Lessons From Tragedy

Tragedy is a hard way to learn but not to learn denies the loss.

Please do not take this as a partisan political post. It does have elements of one, but 1) I don't believe partisan politics should be argued during a crisis, 2) there is a real and important life/business lesson to be learned from the tragic firestorms in California, 3) because the crisis is real, real people are involved and their names are known, and 4) California is, for all practical purposes, a one-party state so it Democrats are in charge.

There are two components to dealing with a crisis: strategic and tactical. The strategic aspect involves preparing for both anticipated and unanticipated crises. This includes prioritization, preparation, planning, and ensuring resource availability—tasks that require ongoing, metric-driven actions, meticulous attention to detail, and constant review and adjustment. This is the primary responsibility of leadership.

The tactical component involves the hands-on efforts to combat or mitigate the crisis, requiring training, expertise, and a protective duty ethos. This is the role of first responders like police, firefighters, and other emergency services personnel, who form the frontline defense against crises.

It is crucial for strategic leaders to listen to and support the tactical forces by providing the necessary resources for effective response. Weak leaders often claim success based on the actions of these protectors. In Los Angeles, while firefighters, police, and other first responders deserve all the accolades for their efforts, Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom should not take credit for the response.

When crises are short-lived, leaders might get away with claiming undue credit, but in LA, the strategic shortcomings of these leaders are evident in the inadequate number of firefighters and the lack of water for firefighting. Blaming firefighters for not having the resources they need is akin to sending an army into battle without ammunition and expecting victory.

Mayor Karen Bass reduced the Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) budget by $18 million from a city budget of $13 billion. While this cut represents a small fraction of the LAFD's total $900 million budget, it's arguable whether these funds were allocated correctly. A crucial resource like water supply for firefighting should have been prioritized.

Moreover, Bass appointed Janisse Quiñones to lead the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, with a salary of $750,000—nearly double that of her predecessor—yet there have been notable failures in managing water resources. California voters approved a $7.5 billion bond to address known water supply issues, but under Governor Newsom's administration, progress has been slow, as if there were no urgency to complete these projects.

If Los Angeles were a business, its management would likely face legal consequences for such mismanagement, potentially leading to the entity being sold off to the highest bidder.

There is a lesson for every leader in this situation. We have a responsibility to always prepare for those who depend on us.