Join WhatsApp Channel
Join Telegram ChannelLos Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong gave American voters an “I told you so” about their elected leaders' response to the Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Criticizing the competence of local officials, Soon-Shiong posted on X that their handling of the crisis proves exactly why voters should not elect leaders based on party lines.
“Perhaps the lesson we learned from this disaster in California is to now vote not based on left or right or D versus R, but perhaps based on competent or no experience in the exercise of a job!!” wrote the entrepreneur from his account on Thursday.
“We must elect on the basis of competence… yes, competence matters,” he added.
CALIFORNIA FIRES: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM
Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong said the current wildfire crisis in Los Angeles proves that voters should elect their leaders based on their skills, not their political affiliation. ((Patrick T. Fallon / AFP | Marco Tacca/Getty Images | Fox News Digital))
Soon-Shiong has made waves in recent months by highlighting the follies of partisanship in American politics. His views motivated him to demand that his newspaper not support a candidate in the 2024 presidential election – a decision that rattled the liberal-leaning outlet's staff and audience.
The owner also announced the creation of a new, more impartial editorial board for the Times, among other measures he proposed to ensure it does not become “an echo chamber of one side.”
Soon-Shiong said his goal was to make the newspaper a “middle-ground and trustworthy news source.”
Owner's emphasis on impartiality has been reflected in his recent criticism of leaders in California and Los Angeles, pointing out that the wildfire disaster proves that getting caught up in choosing incumbent leaders of their political affiliation prevents them from knowing if they can handle a problem. crisis.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE MEDIA AND CULTURE COVERAGE
Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Ethan Swope/AP)
Soon-Shiong made clear earlier this week her belief that the state's Democratic leaders were incompetent.
In a post Wednesday, he said, “Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes and are seeking shelter. The fires in Los Angeles are unfortunately no surprise, and yet the mayor has cut the LA Fire Department's budget Angeles by $23 million and reports of empty fire hydrants raise serious questions.
Although Bass' initial budget proposal sought to cut $23 million, city officials cut LAFD funding by $17 million last year.
In a follow-up article published Thursday, he wrote that “the 'false' evacuation alert today for all of Los Angeles County is yet another example” of the incompetence of California's leaders.
Soon-Shiong appeared to be referring to a false mass evacuation alarm for all of Los Angeles County sent just before 4 p.m. PT on Thursday, which was quickly retracted.
A subsequent alert was sent to county residents that read: “Disregard the latest EVACUATION WARNING. This was for Kenneth Fire only,” referring to residents living near Calabasas and Agoura Hills – near the scene of the Kenneth Fire.
A local official called the false evacuation order a “technical error.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP