Outrage Grows As Petition To Recall LA Mayor Karen Bass Surpasses 86,000 Signatures

Los Angeles residents are demanding swift action against Democrat Mayor Karen Bass as her administration faces mounting criticism for its failure to respond effectively to the city’s worst wildfire crisis in decades. A petition calling for her immediate recall has surged past 86,000 signatures, reflecting growing anger over her absence and budget decisions that critics argue intensified the disaster.

Mayor Bass was thousands of miles away in Ghana attending a presidential inauguration when devastating wildfires broke out in the Pacific Palisades. By the time she returned, entire communities were destroyed, and fires had consumed over 54 square miles across the Los Angeles area. More than 130,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, with over 4,000 structures destroyed and at least 11 lives lost.

The petition slams Bass for being “absent from the frontlines” during the crisis and accuses her of failing to prepare the city for such catastrophic events. It highlights strained water supplies, billions in mismanaged taxpayer funds, and the displacement of thousands of families. Residents are calling for her resignation and a full investigation into the city’s lack of preparedness and mismanagement of disaster resources.

Fueling public outrage is Bass’ decision to cut $17.6 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. A leaked memo revealed plans for an additional $49 million in cuts that could have shuttered 16 fire stations—an alarming move considering the ongoing wildfire crisis. Critics argue these budget decisions severely crippled the city’s ability to combat the fires effectively.

Former LA Department of Water and Power general manager Martin Adams admitted the city’s infrastructure was not built to handle wildfires of this scale. Reports of dry fire hydrants in multiple neighborhoods underscored the city’s unpreparedness and left firefighters struggling to contain the blaze.

Governor Gavin Newsom has since launched an investigation into Los Angeles’ wildfire preparedness and resource management. However, many Angelenos argue that this action comes too late and that Bass’ leadership failures have already caused irreparable harm.

Residents are now demanding not only Bass’ resignation but also accountability for the administration’s mismanagement of disaster preparedness funding and emergency response. The growing petition reflects widespread frustration with a leader they believe abandoned them in their greatest time of need.