LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is addressing her trip to Africa during the historic windstorm that preceded January’s deadly Los Angeles wildfires, saying for the first time that she now views it as a mistake.
“Yeah, absolutely, there is no question about that,” Bass told NBC4’s Conan Nolan in an interview Friday when asked directly if the trip was a mistake.
Bass was heavily criticized for being out of the country when the fires broke out Jan. 7. She was in Ghana as part of a four-member U.S. delegation sent by President Joe Biden to attend the inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as that nation’s president.
Bass returned to Los Angeles the day after the fires erupted, but City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, acting as mayor, had to sign the proclamation of a local emergency issued by Bass.
Forecasters had warned of dangerous fire weather conditions in the days leading up to Jan. 7, predicting winds of 80 to 100 mph coupled with low humidity.
The mayor said her mission now was to regain the public’s confidence. “I have to demonstrate that every day by showing what we’re doing, what is working, what are the challenges, and to bring Los Angeles forward,” she said
In Friday’s interview, Bass touted the last week’s opening of a “one-stop shop” to expedite the rebuilding process for residents who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire. The center is located at the West Los Angeles office of the city Department of Building and Safety, at 1828 Sawtelle Blvd.
Representatives of various city departments are on hand at the center to help with expediting permits and other needed documents, including the Department of Water and Power, Bureau of Sanitation, City Planning, Bureau of Engineering, and the city Housing Department. Southern California Gas Co. officials are also on hand, and representatives from other non-city agencies, such as the county Department of Public Works, could also be added.
Los Angeles County is also operating a one-stop rebuilding shop for Eaton Fire residents at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at 540 W. Woodbury Road in Altadena.
