Corruption is ingrained in Los Angeles,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit public interest group.

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.

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.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing criticism from across the city's political spectrum over the preparations for and handling of the fire outbreak that started Tuesday.

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

Bass has faced widespread outrage over her whereabouts after returning to Los Angeles from Ghana on Wednesday, 24 hours after fires ignited.

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’ deputy mayor — whose purview included oversight of the city’s fire department — was placed on administrative leave last month after the FBI

The mayor's office told Newsweek on Friday that "The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos."

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

Los Angeles ... point to Bass’s decision to travel out of the country ahead of the wildfires after she vowed not to go abroad before taking office, as well as for approving a budget that decreased funding for the city’s fire department.

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 ...