#  No Debate Needed Here: Bass is Guilty For Our Wildfires, Not Pratt

     Details    Ken Alpern   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         May 11 2026      [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/037f.jpg#joomlaImage://local-images/stories/May-2026/037f.jpg?width=1500&height=1000)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/32704-no-debate-needed-here-bass-is-guilty-for-our-wildfires-not-pratt)

  [VOICES](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices)   - [  Previous Article **Karen Bass: Words and Deeds as Mayor of Los Angeles (2022–Present)** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32711:karen-bass-words-and-deeds-as-mayor-of-los-angeles-2022-present&catid=375)
- [  Next Article **Democracy is the Right to Vote and Have Every Vote Count Equally** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32702:democracy-is-the-right-to-vote-and-have-every-vote-count-equally&catid=375)

  ###### Typography

- [](# "Smaller Font")  ****Smaller** **Small** **Medium** **Big** **Bigger****  [](# "Bigger Font")
- [](# "Previous Font Style")  ****Default** **Helvetica** **Segoe** **Georgia** **Times****  [](# "Next Font Style")

- [ Reading Mode](# "Reading Mode")

> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
>
>  [Comments](#disqus_thread)

 ALPERN AT LARGE - For those who did, or those who did not, see the recent debate between Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Nithya Raman, and former reality show actor-turned politician Spencer Pratt, of this there is NO debate:

Veteran politicians (especially Karen Bass!) and Nithya Raman are the ones who ignited, exacerbated, and ignored the physical wildfires in our city and the financial and social wildfires that are also consuming us all.

With the city and nation (at least those paying attention to this race, post-Mamdani in NYC and post-Wilson in Seattle) wondering what the heck the urban/Democrat incumbants and the Democrat Socialists of America are doing to our major cities, Mayor Bass just won the race…not to be mayor but to be the most callous:

Blaming Pratt, who lost his home, for exploiting the grief of wildfire victims (LINK:<https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/la-mayor-karen-bass-slammed-162922176.html>) is yet another “proof positive” that she’s still as detached as she was when she was on the other side of the world when our water/fire risks were sky-high here at home.

For example, as we’re being asked to pay more for better/updated street lighting, one cannot help but wonder if that need is as valid as it was the last 5-10 times we were asked to pay more that lighting and related infrastructure.

(NO ON PROP. 218, and LET THE MONEY COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND WE’VE ALREADY PAID INTO FOR DECADES!)

Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is rapidly—on a daily basis—turning heads from a dumb actor into an everyman who’s fed up with the same ol’ same ol’ politics and inefficiency we keep getting told is “life in the big city”.

Will Spencer Pratt, as potential mayor, be our answer for the near future, or just more crazy in our public-sector-as-oligarchs-in-our-city dominated urban nightmare.

It’s NOT Pratt, but rather the “political machine” that is responsible for unsupported police and fire services, inappropriate and insufficient infrastructure and health/safety services, pensions-over-taxpayer-obligations policies.

That’s not Pratt. That’s not our civic-minded volunteers. That’s not our public servants who ARE responsive and responsible to the citizenry.

It’s Bass, and right behind her Raman.

Arguably, the best thing we can do is get as many Neighborhood Councils and civic-minded groups to learn if they will be empowered under a putative Pratt mayorship—ever since Riordan, our NC’s have been shredded to pieces with respect to influence, funding, and legal empowerment.

Homeless policy, affordable housing policy, and economic opportunities for ALL Angelenos is so overdue it’s an insult to even go on about it.

But the incentive to fix the problems, and not just address the problems we face (and create unnecessary and endless permanent public sector positions we cannot afford), is something that many are probably leaning towards Pratt more than either Bass or Raman at this time.

But in the end, Bass owes US an apology (never gave it, to my understanding) and Raman is just an invitation for every sane Angeleno to flee our city.

We’ll all know if Spencer Pratt is just a flash in the pan, but at least we’re listening (which is a LOT more than either Bass or Raman have ever done)!

*(Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D, is a dermatologist who has served in clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, and is a proud husband and father. He was active for 20 years on the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) as a Board Member focused on Planning and Transportation, and helped lead the grassroots efforts of the Expo Line as well as connecting LAX to MetroRail. His latest project is his fictional online book entitled The Unforgotten Tales of Middle-Earth, and can be reached at <Ken.Alpern@MarVista.org>. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Alpern.)*

  - [  Previous Article **Karen Bass: Words and Deeds as Mayor of Los Angeles (2022–Present)** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32711:karen-bass-words-and-deeds-as-mayor-of-los-angeles-2022-present&catid=375)
- [  Next Article **Democracy is the Right to Vote and Have Every Vote Count Equally** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32702:democracy-is-the-right-to-vote-and-have-every-vote-count-equally&catid=375)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>