Outrageous Deal for Disaster Czar Triggers Public Fury

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reverses course on hefty salaries for wildfire recovery czars after public outcry.

Quick Takes

• Mayor Bass initially planned to pay Steve Soboroff $500,000 and Randy Johnson $250,000 for 90 days of wildfire recovery work.
• The compensation was to come from undisclosed charitable funds, not city money.
• Intense public backlash led to both Soboroff and Johnson agreeing to work without pay.
• Critics called the proposed salaries “obscene” and questioned the ethics of profiting from recovery efforts.
• The controversy marks the second recent reversal by Mayor Bass following public criticism.

Mayor’s Decision Sparks Controversy

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass found herself at the center of a firestorm after proposing substantial salaries for two executives tasked with overseeing wildfire recovery efforts. The plan to pay Steve Soboroff $500,000 and Randy Johnson $250,000 for 90 days of work drew swift and fierce criticism from various quarters, forcing the mayor to quickly backtrack on the decision.

The compensation, which was to be sourced from unspecified charitable organizations, was intended to secure the services of Soboroff as the city’s “chief recovery officer” and Johnson as his assistant. However, the lack of transparency regarding the funding sources and the sheer size of the proposed salaries led to public outrage and accusations of misplaced priorities.

Critics Voice Their Concerns

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez was among the first to voice her disapproval, labeling the proposed payments as “obscene.” The sentiment was echoed by many residents and public figures, including former Trump administration official Ric Grenell, who took to social media to express his dismay.

“He’s getting paid $500,000 for 3 months of work? And they call this a charity. Gross. Offensive.” – Ric Grenell

The controversy threatened to undermine the effectiveness of the recovery efforts and erode public trust in the city’s leadership. Residents of Pacific Palisades, an area severely affected by the wildfires, expressed frustration over the perceived lack of transparency and leadership in the recovery process.

Mayor Bass Backtracks

Facing mounting pressure, Mayor Bass quickly reversed her decision. In a statement, she announced that both Soboroff and Johnson had agreed to work without compensation.

“Steve is always there for LA. I spoke to him today and asked him to modify his agreement and work for free. He said yes. We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing.” – Karen Bass

This marks the second recent instance where Mayor Bass has had to reverse course following public criticism, raising questions about her administration’s decision-making process and its ability to gauge public sentiment effectively.

Soboroff Defends Initial Proposal

Despite agreeing to work pro bono, Soboroff stood by the initial compensation proposal. He cited his extensive experience and the significant responsibilities he would be undertaking in the recovery efforts.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years for free on some of the biggest civic projects for the city of Los Angeles. But nobody ever asked me to drop everything. This time they did. And I said OK, under the condition that my pay not be taken out of city money, or from any wildfire survivors who would otherwise benefit from that money.” – Steve Soboroff

Soboroff emphasized that his role would involve coordinating with federal agencies and advising on infrastructure rebuilding, tasks he deemed critical to the city’s recovery. However, the controversy surrounding his proposed salary has raised questions about the overall management of funds by the mayor and transparency of the wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles.