By KENNETH SCHRUPP | THE CENTER SQUARE and MUST READ ALASKA
Hundreds of fire hydrants were stolen from the ground for scrap metal in advance of the blazes raging across Los Angeles, highlighting the local government’s challenges in maintaining basic order and infrastructure.
“These fire hydrant thefts are yet another sign of how crime is out of control in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to The Center Square before his November election. “Thieves know they’ll face little or no consequences if they are caught, so they’re willing to risk the public’s safety for a small profit.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has been away on a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa as a member of a Biden administration delegation, recently cut the fire department’s budget by $17.6 million.
Upon her arrival back in the United States, Sky News asked Bass whether she regrets cutting the fire department’s budget, and if she feels she owes citizens an apology for being absent as the city burned.
Bass ignored the questions, her eyes glued to the ground as she proceeded through the airport.
Days before Bass left for Ghana, the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles Bureau warned of “extreme fire weather conditions.”
The day before fires broke out, Bass shared a NWS warning, suggesting she may have been aware of the fire before her departure.
“There is an expected destructive and potentially life-threatening windstorm starting Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon,” said Bass. “Stay safe LA!”
On Wednesday, fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades lost their water pressure entirely. All water storage tanks in the area were dry. Water reservoir projects promised by the state government for years have not been built.
As of Wednesday evening the fires are zero percent contained.
Stay up with the Los Angeles Fire Department reports and maps at this link.
Maybe(?), the resident victims of this tragic fire get better care than those in Maui and/or rural North Carolina???
Maybe(?), this awakens taxpayer citizens to the lack of leadership and their useless initiatives???
Maybe(?), this is a rally cry for better leadership that serves the best interest of the tax paying citizens?
Maybe(?), tax paying citizens in California awaken and change their leadership but, in California it’s likely ‘not’ going to happen?
Maybe(?), here in AK907 we can also learn from this tragedy, and this awakens tax paying citizens and we choose better leadership!!!