LA Mayor walks back paying wildfire czar $500K for 90 days for recovery ideas regarding LA wildfires

Imagine getting paid $5,556 per day for 90 days to consult on how to recover from the wildfires that plagued Los Angeles since last month. Half a million dollars for 90 days of work.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Steve Soboroff, would be paid the money over the course of three months working as LA's "chief recovery officer." After all, Steve is a real estate developer and civic official and does not in any way stand to monetarily benefit over rebuilding efforts of the city, beyond the paychecks he would have received advising on the plans. And if you believe that, you might also believe that one day the skies will be darkened with the flight of chickens heading north.

Soboroff's money was supposed to come from charity organizations [perhaps like USAID], but Democrat LA Mayor Karen Bass who initially chose him for the job on January 17, walked it all back by Saturday night, saying that Soboroff would now do the work for free. Now that gives credence to the notion that he still has something to gain--remember, he's a real estate developer. I don't know, of course, if it's true, but would you honestly be surprised if he stood to gain something 'under the proverbial table'?

"Steve is always there for LA. I spoke to him today and asked him to modify his agreement and work for free. He said yes," Bass said, according to the Times. "We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing."

Another real estate executive, Randy Johnson, was supposed to be paid $250,000 from charity groups but even he is willing to do the work for free, Bass said.

Real estate executive, eh?

Regarding Johnson, Bass said she was "grateful for his generosity and expertise," but the mayor's office declined to name the charity organizations or clarify how the funding was raised, according to the Times.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, a member of the five-person committee tasked with recovery, told the LA Times it was "infuriating" that philanthropic groups would pay two people $750,000, calling the amount "obscene."

"He’s getting paid $500,000 for 3 months of work?" President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Ric Grenell, posted on X about Soboroff. "And they call this a charity. Gross. Offensive."

Grenell, who was seated next to Trump during a round table discussion in the Pacific Palisades last month, added: "I’m getting paid $0 – as are many people. It’s a good thing there will be strings on the Federal money for California."

Steve Danton, who resides in a temporary apartment in Marina del Rey after his home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, said Soboroff’s compensation is a "money grab," adding that the city is experiencing a "crisis of leadership."

Larry Vein, a Pacific Palisades resident whose home suffered smoke damage, condemned Soboroff's reported $500,000 compensation, saying no one should handle recovery efforts for "financial gain."

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