WASHINGTON / January 15, 2025 — The fires that consumed Southern California during the past week are a direct result of the corrupt DEI policies implemented in recent years in Los Angeles County. Rated as one of the most costly natural disasters in US history, the fire has ignited a storm of criticism against government officials, especially Governor Gavin Newsome, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and D.E.I. hire Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. (1)
Upon her appointment in 2022, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley launched her Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Bureau to “focus on ensuring a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace for all.” (2) As a result, the Fire Department was able to boast, “of the more than 6,500 applicants to LAFD, 70% were people of color and nearly 8% … were female,” which was double the percentage of female firefighters within the Department at the time. (3)
While spending heavily on D.E.I. programs, the LA Fire Department budget was cut by $17.6 million — just months prior to the outbreak of the fire. (4)
Commentator Victor Davis Hanson reveals, “The DEI fire chief, 70% of her hires have been based on DEI. Not muscularity, not experience, not size, not competence. The primary criterion was DEI.” Hanson concluded the destructive fires “could have been prevented had we had meritocratic hiring.” (5)
In addition, California leaders were sending firefighting equipment to Ukraine, failing to make sure there was enough water to supply fire hydrants and assure that the strongest, best-trained, most-skilled firefighters are leading the operations. (6)