As Pacific Palisades and Malibu residents pick through the ashes of 6,000 homes destroyed in the catastrophic fire earlier this month, a chilling truth emerges: much of this devastation was preventable. At the heart of this failure lies Councilwoman Traci Park, whose actions in defunding the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) last year directly contributed to the department’s inability to respond effectively to the disaster. Yet, rather than take accountability, Park has launched a full-scale public relations campaign to distract her constituents from her catastrophic leadership.
The Unforgivable Vote
The story begins on May 23, 2024, when Traci Park, along with a majority of the Los Angeles City Council, voted to slash $17.8 million from the LAFD’s budget. This decision was followed by an even more devastating $48 million cut in 2025. These cuts forced the department to reduce staffing, eliminate vital programs, and delay essential equipment upgrades. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has publicly acknowledged that the lack of resources and manpower hindered the department’s ability to respond effectively to the Palisades fire.
For a community as vulnerable as Pacific Palisades, nestled between brush-filled hills and high winds, this was a death sentence waiting to happen. Despite multiple Red Flag warnings issued days before the fire, the LAFD was unprepared, lacking both personnel and equipment to combat the blaze in its critical early hours. Firefighters on the ground confirmed that units were spread too thin, with some areas receiving no response at all during the peak of the crisis.
Traci Park’s Shameless PR Spin
As the fire raged, Traci Park’s initial silence was deafening. But once the flames subsided, her team sprang into action—not to assist recovery efforts but to salvage her public image. Park has been spotted at charity events, hugging victims, posing for photos, and delivering heartfelt speeches about the community’s resilience. However, her actions reek of hypocrisy.
Park’s defenders have tried to shield her from criticism, claiming that her detractors are part of a so-called Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) conspiracy to take her down. This deflection tactic is not only absurd but insulting to the intelligence of her constituents. The criticisms levied against Park are rooted in her own documented decisions, not political vendettas. To blame activists for the backlash she now faces is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shift the narrative.
The Smoking Gun: Budget Cuts and LAFD Failures
Multiple sources within the LAFD have confirmed that staffing shortages—a direct result of Park’s budget cuts—played a significant role in the fire’s spread. Firefighters who should have been held over during the high-risk conditions were sent home. Brush patrols that should have been pre-positioned in high-risk zones remained idle at their stations. Even when off-duty firefighters were called back as the fire spiraled out of control, many couldn’t arrive in time due to the lack of resources to support a full recall.
Additionally, it has come to light that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a critical water source for firefighting efforts in the area, was out of service. This negligence compounded the crisis, forcing firefighters to rely on limited water supplies. While frontline personnel scrambled to make do with what they had, Traci Park remained conspicuously absent from the scene.
Hypocrisy on Display: Traci Park and Donald Trump
In a bizarre twist, Park was recently photographed speaking proudly with former President Donald Trump during his visit to the fire-affected areas. While she publicly touts her support for the community, this moment underscores the disingenuous nature of her leadership. Park’s willingness to align herself with high-profile figures for photo ops while avoiding accountability for her decisions reveals her true priorities: optics over action.
Media Silence and Community Betrayal
Equally troubling is the complicity of local media and influencers who have refused to report on Park’s role in the fire. Instead, they continue to churn out glowing profiles of her “leadership,” shielding her from the accountability she so richly deserves. This failure to report the truth does a disservice to the victims who have lost everything. The residents of Pacific Palisades and Malibu deserve transparency, not carefully curated fluff pieces designed to protect a politician’s career.
The Consequences of Leadership Failure
The Pacific Palisades fire stands as a grim reminder of what happens when political decisions prioritize budgets over public safety. Traci Park’s vote to defund the LAFD directly contributed to the department’s inability to respond effectively to this disaster. Her refusal to take responsibility, coupled with her shameless PR campaign, only adds insult to injury for the thousands of residents who now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
May 2nd, 2024, Traci Park at a city council speaking in support of LAFD and advocating for them to have more resources- only for her to turn around and vote to defund the department later that month.
Accountability Must Prevail
The community must demand answers. Why did Traci Park vote to defund the LAFD despite warnings about the department’s vulnerabilities? Why hasn’t she publicly apologized or acknowledged her role in this catastrophe? And what steps will she take to ensure this never happens again?
If we fail to hold leaders like Park accountable, we set a dangerous precedent for the future. The Pacific Palisades fire was not just a natural disaster—it was a man-made failure, born of poor decisions and misplaced priorities. The victims of this tragedy deserve more than hollow words and staged photo ops. They deserve the truth.
As the community rebuilds, one thing is clear: Traci Park’s hypocrisy cannot be allowed to stand. It is time for the residents of Los Angeles to demand better leadership and to ensure that those who failed them are held to account. The ashes of Pacific Palisades are not just a symbol of loss—they are a call to action.
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