The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times blasted the city’s mayor, Democrat Karen Bass, for her “poor planning” and “poor judgment” in slashing the budget for the fire department, which has been hamstrung while trying to contain the wildfires that have devastated entire neighborhoods.

Since Mayor Bass returned to LA, she has thanked the LAFD for their service and announced that the fires have been "fully contained."

Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong remarked how Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut the fire department’s budget prior to the ongoing Palisades fires.