DeKalb GA News

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing scrutiny after her recent international travel coincided with devastating wildfires in California. The mayor was returning from Ghana, where she attended a presidential inauguration, when the fires erupted. This trip has drawn criticism due to a promise Bass made during her mayoral campaign to avoid international travel.

During her campaign, Bass had stated, "not only would I of course live here, but I also would not travel internationally — the only places I would go would be D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco and New York, in relation to L.A." However, this pledge has been broken multiple times since she took office in December 2022.

The New York Times reported on Bass's past comments about her frequent travels to Africa while serving as a congresswoman. "I went to Africa every couple of months, all the time," she said. Despite initially expressing reluctance to give up international work, she assured voters that her focus would remain local if elected as mayor.

A review of Bass's public schedule reveals that the Ghana trip was not an isolated incident. She has traveled abroad at city expense at least four other times recently: once to Mexico for President Claudia Sheinbaum's inauguration and three times to France for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Before the wildfires brought attention to her absences, Los Angeles residents seemed accepting of Bass's dual role as both a local leader and a global figure. However, her decision to leave amid warnings of "extreme fire weather conditions" has sparked political controversy.

The situation has raised questions about leadership priorities during crises and may impact Bass's political future significantly.