Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing withering criticism for her response to the firestorm ravaging her city. Bass was part of a White House delegation to Ghana when the fires erupted and had to fly back on military aircraft. She landed more than 24 hours after the worst fires in decades, and seemed tentative as she defended her handling of the crisis. Bass is a 71-year-old longtime Democratic lawmaker whose specialty is building legislative coalitions rather than being a take-charge executive. She's been harshly criticized by conservatives. But those in Los Angeles say the main test will be how she handles the city's rebuilding from the catastrophe.
