John Smith wrote on Jan 13
th, 2025 at 12:45pm:
Gnads wrote on Jan 12
th, 2025 at 2:37pm:
After the affect(the fires) the LAFD Chief pointed the finger at the mayor for slashing her budget by $17.6 million.
Crap.. there were no finding cuts. Funding went up. The only thing on hold was the money set aside for wages, and that was because they were still in negotiations 'over pay rises' for the year. Even that wasn't 'cut' ... it was just put aside into a separate account until the negotiations were over and it could be properly allocated
You believe that old political spin? No one is talking about worker wages. All the bosses got their pay rises/salaries already.
How many times have you heard that answer given here in Oz when governing parties cut funding from dept budgets?
Heaps of times ..... it's bs.
What was lacking was adequate infrastructure, water supply contingencies, water supply to fire hydrants & the number of people on the ground.
It has been well reported & mentioned by the LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley that $17.6 million was cut from their budget.
Also the Santa Ynez water reservoir draining during a severe water deficit. It had a problem that should have been repaired & has been laying empty for 12 months.
Where's Janisse Quiñones the CEO and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on that one? It's her responsibility.
Quote:Her responsibilities:
Leading LADWP through the transition to 100% clean energy by 2035,
Managing large-scale operations, Prioritizing worker safety, and Directing improvements to electrical infrastructure.
You can see by that highlight she's another climate change clean energy devotee & a diversity hire.(She's Latina)
She earns $750,000 a year, $300,000 plus more than her predecessor Martin Adams who was paid $447,082 a year.
Below - all DEI hires -
Quote:Janisse Quinones - LA Department of Water and Power CEO
Salary: $750,000
Kristina Crowley - First LGBTQ fire chief.
Salary: $439,722
Kristina Kepner - first Lesbian Assistant Chief LAFD.
Salary: $264,468
Kristine Larson - LAFD's first black lesbian Equity Bureau Chief.
Salary: $399,000
And here's what Kristine Larson has to say about DEI hires and about victims of fires.
Quote:Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy (LAFD) Chief Kristine Larson is facing widespread criticism online after comments surfaced in which she appeared to shift blame onto fire victims for their circumstances.
Speaking as part of a video that aired during a commercial break for the FOX show 9-1-1 about firefighter capabilities, Larson said, "You want to see somebody that responds to your house, your emergency, whether it's a medical call or a fire call, that looks like you," she said in the same video,
" Am I able to carry your husband out of a fire? He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out."
Her remarks, captured in a resurfaced clip now circulating widely on social media, have sparked outrage among community members and safety advocates, who view them as lacking empathy for victims of fires and emergencies.
Calls for an official response from the LAFD continue to grow. Community organizations are urging the department to reaffirm its commitment to serving all residents with empathy and professionalism for all Angelenos.
No wonder California is phukked - the DEI hire nonsense has not helped one little bit.