Los Angeles Mayor Challenges State Homelessness Strategy Amid Rising Tensions

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has openly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom's approach to addressing homelessness, asserting that his strategies will not be effective in her city. After taking office in December 2022, Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness, emphasizing that punitive measures, such as ticketing homeless individuals, do not provide viable solutions. Her comments highlight a growing rift within the Democratic Party regarding how to tackle the homelessness crisis, particularly in light of recent legal developments. The conflict intensified following a Supreme Court ruling in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which granted local governments increased authority to regulate homeless encampments. This decision overturned six years of legal protections for homeless individuals in California, prompting Bass to declare that such measures would not be applicable in Los Angeles County. She firmly stated, “It does not work, and it will not stand in Los Angeles County,” signaling her commitment to a different approach. While local governments are not legally obligated to adhere to the Supreme Court's guidance, they face pressure to comply, with potential funding consequences for noncompliance. Newsom's executive order is poised to impact thousands of Californians, as the state grapples with the highest housing costs and the largest homeless population in the nation, with 180,000 individuals experiencing homelessness last year. In contrast, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has shifted the city's stance from a compassionate approach to one of accountability, reflecting the broader debate within California on how best to address the homelessness crisis.