Los Angeles (Thechieftainspear) – A campaign to recall Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has officially launched, with organizers unveiling a dedicated website on Tuesday. The effort comes in response to her handling of the devastating wildfires that swept through Pacific Palisades in January, as well as ongoing frustrations over crime and homelessness.
Backlash Over Wildfire Response
Critics argue that Bass was absent during a critical time, having traveled to Ghana despite warnings of dangerous fire conditions. The recall effort, spearheaded by residents affected by the fires along with others discontented with city leadership, aims to collect enough signatures to trigger a special election. To move forward, organizers must secure signatures from 15% of registered voters in Los Angeles.
According to sources familiar with the initiative, the movement has drawn bipartisan support, with participants citing multiple grievances beyond the wildfire response.
Concerns Over Fire Department Funding
The recall website, RecallBassNow.com, points to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget cuts as a key reason for seeking Bass’ removal. It claims that a $17 million funding reduction left firefighters with inadequate resources to respond effectively to emergencies, despite escalating wildfire risks.
The mayor also recently made a controversial decision to fire LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, who is now appealing her dismissal. Bass replaced Crowley with Ronnie Villanueva, stating that the leadership change was necessary for the department’s effectiveness.
In her defense, Bass cited staffing issues under Crowley’s leadership, noting that 1,000 firefighters were sent home on the morning the fires erupted. Additionally, she accused Crowley of refusing to conduct an after-action report on the fires, which Bass claims warranted her removal.
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Bass Responds to Criticism
During a recent interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles, Bass admitted she was unaware of the severity of the fires before her trip, saying she “felt absolutely terrible” for not being present.
“It didn’t seem at that moment like something that would turn into a major catastrophe,” she stated, acknowledging the need to examine the city’s response. At least two investigations are now underway into how the fires were handled.
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather warning on January 3, yet Bass left for Africa the following day, only returning on January 8.
Growing Calls for Resignation
Public frustration has been mounting, with a Change.org petition gathering more than 176,000 signatures demanding Bass step down. However, the mayor has given no indication she plans to resign.
Doug Herman, a political strategist for Bass, dismissed the recall as a partisan attack.
“This recall is nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward,” Herman told Fox News Digital.
Despite the criticism, Bass remains focused on her administration’s priorities, but with recall efforts gaining traction, the coming months may determine her political future .
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