Mayor Eric Garcetti recently established the Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Los Angeles Fire Department to boost representation among underrepresented groups. However, under Mayor Karen Bass, the equity initiatives are facing cuts and restructuring. Bass claims not to be influenced by external pressures despite significant criticism regarding DEI efforts. The proposed budget for 2025-26 slashes several DEI positions, raising concerns among advocates about the future of diversity initiatives within the department.
"This was Karen Bass cowing to the Trump administration," said Rebecca Ninburg, a former fire commissioner under Garcetti. "Chief Crowley was very proud of this, and they are basically eliminating this project during their installation of a whole new regime."
"That's the beauty of living in L.A. I don't need to placate anybody over diversity and inclusion," she said in an interview Friday. "We are looking at doing some reorganization at that level. But we would never roll back the goals. We don't have any reason to do that at all."
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