Thread: ***Live Updates*** 5 Wildfires Rage Across L.A. Five Dead ’0% Contained’ 1,000+ St

Wildfires Rage in LA Again: Firefighters Vow to Prevent Another Disaster



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Channel: effspot (Recommended by jeremiah babe)
Published: 1/23/25
17:24 minutes

LIVE: President Trump Delivers Remarks in California

Trump takes on LA Mayor Bass: A clash over bureaucracy and disaster recovery

01/28/2025 // Willow Tohi // 710 Views

Tags: big government, bureaucracy, cancel Democrats, Collapse, Collapsifornia, disaster, disaster recovery, Donald Trump, fire relief, insanity, karen bass, left cult, Los Angeles, outrage, progress, red tape, traitors, White House

• During a press conference in Pacific Palisades, President Donald Trump harshly criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for her handling of the wildfire crisis, particularly regarding the city's red tape preventing residents from rebuilding.
  
  
• Trump highlighted the city's refusal to allow residents to clear debris without permits, arguing that residents were willing to clean up themselves and that the process was taking too long.
  
  
• Mayor Bass defended her approach, emphasizing safety concerns and promising to clear debris as quickly as possible. However, Trump remained unconvinced, stating that FEMA's inefficiency and permitting processes were delaying recovery.
  
  
• The president also addressed California's insurance crisis and questioned Bass's leadership, citing her recent trip to Ghana during the impending wildfire risk and her lack of executive experience.
  
  
• Trump's visit and critique served as a call for accountability, urging officials to take immediate action and providing hope for residents that change might be on the horizon.

In a fiery exchange that underscored the growing frustration with California’s leadership, President Donald Trump delivered a blistering critique of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a press conference in Pacific Palisades on Friday. The president, visiting the wildfire-ravaged area, didn’t mince words as he called out the bureaucratic red tape preventing residents from rebuilding their lives.

The scene was a stark reminder of the failures of progressive governance in California, where overregulation and inefficiency have become hallmarks of disaster response. Trump’s direct confrontation with Bass — a Democrat who has faced mounting criticism for her handling of the crisis — was a refreshing display of leadership, holding public officials accountable for their inaction.

The heart of Trump’s critique centered on the city’s refusal to allow residents to clear debris from their properties without waiting for government permits. “The people are willing to clean out their own debris. It doesn’t cost a lot,” Trump said, addressing Bass directly. “You should let them do it. Because by the time you hire contractors, it’s going to be two years.”

Bass, attempting to defend her administration’s approach, insisted that safety concerns were paramount. “The number one thing that we are going to do immediately, and you will see this happen, is to clear out the debris…we are going to move as fast as we can. But we want you to be safe. We want you to be back in your homes immediately,” she said.

But Trump wasn’t buying it. “People are willing to get a dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out,” he shot back. “There’s not that much left. It’s all incinerated, and you know, it’s just going to take a long time if you do [it].”

The president’s frustration was palpable. He pointed out that residents were being told they’d have to wait up to 18 months for permits to begin rebuilding. “Let them start the process tonight,” Trump urged, to which Bass replied, “And we will. You can come back and check.”

A history of bureaucratic failure
This isn’t the first time California’s leadership has been criticized for its sluggish response to disasters. The state’s notorious permitting processes and reliance on federal agencies like FEMA have long been a source of frustration for residents. Trump highlighted this during the press conference, calling out FEMA’s inefficiency.

“FEMA has a standard that’s so slow. They want permit on permit on permit, and then they want permits on top of that,” Trump said. “If you use FEMA, you’ll be here for a long time.”

He contrasted California’s response with that of other states, citing North Carolina as an example. “You know who came in and fixed North Carolina or the process? Other states. People from all over the country came. You have the same thing. You have a lot of people from all over the country,” Trump said.

The president also took aim at California’s insurance crisis, which has left many residents without coverage. “I’ve never seen a state where almost nobody has insurance,” Trump said. “I said, ‘What happened?’ They said, like, six months ago, they all left. Two years ago, they had different quadrants, but they left. You have very little insurance here. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Bass’s leadership has come under intense scrutiny since the wildfires devastated Pacific Palisades. Her decision to travel to Ghana for a presidential inauguration just days before the fires broke out has been a particular point of contention. Residents like Starr Fair, who lost her home, expressed deep frustration. “Karen Bass probably has a good heart. But if you know Los Angeles and you know there’s going to be a Santa Ana wind event, why would you go out of the country? That felt bad. It felt like abandonment,” Fair said.

The mayor’s handling of the crisis has also raised questions about her executive experience. As Democratic strategist Garry South noted, “She comes into this job with no executive experience, no governing experience. All of a sudden, she’s the head of the second-largest city government in the United States…I really don’t believe that she’s ever made the transition from being a member of Congress to being an executive.”

