More Than 150,000 People Sign Petition Calling for Resignation of Los Angeles Mayor

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (front R) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (front L) tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, 2025. Eric Thayer/Getty Images

A petition calling for the immediate resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over the response to the destructive fires burning in the city had gathered more than 150,000 signatures by Jan. 16.

The petition sprang up on Change.org days after the deadly Palisades fire started on Jan. 7, initiated by an anonymous person who self-identified as a “frustrated Californian.”

Nearly 5,000 people on Jan. 9 signed the petition, which also calls for the recall of the mayor “due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles.”

In recent media interviews, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley has said a reduction in the department’s budget and the elimination of civilian positions hurt the city’s response to the devastating wildfires.

After being asked by a Fox11 reporter whether the city failed the department, Crowley said, “Yes.”

The petition accused the city of being unprepared for the disaster and unable to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents because of inadequate water and emergency services.

The Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 16, 2025. Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo

According to officials, demand for water supplies during the disaster was four times the normal amount—for 15 straight hours—and up to 20 percent of fire hydrants ran dry.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure for fire hydrants, along with the unavailability of water from a nearby reservoir.

More than 5,000 firefighting personnel continued to attack the Palisades fire, on the west side of the city, which reached 23,713 acres and was 27 percent contained by about 6 p.m. on Jan. 16.

The massive blaze has claimed at least 10 lives, according to fire officials, and has destroyed thousands of homes and other buildings. A total of 27 people have been killed in fires across the county.

Beyond calling for the mayor’s resignation, the petition also demands a full and transparent investigation into the response failures, accountability for the alleged mismanagement of taxpayer funds intended for disaster relief and recovery, and a comprehensive plan for ensuring public safety in future disasters.

In response to questions about criticism against the city, Bass told reporters at a recent news conference there were no budget reductions that were made that “would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with.”

Bass’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the petition.

City News Service contributed to this report.