L.A. Mayor Under Fire for Ghana Visit Despite 2021 Pledge Against International Travel, Reports The New York Times – One America News Network
OAN Staff Abril Elfi
11:52 AM – Monday, January 13, 2025
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had previously stated to The New York Times that she would refrain from international travel if elected. However, last week, it was revealed that she visited Ghana for an event while emergency alerts were issued regarding strong winds that could lead to fires in her city.
Advertisement
On Sunday, the outlet highlighted that in 2021, Bass had declared that if she won the mayoral election, “not only would I, of course, live here, but I also would not travel internationally — the only places I would go would be D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco, and New York, in relation to L.A.”
Nevertheless, Bass is facing significant criticism from Los Angeles residents after it was discovered that she traveled to Ghana to participate in a presidential delegation amid the ongoing wildfires in her city.
Upon her return, she ignored reporters’ inquiries regarding her absence during the crisis.
“Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? And do you regret cutting the Fire Department budget by millions of dollars, Madame Mayor?” questioned Sky News reporter David Blevins as Bass awaited to deplane on Wednesday after her Ghana trip.
“Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?” he continued.
Bass remained silent and avoided eye contact with the reporter as she looked downwards.
“No apology to them? Do you think you should have been visiting Ghana while this was unfolding back home?” he pressed.
“The Mayor is laser focused on two things right now – keeping Angelenos safe and protecting property. She has secured the federal, state, and local resources we need to continue fighting these fires and is moving forward on an all-of-the-above plan for recovery,” stated Bass spokesperson Zach Seidl in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Later that Wednesday during a news conference, Bass informed reporters that she had been in contact with various individuals throughout her flight back to Los Angeles.
“I was on the phone, on the plane, almost every hour of the flight,” she explained. “So although I was not physically here, I was in contact with many of the individuals that are standing here throughout the entire time. When my flight landed, I immediately went to the fire zone and saw what happened in Pacific Palisades.”
According to the Times, Bass has a background in Congress, having served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with years spent “working on United States relations with Africa.”
“That pledge has been spectacularly broken,” stated the Times.
The outlet also pointed out that despite Bass’s commitment to avoid international travel, she has already made four such trips since taking office: once to Mexico and three times to Paris.
Stay updated! Get breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below
