Courtesy photo
Wave Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES — Facing mounting criticism and a recall effort over her handling of the Palisades Fire, Mayor Karen Bass this week declared, “I would never quit on my city.”
The recall campaign is led by Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to the recall website, the effort is also supported by some Palisades residents.
During an interview with KNX News March 11, the mayor reaffirmed she is “here now, and I’m running.”
“I would never quit on my city. This is where I was born and raised,” Bass told the radio station. “Did I know that it was a difficult job? Absolutely. Am I ready for the job? Most definitely.”
The mayor, who is up for re-election in 2026, has already launched her campaign.
“I mean, anybody that runs for office — if you’re not emotionally ready to accept that — then you’re in the wrong business,” Bass told KNX.
The recall effort will require 330,000 ballot signatures to progress, which will need to be obtained within four months.
Douglas Herman, a political strategist for Bass’ campaign, told City News Service March 4, that the recall committee’s filing was “nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward.”
He added that spending millions of dollars on a recall election should be better spent on rebuilding.
Since the wildfires in January, Bass has faced growing criticism over her response and leadership. The Palisades fire broke out on Jan. 7, and residents have faulted her for being out of the country in its early days.
Bass was in Ghana the day the fire broke out, attending the inauguration of new Ghana President John Mahama as part of a U.S. delegation assigned by then-President Joe Biden.
Concerns also have been raised over fire hydrant issues, low water pressure in the Palisades and limited resources within the Fire Department.
Former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union representing L.A. firefighters; and L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia highlighted that the fire department’s operational budget was reduced by $17 million in the fiscal year 2024-25 adopted budget.
Bass and City Council members have refuted that figure, noting the fire department received an increase in $50 million due to a new contract with UFLAC.
The Los Angeles Times has also reported on tensions between Bass, her recovery czar Steve Soboroff and county leaders.
Bass entered office in 2022 after defeating her opponent, billionaire Rick Caruso. She’s the first woman and second Black mayor of Los Angeles.
In recent weeks, Caruso has made headlines with the launch of Steadfast LA, a private-sector-led recovery effort, sparking speculation about a possible mayoral run. He has yet to make an official announcement.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, has launched a petition drive in support of Bass. Hutchinson said Bass has been an effective mayor and deserves the support of the public as the city recovers from the fires.
According to a new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, slightly more than 40% of registered voters in the city thought Bass did a “poor or very poor job in responding to the fires,” while another 19% of respondents thought her response was “excellent or good.”
A little more than one in five residents, or about 22%, thought she was doing a fair job, and the remainder had no opinion.
“The mayor is focused on recovery, which right now is months ahead of expectations, and she is going to continue pushing it forward,” Zach Seidl, spokesman for Bass, said in response to the poll.
Bass’ office highlighted the following key milestones in the city’s recovery response, achieved in coordination with county, state and federal agencies:
• Power has been restored to nearly all buildings in the Palisades.
• A “Do Not Drink” notice was lifted last week, 18 months sooner than in Northern California’s 2018 Camp Fire recovery.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency advanced debris removal efforts, finishing in 28 days, months ahead of expectations.
• The city shored up burn areas ahead of late winter storms.
• And Los Angeles is offering relief and protections to fire survivors by clearing away red tape and creating centralized disaster recovery centers, among other measures.
The Palisades fire erupted on Jan. 7, fueled by dried vegetation as a result of months of no rain and flamed by historic Santa Ana winds. Fire officials said 12 people died and thousands of structures were destroyed in the fires, leaving much of Pacific Palisades in ruins.
