By Blessing Nweke
Former reality television star Spencer Pratt announced Wednesday that he is running for mayor of Los Angeles, marking the one-year anniversary of the devastating Palisades Fire that destroyed his home and thousands of others in Pacific Palisades.
Pratt, 42, made the announcement at a “They Let Us Burn” rally organized by the Palisades Fire Residents Coalition, criticizing city and state leaders over their handling of the wildfire. The Jan. 7, 2025 blaze erupted in the coastal community between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean and quickly spread across tens of thousands of acres, driven by powerful Santa Ana winds that had been forecast days in advance.
“Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action,” Pratt said during the rally. “That’s why I am running for mayor.” He added that his campaign would focus on exposing what he described as systemic failures in city politics and restoring Los Angeles’ global image.
Pratt has been a vocal critic of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, blaming authorities for what he has called inadequate preparation and response to the fire. On the day the blaze began, Pratt shared videos of flames and smoke near his home, later documenting the destruction and the personal losses he and his family suffered.
The Palisades Fire burned roughly 23,700 acres, destroyed more than 6,800 structures and was linked to 12 deaths. It ranks as the ninth-deadliest and third-most destructive wildfire in California history.
Pratt rose to fame on MTV’s “The Hills,” where his relationship with Heidi Montag became a central storyline. The couple married in 2008 and have two children. They have also appeared on several international reality competition shows.
Pratt enters a crowded mayoral race that includes incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner and more than a dozen other candidates. The primary election is scheduled for June 2. Candidate filing opens Feb. 2 and closes Feb. 7.
Bass was elected mayor in 2022, defeating developer Rick Caruso.
Original article
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