Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces criticism for being out of the country

As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is catching heat—not just from the fires but from frustrated residents. On Wednesday, locals voiced their concerns about the mayor being out of the country while flames consumed parts of Pacific Palisades, forcing evacuations and threatening homes.

Mayor Bass had traveled to Accra, Ghana, as part of a U.S. delegation for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, a role appointed by President Biden. But her absence during the crisis hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Rachel Darvish, a Pacific Palisades resident who had to evacuate her home, shared her frustrations on Fox & Friends First: “I hope everyone in the Palisades is safe, but I have questions. I know where I am right now, but I don’t know where my mayor was when this was happening. Where were you when critical decisions needed to be made?”

The criticism didn’t stop there. Rick Caruso, a billionaire developer and Bass’s opponent in the 2022 mayoral race, didn’t mince words, calling the situation “absolute mismanagement by the city.” Speaking to Fox11 Los Angeles, he added, “We have a mayor out of the country while the city is burning, and resources to combat these fires are nowhere near enough.”

The mayor’s office confirmed Bass is now en route back to Los Angeles. However, the timing has left residents questioning the city’s priorities. While wildfires are nothing new to California, the visible absence of leadership during such a critical moment has added fuel to the flames—at least metaphorically.

As the city continues to grapple with the fire, many Angelenos are left wondering if more could have been done with stronger leadership on the ground. For now, all eyes are on Bass as she returns to face the aftermath of both the wildfire and the public outcry.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation unfolds. Read More on the Pacific Palisades Wildfire