Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA fire chief Brian Cummings to resign, mayor's office says (updated)
Listen
• 1:09
LAFD Chief Brian Cummings will resign his position effective Nov. 1 and officially retire in February, according to the mayor's office.
(
Brian Watt/KPCC
)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Brian Cummings will resign, according to the mayor's office.
Cummings will officially retire in February, and former LAFD captain James Featherstone will serve as acting chief effective Nov. 1.
Mayor Eric Garcetti had made it a point when elected to office that general managers would have to re-apply for their jobs, and the fire department has been plagued for more than a year with complaints of poor response times, reliability of the 911 system, and the allocation of resources.
“I thank Chief Cummings for his service to Los Angeles. My agenda for the Fire Department is focused on reducing response times, improving technology, to make sure we’re prepared for every emergency," Garcetti said in a statement.
Support for LAist comes from
Cummings inherited some of the problems from his predecessors, but those problems persist more than two years after he assumed command. Internally, he angered the rank and file when he called for the transfer of some firefighters into paramedic units from fire trucks.
In a statement shared on a department website, Cummings confirmed that he would be stepping down and wrote that he was honored to have led the department.
"I remain committed to the on-going success of this great Department. I will retire confident that Los Angeles’ strong support of Public Safety and the Los Angeles Fire Department will afford the continued provision of service befitting the City of Angels," Cummings wrote.
His temporary replacement, Featherstone, also served as head of the city's Emergency Management Department.
This story has been updated.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist