Eventually — and hopefully sooner rather than later — the wildfires that have engulfed Los Angeles will be fully extinguished. But for L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, the firestorm is likely just beginning.
In case you missed it, the two leaders got into a very public spat last week, as thousands of acres burned in real time.
Public criticism over the government’s response and preparation efforts were mounting, and Crowley took to the airwaves to defend her department. That meant throwing Mayor Bass under the bus.
In the interview with Fox LA’s Gigi Graciette (watch here), Crowley pointed to multiple memos in which she warned that LAFD was understaffed and underfunded. The memos had been printed and laid out for the cameras before the interview.
Crowley told Fox LA that more than $17 million had been cut from her budget and that she believes those cuts did hinder firefighting efforts. Asked whether city leaders (including Bass) failed her department, Crowley answered “yes.”
Crowley’s words were a mic drop moment, and completely shocking coming from a fire chief who serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Crowley and Bass sat down for a closed-door meeting the next day. Rumors circulated that Crowley had been fired, but Bass and Crowley said those rumors were false.
Still, Bass’ statement that their “differences” would be hashed out in private from now on, and settled after the smoke had cleared, created the impression that Crowley’s days were probably numbered. After what has transpired in the past several days, it's hard to imagine a working relationship between the two women lasting much longer.
Bass’ political future could also be in jeopardy. There are talks of a recall effort. Even if she completes her term, she's likely to face a formidable re-election challenge in 2026.
The criticisms against Bass aren’t limited to Republican politicians and pundits either. Many Angelenos are angry. And rightly or wrongly, they’re looking for someone to blame.
Bass’ political fate, like Newsom’s and others, will probably be determined by what happens next, and what the coming investigations show. Perceptions of the rebuilding process and its effectiveness could also make a difference.