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 past nine months.
Kolby Lee, who started as Bass’ director of communications in February, said he was resigning to spend time with family and loved ones.
“I’m very grateful to Mayor Bass for giving me the opportunity to be part of her team and serve the people of Los Angeles,” Lee said in a statement.
Bass’ communications office said in a statement to The Times, “We thank Kolby for his contribution to the office and wish him and his family well.” Bass is running for reelection against City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
The departures began in October, when Zach Seidl, Bass’ longtime deputy mayor of communications, left for the private sector.
Press secretary Clara Karger left in January after working for the mayor for nearly three years.
Bass then brought on Amanda Crumley to replace Seidl. But Crumley lasted little more than a month, leaving in March.
Lee started as communications director shortly before Crumley’s departure, serving for about five months.
During Lee’s time in the administration, Bass was also receiving pro bono communications help from Yusef Robb, an outside consultant who worked on her 2022 campaign.
Robb was not paid by the city for his work and served in an unofficial role providing comments on important issues, including Bass’ involvement in damage control surrounding the 2025 Palisades fire.
Lee provided comment to The Times in a story published Saturday about Robb’s work for the Bass administration at the same time that he is a crisis communications consultant for Lineage Logistics, the company whose Boyle Heights warehouse erupted in flames last month, inundating the area with toxic smoke and rotting food odors.