Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, had initially stated that she would refrain from international travel if elected. However, she was later spotted in Africa during the city’s devastating wildfires.
Bass, a Democrat, has attracted considerable criticism after being out of the country when the Palisades fire erupted.
She has been forced to bat back against claims that budget cuts impacted the response to the fires.
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for Bass’ immediate resignation.
Bass is the first woman to serve as mayor of Los Angeles following her election in 2022.
It has since emerged that Bass told The New York Times a year before her election she wouldn’t jet abroad during her term.
“I also would not travel internationally,” she said.
“The only places I would go would be D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco, and New York, in relation to LA.”
Bass was in Ghana for the inauguration of the country’s president, John Dramani Mahama.
According to the New York Times, earlier this year she made three trips to the Paris Olympics and one to Mexico for Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration.
The U.S. Sun has approached Mayor Bass’ office for comment.
Her spokesperson, Zach Seidl, told The New York Times that her comment was “miscommunication.”
Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson mentioned that given the upcoming Olympics, the city’s prominent international trade hub status, and the diverse immigrant population, it was a misunderstanding as Los Angeles mayors commonly engage in overseas trips.
Last week, Bass was quizzed by journalists over her response to the fire while standing on an airbridge after landing back on American soil.
Bass did not respond to Sky News reporter David Blevins when he asked if she owed an apology to the people of Los Angeles.
“Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?” Blevins asked.
“Do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor?”
Bass said nothing and appeared to stare blankly while the journalist continued asking the politician questions.
She was challenged over her trip to the African nation.
The Sky News video then showed Bass charging down the airbridge into an airport terminal.
The next day, Bass vowed the city would rebuild stronger than ever.
Bass has come under considerable criticism, with Elon Musk describing her as “incompetent.”
Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Senator John McCain, warned: “The people should not forgive or forget and force her to resign immediately.”
She described Bass as a “complete and utter coward.”
The three fires that continue to burn are the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst blazes.
The Palisades Fire has torched more than 23,000 acres and is 13% contained, according to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Stats reveal that the Hurst Fire is now 95% contained.
And the Eaton Fire, which has torched more than 14,000 acres of land, is 27% contained.
More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed across Los Angeles.
Over the weekend, the death toll has jumped to 24 victims.
Eight victims have died in the Palisades blaze so far.
One of the victims is the child actor Rory Sykes, 32.
Sykes reportedly told his mom, Shelley, to leave him.
She told 10 News First she was unable to evacuate him because of her broken arm.
WEATHER WARNING
Officials have opened up on the devastation the fires have caused.
“A lot of these areas still look like they were hit by a bomb,” said Robert Luna, the Los Angeles County Sheriff.
Cops are now probing what could have caused the blaze.
Investigators are looking at an electrical transmission tower in the Eaton Canyon as part of their probe into the Eaton fire, per the Los Angeles Times.
But a Southern California Edison spokesperson believes any electrical equipment is unlikely to have caused the fire, according to a statement.
But, officials are bracing themselves for winds that could hit the city in the coming days.
National Weather Service bosses have warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” impacting Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
But, they have said that the conditions are unlikely to be as severe as last week.
Gusts between 45 and 70mph could hit the region between 4am on Tuesday and noon on Wednesday.
Despite the recovery effort, there has been a surge in looting.
Santa Monica cops have confirmed 39 people have been arrested for looting in evacuation zones.
This is despite the fact that none of the people were from the area.
