Mayor Responds to Pacific Palisades Fire Criticism
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently appeared on CNN, where she addressed claims from fire survivors in Pacific Palisades, including reality star Spencer Pratt. Bass accused them of spreading “misinformation” that could further traumatize those affected by the fire.
Survivors, like Pratt, have raised questions about the fire’s origins and criticized local and state officials. Bass, during her interview on “The Story Is With Elex Michaelson,” was asked about the progress of housing developments in the area, particularly in light of the recent issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a new project.
“Yes, progress is being made, and things are moving quickly. Still, people are not yet fully back in their homes,” she stated. “Until that happens, it can be discouraging to hear about how fast things are going.” She added that over 340 properties are currently under construction, which she noted is about 5 percent of the total structures that were destroyed.
Bass compared the situation to the recovery efforts following the fires in Hawaii, suggesting that the pace is similar. “We have over 2,000 permits out, and we’ve issued more than 1,100 for around 600 properties,” she elaborated. However, she expressed concern that some narratives on social media may be exacerbating trauma for residents, stating that there is a misconception about the speed of permit approvals and recovery progress.
The announcement about the new housing development faced backlash online, as critics pointed out that the developer, Thomas James Homes (TJH), had begun the application process prior to the fire. During the interview, Bass maintained that a specific TJH home was “burned down” in the fire but acknowledged that no one lived there at the time. Michaelson challenged her on this point, referencing Pratt’s criticisms on social media.
Bass responded, “That’s not entirely accurate,” and indicated that misinformation was complicating the recovery process for many residents. When asked about the timeline of the permit applications, she suggested that the timing might seem confusing but insisted that proper processes were being followed post-fire.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Services, the first application for the TJH property was submitted on November 8, 2024, with subsequent amendments and approvals following. During the fire, a significant number of structures—totaling over 6,800—were destroyed in the area. When considering other nearby fires, this number rises dramatically.
