LA screw-ups start at the top with mayor

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LA Mayor Karen Bass is viewed as an emblem of what they see as the Democratic Party’s shift towards progressive, identity-based politics, with criticisms focusing on her perceived prioritization of ideology over effective governance. Bass is also, at least at some point, a card-carrying Communist.

Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, is viewed skeptically by right-wing critics who label her as a “trained Marxist” due to her past with the Venceremos Brigade and her progressive legislative record, including co-authoring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. They argue her political ascent, marked by significant roles like the first African American woman Speaker of the California State Assembly, is more about identity politics than merit. Her policies are seen as too far left, with a particular focus on social justice rather than effective governance.

Her leadership style is critiqued for being too rooted in community organizing, which right-wing perspectives see as more about activism than managing a city like Los Angeles effectively. Critics point to her collaborative nature as a sign of indecisiveness, especially in handling crises such as wildfires or crime. Notably, Bass’s decision to cut over $17 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget to redirect funds towards other areas like homelessness has been heavily criticized, especially given the timing with the catastrophic fires in the area.

Bass’s reputation among conservatives is marred by her perceived ineffectiveness during city emergencies such as the current fires. Conservatives argue that her focus on ideology rather than immediate action has led to mismanagement, particularly highlighted by the budget cuts to the Fire Department which they claim contributed to the severity of the recent wildfires. Her past associations with groups sympathetic to socialist regimes are also used to question her patriotism and judgment.

Bass represents the drawbacks of progressive governance, with her policies and leadership style seen as exacerbating issues like crime and homelessness rather than solving them. Her decision to reallocate $18 million+ of funds from the Fire Department is viewed as a prime example of misplaced priorities, where ideology trumps practical city management, contributing to a narrative of her as an ineffective leader in times of crisis.

And her deputy?

Brian Williams, appointed in 2023 as LA’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, oversaw the LAPD, LAFD, and other safety agencies. With a career in public service, he previously served on the LA County Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission and under Mayor James Hahn.

Williams is currently on administrative leave following an investigation into a bomb threat he allegedly made against City Hall earlier in the year. The FBI searched his home as part of this investigation, which led to his immediate placement on leave.

The threat involved an anonymous call warning of explosives at City Hall, leading to an evacuation and a significant police response. The FBI traced the call back to Williams, leading to a search of his home. This search was part of the investigation into the threat’s origin. Following the investigation, Williams was placed on administrative leave. No further public details have been released regarding the evidence found or the specifics of the investigation, such as the exact content of the threat or the method used to trace it back to him.