The Los Angeles mayoral race just got a little more interesting.
It’s already been a wild ride, where wildfire victim Spencer Pratt seemed to be a shoo-in for the second spot the night the polls closed, only to see his lead slowly erode over the days as mail-in ballots continue to be counted in an excruciatingly slow fashion. Somehow, LA Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who tanked in the May debate and was a consistent third in the polls, is now seemingly destined to take the number two position and head to the November general election to face the failed incumbent, Karen Bass.
It’s now been revealed that the city is getting sued over the 2025 devastating fires by a plaintiff with close ties to Bass — in fact, it’s her 78-year-old brother Kenneth. Bass family reunions might just be a little more tense in the future:
Kenneth Bass and Cindy Bass filed a lawsuit against the city on May 18 in L.A. Superior Court, according to public filings reviewed by L.A. Material. Their claim, which had not been previously reported, is one of many filed by homeowners and business owners related to a fire that began on January 7, 2025, and spread westward into Malibu.
The couple allege injuries from smoke inhalation and emotional distress due to the destruction of their home, which featured a pool, putting green, and panoramic views of Malibu Pier.
MORE: Sorry, Newsom: Palisades Fire Arrest Isn't Closure; It's Just the Beginning of a Terrible Reckoning
Kenneth and Cindy join 15 other local families from Malibu, Topanga, and the Palisades who are demanding damages for property loss and injury, and they’re seeking a trial by jury. And they’re not just going after the city and the Department of Water and Power, they’re demanding accountability from a smorgasbord of entities:
The lawsuit names the City of Los Angeles and the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP), alongside a laundry list of other defendants. They include Southern California Edison, the J. Paul Getty Trust, and various telecom and state park entities.
The property at 3045 Rambla Pacifico St, Malibu, CA 90265, seen from the street, has a broken fence and views of the Pacific Ocean.
The couple’s residential property, located in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was listed as a “total burn down” in the court documents. The couple sold the land on May 1, 2025, for $2 million.
The next month, the couple purchased a modern five-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Los Angeles on for $6.1 million.
The pictures tell the story.
— Bob Hoge (@Bob_Hoge_CA) May 13, 2026
The California Dream has turned into a dystopian nightmare.
There is only one answer: vote different. pic.twitter.com/kU984QiTCw
Personally, I think it would be weird if I sued a government administration where my sister was the boss, but Kenneth apparently doesn’t see the irony of admitting his sibling faceplanted on the job:
Kenneth Bass has repeatedly stated his support for his sister and donated to her campaign as she seeks reelection. She will face socialist-linked City Councilwoman Nithya Raman in the November runoff.
“I don’t think he has any choice. He can’t not do it because it’s his sister [who is mayor],” Jennifer Gray Thompson, the founder and CEO of After The Fire USA, told L.A. Material about the suit. “It’s incredibly sad, in many ways, that this is the case.”
That sort of sums up the average LA and California liberal voter: “Yes, I know you’re a failure, I'm aware the city and the state are in decline, and I recognize that our streets are dangerous and you just let a major portion of the city burn down due to negligence."
"But I’m gonna support you anyway.”
Editor’s Note: Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, and the “progressives” are ruining California.
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