Maria Shriver Calls Out Los Angeles Mayor Amid Fires, Says City ‘Cannot Continue With Status Quo’
Journalist and former California first lady Maria Shriver warned that “the people of Los Angeles deserve better” than their current Democratic leaders.
Many people, including celebrities, have lost their homes in the Pacific Palisades area to the wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was condemned for her trip to Ghana last week, which put her thousands of miles from her city on the first day of destruction Tuesday.
The mayor also faced scathing criticism from Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who said during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that “over the last three years, we made it clear that the firefighters needed help,” and pointed out how “understaffed.” “I have been sounding the alarm that these additional cuts could be very, very devastating to our ability to provide public safety.”
As the mishandling of the fire response has put California’s Democratic leaders in the spotlight, some of the party’s best-known donors have turned on them.
Shriver, the ex-wife of former California governor and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, agreed with Crowley’s remarks, saying California’s future “has to be different.”
“LA cannot continue with the status quo. Los Angeles is not what it used to be. It must be different. It must prioritize the safety of its citizens, police, firefighters and schools. The people of Los Angeles deserve better. Chief Crowley says Los Angeles cannot sustain itself. It needs more help,” Shriver wrote.
