Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a citizen-led recall effort after fleeing the city for Ghana during extreme wildfire threats, leaving Pacific Palisades residents to watch their homes burn without adequate emergency response.
Key Takeaways
- Pacific Palisades residents have initiated a bipartisan recall petition against Mayor Karen Bass, supported by Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
- Critics condemn Bass for traveling to Ghana during extreme red flag warnings instead of preparing the city for potential wildfires.
- A Los Angeles Times poll reveals 54% of residents have little confidence in Bass’s recovery leadership, while 41% rated her wildfire response as “poor.”
- The recall committee includes Nicole Shanahan, former vice presidential candidate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pledged significant financial support.
- To trigger a recall election, approximately 330,000 signatures must be collected within 120 days, a substantial challenge in the Democratic-majority city.
Mayor’s Absence During Critical Wildfire Period Fuels Outrage
The recall campaign against Mayor Karen Bass has gained momentum following her decision to leave Los Angeles during a period of extreme fire danger. Instead of remaining in the city to oversee emergency preparations, Bass traveled to Ghana for what critics describe as political events. The timing of her overseas trip coincided with severe red flag warnings – a combination of high winds, dry conditions, and elevated wildfire risk that ultimately led to devastating fires in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood and surrounding areas.
“As Los Angeles faced extreme red flag warnings — high winds, dry conditions, and the looming threat of wildfires — Mayor Karen Bass chose to leave the city for an overseas trip instead of preparing for disaster. While emergency officials braced for potential devastation, Bass was attending political events abroad,” according to residents cited in the recall notice.
Bipartisan Support Shows Widespread Dissatisfaction
What distinguishes this recall effort from typical partisan campaigns is its diverse support base. The petition is backed by two Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent, reflecting bipartisan dissatisfaction with Bass’s leadership. This cross-party coalition signals that concerns about Bass’s effectiveness transcend normal political divides, with residents from different political backgrounds uniting in their criticism of her administration’s handling of public safety issues.
Nicole Shanahan, who previously served as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vice presidential candidate and has supported President Trump, has emerged as a major financial backer of the recall effort. Shanahan’s involvement adds significant resources and visibility to the campaign, potentially increasing its chances of collecting the roughly 330,000 signatures needed within 120 days to trigger a recall election.
“Los Angeles has endured enough. Once a city of hope, it’s now overrun with crime, chaos, and suffering. Today, we begin the effort to revive the City of Angels — for the people. First step: recalling Karen Bass,” stated Nicole Shanahan.
Fire Department Controversy Deepens Crisis
Compounding Bass’s troubles is her controversial firing of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley following the wildfire response. This decision drew sharp criticism from the firefighters’ union, whose president publicly condemned the mayor for using Crowley as a scapegoat. Bass claimed that Crowley had sent home 1,000 firefighters who could have been on duty when the fires broke out, but union officials have disputed this characterization, further eroding public confidence in the mayor’s leadership during the crisis.
“On behalf of the firefighters I represent, I am here to say we are outraged at the termination of fire Chief Crowley, period. In our opinion, Chief Crowley is being made a scapegoat, and she is being terminated for telling the truth,” declared Freddy Escobar, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City President.
Public Opinion Divided as Recall Campaign Intensifies
A Los Angeles Times poll reveals the extent of public dissatisfaction with Bass’s handling of the wildfire crisis. According to the survey, 41% of residents rated her response as poor, with another 41% rating it fair to excellent, and 18% expressing no opinion. More concerning for the mayor is that 54% of residents reported having little confidence in her ability to guide recovery efforts, while only 34% expressed some or a great deal of confidence in her leadership during this critical time.
Bass’s political strategist, Douglas Herman, has attempted to dismiss the recall as “nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward.” However, the bipartisan nature of the recall committee undermines this characterization. Despite the growing pressure, Bass has declared her intention to run for re-election in 2026, stating defiantly, “I would never quit on my city. Did I know that it was a difficult job? Absolutely. Am I ready for the job? Most definitely.”
The recall notice points to broader issues beyond the wildfire response, noting: “This failure is part of a pattern. Crime continues to rise, with businesses and residents suffering from unchecked theft and violence. Homeless encampments are growing, despite billions spent with no clear result. It’s time for new leadership.”
