Mayor Karen Bass Navigates Recovery Challenges After LA Fires

Six months post-disaster in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, Mayor Karen Bass was set to commemorate the occasion with Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials. But instead of making her way to Pasadena for a press conference, she unexpectedly redirected her Black SUV to MacArthur Park, where a surge of immigrants had gathered in the heart of Los Angeles.

In a blue Seafoam suit, Bass engaged with the crowd, absorbing a live news feed that surged through the atmosphere, which at times pushed even the agents back. Eventually, instead of her planned remarks, she found herself delivering an impromptu press conference from City Hall, denouncing the migrant situation before discussing reconstruction and recovery with Newsom and Senator Alex Padilla.

What I’ve noticed recently, it’s like Bass is performing a delicate balancing act. Recovering from one of the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history is a daily grind, especially with new and pressing issues vying for her attention. The federal migrant influx into Los Angeles presented an unexpected opportunity for her to once again steer her city through civil crises.

Her political image had taken a hit due to the fire, but she strived to rebuild it through a series of solid headlines: crime rates falling, Los Angeles recording the lowest murder total in nearly 60 years. And I think, if you look at the figures, it seems she’s made strides on the longstanding homeless issue as well; in 2024, the number of people sleeping on the streets dropped almost 8% for the second year in a row.

Yet, while progress is evident, the divide between the Pacific Palisades and the rest of the city reveals lingering wounds from the disaster. Bass continues to face intense scrutiny, especially in the affluent coastal area. Her spokesperson relayed that she is committed to ensuring families can return home and actively seeks to boost her recovery efforts.

Before the fires erupted in January, Bass had been overseas in Ghana. Upon returning, she faced criticism for her delayed response. Initially, her fire chief (who was later dismissed) and other leaders appeared out of sync. These early missteps hung over her tenure, but she’s been working to regain her footing, trying to establish herself as a recurring figure in the community, even hosting regular briefings and Q&A sessions.

Bass has issued executive orders to facilitate recovery, establishing a reconstruction center and enacting corporate tax relief for those affected by the fires. According to her office, this center had served over 3,500 individuals.

Nearby, various restaurants and other establishments are starting to reopen, with a Starbucks on Palisades Drive set to resume operations soon. As for Bass, she often compares the recovery timeline to past disasters, labeling the Palisades recovery as one of the fastest in recent California history.

However, residents like Sue Pascoe, who lost her home, express mixed feelings. She mentioned how hardworking Bass has been, but even after numerous attempts to mend relationships, some doubt whether it’s proving effective. During a visit, Mariam Zar, head of the Palisades Restoration Union, remarked that residents felt progress on reconstruction was too slow.

The frustrations stem not just from Bass’s leadership, but rather from the systemic limitations of the mayor’s office. After losing their homes and grappling with complicated insurance issues, residents want swift action, but they often feel the mayor’s hands are tied. Los Angeles operates under a weaker mayoral system compared to cities like New York.

Bass isn’t powerless, but her authority is shared with city councils and county supervisors, complicating the recovery process. According to Rafael Sonnenshain, a local government expert, to get things moving in Los Angeles requires substantial cooperation. The ongoing bureaucratic challenges make it difficult for constituents to align their expectations with the realities of governance.

For instance, there’s the issue of permit fees for reconstruction. Recently, City Councilman Traci Park proposed a waiver for these fees in the wake of the fires. When Bass signed the executive order, it was met with applause. Yet, as Pascoe discovered while working on her home, the fee waivers weren’t as straightforward as they seemed; the council must still approve them, leading to confusion for homeowners.

Bass announced engaging Hagerty Consulting as a disaster recovery firm, but some have critiqued the firm’s real effectiveness, given limited city resources. Many residents believed the recovery would be led by recognizable figures, which hasn’t fully been the case.

In a shift of strategy, Bass partnered with Aecom, a global engineering firm, to construct a detailed recovery plan, but collaboration and clarity about roles still seem to be works in progress. There are ongoing discussions about how these various agencies and individuals are to work together, which has left some city officials searching for answers.

Amidst this, Hagerty’s efforts have claimed nearly $2 million in reimbursement, and community leaders highlight delays in the recovery structure, which has sown division among residents. They crave leadership that actively engages them in the planning process.

Rick Caruso, Bass’s opponent from the 2022 election, has been vocal in his criticism, suggesting a lack of urgency in decision-making. His nonprofit has even sought innovative solutions like AI-driven tools for expediting construction approval processes, going as far as to engage with Governor Newsom for support.

This week, LA County launched a pilot program aimed at helping fire survivors navigate the complexity of rebuilding, marking some progress as the city begins its beta testing. Caruso sees such initiatives as long overdue. He believes there should be a more decisive approach towards recovery, as the recent history illustrates a concerning pace of progress.