Over 150,000 Sign Petition Demanding Resignation of Los Angeles Mayor
The petition charged the city with being unprepared for the calamity and incapable of ensuring the safety and welfare of its inhabitants.
A petition demanding the immediate resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass due to her handling of the devastating fires in the city had amassed over 150,000 signatures by January 16.
On January 9, nearly 5,000 individuals signed the petition, which further demands the recall of the mayor “due to her gross mismanagement and inability to respond effectively to the catastrophic 2025 fires in and around Los Angeles.”
When a Fox11 reporter inquired whether the city had failed the department, Crowley affirmed, “Yes.”
The petition accused the city of lacking readiness for the disaster and failing to guarantee the safety and welfare of its residents due to insufficient water and emergency services.
Governor Gavin Newsom has requested an independent investigation into the decrease in water pressure for fire hydrants, along with the lack of water from a nearby reservoir.
Over 5,000 firefighting personnel continued to battle the Palisades fire on the west side of the city, which had grown to 23,713 acres and was 27 percent contained by approximately 6 p.m. on January 16.
Along with demanding the mayor’s resignation, the petition also calls for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into response failures, accountability for the alleged mishandling of taxpayer funds designated for disaster relief and recovery, and a detailed plan for ensuring public safety in future emergencies.
In response to inquiries regarding the criticisms directed at the city, Bass informed reporters during a recent news conference that there were no budget cuts made that “would have affected the situation that we were facing.”
Bass’s office did not provide an immediate comment regarding the petition.
City News Service contributed to this report.