Recovery has scarcely begun, but insult is being added to fire victims’ injuries as local officials –—especially Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — engage in a tawdry game of finger-pointing. When she was in Congress, Bass used her position as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to travel widely on the taxpayers’ dime, particularly to Africa. Crowley’s lawsuit claiming Bass “orchestrated a campaign of retaliation” is the least of Bass’ fire-related concerns as she seeks re-election this year. Beginning in December, the Los Angeles Times has published revelations about how politics has intruded on a supposedly dispassionate report on the fire department’s wildfire responses. In response to the Times revelation, Bass distanced herself from it and ordered another investigation of fire department responses, this time by the new fire chief, Jaime Moore.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 27, 2026 13:14 UTC