August 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Fired LAFD Chief Appeals Dismissal, City Council Cancels Special Meeting Amid Controversy

LA City Council Cancels a Special Meeting Originally Set to Review Her Appeal

By Dolores Quintana

Former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has appealed her firing to the Los Angeles City Council. In a letter to city councilmembers today, she gave notice that she would appeal the mayor’s decision but without any details as to why. This is a surprising move from the city’s first woman and LGBTQ chief of the Fire Department, but the immediate scheduling of the meeting was even more surprising. The city charter states that any dismissed employee has the right to appeal but only has ten days to do so. This is the sixth day since Crowley was fired.

City Council President and ally of Mayor Karen Bass, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who stood behind the Mayor’s dismissal of the chief, has called a special meeting of the city council on Friday, February 28, at 5:00 p.m. at Van Nuys City Hall. This gave Crowley only 24 hours or less to respond and defend her case. Dawson was also acting mayor of the city while Bass was on her trip to Ghana, which she took right before the fires began.

However, in late breaking news, the special city council meeting has been cancelled per a source within city government. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced that the vote will now take place at the Tuesday, March 4, city council meeting through his press representatives and the city council’s alert system. Rhonda Mitchell, Harris-Dawson’s representative said, “While it is in the city’s best interest to hear this matter expeditiously, it is also important to allow the appellant, interested parties, and Councilmembers to be present and prepared for the meeting,” as quoted by ABC 7 News.

Bass stated that her reasons for firing Chief Crowley were that she was not briefed on the fire danger, despite the fact that Harris-Dawson was acting mayor, and that the chief refused to complete an after-action report that was requested by the City Council. The other issue was the highly publicized decision not to deploy 1,000 firefighters. However, some have questioned whether or not the firefighters would have been able to do anything since a surplus of fire trucks were out of commission and waiting for repair.

Additionally, KTLA requested Crowley’s phone messages on the day of the fire, where they discovered that Deputy Fire Chief Jason Hing had briefed Crowley that he messaged Harris-Dawson about the city’s fire deployment, preparations, and need for more resources.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local – 112 reacted strongly to the news of the scheduling of the last minute session, saying in a lengthy social media post, “It is outrageous that the City Council has scheduled, on just 24-hour notice, a “Special Meeting” for Friday at 5:00 pm in the Valley to hear Chief Crowley’s appeal of her dismissal as Fire Chief.”

“This is the first City Council meeting we are aware of, perhaps ever, that has been scheduled on 24-hour notice for Friday at 5:00 p.m. It’s obvious that some on the City Council are attempting to bury this issue when nobody is watching…City Council Members will have to ask themselves if this is the way they want to decide the fate of our Fire Chief. What’s happening is wrong, and everyone knows it.”

During the first city council meeting earlier this week, after Crowley’s firing, city council members did not discuss the issue, but some did comment on it. Council member Monica Rodriguez, who was opposed to the firing, said, “The council needs to look at why she was fired and the cause.”

Bob Blumenfield, city councilman from the third district, believes the Mayor has “the right to hire and fire whom she wishes. She needs to have the full confidence of her general managers and her chiefs. If she has lost that confidence, she has every right to change out the head of a department”

Council member Traci Park said, “The fire department shouldn’t be investigating itself. Nor should a city commission of political appointees,” adding that the chief wanted an independent investigation. 

<>Related Posts

‘Dad Bod’ Contest Comes to Venice Restaurant This Weekend

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

The competition will unfold over three themed rounds: a beachwear walk, a tongue-in-cheek “talent show,” and a final flex-off judged...

City Preps for Return of SaMoHi, Pali High Students by Boosting Safety

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Efforts to ensure student safety include reactivating school crossing guards, completing pedestrian safety upgrades, and promoting free public transit As...

Hot Dog on a Stick and Santa Monica Brew Works Team Up for Santa Monica’s Dog Days of Summer

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Dog-Friendly Event in Santa Monica Supports Local Rescue Group  Santa Monica’s four-legged residents will get their day in the sun...

Santa Monica’s ICARUS AI Launches Global Grant Initiative, Empowering 5,000 Lives Through Education

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

SANTA MONICA, CA – ICARUS AI https://icarus.education/ a local Artificial Intelligence and education technology company, headquartered right here in Santa...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Swiss Firm Partners with California Startup to Aid Wildfire Recovery With AI Robots

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

The robotic microfactories are designed to fabricate structural wall panels on-site with high precision, aiming to speed up the construction...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

Santa Monica to Enter Mediation Over Ebony Beach Club Land Seizure

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The decision follows a year-long investigation into White’s efforts to open the Ebony Beach Club—a nonprofit intended to provide a...

(Video) Palisades Rec Center Completes Construction of First Responder-Themed Playground

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The new playground–which replaces a near-40-year-old one–was made with funds largely generated by the FireAid Benefit Concert. Palisades Rec Center...

Santa Monica Animal Shelter Waives Adoption Fees to Ease Shelter Surge

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Overcrowded Shelter Needs Homes for Cats and Dogs Amid an unprecedented surge in intakes, the Santa Monica Animal Shelter has...

Elvis Meets Oedipus at the Getty Villa in Fall Premiere of Oedipus the King, Mama!

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Getty Villa Stages Rock-Fueled Oedipus Satire Under the Stars The Getty Villa Museum will bring the myth of Oedipus to...

Retail and Dining Could be Coming to RAND’s Santa Monica Headquarters

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

The changes aim to revitalize the underutilized property, which has seen reduced occupancy due to post-pandemic hybrid work trends The...

(Video) Festival of Chariots Transforms Venice Beach Into a Showcase of Indian Culture

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

First held in Los Angeles in 1976, the festival draws inspiration from the ancient Jagannath Puri festival in India Festival...

Side-by-Side Beachfront Homes in Santa Monica  Hit Market for $23M Each

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Designed with minimalist luxury, the residences showcase floor-to-ceiling glass walls and views of the Pacific Ocean Two modern beachfront homes,...