LOS ANGELES — Steve Soboroff, a longtime fixture in Los Angeles civic life who’s now serving as chief restoration officer for the town’s wildfire comeback, gained’t take a wage after going through backlash over plans to pay him $500,000. He would have been paid by means of charitable donations, not with taxpayer cash.
Soboroff had defended the proposed wage of half-a-million {dollars} for 3 months of labor, saying his experience as a residential property developer made him well worth the value. However after criticisms mounted from elected officers and residents, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reversed course over the weekend and stated Soboroff would obtain no compensation.
“Steve is always there for LA. I spoke to him today and asked him to modify his agreement and work for free. He said yes. We agree that we don’t need anything distracting from the recovery work we’re doing,” Bass stated in an announcement Saturday. She had named him to the restoration czar place on Jan. 17.
A message in search of remark was left for Soboroff on Monday.
Along with growing 1000’s of properties over a long time, Soboroff served on the town’s Board of Police Commissioners and on the town fee that oversees the Division of Recreation and Parks — each volunteer positions.