Steve Soboroff, a longtime fixture in Los Angeles civic life who is now serving as chief recovery officer for the city’s wildfire comeback, won’t take a salary after facing backlash over plans to pay him $500,

After facing backlash for agreeing to pay a new czar $500,000 to help with recovery efforts in Los Angeles in the wake of devastating wildfires, the city’s mayor, Karen Bass, has reversed course and announced that he would be doing the job for free.

Steve Soboroff's salary would have been funded by charitable organizations. He had defended the arrangement, saying his expertise made him worth the $500,000.