Shortly after taking office, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass asked for and received $250 million without any significant pushback for her 'Inside Safe' homeless housing program.
Since then, there have been concerns about the program's effectiveness, and now, with Bass requesting $80 million in new money, some council members say they're still seeing too many encampments across the city, leading them to question whether or not the program is worth it - especially as the city faces a $300 million budget deficit.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said, "I have a real big concern about $80 million being put into an account dedicated for this when we know we have so many other obligations to meet with regular everyday Angelenos... it is a difficult, awful conversation to be having but this is our reality."
The city's budget committee, of which Rodriguez is a member, is contemplating allocating the $80 million to the mayor but would only release the funds once her administration submits a spending plan for it.
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As KNX News' Craig Fiegener reports, the committee acknowledges that allowing them more oversight on spending would also create difficult situations in which they'd have to cast votes.
"It puts in front of us tough votes on a monthly basis- a no vote means I'm throwing people out on the street, potentially," said one council member.
And though it sets the stage for what another committee member called "a game of chicken - approve this or people stay outdoors," it empowers the committee to ask important questions like 'which people are coming indoors? where in the city? and what are the priorities?' before handing over a dime.
Earlier this week, Mayor Bass said she's expecting changes and tweaks to her request as part of the larger debate over her proposed city budget of $12.8 billion, which included major cuts to many city departments.
"That's part of the process," said Bass, "But I do believe at the end of the day, we'll all be on the same page."
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