Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced harsh criticism after a massive mistake during a press conference, where she instructed residents to visit a website using the generic term “URL,” even though she had already acknowledged that the current fire was “the big one,” the NY Post reports.
The blunder occurred as Bass tried to address the public upon returning to the United States after a trip to Ghana, during which time the city of Los Angeles was being ravaged by wildfires. The mayor had previously come under fire for both her absence and her controversial decision to cut the fire department’s budget.
“If you need help, emergency information, resources, and shelter is available. All of this can be found at URL,” the mayor read from her notes, fumbling through the message.
She continued, “Food, water, medicine, a bag packed and ready again, this is an active situation, and conserve water to the extent that you can. We want to make sure that we are ready if we need more water,” but failed to provide clarity or specifics.
At one point, Bass remarked, “This firestorm is the big one,” further emphasizing the severity of the crisis.
The mayor’s performance drew immediate and widespread backlash, especially on social media, where many users lambasted her for her perceived incompetence.
“FIRE THIS [LOSER] NOW,” one user exclaimed on X, accusing Bass of “going all Joe Biden, not knowing what she’s saying!”
Another user posted, “Mayor Karen Bass literally just read the words ‘URL’ off her script during the press conference instead of the emergency website for the victims of the fire. I think we have a new winner for the most incompetent politician in America.”
One more comment read: “Karen Bass needs to resign… this is so embarrassing.”
This misstep occurred amidst viral video clips showing Bass, stone-faced, avoiding questions from reporters when she returned to the US and was confronted with the firestorm in her city.
“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?” Sky News reporter David Blevins questioned Bass as she disembarked from her flight.
“Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?” he pressed.
Bass’s absence during the wildfire crisis — while attending the inauguration of Ghana’s president some 7,400 miles away — has been a focal point of the controversy. Many have criticized her for not being present while the flames ravaged Los Angeles, especially after it was revealed that she had slashed $17.6 million from the fire department’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
In the late afternoon press conference, Bass tried to justify her absence, stating that she had done everything possible to return swiftly and offer her assistance.
“I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane, which facilitated our communications,” Bass explained. “So I was able to be on the phone the entire time of the flight.”
{Matzav.com}