A call for accountability
Trump’s visit to California was a stark reminder of the importance of strong leadership in times of crisis. His willingness to call out Bass and other officials for their failures was a breath of fresh air for residents who have grown weary of bureaucratic excuses.

As the president left the press conference, his message was clear: “I know my people. You’ll be in that thing tonight, throwing the stuff away and your site will look perfect within 24 hours. That’s what he wants to do.”
For Californians, the hope is that this moment will serve as a wake-up call for their leaders. The fires may have destroyed homes, but the real disaster has been the failure of those in power to act swiftly and decisively. With Trump holding them to account, perhaps change is finally on the horizon.

Sources include:
Modernity.com
WashingtonPost.com
AmericanActionNews.com

Trump takes on LA Mayor Bass: A clash over bureaucracy and disaster recovery – NaturalNews.com

L.A. mayor backtracks after outcry over $500k salary for wildfire recovery czar

02/11/2025 // Cassie B. // 1K Views

Tags: big government, California, Collapse, disaster, disaster recovery, Donald Trump, finance riot, insanity, karen bass, Los Angeles, money supply, outrage, Palisades, Randy Johnson, Resist, revolt, Ric Grenell, salaries, Steve Soboroff, wildfires

• Mayor Karen Bass reverses decision; Steve Soboroff to work for free as wildfire recovery czar after backlash over $500,000 salary.
• The Palisades fire destroyed homes, businesses, and claimed 29 lives, sparking intense criticism over Soboroff's compensation.
• Ric Grenell, Trump’s envoy, led the charge against the "gross" and "offensive" pay, resonating with many fire victims.
• Soboroff initially defended the salary but agreed to work pro bono, alongside Randy Johnson, another real estate executive.
• The controversy highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the use of recovery funds for the wildfire victims.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Saturday that Steve Soboroff, her appointed wildfire recovery czar, would work for free after widespread backlash over his planned $500,000 salary for just 90 days of work.
The controversy erupted after the Los Angeles Times revealed that Soboroff, a real estate developer and former police commissioner, was set to be paid by charitable organizations to lead the city’s recovery efforts following the devastating Palisades fire. The decision to scrap the hefty paycheck came after sharp criticism from public figures, residents, and even Trump administration officials, who called the compensation “gross” and “offensive.”
The Palisades fire, which raged for three weeks in January, destroyed homes and businesses, and claimed at least 29 lives. Soboroff, a longtime civic leader, was tapped by Bass to oversee the rebuilding efforts, but the revelation of his inflated salary threatened to overshadow the recovery work.
Grenell leads criticism of “offensive” pay

Ric Grenell, President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, was among the most vocal critics of Soboroff’s compensation. In a post on X, Grenell lambasted the arrangement, writing, “He’s getting paid $500,000 for 3 months of work? And they call this a charity. Gross. Offensive.”
Grenell, who toured the fire-ravaged areas with Bass and other officials earlier in the week, added, “I’m getting paid $0 – as are many people. It’s a good thing there will be strings on the Federal money for California.”
Grenell’s comments resonated with many Angelenos, including Pacific Palisades residents who lost homes in the fire. Larry Vein, whose property suffered smoke damage, said no one should oversee recovery efforts for “financial gain.” Steve Danton, who is living in temporary housing after losing his home, called Soboroff’s planned pay a “money grab” and criticized the city’s “crisis of leadership.”
Backlash pushes Soboroff to work for free

The backlash was so intense that Bass reversed course within hours of the Times report. In a statement, the mayor said she had asked Soboroff to modify his agreement and work without pay. “Steve is always there for L.A.,” Bass said. “He said yes. We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing.”
Soboroff, who initially defended his salary as justified by his expertise and the scope of his responsibilities, ultimately agreed to the change. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years for free on some of the biggest civic projects for the city of Los Angeles,” he told the Times. “But nobody ever asked me to drop everything. This time they did.”
Randy Johnson, a real estate executive assisting Soboroff, was also set to receive $250,000 from charitable groups but will now work for free. Bass praised Johnson’s “generosity and expertise” but declined to name the organizations that had planned to fund the salaries.
Why the outrage?

