Featured Image Credit: Sky News/Apu Gomes/Getty
Topics: California, Los Angeles, Money, Social Media, Twitter, US News, Weather, Wildfires, Politics, Elon Musk
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: California, Los Angeles, Money, Social Media, Twitter, US News, Weather, Wildfires, Politics, Elon Musk
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has come under fire online for refusing to answer questions about the wildfires sweeping through the city.
Multiple wildfires have been surging through California since Tuesday (January 7), leaving at least five dead and over 1,000 structures destroyed, with thousands of acres in flames as firefighters battle to try and gain control.
Residents in Los Angeles have been urged to evacuate with a red flag warning issued until Friday, however, Mayor Karen Bass had already left the city by that point.
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The National Weather Service released multiple warnings in the build up to the first fire breaking out on Tuesday (January 7), however, Mayor Bass reportedly left town on Saturday (January 4) as part of a presidential delegation to Ghana, only returning to the US yesterday.
It's reported by The LA Times that City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as Los Angeles' acting mayor was Los Angeles' acting mayor at the time the first Palisades fire broke out, as she attended the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Maham.
And Sky News reporter David Blevins didn't hold back when questioning Mayor Bass about where she was when the wildfires broke out, alongside the city's approach to the fire department.
In a video shared to Twitter by Sky News, Blevins can be heard asking Bass: "Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent whilst their homes were burning?"
After being met with silence, Blevins continues: "Do you regret cutting the fire department's budget by millions of dollars madam Mayor?
"Have you nothing to say today? Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?
"Elon Musk has said you're utterly incompetent - have you considered your position?
"Madam Mayor have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today who are dealing with this disaster? No apology for them? Do you think you should've been visiting Ghana while this was unfolding back home?"
Despite Blevins persistently asking for some sort of comment, Bass remained silent and it's not taken long for social media users to weigh in.
One Twitter user said: "What a disgrace. Not one word for the people she represents. She needs to be recalled immediately."
"This reporter was completely respectful of the mayor's position while at the same time asking pertinent questions. The people in her city deserve, if not an answer to his specific questions, at least a statement of assurance that they are doing everything possible," another added.
A third commented: "Outrageous," while a fourth wrote: "RESIGN!!!"
A fifth said: "This is disgusting behavior. Absolutely unacceptable. They chose to fill their pockets instead of using their funds to increase their workforce and provide safety."
And a sixth resolved: "She’s in so far over her head it’s scary. She looks a deer in headlights! She will have to answer these questions eventually and be held accountable!"
UNILAD has contacted Mayor Karen Bass' office for comment.
You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.