The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 319: Coast-to-Coast Attacks]

In Century City, at a Beverly Hills business club, Hawke met Brian in a private meeting room he had reserved for some time.

Both of them hadn't had dinner yet, so they decided to order it straight away.

As they ate, Brian talked about the situation at the fire department. "Yesterday, the fire department headquarters held its third recruitment drive this year. Hundreds of people showed up."

Hawke took a sip of his iced lemonade and asked, "Were they all women?"

"Exactly, all women," Brian elaborated. "The recruitment was supposed to end last month, but after the first batch, management kept dragging their feet. They still hadn't reached their recruitment quota."

He added, "Antonio, who pushed for this, has received a lot of support from the feminist movement. When the competition heats up, they might just influence us."

Hawke had anticipated this. "In that case, we'll close the doors and let the minorities take the lead."

Brian had already thought about that. "I thought the same thing; Steve has a strong influence among the Black community. We could rally a group of Black women."

...

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Brian's driver brought in a woman.

She was in her thirties, dressed in a professional suit, her face showing sharpness. Brian introduced her to Hawke, explaining that she was his connection to the fire department, established through the first recruitment of female firefighters.

Hawke asked directly, "You're in an administrative role?"

"Yes," Susan quickly replied. "I work in information management at the office, unlike those female firefighters who have to undergo training."

Hawke thought for a moment and asked, "What's the internal reaction been like regarding this recruitment?"

Susan detailed, "A lot of people are against it, including myself. The relationship between the new hires and the veterans is tense, as the newcomers jeopardize the veterans' interests. Budgeting in the fire department has always been tight, and now they're earmarking $8.5 million just for gender balance, which means cuts to veteran benefits and sacrificing equipment maintenance."

Brian chimed in, "I heard that the fire department has laid off some male employees?"

Susan explained, "To make room for the new female firefighters, many seasonal temporary workers were dismissed. These people were the backbone of the firefighting force, pivotal in frontline rescue operations."

Hawke understood; these individuals were like temp workers. The U.S. government led the world in outsourcing, and seasonal fires in California naturally led to such a workforce.

He asked the crucial question, "Are the newly hired female firefighters adapting to the job?"

"The administrative staff is doing well and adapting quickly," Susan's expression changed, and she quickly composed herself. "However, with the increase in female staff, the office atmosphere has worsened significantly, leading to infighting and a notable drop in work efficiency."

Hawke already knew this; in Hollywood, there was a recognized phenomenon: once the female cast and crew outnumbered the males, the set would often turn into chaos.

The last time he spoke with Dwayne Johnson's manager-wife, she mentioned that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Julia Roberts had clashed fiercely on the set of Ocean's Twelve, leaving the twelve male actors and director Steven Soderbergh rattled.

And that was just two actresses; add in a couple more of similar stature, and the whole crew could break apart.

Susan continued, "Training for female firefighters on the front lines is far from ideal. The first group of female firefighters recruited in February should have been on the job by early May, integrating work and training, but as of now, they still can't take up their roles."

Brian connected the dots. "Because they're failing the training?"

Susan confirmed, "Yes, they are. Two female firefighters are less capable than one male firefighter. When the high-pressure hoses are in use, they can hardly stand. Instead of coming together as a team, they blame and attack one another. In rescue training, two of them struggle to move a single rescue target. Everyone, including themselves, knows it's not suitable, yet all are pushing this agenda."

This was not about merit; it was a political issue.

Politics, or perhaps ideology, outweighed everything.

While listening, Hawke considered the implications and asked, "What about the existing leadership at the fire department?"

Susan replied, "Director Morgan has a significant issue with this and wants to pause the plan. He's slowed the hiring process and has even discussed it with Antonio."

Brian nodded. "No wonder the recruitment hasn't wrapped up yet."

Susan emphasized, "Antonio is very dissatisfied with Director Morgan's work and has initiated a dismissal process. This month, the fire department will see a new director -- a true female activist."

Hawke and Brian exchanged glances.

Brian couldn't help but say, "Good, very good!"

To appease the feminist agenda and gain political backing, Antonio's moves seemed reckless.

Dismissing seasonal firefighters and replacing them with a bunch of female recruits was one thing; now, they were also looking to install an inexperienced outsider as director, plus a recent female activist vice director. Essentially, the Los Angeles fire department would be rendered ineffective.

This was a highly professional industry, and if a major incident occurred, the consequences of an outsider directing experts would be catastrophic.

