As devastated Angelenos search for answers to the raging fires that have leveled entire neighborhoods, one oft-repeated explanation has been the slashing of the fire department’s budget.
Even Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of The Los Angeles Times, took to X to blast Mayor Karen Bass for the cuts.
That included eliminating 73 vacant civilian positions and reducing money available to pay firefighters’ overtime by $7.9 million.
Image Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, left, looks on as Chief Kristin M. Crowley of the Los Angeles Fire Department addresses the news media at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles last year.
Freddy Escobar, the president of the local firefighters’ union, has worked fighting fires in Los Angeles for 35 years.
Persons:
Patrick, Karen Bass, ”, “, Bass, Bob Blumenfield, Kristin M, Crowley, Richard Vogel, ” —, we’ve, Freddy Escobar
Organizations:
Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles Fire Department, Harbor, Medical Center
Locations:
LA, Los Angeles