Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is drawing criticism from a prominent member of the City Council who accuses her of “misrepresenting the facts” regarding the firing of former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley.
Crowley was fired Friday in a sudden announcement from Bass, who said Crowley’s removal after the Palisades Fire and other blazes in January was in the “best interests of Los Angeles‘ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department.”
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said in a statement. “Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after action report on the fires. The Chief refused.”
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, 7th District, spoke with KTLA’s Annie Rose Ramos on Monday morning, doubling down on her promise to support Crowley after her “scapegoating” by Bass.
Rodriguez explained that the justification Bass used runs contrary to the normal procedure for after-action reports, as they “don’t happen within a week” and “it was just about a week ago that they were still mopping up from the rains.”
“The suggestion that Chief Crowley was not agreeable to participating really misses the mark on protocol,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez also accused Bass of “misrepresenting the facts” surrounding Crowley’s firing, though she evaded Ramos’ question as to whether she feels the mayor is not telling the truth.
Bass, who received enormous criticism for traveling to Ghana just prior to the dangerous conditions that sparked the massive wildfires, has said Crowley did not alert her to the danger prior to her trip. Rodriguez pointed out, however, that since Bass was out of the country, the acting mayor — Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, 8th District — would’ve been the primary contact, not Bass.
In addition, Rodriguez said she and others were, in fact, notified appropriately by Crowley when the fires affected their districts.
As Politico reports, Rodriguez is far from alone in supporting Crowley’s reinstatement, which could come from the City Council.
In the meantime, Crowley released a statement over the weekend saying that “it has been an absolute honor to represent and lead the men and women of one of the greatest fire departments in the world.”
“I based my actions and decisions on taking care of our firefighters so that they could take care of our communities,” she said. “Serving others before self, having the courage and integrity to do what is right, and leading with compassion, love and respect have guided me throughout my career. I am extremely proud of the work, sacrifice and dedication of our LAFD members, both sworn and civilian.”
The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
