Director and former “Family Ties” star Justine Bateman criticized Los Angeles County officials for their apparent mismanagement and lack of preparedness for the wildfires that continue to ravage parts of the city.
“I'm very angry, and I think a lot of people in Los Angeles are angry,” Pittman told “Jesse Waters Prime Time” on Thursday, stressing that city leaders must be better at handling these types of situations.
California wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, destroying thousands of homes
Palisades fireEaton Fire, Hurst Fire, Lydia Fire and Sunset Fire swept through Los Angeles County. As of Friday, officials reported that the death toll was at least 11 and that the fires had burned more than 36,000 acres and destroyed more than 10,000 buildings.
The Eaton Fire burns a car on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Ethan Swope/AP)
“If you're going to run a city or a country, you have to take care of the basics, which is to make sure that your fire department and your police department are well-funded,” the director said, stressing the importance of having “practical” planning in place to minimize the consequences of natural disasters. For California, this includes wildfires, earthquakes, heavy rains, and subsequent mudslides.
California's elected officials are “incapable” of planning for these things, Pittman said Major eventsSaying they are “useless” if they do not do everything they can to address disasters before they happen.
“If you can't cover the basics, get out of our city. You are useless to us. You are a burden and you have ruined people's lives because you did not do your job,” she said. “You didn't do what you were hired to do. You didn't do what we paid you to do.” Pittman added that those responsible should “resign out of shame and responsibility to the people whose lives have now been ruined.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have received backlash for their handling of the rampant fires. one One resident was caught on video confronting Newsom demands”Tell me what you will do“With regard to firefighting preparations and recovery efforts.
Fire personnel respond to destroyed homes as a helicopter drops water as the Palisades Fire grows in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)
As for whether Newsom or Bass knew they were “incompetent,” Pittman said incapable people “don’t understand” that they are incompetent.
She acknowledged the “incredibly unusual” stormy weather that has swept through the Los Angeles area, causing more inferno and making it harder for firefighters to work to put out the flames.
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“If you know what's coming, you make sure you're prepared for what might happen,” Pittman said. “But they weren't.”
To prevent more catastrophic damage from natural disasters in the future, Pittman stressed the need for voters to communicate with their elected officials.
“Stop looking for the 'R' and 'D' next to these names. Just stop it. You have to look at the person. Do you think this person can do this job?'” she said, highlighting how Californians in Mostly with this task. Voted “D” in the past.
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“We vote for people who are not qualified to handle these things. If someone is competent and shows their competence, and they have a 'D' next to them, well, vote for them. If they have an 'R' next to their name, who cares, vote for them,” she said. “For someone you think can do the job.”
PACIFIC Palisades, CA – JANUARY 08: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, speaks with California Governor Gavin Newsom while surveying damage during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Jeff Gretchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) (Photo by Jeff Gretchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images))
Pittman explained that when you're looking for a plumber, a housekeeper, someone to fix your car, or anyone you're getting service from, you look at their “ratings,” not their political affiliations.
“You ask other people who have experience with them, are they doing a good job? Please do it with politicians, please. Or see the results of it,” she continued.
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Bettman expressed growing concern about Los Angeles' ability to host the 2028 Olympics with the current leadership's “inability to adequately prepare.”
“If people want something to pray for, here's what you're praying for. Pray that we don't have an earthquake in Los Angeles while these two people, Newsom and Bass, are in charge. Pray that we don't have an earthquake, because they won't be able to handle it.” that”.
