Corruption is ingrained in Los Angeles,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit public interest group.

Employee raises and other expenses are expanding the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget. At the same time, the agency has had to scale back operations in recent months.

Since Mayor Bass returned to LA, she has thanked the LAFD for their service and announced that the fires have been "fully contained."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ deputy mayor — whose purview included oversight of the city’s fire department — was placed on administrative leave last month after the FBI

The mayor's office told Newsweek on Friday that "The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos."

Los Angeles ... point to Bass’s decision to travel out of the country ahead of the wildfires after she vowed not to go abroad before taking office, as well as for approving a budget that decreased funding for the city’s fire department.

As wildfires continue to burn across Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders have been in communication with members of the incoming administration, over a possible visit.

California voters have had the power to recall elected officials. It was meant for a time like this, when “indolent” and incompetent leaders are failing. The recall allowed citizens to quickly remove an officeholder and vote in a replacement at the same time.