Employee raises and other expenses are expanding the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget. At the same time, the agency has had to scale back operations in recent months.

Since Mayor Bass returned to LA, she has thanked the LAFD for their service and announced that the fires have been "fully contained."

Bass is not the only person to be widely criticized for their response to the California wildfires, with Governor Gavin Newsom also in the spotlight.

Rick Caruso, the billionaire real-estate developer who lost the mayoral race to Bass, now leads the charge against her.

The demonstration came amid a torrent of controversy surrounding the embattled mayor, with protestors who gathered near her Windsor Square residence demanding she step aside citing her lack of

The budget, approved last year by Bass, cut mainly administrative jobs but also axed about $7 million from its overtime budget.

Bass stayed mum while a reporter grilled her, asking, "Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?"

California voters have had the power to recall elected officials. It was meant for a time like this, when “indolent” and incompetent leaders are failing. The recall allowed citizens to quickly remove an officeholder and vote in a replacement at the same time.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass repeatedly dodged questions about her leadership and alleged lack of initial presence during the ongoing wildfires affecting the area.

Less than two weeks after the start of what has become one of the state’s most destructive natural disasters, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass continues to face backlash for her response to the Southern California wildfires, with critics demanding her resignation and some even floating a recall effort.

Over 125,000 sign a petition demanding Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass resign, citing mismanagement of the city's wildfire crisis.

causing the city to move funds intended for fire department pay into the general fund. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass poses for a photo during an interview at Los Angeles City Hall on Oct. 17 ...