Laura Kavanagh
@laurakavanagh.bsky.social
Two decades of public life. Fmr. FDNY Commissioner, advisor to Mayors and elector of city state, and federal reps. Union girl.
It's also insulting to the firefighters, who don't confer with city officials to respond to emergencies. Chief Crowley and her members are doing dangerous work against impossible circumstances since the first second the fire call came in. Whether mayors should travel abroad is a separate issue.
Not going to stick up for Bass because this is the job, but we’re all in our feelings right now and going after a mayor in a weak-mayor city over a countywide disaster is cope. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/u...
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Should Have Canceled Africa Trip Amid Fires, Residents Say
Some residents said Mayor Karen Bass should have canceled her trip to Ghana when weather warnings in Los Angeles grew increasingly dire.
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It's also insulting to the firefighters, who don't confer with city officials to respond to emergencies. Chief Crowley and her members are doing dangerous work against impossible circumstances since the first second the fire call came in. Whether mayors should travel abroad is a separate issue.
I've seen unimaginable tragedy in my time at the FDNY, but every time the willingness to help vs hurt is 1000 to 1. Ordinary heroes conducting extraordinary acts of bravery and compassion. Important to remember when we feel pessimistic - the negative stuff just hits harder but it isn't the norm
The point our reporters have made from the ground is it’s the helpers — however big or small the help — making a difference for folks in LA.
@savethechildrenus.bsky.social joined me on @waytooearly.bsky.social this morning to talk about what they’re doing, and how you can help. 👇🏼 #aliontooearly
@savethechildrenus.bsky.social joined me on @waytooearly.bsky.social this morning to talk about what they’re doing, and how you can help. 👇🏼 #aliontooearly
Save the Children working to help families impacted by LA wildfires www.msnbc.com/way-too-earl...
January 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I've seen unimaginable tragedy in my time at the FDNY, but every time the willingness to help vs hurt is 1000 to 1. Ordinary heroes conducting extraordinary acts of bravery and compassion. Important to remember when we feel pessimistic - the negative stuff just hits harder but it isn't the norm
It's also critical to know that no large urban fire department oversees or controls their hydrant system - it's a separate city agency. Chief Crowley's job is to direct FD operations, it is other officials job to maintain the systems the firefighters rely on.
CNN interviewed more than a dozen experts, and they said that no fire hydrants would have been able to stop the LA wildfires with the high winds. “I don’t know a water system in the world that is that prepared for this type of event,” said one expert.
No ‘water system in the world’ could have handled the LA fires. How the region could have minimized the damage | CNN
Widespread destruction from the L.A. fires was inevitable, given the drought and winds. Still, the region could have been better prepared.
www.cnn.com
January 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It's also critical to know that no large urban fire department oversees or controls their hydrant system - it's a separate city agency. Chief Crowley's job is to direct FD operations, it is other officials job to maintain the systems the firefighters rely on.
As a former FDNY Commissioner, and past resident of LA, my heart is with our sister city. I know what it's like to experience a wildfire; I know what it's like to manage a public emergency of this scale; and I know the toll this is taking on the firefighters facing these harrowing conditions.
January 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
As a former FDNY Commissioner, and past resident of LA, my heart is with our sister city. I know what it's like to experience a wildfire; I know what it's like to manage a public emergency of this scale; and I know the toll this is taking on the firefighters facing these harrowing conditions.