Fire Recovery Czar Will Work Free After Criticism Over $500,000 Salary

Mayor Bass Reverses Course on Payment for Steve Soboroff

Faced with fierce criticism over her chief wildfire recovery officer’s planned salary of $500,000 for 90 days of work, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reversed course Saturday evening and said Steve Soboroff would receive no compensation.

Soboroff’s Original Compensation

Soboroff’s original salary, which would have been funded entirely by charitable organizations, was first reported by The Times early Saturday morning. Soboroff had defended the arrangement, saying his expertise made him worth the price.

Bass’s Reversal

After her reversal, Bass said in a statement: “Steve is always there for LA. I spoke to him today and asked him to modify his agreement and work for free. He said yes. We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing.”

Soboroff’s Background and Expertise

When Bass first tapped Soboroff to step in last month as her wildfire recovery czar, the real estate developer seemed poised to provide a much-needed political lift to a mayor whose initial emergency response had faltered.

As a longtime civic leader who raised his family in Pacific Palisades, Soboroff provided the mayor a direct line to the fire-scorched community. And he was already well-known for his work developing thousands of homes in Playa Vista.

Criticisms and Controversy

But the revelation that Soboroff would be paid $500,000 over three months drew searing rebukes from Palisades residents and several public figures, threatening to undermine his effectiveness in helping the mayor restore confidence in the city and its rebuilding efforts.

Reactions from Public Figures and Residents

LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who sits on the five-member council committee overseeing the recovery, also expressed anger over the amount, calling it “obscene.”

Ric Grenell, who is President Trump’s envoy for special missions, also spoke out early Saturday, calling Soboroff’s pay “offensive” in a post on X.

Aftermath and Future Plans

Bass said Saturday night that Johnson would also work for no pay, saying she was “grateful for his generosity and expertise.”

The mayor’s team declined to name the charitable organizations that were to have covered Soboroff’s salary. It is not clear how those organizations had raised the money or what else it might go toward. But Rodriguez had questioned whether donors to those groups knew how their money would be used.

Conclusion

The controversy over Soboroff’s pay has sparked widespread debate about the role of money in disaster relief efforts. While some argue that experts like Soboroff deserve fair compensation for their work, others believe that such large sums can undermine the trust and credibility of the recovery efforts. As the city of Los Angeles continues to rebuild and recover from the devastating wildfires, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the city’s efforts to restore confidence and stability in its communities.

FAQs

* What was Steve Soboroff’s original salary?
$500,000 for 90 days of work
* What was the source of Soboroff’s original salary?
Charitable organizations
* How did Soboroff respond to criticism over his pay?
He said his expertise made him worth the price
* What was the reaction from public figures and residents?
Criticism and outrage, with some calling the pay “obscene” and “offensive”
* What was the outcome?
Soboroff will work for free, and the mayor’s team has declined to name the charitable organizations that were to have covered his salary.