Mayor Karen Bass’ supporters go on offensive, targeting billionaires
For more than two months, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced lacerating criticism over her handling of the Palisades fire — her absence from…
Fewer than 20% of L.A. residents give Bass’ fire response high marks
Weeks after fires ravaged the region, many Angelenos were dissatisfied with Mayor Karen Bass’ leadership, a new poll has found.A little over 40% of registered…
Mayor Karen Bass’ deleted text messages raise eyebrows and questions
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Sunday. I’m your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here’s what you need to know to start…
Was Bass incommunicado while returning from Ghana? Or is her office withholding texts?
When flames erupted in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was more than 7,000 miles away, on a diplomatic mission to…
Palisades water cleared for drinking after wildfire as Bass touts speed of fire recovery
Residents and businesses in Pacific Palisades will be able to safely use water this week, Mayor Karen Bass announced Thursday, touting the milestone as a…
Former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley loses her bid to get her job back
The Los Angeles City Council rejected former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley’s bid to get her job back leading one of the nation’s largest fire departments,…
Aides to Karen Bass received weather warnings before she flew to Ghana
The day before Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass left for Ghana, her aides received an email from the city’s Emergency Management Department warning of a…
Foes of Mayor Karen Bass form committee to raise money for recall bid
Foes of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have formed a fundraising committee to pursue a recall campaign against her, according to paperwork filed with the…
Former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley appeals her dismissal
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley took the extraordinary step Thursday of appealing Mayor Karen Bass’ decision to dismiss her, in part, for her…
L.A. recovery czar sounds off over working for free: “I was lied to”
Steve Soboroff, Mayor Karen Bass’ wildfire recovery czar, went public with his frustrations about doing the job for free, telling an audience he was “lied…
Column: Bass fires the L.A. fire chief, but her own smoldering political crisis is far from over
Well, you could see that one coming.After Pacific Palisades was torched while a reservoir sat empty and fire hydrants ran dry, the fire chief didn’t…
L.A. fire chief Kristin Crowley responds to ouster by Bass
Ousted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley struck a defensive tone Saturday, issuing her first statement since being demoted by Mayor Karen Bass for failing…
Karen Bass has faced tough questions. The city is making her answers hard to find
Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s David Zahniser, with an assist from my colleague Rebecca Ellis,…
Bass says LAFD Chief Crowley failed to warn her about fire risk
In the weeks since the Palisades fire, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced repeated questions about why she left for Ghana as warnings about…
Bass ousts L.A. Fire Chief Crowley, saying LAFD needs ‘new leadership’
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ousted Fire Chief Kristin Crowley over her handling of the Palisades fire Friday, adding to the turmoil that has enveloped…
Affordable housing in Valley advances despite L.A. leaders’ opposition
By summer 2023, developers had pitched building nearly 2,400 new apartments for low- and moderate-income residents in the San Fernando Valley, where little such housing…
Texts reveal strain between L.A. Mayor Bass, county Supervisor Horvath
Los Angeles was still deep in crisis on Jan. 21 when county Supervisor Lindsey Horvath made her frustration known to Mayor Karen Bass.The Palisades fire…
Column: In aftermath of fires, consultants might help, but L.A. needs someone to lead
Two horrific wildfires, four rebuilding committees and three or four consultants (so far) into 2025, Southern California got word that an atmospheric river was headed…
Wildfire recovery czar will work for free after criticism over planned $500,000 salary
Faced with fierce criticism over her chief wildfire recovery officer’s planned salary of $500,000 for 90 days of work, Mayor Karen Bass reversed course Saturday…
Who’s in charge of Palisades fire recovery? The answer is complicated
As Los Angeles begins the long, arduous task of recovering from the devastating Palisades fire, Mayor Karen Bass has tapped a number of people, both…