Mayor Bass’s Brother Sues City Of Los Angeles

MALIBU—On June 11, it was reported that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s brother Kenneth and his wife, Cindy have joined a class action lawsuit suing the city for property loss and damages incurred due to the loss of their Malibu home in the Palisades Fire in January 2026. Kenneth Bass, 78, and his wife filed their lawsuit on May 18, 2026. The legal complaint was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming damages due to smoke inhalation, emotional distress, and mental anguish over the loss of their home located at 3045 Rambla Pacifico. They are requesting a trial by jury, and names the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in the lawsuit. The lawsuit contends that in January 2025, there was not enough water/water pressure to put out the fires that burnt down homes, and displaced families. The 117-million-gallon, Santa Ynez Reservoir laid empty under the supervision of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass, as part of the region burned. Mayor Bass indicated that she too had family members, (her brother and sister-in-law) who lost their home. Mayor Bass left the country and flew to Ghana as Palisades burned. Their home sat on a 1.5-acre hillside overlooking Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach. The main house on the property was a total loss. The Bass’s sold off the 1.25 acres of land on May 1, 2025, for $2 million to Wings 3045 LLC, a real estate developer in a blind trust. The 3045 mimics the street address of the property purchased. They lived in their Malibu home for around four decades. Real estate records indicate that on November 19, 2015, Kenneth and Cindy transferred their property from their individual names into the Kenneth and Cindy Bass 2015 Trust. According to Zillow, the 2,792 square foot residence was built in 1983. From the 1980s records were not properly digitized, and the names and real estate records of the original owners of the Bass property is shielded from public view. By Sharon