As wildfires ravaged Los Angeles County, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, publicly questioned Mayor Karen Bass's leadership and preparedness for the crisis. He pointed to the fires and reports of inadequate water pressure in fire hydrants as evidence of serious issues, urging followers to stay updated on the situation via the LA Times' live coverage.

Soon-Shiong's criticism comes as Bass faces scrutiny for being out of the country when the fires erupted. While Soon-Shiong initially claimed a $23 million cut to the LAFD budget, reports indicate the actual reduction was closer to $17 million, although Bass's initial proposal did aim for the higher figure.

Echoing these concerns, former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso directly attributed the severity of the fires to mismanagement within the city, highlighting the lack of water pressure as a critical failure. He painted a grim picture of the situation, likening it to conditions in a developing nation.

With Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency and thousands evacuated, the fires remain uncontained, intensifying the pressure on city officials and raising questions about the adequacy of disaster preparedness measures.