Republican lawmakers request information about LA's response to January wildfires and diversity hiring practices

"Two Republican senators probing L.A.'s response to the Palisades fire in January have requested records about the city's wildfire preparedness and response efforts as well as those related to any diversity, equity and inclusion hiring policies for the city's Fire Department and Department of Water and Power. The request, made last week, is part of an ongoing congressional investigation from Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, and Rick Scott, R-Florida."

"The senators asked L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson to provide all records referring to the creation of DEI hiring policies for the LAFD and LADWP beginning in April 2020. The letter requests information about the budgetary impact of DEI programs and efforts to dismantle systemic racism from the City Council."

"DEI did not cause the fires, and these senators should take their witch hunt elsewhere, said Soto-Martinez. The letter also requested information relating to Kristin Crowley's firing as LAFD chief in February. Crowley filed a legal claim in August against the city and Mayor Karen Bass, alleging defamation and retaliation. She alleged that she was the victim of dishonesty, scapegoating, and unlawful retaliation for telling the public about Bass' budget cuts to the LAFD."

Two Republican senators requested records from Los Angeles about wildfire preparedness, response efforts, and any diversity, equity and inclusion hiring policies for the Los Angeles Fire Department and Department of Water and Power. The request seeks documents on DEI policy creation starting April 2020, budgetary impacts of DEI programs, and City Council efforts to dismantle systemic racism. The letter asks for information on Kristin Crowley's February firing and her August legal claim alleging defamation and retaliation related to Mayor Karen Bass' LAFD budget cuts. The senators also requested records on proposed budget cuts and workforce reductions as part of an ongoing investigation into the Palisades fire during the federal shutdown.

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