Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass came under heavy attack Wednesday night as challenger Spencer Pratt and Councilmember Nithya Raman turned a mayoral debate into a full-blown showdown over wildfires, crime and homelessness.
The debate centered on whether Bass deserves another term running Los Angeles, with the January 2025 Palisades fires quickly becoming the defining flashpoint of the night.
Bass defended her record, arguing the city was already in crisis when she took office and pointed to a reported 17.5% drop in street homelessness along with expanded housing efforts.
She also said her administration deployed enough fire trucks during the wildfire response but blamed staffing shortfalls on former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who she said was removed in February 2025.
Pratt went straight for the city’s wildfire preparedness, accusing officials of failing basic safety planning.
He said Fire Chief Kristin Crowley had requested $17 million in funding that was denied and blasted how reservoirs were managed during the fires.
He focused heavily on the Santa Ynez Reservoir being empty during the blaze and promised sweeping changes if elected.
“As mayor, I will never drain the reservoirs that we need for wildfire protection,” Pratt said, adding he would create 20 additional dip sites across Los Angeles.
Bass pushed back on claims about fire conditions and rejected Pratt’s criticism of how the crisis unfolded.
Raman said her experience representing her district had prepared her for extreme weather emergencies and citywide crises.Public safety quickly became another major battleground.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
