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Los Angeles Times Sues Mayor Karen Bass Over Deleted Texts Related to Wildfire Response

The Los Angeles Times has initiated legal action against the city, alleging that Mayor Karen Bass deleted key text messages amid the city’s response to a series of debilitating wildfires in California. This lawsuit raises questions regarding the transparency and accountability of local government officials during emergencies.

The controversy began when criticism mounted over the city officials’ handling of the wildfire crisis. Many have blamed California’s leadership for inadequate preparation and response. Notably, Mayor Bass was out of the country attending the inauguration of Ghana’s president when the Palisades Fire broke out on January 7, returning only the following day.

The Times filed its lawsuit on Thursday, claiming that the city violated laws by not only withholding crucial messages but also by deleting records from the mayor’s communications during the wildfires. According to Times reporter Sonja Sharp, the city had previously provided several exchanges between Mayor Bass and other officials, but maintained that not all messages were subject to public records laws. Sharp detailed this challenge in a recent article about the lawsuit, emphasizing the potential dangers of allowing public officials to manipulate their records.

Kelly Aviles, an attorney for The Times, argued that the implications of the case extend beyond the deleted messages. “It’s bigger than these text messages,” she stated, criticizing the city for what appears to be a blatant disregard for the obligation to preserve public records.

In a turn of events, the mayor’s office initially acknowledged the deletion of texts but later claimed they had managed to recover approximately 125 messages. However, they indicated that some were redacted or withheld based on legal exemptions. David Michaelson, legal counsel for Bass, pointed out that these “ephemeral” texts might not fall within the California Public Records Act’s scope, referencing a 1981 Supreme Court ruling that categorized certain informal communications as exempt from records requests. The Times’ legal representatives argue that this precedent should not apply to digital communications like texts.

The lawsuit contends that the current interpretation of public record laws could lead to a dangerous precedent wherein public officials could erase texts immediately following their creation to evade scrutiny. The Times’ documentation suggests this issue is part of a larger pattern of records being destroyed or inadequately provided, as reporters continue to seek information regarding effective wildfire management.

In addition, investigative journalist Alene Tchekmedyian has expressed concerns over obtaining planning documents and communications related to fire management from former L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her team. Furthermore, City Hall reporter David Zahniser has faced challenges accessing correspondence regarding emergency protocols, wind conditions, and wildfire forecasts from the National Weather Service.

In response to the ongoing scrutiny, Michaelson assured that the mayor’s office has consistently addressed public records requests since Bass took office. He reiterated the commitment to transparency by noting that they had recently released texts relevant to The Times’ request.

The implications of this legal battle could have significant ramifications for how local government handles public records and communications, particularly during crises when effective management is paramount. The outcome of the lawsuit may set legal precedents on the preservation of government records and the accountability of public officials.

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