L.A. mayor backtracks after outcry over $500k salary for wildfire recovery czar
By isabelle // 2025-02-11
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  • Mayor Karen Bass reverses decision; Steve Soboroff to work for free as wildfire recovery czar after backlash over $500,000 salary.
  • The Palisades fire destroyed homes, businesses, and claimed 29 lives, sparking intense criticism over Soboroff's compensation.
  • Ric Grenell, Trump’s envoy, led the charge against the "gross" and "offensive" pay, resonating with many fire victims.
  • Soboroff initially defended the salary but agreed to work pro bono, alongside Randy Johnson, another real estate executive.
  • The controversy highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the use of recovery funds for the wildfire victims.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Saturday that Steve Soboroff, her appointed wildfire recovery czar, would work for free after widespread backlash over his planned $500,000 salary for just 90 days of work. The controversy erupted after the Los Angeles Times revealed that Soboroff, a real estate developer and former police commissioner, was set to be paid by charitable organizations to lead the city’s recovery efforts following the devastating Palisades fire. The decision to scrap the hefty paycheck came after sharp criticism from public figures, residents, and even Trump administration officials, who called the compensation “gross” and “offensive.” The Palisades fire, which raged for three weeks in January, destroyed homes and businesses, and claimed at least 29 lives. Soboroff, a longtime civic leader, was tapped by Bass to oversee the rebuilding efforts, but the revelation of his inflated salary threatened to overshadow the recovery work.

Grenell leads criticism of “offensive” pay

Ric Grenell, President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, was among the most vocal critics of Soboroff’s compensation. In a post on X, Grenell lambasted the arrangement, writing, “He’s getting paid $500,000 for 3 months of work? And they call this a charity. Gross. Offensive.” Grenell, who toured the fire-ravaged areas with Bass and other officials earlier in the week, added, “I’m getting paid $0 – as are many people. It’s a good thing there will be strings on the Federal money for California.” Grenell’s comments resonated with many Angelenos, including Pacific Palisades residents who lost homes in the fire. Larry Vein, whose property suffered smoke damage, said no one should oversee recovery efforts for “financial gain.” Steve Danton, who is living in temporary housing after losing his home, called Soboroff’s planned pay a “money grab” and criticized the city’s “crisis of leadership.”

Backlash pushes Soboroff to work for free

The backlash was so intense that Bass reversed course within hours of the Times report. In a statement, the mayor said she had asked Soboroff to modify his agreement and work without pay. “Steve is always there for L.A.,” Bass said. “He said yes. We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing.” Soboroff, who initially defended his salary as justified by his expertise and the scope of his responsibilities, ultimately agreed to the change. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years for free on some of the biggest civic projects for the city of Los Angeles,” he told the Times. “But nobody ever asked me to drop everything. This time they did.” Randy Johnson, a real estate executive assisting Soboroff, was also set to receive $250,000 from charitable groups but will now work for free. Bass praised Johnson’s “generosity and expertise” but declined to name the organizations that had planned to fund the salaries.

Why the outrage?

The controversy stemmed not only from the sheer size of Soboroff’s paycheck but also from the source of the funds. Critics questioned whether donors to the unnamed charities knew their contributions would be used to pay salaries rather than directly aid fire victims. L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who sits on the recovery oversight committee, called the $750,000 total for Soboroff and Johnson “obscene” and “infuriating.” Soboroff’s defenders pointed to his decades of unpaid civic service, including volunteer roles on the Board of Police Commissioners and the Department of Recreation and Parks. However, the optics of a six-figure salary for a short-term role in a city still reeling from disaster proved too much for many to stomach. The swift reversal on Soboroff’s salary underscores the challenges facing Bass as she navigates the aftermath of one of L.A.’s worst wildfires. While the mayor has sought to project confidence in the recovery efforts, the backlash over Soboroff’s pay revealed deep frustrations among residents and officials alike. As the city moves forward, transparency and accountability will be critical to restoring trust and ensuring that recovery funds are used effectively to help those who need it most. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com LATimes.com Yahoo.com
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