The controversy stemmed not only from the sheer size of Soboroff’s paycheck but also from the source of the funds. Critics questioned whether donors to the unnamed charities knew their contributions would be used to pay salaries rather than directly aid fire victims. L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who sits on the recovery oversight committee, called the $750,000 total for Soboroff and Johnson “obscene” and “infuriating.”
Soboroff’s defenders pointed to his decades of unpaid civic service, including volunteer roles on the Board of Police Commissioners and the Department of Recreation and Parks. However, the optics of a six-figure salary for a short-term role in a city still reeling from disaster proved too much for many to stomach.
The swift reversal on Soboroff’s salary underscores the challenges facing Bass as she navigates the aftermath of one of L.A.’s worst wildfires. While the mayor has sought to project confidence in the recovery efforts, the backlash over Soboroff’s pay revealed deep frustrations among residents and officials alike. As the city moves forward, transparency and accountability will be critical to restoring trust and ensuring that recovery funds are used effectively to help those who need it most.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
LATimes.com
Yahoo.com




L.A. mayor backtracks after outcry over $500k salary for wildfire recovery czar – NaturalNews.com

Audit reveals billions in taxpayer dollars wasted as L.A. homelessness crisis worsens

03/07/2025 // Cassie B. // 430 Views

Tags: big government, California, Collapsifornia, government debt, homeless, Los Angeles, mismanagement, Open border

• A court-ordered audit revealed $2.3 billion in taxpayer funds were mismanaged in L.A.’s homeless services, with no accountability for spending or outcomes.
• The audit found poor oversight, vague contracts, and fragmented data systems, leaving funds vulnerable to waste and fraud.
• Nearly half of program participants returned to homelessness, while only 22% secured permanent housing.
• Contracting and payment processes were chaotic, with inconsistent costs and delays in executing agreements.
• Officials and advocates expressed outrage, calling for systemic reform and accountability to address the crisis.

A scathing court-ordered audit has exposed shocking mismanagement and inefficiency in Los Angeles’ homeless services system, revealing that billions of taxpayer dollars have been squandered on ineffective bureaucracy while the city’s homelessness crisis continues to spiral out of control.
The audit, conducted by global consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) and submitted to U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, examined three major city-funded programs—Inside Safe, the Roadmap Program, and the Alliance Settlement Program—between June 2020 and June 2024. The findings paint a damning picture of a fractured system plagued by poor oversight, vague contracts, and a complete inability to track spending or measure outcomes.
The audit identified approximately $2.3 billion in funding tied to these initiatives but found that the city, county, and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) failed to account for how much was actually spent or whether services were delivered. Fragmented data systems, inconsistent financial reporting, and a lack of coordination between agencies left billions vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.
“These findings are not just troubling—they are deadly,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, an attorney for the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, the group whose lawsuit prompted the audit. “Billions have been squandered on ineffective bureaucracy while lives are lost daily. This is not just mismanagement; it is a moral failure.”
A system in chaos

The audit revealed a litany of failures, including:
Inconsistent financial tracking

Auditors were unable to verify how much was spent on homelessness services due to incomplete and inconsistent financial records.
Lack of accountability

LAHSA and the city routinely approved invoices from service providers without verifying whether the billed services were actually provided.
Poor outcomes

Nearly half (47.8%) of program participants exited back into homelessness, while only 22% found permanent housing.
The report also highlighted glaring inconsistencies in how LAHSA tracked shelter beds and services. Auditors found no standardized method to determine bed availability, and funding was not adjusted based on occupancy rates. This lack of oversight likely contributed to inequitable fund distribution and decreased motivation to maximize occupancy.
Contracts and payments in disarray

The audit uncovered severe issues with contracting and payment processes. Contracts were often vague, allowing wide variations in services and costs. For example, personnel costs per bed per day ranged from $67 to just $7, with no clear explanation for the discrepancies. Additionally, 82 days passed on average between the start of a contract term and its official execution, leaving service providers operating without signed agreements for months.
The invoicing process between LAHSA and the city was entirely manual and prone to human error, raising concerns about potential accounting inaccuracies and funding mismanagement. Auditors also noted that LAHSA’s oversight structure was compromised, as the same team that approved invoices was responsible for monitoring performance.
The audit has sparked outrage among elected officials and advocates. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath called LAHSA’s dysfunction “a nightmare” and proposed creating a new county department to take over its contracting duties. “No more waste through duplicated resources,” Horvath said. “No more contracts for services that don’t deliver. We need accountability and results right now.”
Mayor Karen Bass, whose signature homelessness program Inside Safe received mild criticism in the audit, acknowledged the findings but framed them as a validation of her efforts to reform the system. “The broken system the audit identifies is what I’ve been fighting against since I took office,” she said.
A moral and fiscal failure

The audit’s findings underscore a broader issue: Los Angeles’ inability to effectively manage its homelessness crisis. Despite billions in taxpayer dollars allocated to address the problem, the city has failed to provide transparency, accountability, or measurable results. The audit’s revelations are a perfect example of the consequences of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over merit-based hiring and competent management.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
LATimes.com
LAist.com
WestsideCurrent.com

Audit reveals billions in taxpayer dollars wasted as L.A. homelessness crisis worsens – NaturalNews.com