Hawke began framing his next steps, particularly regarding the fire department's internal situation.

Once everything had been discussed, Brian asked a few more questions, and Susan quickly left.

...

When Brian returned, he said, "I think this alone could plunge Los Angeles into unprecedented trouble."

"That's not enough," Hawke said. "If we don't go big, we might as well not play the game at all. Opportunities like this can take twenty years to come by again."

Hawke said, "Even though the Democratic Party lost the mayor's office in Los Angeles less than four years ago, California has been leaning blue for over a decade. If you want to win the mayoral seat, you'll face enormous pressure. Instead of letting us carry that weight, let Antonio and his team deal with the backlash."

Brian might not have been the brightest, but he could read which advice would benefit him the most.

He understood Hawke's point. "Put all the chips on the table?"

Hawke nodded slightly, "When it comes to enemies, it's best to take them down in one go, leaving no chance for a counterattack."

He spoke directly, "I'll have a few portable cameras modified, along with voice recorders. You'll need to pass them to your contacts in the fire department. They should capture footage of the female firefighters during training and their jobs, showing dissatisfaction with the gender plan. If possible, get some conversations between Antonio and Director Morgan on tape."

Brian grasped Hawke's intent. "Morgan doesn't agree with Antonio's plan, and Antonio plans to eliminate him. That will definitely anger Morgan, but he won't be able to resist Antonio's will, and once he's forced out, there will undoubtedly be sharp conflicts between them."

Hawke continued, "Collect all relevant statements, actions, and news from Antonio and the Democratic legislators pushing this plan."

Brian responded, "I've been working on that."

Hawke asked, "Have you made a decision on whether to trigger a recall election or wait until next year?"

"I'm leaning towards a recall," Brian noted that this election involved more than just himself or the Ferguson family. "But ultimately, it depends on how big of a wave I can create."

Hawke said, "The tragic fate of firefighters from 9/11, along with those notable cases in California, can serve as the catalyst."

He recalled Susan's comments and added, "Weren't many seasonal firefighters dismissed to accommodate female recruits? Getting the media to interview them should yield significant critiques."

Brian took meticulous notes.

Hawke reminded him, "If the election kicks off, be ready for attacks."

It boiled down to who could weather the storm better.

Brian said, "No one is more skilled at this than you."

Hawke nodded. "I'll come up with a plan."

---

As June brought warmer weather, Fox News aired two special programs focusing on the firefighters from 9/11.

The coverage aligned with the firefighters' perspectives, showcasing the unfair treatment they faced after participating in the rescue efforts.

They had received no promised aid from the New York City government, were left with no funds for medical expenses after falling sick, and only pocket change was issued as compensation for the losses.

Firefighters advocating for their rights were forcibly dispersed multiple times by New York authorities, with the leaders experiencing a series of manufactured hardships in their everyday lives.

...

Once Fox's report aired, it sparked widespread attention.

The East and West coasts had always been at odds, and even though New York had its deep-blue leanings, the Los Angeles Times quickly picked up the Fox News story, adding further content to highlight the plight of countless 9/11 firefighters suffering in pain and dying in despair.

The West Coast seized the opportunity, unabashedly attacking the East Coast.

Twitter joined in, passionately promoting the bravery and sacrifices of firefighters during the 9/11 events. Their current grim conditions stood in stark contrast.

Google and Yahoo also focused their reporting on this topic.

Other media sources based on the West Coast, such as the San Francisco Chronicle and ABC, eagerly joined the fray to give New York a beating.

California's two major metropolitan areas had a notorious rivalry with New York, much like the historical Yankees and Dixie.

...

As regional disputes unfolded, New York's media wouldn't be outdone. With some dedicated foreign correspondents on the job, they quickly unearthed the dirt on Los Angeles's fire industry.

The New York Times subsequently reported on cases where injured Los Angeles firefighters not only had their compensation delayed but were also laid off.

Such cases were plentiful in California since there wasn't much difference between the two coasts overall.

An uproar erupted between the media from both coasts, highlighting the tragic treatment of firefighters now laid bare for the public to see.

At the latest White House press briefing, the spokesperson claimed that federal compensation funds had been allocated.

However, New York insisted they hadn't received a thing.

Washington and New York soon found themselves in a heated debate.

The focus of the discussions had shifted from the firefighters to the mutual attacks among the parties involved.

*****

/Sayonara816.