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Union rallies behind fire chief, denounces attack on her performance – Jobsmaa.com

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The union representing more than 3,000 Los Angeles city firefighters renewed its support for Fire Chief Christine Crowley on Friday, denouncing an anonymous letter accusing her of mishandling the response to the massively destructive Palisades fire.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 condemned a letter released earlier in the week — which purported to be from “retired and active LAFD chiefs” but had no names or signatures — saying Crowley had “failed” Los Angeles residents. Mayor Karen lost Bass's confidence.

In a one-page letter to Crowley, the union's 10-member board of directors said “disgruntled and anonymous individuals” were waging a campaign against him. They also praised Crowley, the department's first female chief, for being “willing to fight” for her staff and the agency's budget.

“While we don't agree on everything, you have been the only fire chief in decades to demand adequate resources,” the union's letter reads.

Crowley's forceful endorsement is the latest chapter in the back-and-forth that has engulfed city leadership since the Palisades fire, which destroyed more than 3,500 structures and killed at least 10 people.

Last week, as the fire continued to burn, Crowley gave television interviews saying his department's response to the emergency had been hampered by a $17 million cut in its budget. In an appearance, he said the city of Los Angeles — and presumably, Mayor Karen Bass — Failed her and her company.

The city's top budget analyst and some city council members, pushed backSaying the fire department budget Planned to grow More than 7% once Raises for firefighters And factoring in vehicle purchases. Bass himself said the $17 million cut to some fire department operations did not affect the response to the Palisades fire.

In the days that followed, Crowley was the target of an anonymous five-page memo, which featured fire department letterhead, purported to be from “LAFD Chiefs” and accused the Palisades of “fighting and pointing out guilt” in the fire. He continued to rage. No previous L.A. fire chief has behaved that way, and the letter, dated Monday, was circulated inside and outside the fire department.

“Chief, please focus on your current duties and responsibilities, which are currently focused on suppressing and stabilizing the Palisades fire,” the letter said. “Your outrage over the budget and claims that 'the city has failed LAFD' is ill-advised, poorly timed and removed from the more important issue, the Palisades fire.”

The unsigned letter faulted Crowley on a number of issues, including employee complaints, city pay issues and agency allegations. Couldn't prepare enough For the fire.

It was not immediately known how many fire department employees were involved in writing the letter. On Thursday, the agency's Chiefs Officers Association, which represents dozens of command staff, weighed in with its own letter praising Crowley's “courageous leadership and advocacy.”

A one-page document signed by union president Robert Nelson said, “Your latest action highlights a fact we all know very well. “Our ability to protect and serve depends on the right personnel, resources, equipment and facilities, and data analysis shows that the LAFD is understaffed compared to other major cities. “

Nelson could not be reached for comment on the letter sent Thursday and later provided to The Times by the rank-and-file firefighters union.

PASS spokesman Zach Seidl asked about correspondence for and against Crowley, The Times noted, regarding the mayor's comments at the city's emergency operations center last weekend. Bass said after meeting with Crowley in person that he and the chief are “focused on fighting this fire” and working “in lockstep.”

Crowley, for his part, said he has received support from current and retired leaders in recent days. The chief minister also said he was “digging” the issues raised in the letter.

“Again, I don't know who these people are, and honestly, it doesn't matter to me,” he said. “I'll take that comment.”

The same day the Palisades Fire broke out, the Eaton Fire tore through the Altadena area, destroying more than 7,100 structures and killing at least 17 people. Altadena is based outside of Los Angeles, so is not part of Crowley's duties.

Criticism of Crowley was not limited to correspondence. Loyola Marymount University political science professor Fernando Guerra called Crowley's media blitz last week — and what he said the city failed his agency — an “incendiary crime.”

Crowley broke ranks with other city leaders in the middle of a crisis, as they needed to project unity, said Guevara, who also runs Loyola Marymount's Center for the Study of Los Angeles. On top of that, he said, Crowley did it without first talking to his bosses.

“To me, in terms of city hall politics and budget politics, he's not ready for prime time,” he said.

Los Angeles Fire Commissioners Chairman Zenithia Hadley Hayes said she also received a letter attacking Crowley and did not know the names of those behind it. He said the commission should take up the questions raised by the letter “one at a time”.

“Do I think it's fair or not? At this particular time, I don't know,” he said. “I'm not going to say whether I think these allegations are fair or not, because they are allegations.”

Hadley Hayes Boss appointed For his position, Crowley said he acknowledged a passage in the letter that pointed fingers and should have focused on his duties.

“I believe he should have focused only on managing the emergency,” he said. “I agree with that. As for the other allegations in the letter, I'm not going to fight anybody.

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