Karen Bass Faces Backlash Over Fire Department Budget Cuts

ABE WON’T BE SILENT - While Los Angeles is burning, residents are furious to find out that Mayor Karen Bass slashed the Fire Department’s budget by $17.6 million this year. The wildfires are wreaking havoc across the city, and our Ms. Bass is in Africa on a scheduled trip to Ghana. The timing couldn’t be worse as PR blunders go. Last Week, CityWatchLA reported on her misrepresenting the funds allocated to the critical issue of homelessness. The other thing LA is famous for. It’s a case of bad timing—crisis management might be required. The title of the piece, “Dear Mayor Bass: Homelessness is Not a PR Campaign.”

This significant cut, part of Mayor Karen Bass’ 2024-25 fiscal plan, was the second-largest reduction in the budget. In contrast, LAPD’s funding increased by $126 million, according to LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Bass originally proposed cutting the fire department’s budget by $23 million. The funding decisions have resurfaced as the mayor faces criticism for being in Ghana for a presidential inauguration while wildfires ravage LA. Apparently, saving LA from burning took a backseat to sightseeing in Ghana.

In her absence, Bass praised emergency crews online, urging residents to stay vigilant as strong winds fueled the blazes. Homes have been destroyed, roads clogged, and tens of thousands forced to evacuate, with firefighters pleading for off-duty personnel to assist. Reports also surfaced that crews were running low on water, which always amazes Donald Trump. That is if you caught any of his hysterical Truth Social rants against Gavin Newsom, his favorite punching bag. You know Trump is jealous of Gavin’s real hair, as opposed to his sometimes-blond, cotton-candy coif.

As LA battles the fires, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of 1,400 firefighters to support the city’s overwhelmed emergency response teams.

Critics on social media blame Bass for strained resources, highlighting the impact of the budget cuts. Some users called for her recall, citing the elimination of emergency management positions alongside fire department reductions. But that’s not likely.

The situation remains dire as wildfires continue to spread, underscoring the controversy surrounding the city’s budget decisions and leadership during this crisis.

Stay safe people!

(ABE GURKO is the executive producer of a documentary “LOUDER: The Soundtrack of Change,” about the extraordinary Women of Protest Music streaming on MAX. He's an Opinionator who hosts a podcast, "Won't Be Silent," engaging in conversations from the edge of democracy. Abe is a contributor to CityWatchLA.com. [email protected].)