Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing criticism for being out of the country when devastating wildfires began ravaging the city, destroying thousands of homes and displacing residents. Bass had been in Ghana for the inauguration of the country’s new president and met with its first female vice president. Critics, including Elon Musk and Rick Caruso, accused her of neglecting her duties during the emergency. Bass defended herself, saying she remained in contact with officials while abroad and took the fastest route back once she was informed of the situation. The wildfires, the most destructive the city has seen, have caused at least five deaths and forced over 100,000 people to evacuate. Despite accusations that Bass had cut the fire department’s budget, Politico reported that the budget had actually increased. Bass, the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, has strong support from Democrats but faces backlash from conservatives. She served in Congress for six terms and was a prominent figure in the 2020 election. In 2024, she was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention. The city continues to grapple with the aftermath of the fires while questions about Bass’s leadership and the city’s readiness for such events are raised.
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