When the flames erupted in Palisades in the Pacific Ocean on January 7th, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass was more than 7,000 miles away on a diplomatic mission to Africa.

Base returned home shortly thereafter, transporting almost 24 hours a day as the fire destroyed Pallisard and surrounding communities. She and her office say she is constantly communicating during that period.

However, the new response with the Times raises questions about whether the story is accurate or whether Bass is withheld by public records.

On January 10th, the Times submitted a request for public records for any text messages sent or received by the mayor in transit on January 7 or January 8th, referring to fire response or travel plans.

Almost two months later, on March 6, Bass’ Office said it “has no responsive records” without stating whether it withholds records or why it doesn’t create them. The office did not answer questions about whether the communication was deleted or how it complied with the Public Records Act. City’s record keeping policy.

Base spokesman Zach Seidl did not respond when asked if there was a reason for her message being withheld or if such message did not exist.

In response to requests for public records, other agencies and civil servants released numerous records from the beginning of the fire. California law determines the release of this type of record unless there is a specific exemption.

The bus left Accra, Ghana, around 9pm on January 7th, leaving Los Angeles time at about 1pm as the fire grew, travelling the first leg by military plane, allowing them to call and communicate via text and email.

Earlier the next morning, she boarded a commercial flight at Washington Dulles International Airport, and before arriving at Los Angeles International Airport at 11:24am on January 8th, she would have only been able to notify her via email and text, according to itinerary and flight records.

Bass said he was making calls during a military flight from Accra to Dulles, and her staff said she was actively involved in decision making overseas. She was also communicating via text messages between that leg of her trip, according to at least one civil servant.

Los Angeles County superintendent Katherine Berger said he was sending buses and texting until 10:30pm the night before on Jan. 8th.

“Believe me, she’s very engaged. Burgers in the district, including Eton Fire Zone, said the base and her text on January 8th.

In response to a Times record request, it is unclear why Bass’ Office does not provide such text messages if such text messages exist.

“If she was texting an urban business, whether it was a text message from a plane on the phone or an email from her desk, she works at a public dime,” said David Roy, legal director for the First Amended Aide. “These are public records and I think the public should normally have the right to see them unless there are virtually specific exemptions that apply to public records laws, such as the privileges of lawyers and clients.”

The Times owns at least one text message that the city should disclose in response to a request for public records.

11:50am on January 7th, Los Angeles time, Lindsey Horvath, the LA County superintendent.

“We reach out to you about the Palisade fire. Our county fire department is helping the city, and our Emergency Management Bureau is in touch with city staff. Do you need additional help/support? Is there anything you would like to put on our radar at this time?” Horvath wrote a Bass in a text message to Horvath’s office, which was provided in response to a request for public records from The Times.

The bus responded at 1:07pm, at 9pm in Los Angeles or Ghana time when she was on her way home.

“Thank you for asking us that we think it’s good. I’ll call you in AM,” Bass wrote.

It is unclear why this mediocre response was withheld by the Bass office or what message the office withheld.

Even if messages are sent via Bass’ personal phone calls, if they are addressed with official businesses, they are still considered matters of public records, the California Supreme Court ruled in 2017.

Times staff writers Matt Hamilton and David Zanizer contributed to this report.