Filmmaker and former “Family Ties” star Justine Bateman has blasted Los Angeles County officials for apparent mismanagement and a lack of preparedness for the wildfires that are still raging in parts of the city.
“I’m pretty angry, and I think a lot of people in Los Angeles are angry,” Bateman told “Jesse Watters Primetime” Thursday, insisting that city leaders should be better at handling situations like this.
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Palisade fireThe Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, Lidia Fire and Sunset Fire ravaged LA County. On Friday, officials reported that the death toll was at least 11, and the fires had burned more than 36,000 hectares and destroyed more than 10,000 structures.
A vehicle burned in the Eaton fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Ethan Swope/AP)
“If you’re going to run a city or a state, you have to take care of the basics, which is to make sure your fire department and police department are well-funded,” the director said, stressing the importance of having “practiced” planning to hopefully minimize the effects of natural disasters. disaster. For California, this includes wildfires, earthquakes, heavy rains and resulting landslides.
Bateman argued that California’s elected officials are “incapable” of planning for this main eventssaying they are “useless” if they don’t do everything in their power to deal with disasters before they happen.
“If you can’t cover the basics, get out of our town. You’re useless to us. You’re a hindrance and you’ve ruined people’s lives because you didn’t 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.” Bateman added that the officials should “resign in shame and responsibility for the people whose lives you just destroyed.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have come under fire for their handling of the wildfires. One the resident was caught on video confrontation Newsom, demanding “tell me what you will do” regarding fire preparations and recovery efforts.
Fire crews 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 to whether Newsom or Bass knew they were “incompetent,” Bateman argued that people who are incompetent “don’t understand” that they are incompetent.
She acknowledged the “incredibly unusual” windy weather that has swept through the LA area, causing further inferno and added hardship for firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
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“If you know what’s coming, make sure you’re prepared for what might happen. And they weren’t,” Bateman said.
To prevent further catastrophic damage from natural disasters in the future, Bateman stressed that voters should reach out to their elected officials.
“Stop looking for ‘R’ and ‘D’ next to these names. Just stop. You have to look at the person. Do you think that person can do the job?” she said, noting that Californians have overwhelmingly voted on the “D” in the past.
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“We voted out people who are not competent to handle these things. If someone is competent and has demonstrated competence and has a ‘D’ next to them, well, vote for them. If they have an ‘R’ next to their name, who cares, vote for someone you think can do this job,” she said.
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – January 8: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks with California Governor Gavin Newsom as he surveys damage during the Palisades wildfires on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images))
Bateman explained that when you’re looking for a plumber, a housekeeper, someone to fix your car, or anyone you get a service from, you look at their “ratings,” not their political affiliations.
“You ask other people who have had experience with them, are they doing a good job? Please do it with the politicians, please. Or you will see the results of it,” she continued.
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Bateman expressed additional concern that Los Angeles could host the 2028 Olympics with “the inability of current leadership to adequately prepare.”
“If people want something to pray for, here’s what you pray 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 endure,” she said.
