Garcetti​ Accused Of Risking Lives By Allowing Homeless Campfires

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti isn't protecting the people of LA from the threat of wildfires, according to Orange County Supervisor and District Attorney-elect Todd Spitzer.

Spitzer lobbed the political grenade across the county line in the form of an op-ed in the Orange County Register, tearing into LA's mayor for condoning "campfires by homeless individuals in the extremely dry, mountainous brush areas." The harsh criticism comes at an extremely sensitive time in the aftermath of the massive Woolsey Fire that took three lives and destroyed hundreds of homes as well as a homeless epidemic gripping the city. It also comes a year after the Skirball Fire, which was caused by a cooking fire at a homeless encampment and forced the evacuation of thousands.

Garcetti's office did not respond to Patch's call for comment as of Wednesday afternoon. However, on Sunday, he wrote and op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, touting the city's new bridge housing programs designed to reduce the number of people living in homeless encampments.

"The unimaginable horror faced by California residents and firefighters who watched a monstrous wall of flame obliterate an entire town is a tragedy that most of us will remember forever," Spitzer wrote in an opinion piece published in the Orange County Register. "In the end, it's the job of elected officials to set the highest standards of public safety so that we at least have a fighting chance in the future of controlling something like this."

Spitzer wrote that in the past three decades as a California Assembly member and an Orange County supervisor, he has been consumed with giving firefighters, police, and prosecutors the support they need to excel at their jobs despite budget cuts and rising crime.

"So it was with great concern and disbelief that I watched a recent news report detailing how Los Angeles city officials have condoned campfires by homeless individuals in the extremely dry, mountainous brush areas. The Los Angeles mayor said the vagrants could not be arrested because the city does not have "No Trespassing" signs posted in the area. Instead, he dispatched a team of counselors with no law enforcement authority to roust the homeless. This was met with limited success.

"It's unclear to me how many signs Mayor Eric Garcetti thinks he would need to cover the Santa Monica Mountains behind Bel Air and the Getty Museum. Apparently he is more concerned with creating bureaucracy than with the lives of citizens."

In Orange County, he added, "we do not allow the lives and well-being of our residents to be placed at risk by the homeless population. I led efforts with my Board colleagues to clear homeless encampments from three miles along the Santa Ana River and place the individuals in shelters."

In November, he wrote, two Los Angeles brush fires started in homeless encampments, including one that involved Griffith Park. "And who can forget the massive Skirball fire last year that burned down six Bel Air homes, which not surprisingly was caused by vagrants who were cooking a meal."

"It's logical to assume that the dense brush on the hillsides is an attractive place to build a campsite and create a makeshift galley for breakfast, lunch and dinner. To not vigorously enforce the area as a no-fire zone is just plain reckless."

Spitzer wrote that as district attorney, he will have "the authority to set an example for the rest of the state regarding a no-tolerance stance on homeless firebugs or any other type of homeless crime. Many of these individuals just need a lucky break to get on their feet and I will continue to help with this effort, as I have for the past eight years.

"However, I will not tolerate anyone who violates our laws and jeopardizes our community safety. I hope Los Angeles can follow this lead."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Image of Skirball Fire during 405 morning traffic via Twitter courtesy of Rick Patrick