In January, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appointed former L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff to “kickoff the City’s massive rebuild and recovery effort” after the devastating Palisades Fire. He signed a 90-day contract and agreed to work for free.
Those 90 days are up, but Soboroff says he hasn’t been asked to do anything in the last 45.
In a scathing interview with the Los Angeles Times published Friday morning, Soboroff said his position was gradually and dramatically diminished over the course of the 90 days.
“They haven’t asked me to do anything in a month and a half, nothing, zero,” Soboroff told The Times on Tuesday.
He said that as quickly as two weeks into his tenure, he was ousted from decision making. He learned of Bass’ decision to reopen the Pacific Palisades in February from a reporter, who asked him about the move.
In an event on Thursday, Bass said Soboroff “laid a great foundation” in his time as recovery czar — an event Soboroff says he was not invited to.
“I wasn’t invited to press conferences either,” Soboroff told The Times. “People say, ‘Well, why aren’t you offended?’ Because I was too f— busy. I had to do all that, and I don’t care who took credit for it, but I had to do it, because it wouldn’t have gotten done.”
He told The Times he was open to extending his contract.
A spokesperson for Bass’ office told The times that Soboroff “sent confusing messages to residents but we are grateful for his service and contributions.”
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