A growing number of Los Angeles residents are demanding a change in leadership as the region faces its worst wildfire crisis in recent memory. Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, was out of the country when the first major brushfire broke out in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday. By the time she returned from her vacation in Ghana, the area had been devastated, while a separate fire in Pasadena-Altadena had already burned over 4,000 acres. As of the latest updates, nearly a dozen fires have burned an area twice the size of Manhattan, and local firefighters are struggling to control the blaze.
As of 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time, over 60,000 Los Angeles residents had signed a petition calling for Mayor Bass’s immediate recall due to her inadequate response to the fires. The petition claims that under Bass’ leadership, the city has faced significant issues, including strained water supplies, misallocated taxpayer funds, and the loss of lives and homes. Many argue that Bass, by traveling abroad while her city burned, failed to lead during this crisis.
The petition also highlights the city’s infrastructure issues, particularly regarding water supply. Former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power general manager Martin Adams pointed out that the city’s system isn’t designed to deliver enough water to fight wildfires, leaving areas with dry hydrants and inadequate resources. The petition calls for Bass’s resignation and demands a full investigation into the city’s wildfire preparedness and how taxpayer funds are spent on disaster preparedness.
Bass has also faced criticism for cuts made to emergency management funding before the fires. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, she slashed $17.6 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget, and a memo revealed she had planned to cut an additional $49 million just before the Pacific Palisades fire began. These cuts would have closed 16 fire stations, hampering the city’s ability to respond to wildfires.
As of the report, the fires in Los Angeles have scorched 54 square miles, destroyed over 4,000 homes and buildings, and caused at least 11 fatalities. The petition concludes with a call for accountability, demanding the recall of both Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing them of failing to act decisively in the face of this crisis.