L.A.’s rebuilding nightmare: Only 4 permits issued after fire destroys 6,000 homes

03/28/2025 // Cassie B. // 1.6K Views

Tags: big government, building permits, California, chaos, Collapse, conspiracy, corruption, deception, disaster, Government Failure, insanity, karen bass, Los Angeles, outrage, politics, rebuilding, traitors, treason, wildfires

• Only four rebuilding permits have been issued in Pacific Palisades three months after wildfires destroyed 6,000 structures, leaving residents in bureaucratic limbo.
• The city faced backlash for prioritizing demolishing a family’s treehouse over speeding up fire recovery efforts.
• Mayor Karen Bass seeks a $1.9 billion state bailout while threatening to label fire-damaged properties as "nuisances" if debris isn’t cleared quickly.
• A $10 million contract to a private consultant for recovery oversight sparked outrage amid severe permitting delays and lost applications.
• Local leaders warn of systemic failures, with only 72 rebuilding applications submitted due to an opaque and backlogged system.

Nearly three months after wildfires ravaged Pacific Palisades, reducing 6,000 structures to ash, the City of Los Angeles has issued a mere four rebuilding permits — an agonizingly slow pace that has left displaced residents in bureaucratic limbo. Meanwhile, city officials diverted resources to demolish a 20-year-old family treehouse over permit violations, sparking outrage among homeowners who say the government’s priorities are catastrophically misplaced.
As victims of the January inferno struggle to navigate a labyrinth of red tape, builder Alexis Rivas revealed the city lost his pre-approved fire rebuild application — forcing him to restart the entire process. At the same time, Mayor Karen Bass, already grappling with a $1 billion budget deficit, is seeking an additional $1.9 billion state bailout on top of $2.5 billion in fire aid — even as she threatens to label fire-ravaged properties as "nuisances" if owners don’t clear debris quickly.
The glacial pace of recovery has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including Councilwoman Traci Park, who called the permit backlog "concerning" and warned of "hundreds of billions in economic losses."
Permit purgatory while treehouses get bulldozed

The city’s sluggish response stands in contrast to its efficiency in enforcing petty violations. Just weeks ago, L.A. officials demolished a beloved family treehouse in a nearby community after a years-long legal battle — a move that cost the owner over $50,000 and taxpayers untold sums in enforcement costs.
Meanwhile, homeowners like Rivas face maddening delays. "This is a pre-approved fire rebuild ADU. Flat lot. There should be no complications," Rivas posted on X. "We built the exact same one last year in 45 days — start to finish. The city has now spent more time shuffling paper than it takes us to build."
His frustration echoes across Pacific Palisades, where only 72 rebuilding applications have even been submitted — a fraction of the need — due to the city’s opaque and backlogged permitting system.
Mayor’s $10M consultant deal sparks backlash

Amid the crisis, Mayor Bass awarded a $10 million contract to Hagerty Consulting, a private firm, to oversee recovery efforts—a decision that infuriated City Council members already wary of the city’s fiscal mismanagement.
"We have city departments who know how to do this recovery," Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez told ABC7. "And yet they can’t be afforded the opportunity to hire the personnel that they need, but we can give a $10 million contract to an outside agency to help write a report for us… It’s obscene."
The move comes as Bass seeks a $1.9 billion state bailout — on top of federal fire aid — while warning residents that their destroyed homes could be declared "nuisances" if debris isn’t cleared promptly. Developer Rick Caruso, whose Palisades shopping center survived thanks to private firefighters, blasted the mayor’s rhetoric: "'Nuisance.’ That's what Mayor Bass is calling destroyed homes — an insult to everyone who lost their home in the fires."
With only four permits approved as of late March — 75 days post-fire — rebuilding efforts remain paralyzed. Councilwoman Park acknowledged the systemic failures, stating, "I don’t think it’s a lack of interest in rebuilding… It’s a mess."
Residents, meanwhile, are left in limbo. "We want to get going," one frustrated homeowner said at a recent council meeting. But with permits lost, consultants overpaid, and bureaucracy unchecked, Pacific Palisades’ recovery appears stalled—a glaring symbol of government dysfunction at taxpayers’ expense.
As LA officials scramble for bailouts and bulldoze treehouses, the real victims—the thousands of families whose lives were upended by fire—are paying the price for the city’s incompetence. With rebuilding permits trickling out at a snail’s pace and fiscal mismanagement running rampant, the road to recovery looks increasingly like a dead end. For Pacific Palisades, the flames may have died months ago—but the bureaucratic inferno is just getting started.
Sources for this article include:
JustTheNews.com
NYPost.com
ABC7.com

L.A.’s rebuilding nightmare: Only 4 permits issued after fire destroys 6,000 homes – NaturalNews.com