In the aftermath of devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, real estate developer Rick Caruso stepped into the void left by Mayor Karen Bass's absence, quickly positioning himself as a leader and critic of the city's response. His actions, some suggest, could be a calculated move towards another mayoral run.
As houses smoldered and the breadth of destruction from fires that raged through Los Angeles was just beginning to become clear, real estate developer Rick Caruso called into a local Fox station to cast the first stone.
“This is basic stuff. This isn’t high science here. It’s all about leadership and management that we are seeing a failure of, and all of these residents are seeing the ultimate price for that,” he said.When the fires began, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was on other side of the globe, on a planned trip to Ghana. By the next day, Bass had yet to make it home, and her absence opened the door for Caruso.
This wouldn’t be the first time that a disaster launched a candidate to success. Several political consultants pointed to the actions of former California Gov. Pete Wilson after the deadly 1994 Northridge earthquake, which was centered in Los Angeles, saying he was reelected partially on the strength of his response. They caution that Bass’s reactions ― including painfully stoic appearances at conferences ― are not netting her any favors.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a news conference Thursday to address the status of fires in Los Angeles County.“I think he’s operating in a circumstance where Karen Bass is deeply, deeply, deeply wounded, yeah. So is it enough to prevent him from winning if he were to run again? No. I think he’s going to be extraordinarily competitive.”
RICK CARUSO KAREN BASS LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES POLITICS MAYORAL RACE
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eaton and Palisades Fires Become California's Most Destructive Urban FiresThe Eaton and Palisades fires, ignited last week, have scorched nearly 4 square miles of Los Angeles, surpassing the urban damage inflicted by the 2018 Woolsey Fire and marking the most significant urban fire impact in California since the mid-1980s. Experts attribute this alarming trend to the increasing encroachment of urban sprawl into wildland areas and the intensifying effects of climate change.
Read more »
Death count hits 24 in L.A. wildfires, fierce winds in the forecast4 fires have consumed an area larger than San Francisco
Read more »
Hollywood celebrities clear their closets for wildfire aidHollywood heavyweights Halle Berry, Sharon Stone answer call for help amid Los Angeles fires
Read more »
Machine Gun Kelly Offers $5,000 Reward for Information on Arsonists in California WildfiresActor Machine Gun Kelly took to Instagram to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of arsonists suspected of igniting fires in California. He expressed his anger and frustration over the situation, citing recent incidents where individuals were caught using blowtorches to start fires but were subsequently released. His offer comes amidst ongoing investigations into the cause of several large wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County in the past week. While authorities are still determining the root cause of these fires, speculation about arson has been rampant on social media.
Read more »
56 Surreal And Terrifying Pictures From The Los Angeles FiresImages from the Los Angeles area show the devastating extent of the blazing fires.
Read more »
Fierce Winds Fuel Devastating Wildfires in Los AngelesMultiple major wildfires fueled by strong winds have ravaged communities in the Los Angeles area, killing five people and destroying thousands of homes. The fires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, have consumed nearly 42 square miles and prompted evacuations for over 130,000 people. Despite the challenges posed by the wind and dry conditions, firefighters made progress on some of the blazes, particularly the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills. Celebrities like Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton have also lost homes in the fires.
Read more »