Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism for being abroad when the Palisades Fire erupted into one of California’s worst wildfires.
Bass was in Ghana on January 4 to attend the inauguration of President John Dramani and participated in a cocktail reception hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana later that evening.
By January 8, when Bass returned to Los Angeles, the fire had already caused widespread devastation, with smoke visible across the city.
The National Weather Service had issued intensified windstorm warnings on January 4, the day Bass departed.
The fire ignited on January 7, and evacuation orders were issued for Pacific Palisades shortly after a photo of Bass at the Ghanaian reception was taken at 8 p.m. local time (12 p.m. in Los Angeles).
By the time she returned, the fire had claimed 24 lives, destroyed thousands of structures, displaced over 150,000 residents, and remained less than 50% contained.
Further complicating the city’s leadership during the crisis, Deputy Mayor Brian Williams was unavailable due to an FBI raid on his home on December 18.
A spokesperson for the mayor told the LA Times that Bass attended the cocktail party as it was hosted by the US Ambassador to Ghana, but she spent most of the party in a separate room making calls, they said.
The investigation centered on an alleged bomb threat Williams made against City Hall earlier in the year. He was placed on administrative leave, with Bass stating, “The Mayor takes this matter very seriously.”
After returning to Los Angeles, Bass emphasized that she remained in constant communication with her team during her trip. “Although I was not physically here, I was in contact with many of the individuals that are standing here throughout the entire time,” she said.
Bass also noted that her return involved a military flight, which allowed her to maintain phone communications en route. Upon landing, she immediately visited the fire zone to assess the damage.
However, Bass’s absence drew sharp rebukes from both allies and critics. Tommy Vietor of Pod Save America called her decision to remain abroad “inexplicable.”
Inexplicable decision to not come back earlier
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) January 8, 2025
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, a previous supporter, said, “If it is true that she left the country on a Saturday after the warning came out, that is a dereliction of duty.”
Rick Caruso, who ran against Bass in the last mayoral election, was lauded for his proactive approach. Caruso hired private firefighters to protect his properties, including a shopping mall that was one of the few structures left intact in the affected area.
The reception in Ghana was described as a modest gathering aimed at introducing the Biden delegation to notable Ghanaians.
Event emcee Nathaniel Attoh characterized it as “a decidedly low-key affair.” Despite the subdued nature of the event, Bass’s presence at a social function during a critical moment for her city has fueled ongoing debates about her leadership during the crisis.