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The leadership crisis became starkly evident when Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass demoted the city’s fire chief, Kristen Crowley, amidst criticism over firefighting preparedness during the devastating Palisades wildfires. Critics argue that this mismanagement—particularly the failure to activate thousands of firefighters when conditions worsened—exemplifies a broader pattern of ineptitude within the state's leadership. Crowley defended her actions by emphasizing her commitment to firefighter welfare and community safety, while asserting that her decisions had been based on prior experience and integrity.