The Los Angeles City Council Friday confirmed three new members to the commission overseeing the fire department, which comes after all but one member announced their decision to step down amid ongoing fallout from the city’s response to the devastating Palisades fire.
The City Council confirmed the appointments of John Perez, Jerry Abraham and Jose Cornejo to the five-member Los Angeles Board of Fire Commissioners. Mayor Karen Bass issued each member a letter certifying their training and experience for the position.
“Transitions like this, where we have the opportunity to bring in three new commissioners at the same time, brings the best of both worlds for us,” City Councilman John Lee said, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.
“It’s the strength of the solid foundation that the outgoing commissioners have created by being on the fire commission, and then the fresh, new perspective that our three nominees bring to us,” Lee added.
The council had confirmed Abraham and Cornejo unanimously, however, City Councilman Adrin Nazarian voted against Perez’s nomination.
Perez is founder of Double Nickel Advisors, a consulting firm. He previously served in the California State Assembly, representing the 46th and 53rd districts from Dec. 2008-14, and also served as the 68th Assembly Speaker, beginning in March 2010 until 2014.
Before Bass nominated him to the fire commission, the mayor had appointed him as a member of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners in 2024.
Abraham previously served as chief resident from June 2014-17, as part of a family medicine residency program with the USC Keck School of Medicine.
Cornejo, founder of consulting firm Cornejo Strategies, also serves as a manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Genethia Hudley Hayes, president of the board, announced her decision to step down on March 18, alongside Corinne Tapia Babcock and Jimmie Woods-Gray. Board member Sharon Delugach had previously resigned earlier in the month.
Bass and the fire department have received criticisms for their handling of the devastating Palisades fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of structures.
In January, Fire Chief Jaime Moore acknowledged the department’s failures to extinguish the Lachman fire, which had burned a week prior. The fire later reignited, powered by strong Santa Ana winds, and erupted into the Palisades fire.
Moore had also said the department’s fire after-action report on the inferno had been watered down to protect higher-ups and the city from criticism.
Bass has denied any wrongdoing related to allegations that she ordered the after-action report to be softened.
Hudley Hayes was first appointed to the fire commission by former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and served eight years before being appointed by Bass. She previously told The Times that she didn’t know who ordered the changes to the after-action report and she was “not particularly” interested in finding out.
Hayes’ term was expected to end June 30, 2027.
Babcock told The Times that their positions are more of “an approval, ceremonial role.”
Babcock’s term was set to end this summer. Bass asked her to serve on the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners, which she accepted, according to The Times.
Woods-Gray, whose term was up in 2028, decided to step down, citing family commitments.
Delugach’s term was expected to end in 2029.
Elizabeth Garfield, a retired lawyer who previously represented the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, which represents the LAFD’s firefighters, will remain on the commission. Bass appointed her in September 2025.
Also in March, the LAFD’s Independent Assessor Tyler Izen also retired in March. Izen’s responsibilities consisted of providing reports to the board, and conducting audits of operations, among other things.