Mayor Karen Bass and other L.A. city officials had hoped to regain some of the public’s trust once the smoke from the January wildfires had cleared. That effort is off to a rocky start.
Chief Recovery Officer's Pay Ignites Controversy
There was an uproar last week when it was revealed that Bass’ hand-picked chief recovery officer, Steve Soboroff, would be paid $500,000 for just three months of work. Although the cost would be covered by philanthropic organizations, critics labeled it tone deaf and “obscene.”
The news followed initial secrecy about Soboroff's pay. That was sure to raise eyebrows in a city beset by so much recent corruption. It also came on the heels of the botched re-opening plan for the Pacific Palisades, which left many residents angry.
The city has since reversed course on Soboroff’s compensation, confirming that he will not be paid for his work after all.
“Steve is always there for L.A. I spoke to him today and asked him to modify his agreement and work for free. He said yes,” Bass explained. “We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing.”
Concerns Grow Over 2028 Olympics
As soon as one controversy is solved, another problem seems to arise.
City officials recently announced that the long-awaited expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 2028 Olympics is now “off the table” because of the fires.
“The work remaining, considering on-going recovery efforts related to the wildfire emergency, cannot be completed in the time available to ensure completion of the LACC Expansion Project before the 2028 Games,” wrote City Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo and Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso in a memo. “Consequently, a pause in the project is warranted to reevaluate options and opportunities for expanding the LACC.”
There were already concerns about the city’s ability to host the Olympics in 2028, given the problems with homelessness, infrastructure, and the budget. L.A. plans to hold two other major sporting events before the Olympics — the World Cup in 2026 and the 2027 Super Bowl.
The city says the three events will be good for both morale and the economy. Sports in politics expert Jules Boykoff isn’t so sure.
“Any city preparing for three massive events has its hands full. If these good people in the government are working on the Olympics and the Super Bowl, they are not working on other issues,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
Storms Offer Another Test of Government Competence
A lack of confidence in city leaders has put members of the public continuously on edge. The anxiety is on display today as the season’s strongest rain storm pounds Los Angeles, raising the risk of floods and landslides. Evacuations have been issued for thousands of residents in burn-scarred areas. Bass has assured the public that the city is making all the necessary preparations and will not let L.A. residents down. It’s another big test of the government’s competence.
Rebuilding the burned Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods will be an enormous challenge for the city. Rebuilding the public’s trust could prove even harder.