Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has been under scrutiny for traveling to Africa during the fire response last month, blamed the controversial travel.
“I feel absolutely terrible about my city not coming here,” Democrat Bass told FOX 11 in a recent interview.
“I would say it was a mistake. The idea of my absence was very painful,” she added, notifying her before her trip to Ghana, “not ready.”
Mayor Karen Bass discussed the recovery efforts at a press conference in Pacific Palisades on January 27, 2025. (Drew A. Kelley/Mentiannews Group/Long Beach Press Conference via Getty Images)
She said she wouldn’t even head south to San Diego if she got the proper “preparation” about the fire danger.
“For me, saying ‘It’s possible that something terrible can happen, maybe you shouldn’t be traveling, that’s not that level.”
She continued: “I think this is one of the things we need to look at, everything that happens, including these things, including these things.”
The National Meteorological Administration issued a “Fire Weather Warning” on January 3, and the mayor went to Africa the next day. According to her, she didn’t return until January 8 Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Sensif urges Trump administrators to exclude firefighters from federal recruitment freeze
On January 14, 2025, a Department of Corrections staff worked on the containment line in front of the Palisades Fire in Santa Monica, California. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The fire in Pacific Palisades swept the community and burned thousands of homes and businesses.
In another interview with NBC Los Angeles, Bass admitted her Travel in Africa It was a “absolute” mistake, and she was working to regain public trust as she was shocked by her reaction to the city fire last month.
When asked if he was trying to “regain confidence,” Bass told NBC Los Angeles, “Absolutely, I think I have to prove it every day by showing what we are doing, what we are doing, what we are doing, what the challenge is.”
Bass was sworn in Ghana when the fire began, despite the high fire risk. The Palisades Fire started on January 7 and was escalating throughout the night, but the mayor didn’t return to the city until January 8 and she didn’t answer a duplicate question Sky News Reporter After she arrived in the United States.
“Yes, it was an ambush and I’m not sure who he was. It’s unfortunate because I saw the appearance and it seemed like I avoided it, but when you got off the plane you’ve been on the previous plane for 17 consecutive times. When I was a kid, someone hit you with a camera and I hope in hindsight, my reaction would be better.” When asked about the virus clip, the mayor told Fox 11 Los Angeles.
She also claimed that the Biden administration asked her to represent them in the FOX 11 interview to Africa.
Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, provides free tickets for firefighters
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass listens to the fire damage as Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks. (Mayor Karen Bass/X)
Click here to get the Fox News app
More than 170,000 people signed a change. org petitions, asking her to resign from the mayor’s resignation. The situation also drew public criticism of the mayor, from former democratic mayor rival Rick Caruso to liberals Talk show host Bill Maher.
“Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is Nero of American politics, fiddling in Ghana while the city burns,” he said. Mach says last month.
Rep. Ro Khanna of D-Calif suggests Disney CEO Bob Iger Run for mayor in 2026. The bass shrugged when she made Khanna’s comment in person.
“I only focus on one thing and one thing, and that’s making sure our city can be healed and rebuilt and that all people living in Palisades can go home,” Bass told NBC Los Angeles.
