The Los Angeles Times has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, claiming that city officials have unlawfully withheld and deleted text messages from Mayor Karen Bass during a wildfire crisis in January. This legal action comes after the city provided some text exchanges but argued that it is not required to release all communications under public records laws.
The lawsuit was announced on Thursday. It highlights concerns that the city is not fulfilling its obligations to retain important public records. The Times argues that allowing officials to delete records at will could set a dangerous precedent for transparency in government.
During the January wildfires, which prompted significant emergency responses, Bass was in Ghana. The mayor’s texts are believed to contain crucial information about her communications with staff and other officials as they dealt with the escalating situation back home. While the city has released some messages, officials maintain that they are not compelled to retain others, particularly those deemed "ephemeral" or temporary.
The Times’ attorneys assert that this stance contradicts California’s public records law, which mandates that any written communication related to public business must be preserved and made available to the public. They argue that the content of the communication, not the format, determines whether it should be retained.
In a statement, Kelly Aviles, outside counsel for The Times, emphasized the broader implications of the case. He stated, “The city seems to believe they can destroy whatever they want whenever they want, and that they don’t have a duty to the public to retain public records.”
The mayor’s office has responded to numerous public records requests since Bass took office. However, the ongoing dispute over the text messages raises critical questions about accountability and access to government communications, especially during emergencies.
This lawsuit is part of a larger investigation by the Times into the city’s handling of the wildfire crisis. As the situation develops, it could have significant implications for how public records are managed and the transparency of government operations in Los Angeles.