To the editor: “You could not be reactive; you could at all times be proactive, and when you can, be predictive” — that is the credo of being a politician in Los Angeles, not less than optically. (“Stop Monday-morning quarterbacking Karen Bass’ fire response,” letters, Feb. 17)
And when you’re a staffer to a politician, it’s your job. That’s why political staffers are exempt from civil service guidelines of their appointments. You’re employed to attain a end result and obligation certain to serve Los Angeles to make issues occur. Most significantly, you’re round when there may be an emergency.
Having served as a Los Angeles Metropolis Council aide, assistant deputy mayor and deputy chief of workers to the council president, I do know this can be a lot to count on — however that’s the gig. Each mayor I’ve identified (together with Richard Riordan, for whom I labored) could have not less than one main check.
So that you don’t should be a prophet in the case of disasters such because the latest fires, one thing a letter author mentioned Mayor Karen Bass’ critics appear to count on of her. You simply must be current.
John Lee, Los Angeles
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To the editor: In a recent column, Steve Lopez joined a refrain of others insisting that Bass “did herself no favors by being on one other continent when the fires broke out, regardless of warnings of important hazard attributable to drought and loopy winds.”
I used to be born in Los Angeles and have lived right here for many years. For so long as I can keep in mind, we have now acquired common warnings of potential hazard from droughts and Santa Ana winds. Even meteorologists usually are not certain of how “important” these circumstances is perhaps.
So in and of itself, the prediction of Santa Ana winds in dry circumstances was not trigger for such alarm that it ought to have prevented the mayor from touring.
When the fires broke out, the mayor was visiting Ghana. Upon studying of the disaster again residence, she instantly returned.
As Californians, we’re continuously reminded of the hazard from earthquakes. So, ought to the mayor stay frozen in place, restricted from all journey till the unpredictable tragedy happens? I believe not.
No different politician within the historical past of Los Angeles has confronted a catastrophe of this magnitude. On this unprecedented second, allow us to give Mayor Bass a chance to rise to the event.
Legrand H. Clegg II, Compton
