By Charles Switzer
2:37pm PST, Jan 18, 2025
Bass Under Fire
Los Angeles Mayor
Karen Bass who campaigned on a platform of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), now finds herself ensnared in a web of scandals that critics label as "legalized corruption."
These controversies have come to light following revelations that Bass and her administration defunded the Los Angeles Fire Department by $17 million dollars, a move that has been linked to the city's inadequate response to the
devastating wildfires currently ravaging the area.
Her "unfolding" downfall also drew parallels to the '70s cinema classic
Chinatown which explored L.A. corruption surrounding the city's water supply in the 1930s.
Here's what's happening.
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Deputy Mayor's Bombshell Allegations
Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, appointed by Bass in February 2023 to oversee critical departments including the police and fire services, is under FBI investigation for allegedly making a bomb threat against City Hall.
In December, his home was raided after he was identified as the "likely" source of the threat. Williams, who has been placed on administrative leave, maintains his innocence through his attorney.
Council Members in the Crosshairs
The Los Angeles City Council is grappling with multiple corruption cases. Councilmember
Curren Price Jr. faces charges of embezzlement and perjury for allegedly receiving over $150,000 dollars from developers in exchange for approving their projects, a
report showed.
Additionally, former Councilmembers
Jose Huizar and
Mark Ridley-Thomas have been convicted on charges including racketeering and bribery, further tarnishing the council's reputation.
Utility Mismanagement Amid Crisis
The
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), overseen by Bass appointee Janisse Quinones, is accused of severe mismanagement. Firefighters battling the Palisades wildfire reported dry hydrants, a failure attributed to the DWP's inability to maintain essential infrastructure.
Critics argue that the department operates with a "serious lack of accountability," compromising public safety during emergencies.
Financial Decisions Under Scrutiny
Mayor Bass's financial choices have raised eyebrows, particularly the allocation of a $750,000 dollar salary to DWP CEO Janisse Quinones, nearly double that of her predecessor.
This decision comes in the wake of significant budget cuts, including the $17 million dollar reduction to the fire department, which has been criticized for leaving the city "underprepared" for the current wildfire crisis.
A Culture of 'Legalized Corruption'
Observers describe Los Angeles's political environment as rife with "legalized corruption."
The practice of soliciting "behested payments"— donations from entities with business before the city — has come under fire.
The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles has reportedly received approximately $1.8 million dollars in such payments from companies including AT&T and
Coca-Cola, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and ethical governance.
These unfolding scandals cast a shadow over Mayor Bass's administration, calling into question the integrity of the city's leadership and its "commitment to the principles it professes to uphold," an X commenter suggested.
'Chinatown' Comparisons
Critics of the Bass administration have drawn comparisons between the current scandals and the infamous corruption depicted in the film Chinatown. The movie, "a cinematic masterpiece" which explored water-related corruption in Los Angeles during the early 20th century, now serves as a haunting analogy for the city's present-day issues under Mayor Bass.
Just as Chinatown delved into schemes to control water resources for personal gain, today's accusations point to alleged mismanagement and neglect of the city's water infrastructure during a critical time of need.
Social media users have latched onto the analogy, with one commenter on X quipping, "Los Angeles just turned into the sequel nobody wanted: Chinatown 2: The Hydrant Heist."
Critics argue that while Chinatown was a fictionalized account of corruption, the current situation feels alarmingly real. The stark parallels between art and reality have left Angelenos questioning whether lessons from the past were ever truly learned.
