Bass is asked to testify before Congress about waste and fraud in L.A.'s response to homelessness
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Set us as preferred A Congressional subcommittee sent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass a letter this week asking her to testify at a Washington, D.C.hearing focused on fraud and failure in the region’s homelessness system.U.S.
Rep.Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), chair of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, said in his four-page letter that his panel is concerned about “potential misallocation of federal dollars” by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA.Bass sits on LAHSA’s 10-member board and appoints half its members.
The other half are selected by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.In his letter, Burchett said homelessness has gotten worse during Bass’ tenure as mayor, particularly in Skid Row.“Yet, your administration continues to pursue ‘Housing First’ and ‘Harm Reduction’ policies that fail to address the mental health and drug abuse crises perpetuating the cycle of homelessness in Los Angeles,” he wrote.“The result is deteriorating public health, increased lawlessness and a bleak environment for small businesses.”Bass spokesperson Paige Sterling confirmed that the mayor had received the letter and is preparing a response.
She did not say whether Bass will attend the Sept.15 hearing.U.S.
Rep.Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), a ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, denounced the inquiry, calling it “another attempt by Donald Trump and House Republicans to launch a witch hunt against Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles.”Garcia said the Trump administration has been trying to strip the region of critical homelessness funding, only to be blocked by a federal court.“Oversight Democrats will fight this partisan effort,” he said in a statement.LAHSA officials issued their own statement saying the agency “consistently welcomes a...