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 Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Bass\u2019 communications office said in a statement to The Times on Tuesday, \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 four 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