To the editor: “You will need to not be reactive; you will need to all the time be proactive, and in the event you can, be predictive” — that is the credo of being a politician in Los Angeles, at the very least optically. (“Stop Monday-morning quarterbacking Karen Bass’ fire response,” letters, Feb. 17)
And in the event 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 outcome and obligation sure to serve Los Angeles to make issues occur. Most significantly, you’re round when there’s an emergency.
Having served as a Los Angeles Metropolis Council aide, assistant deputy mayor and deputy chief of employees to the council president, I do know it is a lot to anticipate — however that’s the gig. Each mayor I’ve recognized (together with Richard Riordan, for whom I labored) could have at the very least one main take a look at.
So that you don’t need to be a prophet in the case of disasters such because the current fires, one thing a letter author stated Mayor Karen Bass’ critics appear to anticipate 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 crucial hazard on account of 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 bear in mind, we now have acquired common warnings of potential hazard from droughts and Santa Ana winds. Even meteorologists are usually not positive of how “crucial” these situations may be.
So in and of itself, the prediction of Santa Ana winds in dry situations 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 feel 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 possibility to rise to the event.
Legrand H. Clegg II, Compton
