Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke exclusively with KNX News’ Craig Fiegener about the phone call she had with President Trump this week. It's the first phone call she's had with the president since the Palisades Fire happened.
“To be honest with you, I was reluctant to call because there are a few other things going on, like what's happening overseas, and I didn't think, given all that was happening internationally, that he would actually return my call,” she said. “But he did, and so the call came through and his first response was, ' Hi Karen. We haven't talked in a long time.’”
Bass described it as a “good phone call,” and added that her goal was to urge Trump to expedite the desperately needed FEMA fire reimbursements to Los Angeles.
“While I have my differences with the administration that the administration certainly knows about, [such as] the whole immigration issue that happened, the important thing is to get Palliadians back home, and the fact of the matter is we have submitted for reimbursement from FEMA,” she said. “We need to underground the utilities. We need those resources. The city is not flush with funds, and that's, you know, kind of an extreme thing. We're very tight financially and so we're putting money forward to get the Palisades rebuilt. We need to be reimbursed by FEMA. My commitment…I will talk to whoever it takes or meet with whoever is needed in order to get those families in the Palisades that want to return home, back home.”
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Bass said that the president was “very receptive.” She also said she expects the bill for the rebuild to be over a billion dollars. She
Bass also said it's possible she and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will meet in person with President Trump before the end of this month.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok