Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez is urging former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley to contest her dismissal by Mayor Karen Bass. The controversial firing occurred on Friday, leaving Crowley with a 10-day window to appeal, culminating on March 3. Mayor Bass justified the decision, citing the need for new leadership in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to enhance public safety. However, the move has sparked debate amid reduced budgets and devastating fire incidents.
The city's financial constraints have played a significant role in this unfolding drama. The fire department's budget saw a reduction from $837 million in fiscal year 2024 to $819 million in fiscal year 2025. These cuts were part of broader fiscal adjustments across various sectors. Former Fire Chief Crowley publicly opposed these budget reductions during television interviews amidst emergency situations, including the catastrophic Palisades Fire.
The Palisades Fire, driven by relentless winds, wreaked havoc by destroying over 15,000 structures and claiming at least 28 lives. The National Weather Service had issued warnings of a "LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE, Widespread Windstorm" days before the fires erupted. At the time of the fire outbreak, Mayor Bass was attending the inauguration of Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama.
Councilwoman Rodriguez has raised questions about the legitimacy of Mayor Bass' reasons for firing Crowley. She argued that the move might be more about "scapegoating" than genuine concern for public safety. "Everything that I know about Chief Crowley and everything that I know about… her participation and cooperation in every single (after action-report), it was just out of character for the standard operating procedures that occurred with every major incident," she stated.
Rodriguez further expressed concerns over the handling of the situation, stating, "It was really distasteful and inaccurate to suggest that this was going to better public safety." She emphasized that the decision should not be political: "It shouldn't be a political decision."
The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 supported Rodriguez's perspective, asserting that Crowley's dismissal lacked a full investigation. They highlighted ongoing issues with budget cuts impacting operational capacity. "This is a city that has neglected its fire department and can’t even pay our firefighters correctly for the work that we perform every single day," a statement from the union read.
Crowley herself expressed gratitude for her tenure, saying, "It has been an absolute honor to represent and lead the men and women of one of the greatest fire departments in the world." Her leadership during the Palisades Fire was one of the reasons cited by Mayor Bass for her removal. A statement from Bass' office read, "Bringing new leadership to the fire department is what our city needs."
Meanwhile, City Council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson revealed he had advocated for Crowley's removal weeks before the event transpired. "I was one who was encouraging the mayor to separate with the chief weeks ago," he noted. Harris-Dawson mentioned limited interaction with Crowley during the fire crisis: "Frankly, I did not talk to her until I showed up to a press conference at 4 o’clock that afternoon of the fire."
The city's controller's office confirmed the financial strain on LAFD, noting that "LAFD’s operating budget did get reduced by $17.6 million – part of that reduction included 61 total positions (civilian) being eliminated." Crowley had previously highlighted how these cuts impeded operations, stating, "The $17 million budget cut and elimination of our civilian positions, like our mechanics, did and has and will continue to severely impact our ability to repair our apparatus."
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