It has been more than two months since the Palisades and Eaton fires, and new polling shows just how that devastation has impacted Southern Californians. How do Angelenos feel about Mayor Karen Bass? What about their quality of life? And how many are considering leaving for good? Phil Willon is the California politics editor for the LA Times, and he joined Lisa McRee with the findings of a recent Times survey. 

The poll was conducted by the LA Times and the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. More than 5,000 people were interviewed, including almost 300 people who lived in areas affected by the fires. 

One topic discussed in the poll was fire codes and building regulations. 

“People in the burn areas and outside the burn areas in the aftermath of the fires said they overwhelmingly support stricter building codes, more restrictions on what homes can be built in these areas that are susceptible to wildfire. The one thing, interestingly, that people did not support was higher insurance rates, homeowners insurance rates, but they did support increasing their taxes to enhance both county and city fire departments,” Willon reported.

Bass did not receive high marks from respondents. 

“About 40% thought she did a poor or very poor job in responding to the wildfire. About 20% said she did a good job. About 20% said a fair job. Those weren’t good marks for a politician. She was out of the country when it hit. She was in Ghana, representing the Biden administration. She got kind of ambush interviewed when she got back and really didn’t have a good response about why she was out of the country when everyone knew that the Santa Anas were coming and the fire danger was great,” Willon explained. 

Willon said Bass’ criticism of former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley may not have helped her public perception. 

The poll also asked residents if they would consider leaving California altogether in the wake of the fires.

“The mental health toll was significant among people, among children, among parents. But people in general, despite the tragedy, said they love living in LA, they love their neighborhoods. And they weren’t moving. SI think that goes to the resilience of the people of Los Angeles. We go through a lot year to year. We have earthquakes, we have fires, we have drought... But people in LA are pretty tough,” Willon said.

Watch the full interview above.

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