Burns

Los Angeles is in flames, and its leadership is nowhere to be found. Mayor Karen Bass is facing intense backlash after slashing the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $23 million, leaving the city dangerously unprepared for the deadly infernos that have already caused billions in damages. Even more alarming firefighters have reported dry hydrants, making their battle against the flames nearly impossible.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of The Los Angeles Times, openly condemned Bass' reckless budgeting decisions on X.

• "Fires in LA are sadly no surprise, yet the Mayor cut LA Fire Department’s budget by $23M," he wrote.

• He also raised serious concerns over reports of empty fire hydrants, saying, “Competence matters.”

• Meanwhile, over 15,000 structures remain at risk, with well over a thousand already destroyed.

The crisis is being driven by two major blazes, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which have collectively burned more than 21,600 acres. Two smaller fires also erupted, with at least one now contained. As the fires spread, tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate, while hundreds of thousands remain without power due to widespread outages.

While Los Angeles burned, Mayor Bass was 7,000 miles away in Ghana, attending an inauguration ceremony instead of handling the crisis at home. Her absence, combined with reckless budget cuts, has left first responders struggling to contain the disaster.

This is not the first time California leadership has failed to prepare for predictable disasters. With billions poured into climate initiatives, the state still lacks basic infrastructure and fire prevention measures to protect its residents. Meanwhile, failed policies have resulted in soaring crime rates, homelessness, and now an out-of-control wildfire season.

The people of Los Angeles deserve better. As long as radical leaders like Karen Bass prioritize their personal agendas over public safety, Californians will continue to suffer.

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