Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass defended recovery efforts after the 2025 Palisades fire, saying reconstruction in parts of the city ranks among California's fastest. She noted more than 300 homes are under reconstruction in the Palisades and blamed opportunistic misinformation for some public confusion. State data show the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed over 16,200 structures, while construction has started on fewer than 600 — under 4% of what was lost. Bass also linked the fires to broader climate trends and urged greater preparedness for extreme weather.
Mayor Bass Says Palisades Rebuild Among California's Fastest — Critics Raise Questions About Pace
Mayor Karen Bass defended Los Angeles' recovery efforts after deadly wildfires in January.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass defended the city's recovery after the 2025 Palisades fire, saying the pace of reconstruction in parts of the city ranks among the fastest post-wildfire rebuilding efforts in California's history.
Rebuilding Progress
Speaking on the At Our Table podcast with Jaime Harrison, Bass noted that more than 300 homes are already under reconstruction in the Pacific Palisades, comparing that to roughly 300 homes still being rebuilt in Hawaii two years after its devastating fires.
The Palisades fire destroyed more than 16,200 structures in 2025.
Bass: It Doesn't Make Anybody Feel Wonderful To Say This Is One Of The Fastest Recovery Efforts, But I Am Proud Of The Work Underway.
Criticism, Context And Numbers
Mayor Bass acknowledged ongoing hardship for displaced residents, especially during the holidays, and said she understands the grief and suffering people continue to experience. She also accused what she called "opportunistic individuals" of deliberately spreading misinformation that has distorted public perceptions of the city's recovery work.
Statewide figures show the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed more than 16,200 structures. Officials report construction has begun on fewer than 600 homes and businesses — under 4% of the total structures lost — a statistic critics cite when questioning whether recovery is moving quickly enough.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been criticized over slow rebuilding efforts after the deadly wildfires.
Climate And Preparedness
Bass placed the fires in a broader context of changing weather patterns, urging preparation for a wider range of extreme events, from fires and floods to mudslides and stronger hurricanes. She said climate change should not be treated as a controversy in Los Angeles and California policy discussions.
Political Fallout
The mayor has faced intense criticism over aspects of the city's initial response, including questions about her travel to Ghana for a presidential swearing-in early in the fire period. Fox News Digital reported it reached out to the mayor's office for comment.
What Remains Clear: Rebuilding is under way in the Palisades and other hard-hit areas, but most structures destroyed in the 2025 blazes remain unrebuilt, and many residents are still displaced while political debate and scrutiny continue.
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