Former prominent Los Angeles city officials say the chaotic response to the wildfires that engulfed the city proves how stupid “this whole woke religion” is.
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told the Post that they are concerned about the looting that is occurring, the defunding of fire departments, the unfilling of reservoirs and the drying up of fire hydrants. He said he regrets the mismanagement of city services that he allowed.
“The level of mismanagement is enormous. Villanueva, who served as sheriff from 2018 to 2022, said incompetence is coupled with a toxic ideology.
“Both the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the LAPD have over 3,000 officers missing due to events that occurred during what I call the 'Summer of Love' following the death of George Floyd.” he said. Floyd's death at the hands of police in 2020 sparked nationwide protests and a movement to defund the department.
“This is all by design. Even the county board of supervisors has a 'care first, jail last' principle when it comes to criminals.”
Three wildfires that have been burning since January 7 have destroyed thousands of buildings and displaced 88,000 people.
While residents are coming to terms with their losses, at least 40 people have been arrested for looting the smoldering ruins, including at least one who dressed as a firefighter to blend in.
“You wonder why looting happens? Why doesn't it exist? Criminals probably know this, at least for now. [no penalty or jail time] It was something that would happen to them. ”
During the fire response, Deputy Chief Kristin Larson, head of the Los Angeles Fire Department's $300,000-a-year Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) division, said female firefighters rescued a man from a burning building. A video has been released where he talks about whether he is strong enough to do it. .
In it, she said the man “would have ended up in the wrong place if I had to carry him out of the fire,” which some may interpret as victim-blaming. Some felt that he was stating the obvious.
Cooley pointed out that fire departments should not be wasting time and money on such discussions.
“I didn't realize how focused I was.” [Los Angeles] “The fire department was dealing with this nonsense of diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said.
“It appears that DEI was the primary focus of fire department leaders, not firefighting. It's unbelievable that things have gotten this far.
“It seems like people are finally waking up and realizing how stupid this whole woke religion is and how painful it is. There's a movement to recall the governor. [Gavin] Newsome, but not the starter. It's nearly impossible to recall anyone in the state. ”
Some point to leadership. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was in Africa at the time of the fire, has been heavily criticized for cutting the fire department's budget and staffing.
More than 7,500 firefighters, National Guard and emergency responders from across California have been sent to Los Angeles to fight the blaze, as well as troops from neighboring states and federal resources.
But the state's top firefighter, California Forestry and Fire Marshal Joe Tyler, kept a low profile.
what he has is Held one press conferenceJan. 11 in Sacramento, 380 miles from the fire.
A representative from his office contacted by the Post on Tuesday said his current whereabouts are unknown and they are “fairly certain” he was at the scene of a wildfire at some point.
Meanwhile, firefighters and security officers at the scene are being pushed to their limits as they work to extinguish the fires and maintain social order.
John Satterfield, a commander with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department who retired in 2024, said he is speaking with deputies who are still on duty around the clock with “no relief in sight.”
“We're down 30 to 40 percent in Sheriff's Department stations. The Board of Supervisors cut 1,281 positions in 2020,” he told the Post.
“Every appointment in the City and County of Los Angeles is made with the most far-left objectives imaginable.”
He also decried the city's “hysteria” in fixating on diversity over getting the best people for the job.
“Diversity is great, but not every position checks the diversity box.
“There will come a time when technical ability and meritocracy are desperately needed.
“We have repeatedly told the Board of Supervisors that funding and staffing cuts will have a long-term impact on public safety, but they have fallen on deaf ears.”
