Bass Adviser's New Role
Mayor Bass's Informal Adviser Yusef Robb Now Consults for Lineage Logistics After Warehouse Fire
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Yusef Robb, a top informal adviser to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, has taken on a crisis communications role for Lineage Logistics — the cold storage company whose Boyle Heights warehouse caught fire last month, according to The Sacramento Bee. Robb, who runs a firm called tk/Communications, began working for Lineage just two days after the warehouse fire broke out.
The move raises conflict-of-interest questions. Robb was a frequent presence at City Hall throughout the year, appearing at news conferences alongside Bass and speaking on her behalf — including during the city's response to the Palisades fire, The Miami Herald reported.
Robb's Dual Role Draws Scrutiny From Watchdogs
Robb was never a formal city employee. He served as an unpaid informal adviser, which means he was not bound by the same ethics rules that apply to official city staff. Still, his close access to Bass — and his quick pivot to Lineage — has raised eyebrows, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Lineage Logistics is one of the world's largest cold storage companies. Its Boyle Heights warehouse has operated in the neighborhood for over 20 years. The fire last month sent thick smoke over a densely populated part of East Los Angeles, alarming residents and drawing intense public attention.
Boyle Heights Community Wants Lineage Gone
Local residents have been sharply critical of Lineage since the fire. Some community members are calling for the company to leave Boyle Heights entirely, according to The News Tribune. Neighbors say the industrial warehouse does not belong in a residential area and poses ongoing safety risks.
The fire added fuel to a long-running tension between industrial operations and the people who live near them. Boyle Heights is a working-class Latino neighborhood where residents have fought for years against industrial pollution and environmental hazards.
Bass Pledges Accountability While Adviser Works for Lineage
Mayor Bass has publicly pledged to hold Lineage accountable for the fire and its aftermath, The Bellingham Herald reported. But her informal adviser now works for the company she vowed to hold responsible. That contradiction has become the center of the controversy.
Robb's firm, tk/Communications, is helping Lineage manage its public image during the fallout. Crisis communications consultants are typically hired to shape media coverage and limit reputational damage. Robb has not made public statements explaining his decision to take on the client.
What Comes Next for the City and Lineage
The city has not announced any formal investigation into Robb's dual role. Because he was an informal adviser and not a paid city official, it is unclear whether any ethics rules were broken, according to The State. Ethics experts say the situation still creates the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Lineage has not said whether it will comply with community demands to leave Boyle Heights. The company has been in the neighborhood for more than two decades. How Bass balances her accountability pledge against her adviser's new client will likely face continued public scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
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