L.A. Recovery Czar Sounds Off Over Working for Free: “I Was Lied To”

The Turmoil Surrounding the Mayor

Steve Soboroff, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ wildfire recovery czar, went public with his frustrations about doing the job for free, telling an audience he was “lied to” — and had the texts and emails to back it up.

The Initial Plan

The remarks, made to an alumni group at Harvard-Westlake School last week, came as Soboroff attempted to address what he called “the elephant in the room”: the city’s initial plan to pay him $500,000 over 90 days, and his subsequent decision to work without pay after an outcry over the size of his compensation.

The Mayor’s Initial Statement

Soboroff, a real estate developer and civic leader who was selected by the mayor to do the work in mid-January, told reporters early on that his salary would be covered by philanthropy. Bass, without disclosing the amount, said the same thing weeks later.

The Reality Sets In

On Thursday at Harvard-Westlake, Soboroff said he found himself at a point where he had “no money” and “no contract,” according to a recording of his remarks.

“So then I found out that they really didn’t have the money,” he said. “And then I found out I really did have the [personal] bills.

“And so there was one of two things to do: Go public and quit, and say I was lied to — here’s my emails, here’s my texts, here’s all this s—,” he told the group. “Or tell them I’ll do it for free, and hope that it comes around later on.”

The Backpedaling

By Monday, Soboroff changed course, telling The Times he did not think that the mayor had lied or intentionally misled him.

“That was not what I feel and not what I meant,” he said in an interview.

The Fallout

The recording provided fresh evidence of the turmoil that has surrounded the mayor since the outbreak of the Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes in Pacific Palisades and surrounding communities.

The mayor has had tense interactions in recent weeks with Lindsey Horvath, who represents the Palisades on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. On Friday, the mayor ousted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.

The Context

Facing criticism over the emergency response and her absence from the city when the fire broke out, Bass named Soboroff as her recovery czar Jan. 17. But she and Soboroff did not always agree, or even fully communicate, on the city’s strategy for reopening and rebuilding.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Soboroff’s salary and the mayor’s handling of the recovery efforts has left many questions unanswered. As the city continues to rebuild and recover, it remains to be seen how this drama will play out.

FAQs

* What was the initial plan for Soboroff’s salary?
+ $500,000 over 90 days, to be covered by philanthropy
* Why did Soboroff decide to work without pay?
+ After an outcry over the size of his compensation, he agreed to work for free
* What was the mayor’s initial statement on Soboroff’s salary?
+ She said Soboroff’s salary would be covered by philanthropy, without disclosing the amount