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Petition seeking the resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass gains traction, with tens of thousands of signatories amid the LA wildfires. The mayor has faced criticism since the onset of the wildfires for her less-than-satisfactory handling of the infernos engulfing the city from various fronts. Bass’ diplomatic trip to Ghana, which kept her miles away when the blaze took over her city last Tuesday, further intensified the backlash. Many slam her absence from LA, as well as past decisions like budget cuts, which they believe contributed to the city’s poor preparedness to handle the blazing inferno.
Five active wildfires swept through Los Angeles County, taking form in Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Kenneth, and Archer and forcing residents to flee their homes. Although the Mayor, who has since returned to the country, has stood with LA residents in moving social media posts, many residents remain unsatisfied, demanding their pound of flesh as recompense for the devastation caused by the Los Angeles Wildfires. A petition demanding her resignation has since sprung up on Change.org, garnering over 100k signatories within 24 hours.
Petition Demanding Mayor Karen Bass’ Resignation Gains Traction Amid LA Wildfires
The user, simply identified as a frustrated Californian, started the petition on Sunday, January 12, 2024, accusing Mayor Karen Bass of “gross mismanagement.” In the petition, the user cited the damaging impact of the emergency services’ budget cut, while criticizing major talking points like water shortages and resource allocation. The user wrote,
“Water supplies have been severely strained, billions of taxpayer dollars have been misallocated or left unaccounted for, and countless lives have been lost.”
The petition went on to slam Mayor Karen Bass’ absence” from the frontlines” amid efforts to control the LA wildfires. The Change.org user called on fellow Americans equally outraged by Bass’ “mismanagement” to sign the petition, which has seen a spike in popularity. As of Monday evening, over 125,000 people have appended their signatures to the petition.
Group Praises Bass’ Response Efforts
In contrast, other groups have shown solidarity with the LA mayor, acknowledging her efforts to lead the city through one of its most disastrous moments yet. A separate Change.org petition geared towards “standing with Karen Bass” has linked this backlash to prevailing “racism and misinformation.” The petition alleged that the attack Mayor Karen Bass currently faced had more to do with her position as a “black female executive” than the raging LA wildfires. The petition also described these sentiments demanding her resignation as “perpetuating harmful stereotypes,” emphasizing the pressing need to correct the misinformation regarding the wildfire efforts.
Mayor Bass also spoke up in her defense, explaining that she had remained in touch with “many of the individuals standing here” the entire time despite being miles away in Ghana. The mayor reiterated her commitment to saving the homes of LA residents while ensuring the safety of lives. She also addressed the criticism garnered over her alleged underfunding of emergency departments, promising to review the existing modules once the city pulls through this inferno. Concluding her statement, Bass urged Angelinos to remain strong and united, while rejecting those seeking to divide the city and misinform.
Despite her effort to deflect the backlash, several residents and high-profile figures remain firm in their demand to have Karen Bass resign, with the likes of Elon Musk, Khloe Kardashian, and actress Sara Foster casting daggers on social media.
