LA mayor under fire from Maria Shriver for not doing enough to prevent wildfires

Maria Shriver, a journalist and former first lady of California, stated that "LA residents deserve better" than their current Democratic leadership.

In the Pacific Palisades area and other parts of Los Angeles County, wildfires have caused many people, including celebrities, to lose their homes. These fires have burned more than 27,000 acres, destroyed over 10,000 structures, and resulted in multiple fatalities, according to local officials.

The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has been criticized for her journey to Ghana last week, which caused her to be absent from her city on the day of the devastation that occurred on Tuesday.

LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley also faced a blistering critique from Jake Tapper on CNN, where she emphasized how the LAFD is understaffed, under-resourced, and underfunded. She claimed that the additional cuts could be devastating for the department's ability to provide public safety.

Some of California's Democratic leaders have come under scrutiny due to mismanagement of the fire response, causing some of the party's prominent donors to turn against them.

Shriver, the former wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, agreed with Crowley's statement that California's future must change.

"Chief Crowley has stated that LA cannot continue with the current state of affairs. The city has changed and must prioritize the safety of its citizens, police, fire, and schools. LA residents deserve better. The mayoral race presented a clear choice last time around, and now it is up to the residents to decide what is important and what is not. Currently, the most important issue is getting the fire under control and providing support to firefighters and neighbors. Once this is accomplished, it is time to reimagine what is possible for the city."

Official FEC records indicate that Shriver has a history of donating to Democratic Party campaigns, including "Gallego for Arizona" and "Harris for President."

In July, Shriver wrote a Facebook post supporting Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential bid. She praised Harris, who is from California and served in its government for years, arguing that those who donated to her were investing in hope, democracy, and the woman and the administration's accomplishments. Shriver emphasized that this was a people's revolution, driven by the people.

Shriver has consistently opposed Karen Bass, endorsing her opponent, real estate developer Rick Caruso, in 2022.