Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a growing recall effort triggered by her absence during a critical wildfire crisis while she was visiting Ghana, compounded by controversial budget cuts to the city’s fire department.
At a Glance
- A bipartisan group has launched a recall campaign against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, creating a dedicated website for the effort
- The recall stems from Bass’s absence in Ghana during Pacific Palisades wildfires and a $17 million budget cut to the LA Fire Department
- Recall organizers need signatures from 15% of registered LA voters to trigger a special election
- Bass recently fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, citing inadequate staffing during the fires
- A Change.org petition calling for Bass’s resignation has gathered over 176,000 signatures
Mayor’s Absence During Crisis Sparks Outrage
The recall campaign against Mayor Karen Bass has formalized with the launch of a dedicated website, as Angelenos express mounting frustration over her leadership. Critics point specifically to Bass’s absence during January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades while she was on a trip to Ghana, despite the National Weather Service having issued a “fire weather warning” before her departure. The recall effort has drawn support from residents directly affected by the wildfires as well as those concerned about broader issues including rising crime rates and homelessness across the city.
According to Fox News reporting, the recall petition requires signatures from 15% of Los Angeles registered voters to trigger a special election. This significant threshold demonstrates the seriousness of the effort, which reportedly spans political divides. The Los Angeles Times has reported that fundraising efforts for the recall are already underway, indicating organized financial backing for the campaign to remove Bass from office before her term expires.
Fire Department Cuts and Leadership Chaos
Adding fuel to the recall fire is Bass’s decision to cut $17 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department budget, a move critics say directly impacted the department’s ability to respond effectively to wildfires. The timing of these cuts, coinciding with increased wildfire danger, has raised serious questions about the mayor’s priorities regarding public safety. In a further development that has intensified criticism, Bass recently fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley in a dramatic shake-up of the department’s leadership.
“Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief. We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch.”
In justifying the firing, Bass cited inadequate staffing during the fires and claimed Crowley refused to conduct an after-action report requested by the Fire Commission president. The mayor later expressed regret for not being present during the wildfires and acknowledged that investigations into the city’s response are ongoing. However, for many residents, these admissions have come too late to restore confidence in her leadership.
Growing Public Demand for New Leadership
Beyond the official recall effort, public sentiment against Bass has manifested in a Change.org petition calling for her resignation, which has gathered over 176,000 signatures. This significant show of public dissatisfaction signals widespread discontent with Bass’s handling of various crises facing the city. The recall campaign represents a formal channel for this dissatisfaction, providing a constitutional mechanism for voters to potentially remove Bass from office before the conclusion of her term.
“Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after action report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removal. The heroism of our firefighters – during the Palisades fire and every single day – is without question. Bringing new leadership to the fire department is what our city needs.”
Despite the growing momentum behind the recall, Bass’s team has dismissed the effort as politically motivated. Her strategist, Doug Herman, characterized it as “nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward.” This defensive stance contrasts sharply with the bipartisan nature of the recall campaign, which has reportedly drawn support from across the political spectrum, united by concerns about public safety and municipal governance.
