Billionaire-Funded Bass Recall Effort Takes Shape
LOS ANGELES, CA — Under fire for her handling of January's catastrophic Palisades Fire, which erupted while she was traveling abroad, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is now facing a billionaire-backed recall campaign.In that, she joins Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is facing his eighth recall campaign. Both recall efforts capitalize on widespread anger over the January wildfires — unprecedented urban wildfires that destroyed more than 11,000 homes and killed 29 people. The disaster is expected to be the costliest in U.S. history.Both campaigns, which have star power and monied backers, face an uphill battle. It's been more than a generation since the city recalled a politician. To get a recall of L.A.'s mayor on the ballot, recall organizers will need to gather more than 330,000 valid signatures from registered voters in 120 days. In recent years, Los Angeles city leaders are far more likely to land in prison than on a recall ballot.The effort will have the money to hire paid signature gatherers. Nicole Shanahan, the billionaire ex-wife of Google's founder who rose to fame by funding the long-shot Robert F Kennedy. Jr. presidential campaign, is now funding the effort to recall the mayor. She is the sole donor listed on the recall campaign's website.And she tweeted her support for the campaign Tuesday."Los Angeles has endured enough. Once a city of hope, it’s now overrun with crime, chaos, and suffering. Today, we begin the effort to revive the City of Angels—for the people. First step: recalling Karen Bass," she wrote while posting a recall campaign video centered on the Palisades fire.The recall campaign identifies problems laid at the mayor's feet, contending the Los Angeles Fire Department is underfunded, businesses are fleeing, homelessness is out of control, and public transit is unsafe.In announcing the effort to recall the governor last week, actor Mel Gibson, Trump's appointed "Special Ambassador to Hollywood" also hinted at an effort to boot the mayor.Appearing in the Eaton Fire-ravaged foothills of Altadena with the Newsom recall group Saving California, Gibson said residents deserve better from Bass and Newsom.“Gov. Newsom and Karen Bass let us all down,” said Gibson. “California was ill-prepared and had scant resources to deal with the inevitable fires. They knew that. So are we supposed to believe our elected officials didn’t know that?”Bass is halfway through her first term. In additional to wildfire recovery, the city also needs to prepare for a string of high-profile sporting events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.However, the mayor's efforts to unify the city around recovery has been overshadowed by high-profile rifts and finger pointing. The wildfire response has put her at odds with City Council member Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley.Last month, Bass fired Crowley over her handling of the fire and its aftermath. Crowley failed in her appeal before the City Council on Tuesday, but she landed several public relations blows to the mayor, keeping the spotlight on infighting instead of recovery.Bass supporters dismissed the recall as Republican efforts to exploit the fires in a place where all elected city leaders or Democrats.Doug Herman, a strategist representing the mayor told the New York Times the recall effort is “nothing more than another extreme right-wing political stunt designed to divide Los Angeles when we need to move forward.”Bass has yet to issue a public statement in response to the recall effort.SEE ALSO:Ousted Fire Chief Crowley Loses Her Appeal In Contentious HearingMel Gibson Blasts Newsom In New Recall AnnouncementParade Of City Hall Scandals Prompts Effort To Bolster EthicsThe article Billionaire-Funded Bass Recall Effort Takes Shape appeared first on Los Angeles, CA Patch.
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