A top spokesperson for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass left her administration Monday after a brief tenure, joining a growing list of communications aides who have departed over the last nine months. <\/p>\n
Kolby Lee, who started as Bass\u2019 director of communications in February, said he was resigning to spend time with family and loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to Mayor Bass for giving me the opportunity to be part of her team and serve the people of Los Angeles,\u201d Lee said in a statement. <\/p>\n
Bass\u2019 communications office said in a statement to The Times, \u201cWe thank Kolby for his contribution to the office and wish him and his family well.\u201d Bass is running for reelection against City Councilmember Nithya Raman. <\/p>\n
The departures began in October, when Zach Seidl, Bass\u2019 longtime deputy mayor of communications, left for the private sector. <\/p>\n
Press secretary Clara Karger left in January after working for the mayor for nearly three years.<\/p>\n
Bass then brought on Amanda Crumley to replace Seidl. But Crumley lasted little more than a month, leaving in March. <\/p>\n
Lee started as communications director shortly before Crumley\u2019s departure, serving for about five months. <\/p>\n
During Lee\u2019s time in the administration, Bass was also receiving pro bono communications help from Yusef Robb<\/a>, an outside consultant who worked on her 2022 campaign. <\/p>\n Robb was not paid by the city for his work and served in an unofficial role providing comments on important issues, including Bass\u2019 involvement in damage control<\/a> surrounding the 2025 Palisades fire.<\/p>\n