Kristin M. Crowley, the first woman and lesbian to become the Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, is reportedly now under heavy criticism for her concentration on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts rather than a pure meritocracy strategy.
This criticism comes while fires rage over the Los Angeles area.
Crowley, who was named fire chief by the Mayor at the time, Eric Garcetti, in 2022, established a diversity, equity, and inclusion bureau in January 2023.
She also planned to implement a three-year plan that would commit the Los Angeles Fire Department to being an institution that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities are Chief Crowley’s priorities,” the LAFD’s website states.
“People ask me, ‘What number are you looking for?’ I’m not looking for a number; it’s never enough.” She said of including members of the LGBT community, “They feel included; they feel valued, and they feel part of a cohesive team. … That just kind of opens the door of people who thought, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know that that was an opportunity for me.’” Crowley once told a reporter.
There were three fires that were raging in the Los Angeles area at two o’clock on Wednesday afternoon Eastern Standard Time: the Palisades fire, which was located west of Los Angeles and had burned approximately 4.5 square miles; the Eaton fire, which was located north of Pasadena and had burned approximately 16.6 square miles; and the Hurst fire, which was located in the San Fernando Valley and had burned approximately 500 acres.
There were around seventy thousand residents who were required to evacuate. Over a quarter of a million customers were without power.
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