On Wednesday, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was caught off guard by Sky News reporter David Blevins with a question about the deadly wildfires ravaging Southern California.

Basu has just returned from a high-profile trip to Africa for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. was silent Meanwhile, Blevins asked questions that questioned her leadership and decisions.

“Do I owe the public an apology for being absent while my house was on fire?” Mrs. Mayor, do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions? ” Blevins asked Bass, looking at the reporter. “Don’t you have anything to say today? Don’t you have anything to say to the people today?”

“Do I owe the public an apology for being absent while my house was on fire?” Do I regret cutting the fire brigade’s budget?
@skydavidblevins Questions Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass facing backlash over California wildfires.https://t.co/Nkz8onjC7V pic.twitter.com/WwRwp6Imqz

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 8, 2025

Mr. Blevins asked Mr. Bass a total of 10 questions, but Mr. Bass did not answer. The wildfires have killed five people, displaced tens of thousands and destroyed more than 1,000 structures. City said Bass called for significant cuts to the fire department’s budget for fiscal year 2025, initially proposing a $23 million cut, with the final $17.6 million approved, he said.

and that Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) employees received exorbitant taxpayer-funded salaries just before the city’s fire hydrants failed during critical firefighting efforts against widespread fires. was also reported. Many of the city’s fire hydrants managed by LADWP unexpectedly ran dry as firefighters battled an out-of-control blaze that destroyed hundreds of structures.

base already He gave a speech to the nation.

“Make no mistake about it: Los Angeles will rebuild stronger than ever,” Bass said. (Related: President Trump slams California’s water mismanagement; Newsom accuses people of “sending water into the Pacific Ocean to save smelt”)

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