Gideon Resnick

Bass is also being criticized for reported cuts to the city's fire department budget. There's been a lot of confusion about this and criticism from the left and the right, so it's worth taking a moment to clear it up. It is true that in June, Bass signed a budget that cut the fire department's funding by more than $17.5 million, or around 2% of the previous year's budget.

Bass is also being criticized for reported cuts to the city's fire department budget. There's been a lot of confusion about this and criticism from the left and the right, so it's worth taking a moment to clear it up. It is true that in June, Bass signed a budget that cut the fire department's funding by more than $17.5 million, or around 2% of the previous year's budget.

But Politico notes that's only a part of the story. The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department, and a separate fund was set aside that ended up adding $50 million to the fire department budget year over year. Still, fire officials say they're understaffed and under-resourced.

But Politico notes that's only a part of the story. The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department, and a separate fund was set aside that ended up adding $50 million to the fire department budget year over year. Still, fire officials say they're understaffed and under-resourced.

But Politico notes that's only a part of the story. The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department, and a separate fund was set aside that ended up adding $50 million to the fire department budget year over year. Still, fire officials say they're understaffed and under-resourced.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.